The Wind Blows

John 3:8 has always intrigued me. Jesus 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.” This verse sounds a bit mysterious, doesn’t it? 

The move of the Holy Spirit is so wonderful. It is He who convicts of sin and draws us to Christ. We may not understand the dynamics behind this beautiful reality but we know it works. And we know it’s real! The Holy Spirit constantly works to reveal the beauty of Jesus and His saving grace to “whosoever.” I do not believe for one moment that God preordained some to be saved and others “oh well, tough luck!”

When I was a little boy, the Spirit touched me in precious ways. Once, when I was swinging in the side yard on a warm sunny summer day, He came to me. I was standing on the swing, as boys do, swinging high into the sky. Suddenly, the Holy Spirit washed over me in a torrent of love, and I responded through a gush of tears. My emotions imploded as I felt the love of God blow over me. It just so happened that my mother was watching out the kitchen window, and saw my emotional implosion. She became concerned and came running to see what was wrong. 

“Roger, what’s wrong,” she asked. All I could say was, “I feel loved!” Mom knew something supernatural was happening and stood in awe of the moment. Like Mary, she pondered this in her heart. The “wind of the Spirit” blew into my life on several other occasions during my boyhood years. We refer to this as natural revelation or general revelation. In other words, God reveals Himself in both nature and anyway He chooses. Specific revelation, through the preaching of the Word, drew me to personal salvation on August 4, 1970. The wind of the Spirit continued to blow, and is still blowing today! Thank God!

When our son Adam was four years old, I witnessed a similar move of the Spirit in his life. It was late one Sunday evening after we returned home from church. I noticed that my son was unusually quiet, so I paid particular attention. This I specifically remember: He was standing in front of our fireplace and began to cry uncontrollably. I watched as the Holy Spirit blew into his young life. Adam was convicted of sin and asked Jesus to touch him. I asked, “Adam, what’s happening?” He cried through a flood of emotion, “Daddy, I’m getting saved!”

The wind blows where it wills and when it wills. God’s Spirit cannot be put into a box or worked up, or manipulated. Only He and He alone knows when hearts are tethered. I’m very concerned about the manner in which His work is presented in some quarters of Spirit filled churches today. I still believe He’s a perfect gentleman and produces life change when He moves. I don’t care how many times people fall on the floor, laugh uncontrollably, experience suspended cognitive-speech skills, or move into trances. If the end result is not life-change, then we need to take another look at what we call “a move of the Spirit.” And, if life change is happening, we need to get on board!

Theologians often entertain the question, “Will the heathen be saved?’ I was! And you were, too. We all, apart from Jesus, are heathens! Heathen not only live in third world countries, in the bush, or where Christian churches are non-existent. Anyone who remains separated from the saving grace of Jesus is still a heathen. And this I believe: the Holy Spirit works feverishly to touch hearts everywhere. The wind of the Spirit is blowing in Ukraine, South Africa, Russia, China, the Middle East, in Washington, D.C, and in Jefferson! God does not pick and choose who will come to salvation. 2 Peter 2:9 emphatically declares, “It is not His will that any perish.” 

Do you have a loved one who still needs to be saved? Perhaps a spouse, children or friends.Then pray, asking the Holy Spirit to blow into their lives like He did Nicodemus in John 3. If the Holy Spirit can blow into the life of a law-based Pharisee like Nicodemus, He can certainly touch those you love. Trust Him!