Day 9: Fire on Your Head
Today’s Reading: Acts 2:1–11
Welcome to Day 9 of our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting 2023. This is Week 2, The Comfort of the Holy Spirit.
The Focus: “Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be TONGUES OF FIRE that separated and CAME TO REST ON EACH OF THEM. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” (Acts 2:2–4)
The Meditation: “Tongues of fire . . . came to rest on each of them.”
The Morning Everything Changed
The believers were all together in one place. There were about a hundred and twenty of them, men and women, and they had been praying constantly (Acts 1:14–15). Then, on the day of Pentecost, heaven answered.
There was a sound like a violent wind, and it filled the whole house. What looked like tongues of fire separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them (Acts 2:2–4).
On Each of Them
In the Old Testament the fire of God fell on an altar or filled a temple. At Pentecost it rested on people. And it rested on every one of them. Nobody in the room was left out.
This is what the prophet Joel had seen. God would pour out His Spirit on all people, on sons and daughters, on young and old (Joel 2:28–29). The Holy Spirit is not reserved for leaders or for especially holy people. He is given to all who belong to Jesus and ask.
Other Tongues
When they were filled, they spoke in languages they had never learned. Visitors from many nations heard them declaring the wonders of God in their own languages (Acts 2:11).
The same sign appears again when the Spirit falls on the household of Cornelius (Acts 10:44–46) and on the believers at Ephesus (Acts 19:6). That is why, as a Pentecostal church, we believe that the baptism in the Holy Spirit is accompanied by speaking in other tongues, as the Spirit gives the words.
Fire That Sends
The fire was not given for them to enjoy in an upper room. By the end of the day they were out in the streets, Peter had preached Christ, and about three thousand people had been added to the church (Acts 2:41). The fire of God always sends us out.
Pray It Through
Ask to be filled. Jesus said the Father gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him (Luke 11:13). Ask in faith today.
Pray together. They were all together. Join one of our prayer meetings this week, or pray with another believer.
Speak of His wonders. Tell one person today about something God has done for you.
Prayer for Today
Father, thank You for pouring out Your Spirit at Pentecost, and thank You that the promise is for me. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Let Your fire rest on me, on my family and on our church. Give me words to declare Your wonders, and send me out to make Jesus known. In His name, Amen.
Listen and Watch
Pastor Ras shares a short message for Day 9 in the audio and video below.
Keep going
See every day of this guide on our Prayer & Fasting page.
Let us pray with you: send a prayer request.
Join one of our prayer meetings.
