The Wind is Still Blowing!

Wind is powerful and diversified:  such as the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity, wind mills for mechanical power, wind pumps for pumping water or drainage, or sails to propel ships.

March, the windy month, between crocus and daffodils.  What about the wind?  Where did it come from?  Where is it going?  Jesus used the wind to explain the new birth to Nicodemus.

“The wind bloweth where it listeth [blows/breathes], and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth:  so is every one that is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8).

The leaves move on the trees; the grass bends to its force.  The breeze on our face cools us on a warm summer day.  The wind.  Created by God to serve a special purpose for His creation.

In meteorology, we find definitions such as gusts, squalls, gales, storms, hurricanes, typhoons.  We have seen the affects of many of these winds locally.  Wind has been the power of sailing ships on the oceans.  Wind shear can cause danger for aircraft.

Strong winds can be perils to trees, structures and man himself.  Winds can move dust on deserts from one location to another distant far-away place.  It can cause the spread of wildfires.  Wind causes the perpetuation of plant species by spreading seeds.

God knew all the diversity that would surround the wind He created.  He would at times use it to bring about His desired results on earth.  While Noah, his family and the animals waited in the ark after the flood, “God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged” (Genesis 8:1).  He used the wind to fulfill His purposes many times.  Joseph prophetically interpreted Pharaoh’s dream about the seven years of plenty.  Then he saw “seven empty ears blasted with east wind” (Genesis 41:27) causing the seven years of famine.

One of the plagues of Egypt when Pharaoh refused to let the Hebrews leave his slave employ was an infestation of locusts brought in by an east wind powered by the LORD.  When it had served its purpose, Moses stretched forth his rod and the LORD brought a west wind and took them away into the Red Sea; not one was left in Egypt. (Exodus 10)

Again Moses stretched his hand over the sea and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind and divided the waters so the people fleeing Pharaoh’s army could cross over on dry ground.  When God’s people were safely across, a wind blew the waters back into their banks and drowned the Egyptians trying to follow the Hebrews.  (Exodus 14 & 15).

When the Children of Israel grew tired of the manna which was provided for them every day and complained about the sameness, the LORD, with a wind from the sea, brought quails and covered their camps in an area the size of a day’s journey all around them and “two cubits high.”  (Numbers 11).

Ezekiel saw in vision the nation of Israel resurrected from a valley filled with dry bones by calling on the wind, at God’s direction.  When Ezekiel prophesied to the wind, he saw a great army arise.
“So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army….the whole house of Israel…” (Ezekiel 37:10, 11).

The wind is at God’s disposal; it is His creation.  He has used it to save His people, to rout their enemies and bring attention to His presence.  When Adam was created from dust, he did not become a living soul until God “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life” (Genesis 2:7).  God said through the Prophet Joel that he would later “pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters…And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids…And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth…” (Joel 2:28-30).

After Jesus was resurrected and returned to sit at the right hand of His Father, the Wind of the Spirit fell on the waiting disciples on the Day of Pentecost—just as Jesus had promised.

“And, behold I send the promise of my Father upon you:  but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49).

To explain to the astonished multitude who had gathered at Jerusalem for Pentecost and heard what the Wind had stirred up, Peter and other disciples explained:  “…this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel…For the promise is unto you and your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call” (Acts 2:16, 39).  The good news is that the “Wind” is still blowing!

I am “afar off” as millions have been since that prophetic fulfillment years ago, but we are all included!  No one was left out because the prophesy included “as many as the Lord our God shall call”!  Yes, the Wind is still blowing!  Around the world, to all nations, tongues and peoples, it blows, breathes into the lives of believers.  Just as God breathed into the nostrils of Adam creating a living soul, He still breathes into the lives of those who have come out of the “valley of dry bones,” out of the clutches of Satan and entered new life, born again and filled with that “rushing mighty wind” from heaven.  Just as Joel said, it was poured out on “all flesh,” and none are excluded by God.  The only exclusions are those who prefer to exclude themselves; and even for them, grace is available when they open themselves to the “Wind.”

The example of Acts 2:4 tell us that this “Wind” was not applicable only to the apostles.  When we examine the verse, we see that the “rushing mighty wind…filled all the house where they were sitting [emphasis mine].”  Perhaps the apostles were gathered in the “upper room” as is commonly mentioned, because they had business to transact while they waited for the Promise.  The good news is that this mighty Wind of the Spirit filled all the house, not just the upper room!

We only know a few of the names of those present that day, but we know there were at least one hundred twenty in the house (Acts 1:15).  Present day visitors to the house in Jerusalem believed to be the location (or similar one) where the disciples had gathered on that memorable day say it is not possible for one hundred twenty people to fit into the upper room; but that’s not a problem!  The Wind of the Spirit FILLED ALL THE HOUSE where they were sitting.  That confirms that it was not just for the twelve apostles, but was meant for ALL of those assembled in the house to be included in the wonderful, fulfilled promise of Jesus and as prophesied by Joel—including us.

The Wind is blowing, and it is preparing the Church of Jesus Christ to be ready for His return.  Let us get in the path of its force; because we will caught up by it to meet Him in the air!

“For the Lord himself shall descent from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:  and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17).

If the wind of adversity troubles you, move into the Wind of the Spirit and remember the above verse. It will comfort you.

“Wherefore comfort one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:18).

Happy Spring!

~~Delores~~