“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” – John 3:8
No one can see the wind, but we see its effects and we feel its presence. We see a gentle breeze ripple across the water. We see a strong gust uproot a ponderosa pine. We feel its subtle presence and its power when we struggle against it. We notice it’s absence, and when it returns. We know the wind’s power because of what we have seen it move, and the way we have felt it move us. And so it is with the Holy Spirit and being born again.
We see the Holy Spirit’s effects and we feel His presence. We do not see the new birth, but the life changing work of the Spirit is obvious. Like seeing an uprooted ponderosa pine in the forest and knowing the wind is the only way it could have fallen, we see a person transformed and we know it was the work of the Spirit and they have been reborn.
Jesus made clear that, “no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again,” (John 3:3). He continued to explain that “no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but Spirit gives birth to spirit,” (John 3:5-6). Through belief in Jesus and acceptance of Him as our Lord and Savior we are reborn, and He promises not to leave us as orphans, “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you,” (John 14:15-18). Jesus says it is the Holy Spirit that works in our hearts, “the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you,” (John: 14:25-26). He says that it is the Spirit that testifies, “when the Advocate comes… he will testify about me,” (John 15:26). He says that it is for our good that He must go, and the Spirit come, “very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong,” (John 16:7-8). He says that when we accept the Spirit’s leading, we accept Him, “when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come, He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make know to you,” (16:12-15).
Like the wind, the Holy Spirit is invisibly active all over this earth. Our promise from Jesus is that when we believe in Him and accept Him as our Lord and Savior, the Spirit of God comes to live within our hearts, walking with us and working through us.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank you for sending us the Holy Spirit. Help us to trust His leading, to submit to His will, and to enjoy His presence as we walk with Him. Spirit, I pray that you move in us and work through us, and that Your will be done in our lives.
Susanville Christian Fellowship 