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{Addendum_6} WHY YOUR HEART KEEPS BEATING - Divine Encounters with God's Sustaining Power
- Jan 22
- 27 min read
Updated: Jan 23
PART FOUR: THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS - WHY YOUR HEART KEEPS BEATING
Chapter 14: The Electric Mystery - Science Meets Scripture
"The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the innermost parts of his being." — Proverbs 20:27 (NASB)
Scientists can describe how the heart beats.
They can map the electrical pathways. They can measure the voltage. They can explain the mechanics of the sinoatrial node generating impulses that cause the heart muscle to contract.
But they cannot explain why it starts or what sustains it at the most fundamental level.
There's an electrical energy in the human body that medical science can measure but cannot ultimately explain.
This chapter explores that mystery and reveals the biblical answer: The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD.
The Heart's Electrical System
The human heart beats approximately 100,000 times per day without conscious effort. This happens because of an intricate electrical system:
The Sinoatrial (SA) Node — Often called the heart's "natural pacemaker," this cluster of cells in the right atrium generates electrical impulses at regular intervals (60-100 times per minute at rest).
The Atrioventricular (AV) Node — Receives the signal from the SA node and delays it slightly, allowing the atria to contract before the ventricles.
The Bundle of His and Purkinje Fibers — Conduct the electrical signal through the ventricles, causing them to contract and pump blood.
This entire system operates on electricity—measurable voltage that can be detected by an electrocardiogram (EKG).
But here's the question science cannot answer: What is the ultimate source of this electrical energy?
The Mystery Science Acknowledges
Medical textbooks describe the mechanics of the heartbeat but stop short of explaining the origin of the electrical impulse.
They'll say:
"The SA node generates electrical impulses"
"Ion channels open and close, creating voltage changes"
"Chemical gradients across cell membranes produce electrical potential"
But if you ask, "Why do the ion channels open? What triggers the first impulse? What sustains this process for decades without stopping?"—science doesn't have a complete answer.
One cardiologist admitted in a journal article: "We can describe the bioelectrical processes, but the ultimate source of the energy that initiates and sustains cardiac function remains, at some level, a mystery."
That's where Scripture provides the answer.
Proverbs 20:27 — The Spirit as a Lamp
"The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the innermost parts of his being." (Proverbs 20:27, NASB)
Other translations:
KJV: "The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD"
NIV: "The human spirit is the lamp of the LORD"
ESV: "The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD"
The Hebrew word for "lamp" or "candle" is ner, which refers to an oil lamp—a vessel that holds fuel and produces light and heat through combustion.
The verse says the human spirit is like a lamp—it produces energy, heat, and light.
The phrase "searching all the innermost parts" uses the Hebrew word cheder, which means chambers, inner rooms, hidden places. In the context of human anatomy, this includes:
The chambers of the heart
The cavities of the lungs
The internal organs
The spirit of man, like a lamp, illuminates and energizes the innermost chambers of the body.
This is the biblical explanation for the electrical energy that keeps the heart beating and the lungs breathing.
The Human Spirit as Bioelectricity
If the spirit of man is like a lamp—producing energy and heat—then it stands to reason that the spirit is the source of the bioelectrical energy science measures in the body.
Think about it:
A lamp produces light (electromagnetic energy)
A lamp produces heat (thermal energy)
The human spirit, according to Scripture, functions similarly
The electrical impulses in the heart, the firing of neurons in the brain, the contraction of muscles—all of this requires energy.
Where does that energy come from?
The human spirit—the "lamp of the LORD"—burning within us.
Genesis 2:7 — The Breath of Life
"Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." (Genesis 2:7)
The Hebrew word for "breath" is neshamah, which can also mean spirit, life-force, or soul.
God breathed His own life into Adam. That breath—that spirit—is what animated the clay and made it a living being.
When God breathed into Adam:
His heart started beating
His lungs started breathing
His neurons started firing
His muscles started functioning
All because of the spirit God breathed into him.
That same spirit—inherited from Adam—is in every human being. And that spirit is the source of the bioelectrical energy that sustains life.
Job 33:4 — The Spirit Gives Life
"The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life." (Job 33:4)
Job understood that his life came from God's Spirit and God's breath.
Job 32:8 says: "But it is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding."
Notice the connection: spirit and breath are linked. Both come from God. Both give life.
The breath of the Almighty is not just air in our lungs. It's the life-force, the energy, the spirit that keeps us alive.
James 2:26 — The Body Without the Spirit is Dead
"For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead." (James 2:26)
This verse makes a simple but profound statement: The body without the spirit is dead.
What happens when a person dies?
The heart stops beating
The lungs stop breathing
The brain stops functioning
Electrical activity ceases
Why? Because the spirit has departed.
The body is still there—same organs, same cells, same biochemistry. But without the spirit, there's no life, no energy, no electrical impulse.
The spirit is the power source. When it's removed, the body shuts down.
Ecclesiastes 12:7 — The Spirit Returns to God
"Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it." (Ecclesiastes 12:7)
At death:
The body (dust) returns to the earth
The spirit returns to God
The body decays. The spirit continues to exist, returning to its source.
This confirms that the spirit is distinct from the body. It's the animating force, the energizing principle, the "lamp" that burns within.
Electricity, Heat, and Spirit
When I describe spiritual encounters—whether with the Holy Spirit, angels, or even demons—I consistently use the language of heat and electricity.
When the Holy Spirit healed me in 1994, it felt like:
An electrical shock
A hot wind
A surge of energy
When Gabriel healed my heart in the bathroom, I felt:
A surge of warmth
An electrical jolt in my chest
Blood suddenly pumping with renewed energy
This is consistent with how spiritual beings manifest physically.
Acts 2:2-3 — Tongues of Fire
When the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost:
"And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them." (Acts 2:2-3)
Notice:
Wind (movement of air, energy)
Fire (heat, light, energy)
The Holy Spirit manifested as heat and energy—just like a lamp.
Hebrews 1:7 — Angels as Flames of Fire
"And of the angels He says, 'Who makes His angels winds, and His ministers a flame of fire.'" (Hebrews 1:7)
Angels are compared to:
Winds (energy in motion)
Flames of fire (heat, light, consuming power)
Spiritual beings—whether the Holy Spirit, angels, or human spirits—are all energetic in nature. They produce heat, light, and electrical effects.
The Connection to the Heart
So here's what I believe based on Scripture and experience:
The human spirit, which is like a lamp (Proverbs 20:27), generates the bioelectrical energy that keeps the heart beating and the lungs breathing.
The spirit is the power source. The physical heart is the pump. The electrical impulses measured by science are the manifestation of the spirit's energy.
When my heart was failing, it wasn't just a mechanical problem. My spirit—the lamp of the Lord within me—was dimming, weakening, unable to sustain the electrical energy needed to keep my heart pumping properly.
Gabriel's prayer didn't just "fix" a physical problem. It reignited the lamp—it restored the spirit's energy, which in turn restored the heart's electrical rhythm.
Psalm 18:28 — God Keeps My Lamp Burning
"For You light my lamp; the LORD my God illumines my darkness." (Psalm 18:28)
David understood that his "lamp"—his life-force, his spirit—was sustained by God.
Proverbs 13:9 says: "The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked goes out."
The righteous have a lamp that burns brightly because God sustains it. The wicked see their lamp go out because they're disconnected from the source of life.
Proverbs 24:20 warns: "For there will be no future for the evil man; the lamp of the wicked will be put out."
When God withdraws His sustaining power, the lamp goes out. The spirit departs. The heart stops. Death comes.
Not Deifying the Human Spirit
Now, let me be absolutely clear: I am not teaching that the human spirit is divine or self-sustaining.
The New Age movement teaches that we are gods, that we have unlimited power within ourselves, that we just need to "tap into" our divine nature.
That is a lie.
The human spirit is a created entity. It is dependent on God for its existence and power.
Acts 17:28 says: "For in Him we live and move and exist."
We don't live because of ourselves. We live in Him. Our existence is contingent upon God's sustaining power.
Think of it this way:
A lightbulb produces light, but only when it's connected to an electrical source. Unplug the bulb, and the light goes out. The bulb doesn't generate electricity—it transmits and manifests the electricity that flows through it.
Similarly, the human spirit produces bioelectrical energy, but only because it's connected to God, the ultimate source of all life and energy.
Disconnect from God (through sin, rebellion, spiritual death), and the lamp dims and eventually goes out.
Colossians 1:17 — In Him All Things Hold Together
"He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:17)
The Greek word for "hold together" is synistēmi, meaning to cohere, to stand together, to be constituted.
Jesus is the cosmic glue. He holds:
Atoms together
Molecules together
Cells together
Organs together
Bodies together
The entire universe together
Without Him, everything—including our beating hearts—would fall apart at the molecular level.
Hebrews 1:3 — Upholding All Things
"And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power." (Hebrews 1:3)
The word "upholds" is pherō in Greek, meaning to bear, carry, sustain. It's in the present continuous tense—Jesus is right now, at this very moment, actively sustaining all things by His powerful word.
Your heart is beating right now because Jesus is upholding it.
Your lungs are breathing right now because He sustains them.
Your neurons are firing right now because He holds them together.
The moment He withdraws His power, you cease to exist.
The Trinity's Role
So who keeps your heart beating?
The Father — The source of all life (John 5:26) The Son — The one who upholds all things (Hebrews 1:3) The Holy Spirit — The one who gives life (Romans 8:11)
And angels carry out the Trinity's will, ministering to believers, praying for us, sustaining us.
After my healing, the Lord said to me: "Got it? We keep your heart beating and your lungs breathing."
By "We," He meant:
Father
Son
Holy Spirit
Angels
All working together to sustain human life.
The Scientific Limitation
Science can describe the mechanisms of life, but it cannot explain the source of life.
Science can measure electrical impulses, but it cannot explain where the energy originates.
Science can map biological processes, but it cannot account for consciousness, will, or the "I am" of personal existence.
That's because science is limited to the material realm. It can study matter and energy, but it cannot study spirit.
The spirit is immaterial. It exists in a dimension science cannot access with its instruments.
But that doesn't mean the spirit isn't real. It just means it's beyond the scope of scientific measurement.
John 4:24 — God is Spirit
"God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:24)
God is spirit—immaterial, invisible, beyond physical measurement.
And we, made in God's image, also have a spirit—immaterial, invisible, beyond physical measurement, but real and powerful.
The Implications
If the human spirit is the source of bioelectrical energy, and if that spirit is sustained by God, then several truths follow:
1. Every heartbeat is a gift from God.
You didn't earn it. You can't sustain it by willpower. God gives it, moment by moment.
2. Life is fragile and dependent.
Without God's sustaining power, we would die instantly. Our existence is 100% contingent on His grace.
3. Death is the departure of the spirit.
When God withdraws the spirit, the body dies. Death is not the cessation of existence—it's the separation of spirit from body.
4. We should live in gratitude and humility.
Knowing that every breath is a gift should make us humble and grateful, not proud and self-sufficient.
5. God deserves worship for sustaining us.
We worship Him not just for salvation, but for every heartbeat He gives us.
The Answer to the Mystery
So, to answer the question that started this journey:
Why does your heart keep beating?
Because God keeps it beating.
The electrical energy that powers your heart is the manifestation of the human spirit—the lamp of the Lord—which is sustained by God's power through the Trinity and mediated by angels.
Science can measure the effect (electrical impulses), but only Scripture reveals the cause (the spirit sustained by God).
Mystery solved.
Reflection Questions:
How does understanding that your heartbeat is sustained by God change the way you think about life?
Read Proverbs 20:27. What does it mean that the spirit "searches all the innermost parts"?
Why is it important to acknowledge that the human spirit is not self-sustaining but dependent on God?
Have you ever felt the Holy Spirit as "heat" or "energy"? What was that experience like?
How should the truth that "in Him we live and move and exist" affect your daily walk with God?
Prayer:
Father, thank You for every heartbeat. Thank You that my life is sustained not by random biological processes, but by Your deliberate, powerful, loving will. Thank You for breathing life into me, for keeping my lamp burning, for upholding all things by Your word. Help me to never take my existence for granted. Let every breath remind me of Your grace. Let every heartbeat be an act of worship. And Lord, keep my spirit connected to You, the ultimate source of all life. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Chapter 15: The Candle of the LORD - Understanding the Human Spirit
"The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the innermost parts of his being." — Proverbs 20:27 (NASB)
We are more than flesh and bones.
We are more than biochemistry and electrical impulses.
We are spirit, soul, and body—tripartite beings created in the image of a triune God.
This chapter explores the nature of the human spirit, its relationship to the soul and body, and why understanding this truth is essential to understanding how God sustains life.
The Tripartite Nature of Man
1 Thessalonians 5:23 provides the clearest biblical statement on human composition:
"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Notice the three components:
Spirit
Soul
Body
Paul prays that all three would be sanctified and preserved. This indicates that humans are not merely bipartite (body and soul) but tripartite (body, soul, and spirit).
Hebrews 4:12 confirms this distinction:
"For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
The Word of God can divide between soul and spirit—proving they are distinct, though closely related.
The Body
The body (Greek: sōma) is the physical, material part of our being:
Flesh, bones, organs
The visible, tangible aspect
Subject to physical laws
Mortal and corruptible (will die and decay)
The "tent" or "temple" that houses the soul and spirit
2 Corinthians 5:1 calls the body "our earthly tent."
1 Corinthians 6:19 calls the body "a temple of the Holy Spirit."
The body is important—it's the vehicle through which we interact with the physical world—but it's temporary. At death, the body returns to dust (Genesis 3:19).
The Soul
The soul (Greek: psychē; Hebrew: nephesh) is the psychological dimension:
Mind (thoughts, reason, intellect)
Will (decisions, choices)
Emotions (feelings, desires)
Personality and individuality
The soul is what makes you you—your unique personality, your preferences, your memories, your character.
Animals also have souls (Genesis 1:21, 24 use the Hebrew word nephesh for animals), but human souls are qualitatively different because they're created in God's image and designed for eternal relationship with Him.
The soul is immaterial but closely tied to the brain and body. Brain damage can affect the soul's expression (memory loss, personality changes), but the soul itself continues to exist even when the body dies.
The Spirit
The spirit (Greek: pneuma; Hebrew: ruach) is the innermost part of our being:
The part that connects with God (who is Spirit)
The part that is "dead" in unbelievers and "alive" in believers (Ephesians 2:1, 5)
The part that is regenerated at salvation (John 3:3-6)
The seat of spiritual discernment and communion with God
The "lamp of the Lord" that energizes the body
John 4:24 says: "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
We worship God spirit to Spirit—our human spirit communing with God's divine Spirit.
Romans 8:16 says: "The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God."
The Holy Spirit communicates with our spirit, not just our mind or emotions.
The Relationship Between Spirit, Soul, and Body
Think of it this way:
The spirit is the core—the deepest part, the eternal essence, the God-breathed life-force.
The soul is the interface—the personality that mediates between spirit and body.
The body is the vehicle—the physical expression and means of interaction with the material world.
Or another analogy:
The spirit is like the electricity that powers a device.
The soul is like the software that runs on the device.
The body is like the hardware—the physical device itself.
All three work together to make a fully functioning human being.
Proverbs 20:27 Revisited
"The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the innermost parts of his being."
Now we can understand this verse more fully:
The spirit (the core, the God-breathed life-force) is like a lamp (producing energy, heat, light).
This lamp is of the LORD—it belongs to Him, is sustained by Him, reflects His image.
It searches all the innermost parts—the Hebrew word cheder means chambers, inner rooms. The spirit energizes:
The chambers of the heart
The cavities of the lungs
The cells of the brain
All internal organs
The spirit is the power source for the entire human being.
Genesis 2:7 — The Breath That Gave Life
"Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being."
Let's break this down:
"Formed man of dust" — God shaped the body from physical materials.
"Breathed into his nostrils the breath of life" — God imparted the spirit (the Hebrew word for "breath" is neshamah, which also means spirit).
"Man became a living being" — The Hebrew phrase is nephesh chayah, meaning "living soul." When God breathed spirit into body, the soul came into existence.
So the order was:
Body formed (physical)
Spirit breathed in (spiritual)
Soul created (psychological)
Body + Spirit = Living Soul
The soul is the result of spirit and body working together. This is why damage to the body (brain injury) can affect the soul (personality, memory), even though the spirit remains intact.
Spiritual Death vs. Physical Death
The Bible speaks of two kinds of death:
Physical death — When the spirit separates from the body (James 2:26). The body dies and decays, but the spirit and soul continue to exist in eternity.
Spiritual death — When the spirit is separated from God (Ephesians 2:1). The person is physically alive, but spiritually dead—unable to connect with God, unresponsive to spiritual truth.
Ephesians 2:1 says: "And you were dead in your trespasses and sins."
Paul is speaking to people who were physically alive but spiritually dead. Their spirits were disconnected from God because of sin.
Ephesians 2:5 says: "Even when we were dead in our transgressions, [God] made us alive together with Christ."
At salvation, the spirit is regenerated—reconnected to God, brought back to life spiritually.
John 3:3-6 — You Must Be Born Again
Jesus told Nicodemus: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." (John 3:3)
Nicodemus was confused: "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" (John 3:4)
Jesus explained: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3:5-6)
There are two births:
Physical birth ("born of water," referring to natural childbirth) — The body is born.
Spiritual birth ("born of the Spirit") — The spirit is regenerated, reconnected to God.
Everyone experiences the first birth. Only believers experience the second.
The Spirit's Role in Sustaining Life
Since the spirit is the "lamp of the Lord" that energizes the body, what happens when someone is spiritually dead (unregenerate)?
Their spirit still functions biologically—it still produces the bioelectrical energy that keeps the heart beating and lungs breathing.
But their spirit is disconnected from God—unable to commune with Him, unresponsive to His voice, destined for eternal separation (hell) unless they're born again.
Think of it like this:
A lamp can still produce light even if it's not connected to the primary power source, as long as it has some power (like a battery-powered lamp). But eventually, the battery runs out. Similarly, an unregenerate person's spirit still sustains physical life (for a time), but it's running on temporary power. When the body dies, the spirit—still disconnected from God—faces eternal death (the second death, Revelation 20:14).
But for believers:
The spirit is regenerated at salvation—reconnected to God, the ultimate power source. The lamp is plugged into an inexhaustible supply. Physical death still occurs (the body wears out), but the spirit continues to live in God's presence eternally.
Romans 8:11 — The Spirit Gives Life
"But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you."
The Holy Spirit gives life to our mortal bodies now (sustaining us physically) and will give life to our bodies in the future (resurrection).
This is the connection between spiritual life and physical life. The indwelling Holy Spirit doesn't just save our souls—He sustains our bodies and will ultimately resurrect them.
The Deification Error
Some teach that because we have a spirit, we are therefore gods or have divine power within ourselves.
This is the error of:
New Age philosophy
Word of Faith extremism
Eastern mysticism
We are NOT gods. Our spirits are created, not divine. We have power, but only power that God gives us and sustains in us.
Isaiah 42:8 says: "I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another."
God doesn't share His deity with us. He shares His life, His presence, His power—but we remain creatures, dependent on Him.
Psalm 82:6-7 records God saying: "I said, 'You are gods, and all of you are sons of the Most High. Nevertheless you will die like men.'"
This passage (quoted by Jesus in John 10:34) calls humans "gods" in the sense that we bear God's image and have authority delegated to us. But the very next verse reminds us:
"Nevertheless you will die like men."
We are mortal. We are dependent. We are creatures, not the Creator.
Our spirits are powerful, but only because God sustains them.
The Lamp Analogy Extended
A lamp:
Requires fuel to burn (oil, electricity, gas)
Produces light and heat when burning
Goes out when fuel is removed
The human spirit:
Requires God's power to function
Produces bioelectrical energy that sustains life
Departs at death when God withdraws sustaining grace
The lamp doesn't generate fuel—it consumes fuel provided from an external source.
The human spirit doesn't generate life—it transmits life provided by God.
Worship and Gratitude
Understanding that our spirit is the "lamp of the Lord," sustained by God every moment, should produce:
Worship — "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name" (Psalm 103:1).
Gratitude — "In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Humility — "What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?" (1 Corinthians 4:7).
Dependence — "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5).
Every breath, every heartbeat, every moment of consciousness is a gift from the God who breathed life into us and sustains that life by His power.
The Lesson
You are spirit, soul, and body.
Your spirit is the lamp of the Lord, sustained by His power.
Your soul is your personality, shaped by your choices and experiences.
Your body is your temporary dwelling, which will one day return to dust.
But if you are born again:
Your spirit is alive in Christ.
Your soul is being sanctified (made holy).
Your body will one day be resurrected and glorified.
All of this is God's work, God's grace, God's power.
Let that truth fill you with worship.
Reflection Questions:
How does understanding the distinction between spirit, soul, and body help you understand yourself better?
Read 1 Thessalonians 5:23. What does it mean for your spirit, soul, and body to be "preserved complete"?
Have you been "born again" spiritually (John 3:3-6)? If not, what's stopping you from surrendering to Christ?
How does the image of the spirit as a "lamp of the Lord" change your understanding of life and death?
In what ways are you treating your body as a "temple of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 6:19)?
Prayer:
Father, thank You for creating me as spirit, soul, and body. Thank You for breathing life into me. Thank You that my spirit is the lamp of the Lord, sustained by Your power. Help me to steward my body wisely, renew my mind daily, and keep my spirit connected to You. Lord, if there are areas of my soul that need healing or my body that needs strengthening, I ask for Your touch. And most of all, keep my lamp burning brightly for Your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Chapter 16: Heat, Wind, and Electricity - The Nature of Spirit
"The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit." — John 3:8 (NASB)
Spiritual beings manifest in the physical realm as heat, wind, and electricity.
This isn't poetry. It's not metaphor. It's reality.
Throughout Scripture and in my own experiences, the pattern is consistent: When the spiritual realm intersects with the physical, it produces tangible effects that can be felt, measured, and described in terms of energy.
This chapter explores the nature of spiritual beings—angels, demons, human spirits, and the Holy Spirit—and how they manifest in ways we can perceive.
My 1994 Healing Experience
I mentioned earlier that I was healed by the Holy Spirit in 1994. Let me describe what that felt like.
I was in a church service, and the presence of God was powerfully manifest. People were worshiping, praying, crying out to God. I was standing with my eyes closed, hands raised, simply worshiping.
Suddenly, I felt something touch me.
It wasn't a human hand. It wasn't a physical object.
It was like:
An electrical shock that went through my entire body
A hot wind that enveloped me
A wave of heat that started at my head and flowed down to my feet
I felt energy surge through me—powerful, overwhelming, but not painful. My knees buckled. I fell to the floor. I couldn't move for several minutes.
When I finally stood up, I was healed.
A chronic condition I had been struggling with for years was gone. Completely. Instantly.
That was the Holy Spirit. And He manifested as heat, wind, and electrical energy.
Acts 2:2-4 — The Day of Pentecost
The most famous example of the Holy Spirit manifesting as heat and wind is Pentecost:
"And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:2-4)
Notice the physical manifestations:
"A noise like a violent rushing wind" — The Holy Spirit came with the sound and force of wind. Wind is moving air, energy in motion.
"Tongues as of fire" — The Holy Spirit appeared visually as fire, which is heat and light, energy released through combustion.
The Holy Spirit is spirit (immaterial), but He manifested in ways the disciples could hear (wind) and see (fire).
Why wind and fire?
Because spiritual beings are energetic in nature. They are like wind (movement, power, invisibility) and fire (heat, light, consuming power).
Exodus 3:2 — The Burning Bush
When God appeared to Moses, He manifested as fire:
"The angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed." (Exodus 3:2)
Fire that burns but doesn't consume—this is the nature of divine presence. It produces heat and light, but it's supernatural fire, not merely chemical combustion.
Moses encountered God as heat and light.
Exodus 19:18 — Mount Sinai
When God descended on Mount Sinai to give the Law:
"Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently." (Exodus 19:18)
Again: fire and smoke (heat).
The mountain quaked (energy, power, force).
God's presence was so intense that the physical mountain shook.
1 Kings 19:11-13 — The Still Small Voice
When God appeared to Elijah:
"So He said, 'Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD.' And behold, the LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing." (1 Kings 19:11-12)
Notice the manifestations:
Strong wind (energy, force)
Earthquake (vibration, power)
Fire (heat, light)
A gentle blowing (subtle wind, whisper)
God can manifest as violent wind or gentle breeze, as consuming fire or quiet whisper. But all involve energy—movement, heat, sound.
Heat Marks From Spiritual Encounters
I mentioned that encounters with spiritual beings can leave heat marks on the body—like burns or brands.
I've experienced this personally. After certain intense spiritual encounters, I've found:
Warmth on my skin that lasts for hours
A tingling sensation like mild electrical current
Redness or sensitivity in areas where I felt spiritual touch
Isaiah 6:6-7 records a seraph touching Isaiah's lips with a burning coal:
"Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. He touched my mouth with it and said, 'Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.'" (Isaiah 6:6-7)
The coal was hot enough that the seraph needed tongs to hold it. When it touched Isaiah's lips, it burned him—but that burning was also cleansing, removing his sin.
Spiritual touch produces physical effects.
Ghosts, Angels, and Demons as Heat Waves
I described Gabriel as appearing like a heat wave or the shadow of the sun.
What did I mean?
When you look at pavement on a hot day, you can see the air shimmering above it. This is heat distorting light waves, creating a visible ripple effect.
That's what spiritual beings look like—invisible most of the time, but occasionally visible as a distortion in the air, a shadow, a shimmer.
You can feel the heat even when you can't see the source.
Job 4:15-16 describes an encounter with a spirit:
"Then a spirit passed by my face; the hair of my flesh bristled up. It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance; a form was before my eyes; there was silence, then I heard a voice." (Job 4:15-16)
Notice:
A spirit passed by — movement, presence
The hair of my flesh bristled up — physical reaction (like static electricity or fear response)
I could not discern its appearance — it was visible but unclear
A form was before my eyes — something was there, a shape, a presence
This is exactly what I've experienced with Gabriel—a form, a presence, a shadow that I can sense but not fully see.
Electricity and the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit's power is often described in terms of electricity:
Acts 1:8 — "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you."
The Greek word for "power" is dynamis, from which we get "dynamite" and "dynamo" (electrical generator).
The Holy Spirit gives explosive power, energizing power, electrical power.
Luke 24:49 — Jesus told the disciples to wait in Jerusalem "until you are clothed with power from on high."
Again, dynamis—power like electricity flowing into a circuit.
When I was healed by the Holy Spirit in 1994, it felt like electrical current surging through me. That's not metaphor—that's the actual sensation.
Spiritual Beings as Energy
Here's what I've learned through Scripture and experience:
Angels are like flames of fire (Hebrews 1:7)—energetic, powerful, producing heat and light.
Demons are also energetic beings, but their energy is destructive, oppressive, dark.
The Holy Spirit is like wind and fire—moving, powerful, life-giving.
Human spirits are like lamps (Proverbs 20:27)—producing bioelectrical energy that sustains life.
All of these are immaterial (not made of physical matter), but they are not nothing. They are energy, force, power manifesting in ways that can be perceived and felt.
John 4:24 — God is Spirit
"God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." (John 4:24)
God is spirit—immaterial, invisible, beyond physical measurement.
But He is not abstract. He is real, powerful, active.
When God manifests, He does so as:
Fire (Exodus 3:2)
Wind (Acts 2:2)
Light (1 John 1:5)
Consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29)
All of these are energy-based phenomena.
The Science of Energy
Science defines energy as the capacity to do work. Energy takes many forms:
Thermal energy (heat)
Electrical energy (moving electrons)
Kinetic energy (motion)
Radiant energy (light, electromagnetic waves)
All of these forms of energy are immaterial—you can't hold electricity in your hand or put heat in a box—but they are real and can be measured.
Spiritual beings are similar: immaterial but real, invisible but powerful, beyond physical measurement but perceivable.
Science can measure the effects of spiritual energy (brain waves during prayer, physiological changes during worship, healings that defy medical explanation), but it cannot measure the spiritual beings themselves because they exist in a dimension beyond the material.
But just because science can't measure something doesn't mean it isn't real.
The Consistency of Testimony
Throughout history, people who have encountered spiritual beings describe similar sensations:
Heat — warmth, burning, fire
Wind — rushing air, breath, movement
Electricity — tingling, shock, energy surge
Light — brightness, glow, radiance
Pressure — weight, heaviness, or lightness
These are not culturally conditioned responses. These are consistent across time, culture, and theological background because they reflect the actual nature of spiritual beings.
Hebrews 12:29 — Our God is a Consuming Fire
"For our God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:29)
This isn't metaphor. God is fire in His essence—not chemical combustion, but spiritual fire, holy fire, purifying fire.
When we encounter God, we encounter heat, light, consuming power.
Deuteronomy 4:24 says the same: "For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God."
Fire consumes what is unholy and purifies what is precious (like gold refined in fire, 1 Peter 1:7).
The Difference Between Holy and Unholy Fire
Not all spiritual fire is from God.
Acts 19:13-16 records false exorcists trying to use Jesus' name:
"But the evil spirit answered and said to them, 'I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?' And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded." (Acts 19:15-16)
Demonic spirits also have power—destructive, oppressive power. They can produce physical effects (heat, energy, manifestations), but their energy is dark, harmful, enslaving.
How to discern the difference?
1. The fruit — Does the experience produce love, joy, peace, righteousness? Or does it produce fear, confusion, bondage?
2. The doctrine — Does it glorify Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior? Or does it exalt self, spirits, or false teachings?
3. The freedom — Does it bring freedom and life? Or does it bring oppression and death?
1 John 4:1 commands: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God."
Not all spiritual experiences are from God. Test everything by Scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit.
The Heat I Felt from Gabriel
When Gabriel healed my heart, I felt heat surge through my chest—warmth, energy, life.
That heat was good, holy, life-giving. It came from an angel of God, carrying out God's will, bringing God's healing.
The heat wasn't oppressive or frightening. It was comforting, strengthening, renewing.
That's how you know it was from God.
The Holy Spirit as Wind
John 3:8 says: "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
Jesus uses wind as a metaphor for the Spirit because:
Wind is invisible — you can't see it, but you know it's there
Wind is powerful — it can move mountains (metaphorically), topple trees, drive ships
Wind is unpredictable — you can't control where it goes
Wind is life-giving — it brings fresh air, oxygen, breath
The Holy Spirit is like wind—invisible but real, powerful but gentle (or violent when necessary), unpredictable but purposeful, life-giving.
Ezekiel 37:9-10 — Breath Brings Life
In Ezekiel's vision of the valley of dry bones, God commands:
"Then He said to me, 'Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, "Thus says the Lord GOD, 'Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life.'"' So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army." (Ezekiel 37:9-10)
The Hebrew word for "breath" is ruach, which also means wind and spirit.
God's breath/wind/Spirit brought the dead bones to life.
That's the power of spiritual energy—it brings life where there was death.
Personal Application
Understanding that spiritual beings manifest as heat, wind, and electricity helps us:
1. Recognize spiritual encounters. When you feel sudden warmth, a rush of wind (without physical cause), or an electrical sensation during prayer or worship, it may be the Holy Spirit's presence.
2. Not fear genuine spiritual experiences. God's presence can be intense, even overwhelming, but it's good. Don't resist it out of fear.
3. Discern false manifestations. If a spiritual experience leaves you feeling oppressed, confused, or drawn away from Christ, it's not from God.
4. Seek more of God's presence. If you've never felt the heat of God's presence or the wind of the Spirit, ask Him for it. He delights to manifest Himself to those who seek Him.
The Lesson
Spiritual beings are real, powerful, and energetic.
They manifest as:
Heat
Wind
Electricity
Light
These are not metaphors. These are the actual ways spiritual realities intersect with the physical world.
When you encounter God, you encounter fire.
When the Holy Spirit touches you, you feel heat and wind.
When angels minister to you, you may sense warmth and energy.
Don't dismiss these experiences. Embrace them. Test them. And give God glory for revealing Himself to you in tangible ways.
Reflection Questions:
Have you ever felt heat, wind, or electrical sensations during prayer or worship? What was that experience like?
Read Acts 2:2-4. Why do you think the Holy Spirit manifested as wind and fire at Pentecost?
How can you discern whether a spiritual experience is from God or from a deceiving spirit?
Why is it important that spiritual beings, though immaterial, produce real, tangible effects?
What would it look like for you to seek more of God's manifest presence in your life?
Prayer:
Father, I thank You that You are not distant or abstract, but real and present. Thank You that Your Spirit manifests in ways I can feel and perceive. Lord, let me experience the fire of Your presence, the wind of Your Spirit, the power of Your touch. Burn away everything in me that is not of You. Fill me with Your energy, Your life, Your power. And help me to discern Your genuine presence from counterfeit spiritual experiences. In Jesus' name, Amen.
