The Sound of a Rushing Mighty Wind
As I made my way home from church, the skies began to darken and the wind started blowing hard. I was thankful to get inside before the torrential rain began. I thought that my trees might break because they were bent over so far. I started saying “Peace. Be still. In the name of Jesus”, over and over again. I decided to take a nap and when I awoke 45 minutes later, the sun was shining brightly and all was calm.
I saw that my neighbor’s patio chair had been knocked over and some tree limbs broke off and many clumps of leaves laying all over. On my FB timeline, I saw a friend’s post (pictured here): “A gust of quick wind came down and ripped out trees on the golf course, tore branches off the trees on the course into our yard and pool. Amazing how quickly it happened!”
Immediately I remembered, “Today is Pentecost Sunday, and these winds and their sounds hold no comparison to the winds that day!” Acts 2:1-2 says “And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.” This was a noise LIKE a violent rushing wind. This “wind” is not violent that tears apart trees and patio furniture and shingles from a roof. It is better likened to a refreshing, cool breeze of the Holy Spirit.
When we were fishing at Beaver’s Bend, the temperature escalated on a couple of the days. It was warm but we were refreshed when all of a sudden we would feel a very cool, almost cold, breeze circle around us.
Jesus compared the Holy Spirit to a gentle breeze that blows through one’s life and changes everything. He first mentioned the Holy Spirit in a conversation with a spiritual leader named Nicodemus who had always tried to please God by following Him with precise scores of rules and laws. Jesus described a spiritual experience far more personal than that. “You can’t get to know God by anything you do yourself.”
Later, when Jesus was about to leave this earth to return to heaven, His disciples were sad and wondered how they could live without Him. He promised them: “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever — the Spirit of Truth. He lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (John 14:16–18).
In other words, Jesus knew that a human body could be in only one place at one time. But through His Spirit, He could be with us all the time. And not just with us. The Bible says the Holy Spirit will, if we will let Him, live within us. “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” asked the Apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 3:16).
I just had to write another blog today about the Holy Spirit Who has been my mainstay. It is surely the most wonderful and most mysterious blessing of all! If you’ve ever prayed in grief or discouragement and suddenly felt comfort or if you’ve asked God for help in making a decision and felt a dawning awareness of what the right choice should be, then you’ve already met the Holy Spirit. The Spirit does the very things that Jesus Himself did while He was with us: He comforts us, helps us to understand truth, provides direction and healing, helps us to admit when we’ve sinned, and reassures us of God’s love. The Holy Spirit is the presence of God in the lives of those who love Him. What makes all the difference is knowing that the Holy Spirit is always here, always watching, always encouraging, and always ready to help us when we really need Him.
Perhaps, today, you’re feeling the soft, gentle breezes of the Holy Spirit drawing you into a relationship with Jesus Christ. Scripture says “I have loved you with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn you”. Jeremiah 31:3 He’s nudging you to commit your life to God. If you are already a Christian, the Spirit may be calling you to a more devoted life to Christ and even to a life of greater service to others. Whatever He might be saying to you, God asks you to believe that His Spirit is there, near you, watching you, giving you the power to overcome, be more faith-filled and drawing you closer into Himself. Go ahead. Lean in. Experience those cool, gentle breezes of Holy Spirit right now, this very day!