"The wind blows (breathes) where it wills; and though you hear its sound, yet you neither know where it comes from nor where its going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." - AMP
The wind. There is no identifying precisely where it will come from and its destination can't be determined. Its effects are evident. The activity of it is undeniable. It can be heard, but not seen. It can be harnessed, but not controlled. It can be gentle and strong; and accomplish much in either form.
Is it any wonder that Jesus likened His Spirit to the wind? But wait, He didn't stop there. He was so direct and bold to say that every one that is born of the Spirit is like the wind. EVERY ONE that is born of the Spirit. What's He suggesting? Is He saying that the Spirit-filled, His body - the church, is just all over the place? Of course not. He is giving us a clear understanding of how He designed the Spirit-filled church to function.
In central WA near Thorpe there is a hillside covered with 100+ foot tall windmills. They stand firm like soldiers in a company waiting for the blowing of the wind. Their blades outstretched like arms begging the wind to come their direction.
These turbines have been strategically placed to capture the wind when it blows. As their symmetrical blades are rotated by the wind they are generating power to places unseen. Ironically, there are times when the blades simply stand still. No movement. No wind. It's an interesting design to say the least. These turbines are created to start moving when the wind hits a certain velocity, but they are also designed to shut down when the wind exceeds a certain velocity.
Why is that?
Great question!
The answer is quite simple. While the blades are made to capture the wind, the windmills have a huge problem. They can not move across the landscape with the wind. Try as they might, they are fixed in their position.
Yes, they are strategically positioned to capture the wind, but they are not capable of flowing and going with the wind. Because of their fixed position, when the velocity of the wind increases they must shut down. Failure to shut down in a strong wind can cause damage to all around. As beautiful as the clean energy they generate is, their fixed position is designed to draw power from the wind by resisting the wind.
It's absolutely true that they are fulfilling a purpose, but they are going nowhere. They are meeting a need, but their fixed position limits their ability to be consistently effective. They are set in their position and must now simply wait for the wind to pass from time to time.
Is it possible that Christ's church, His body of Spirit-filled believers, has become like this mass of windmills? Is it fixed in it's position and only interested in the wind to generate power?
Does it have no interest to flow and move with His Spirit beyond pre-determined parameters?
Has it been designed (not by Him) to shut down when the wind blows too strong because the fixed position is actually a resistant to the moving of His Spirit?
Consider an alternative wind capturer. A ship with many sails. It's design is not meant to merely gain power from the wind, but to be taken by and with the wind. It's creation is not for the purpose of staying put. One writer expressed it like this:
"A ship is safe in harbor, but that is not what a ship is designed for."
The ship gets direction from light, maps, reference points and the like. But, never forget, the ship is dependent on the wind. All of the movement is dependent on the wind. It's speed is determined by the wind. Proper positioning is critical to allow the wind to take it to it's destination.
Yes, the seas can be rough. Ships can be turned and tossed. Rest assured that the one who controls the wind also controls the waves. Doesn't it make sense to set sail and allow the wind of His Spirit to direct His body where He wills?
Throughout the book of Acts it's evident that His church moved with His Spirit. That didn't always mean physical relocation, but rather a constant moving where His Spirit led to be in front of people. The church wasn't and shouldn't be "tossed about with every wind of doctrine", but it must be mobile and willing to move with and when and where His Spirit leads.
Consider Acts 2:2-4.
"And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."
Some modern day methods would say "put up a sign and start services in the upper room." Is it any wonder the church went almost three hundred years from house-to-house and grew by thousands?
Consider Philip in Acts 8:26-27 & 37-40.
Consider Paul & Timothy in Acts 16:6-10
There are over six billion souls in the earth today. The Spirit of God will blow where it wills. Will the church be fixed in it's locale or move with His Spirit?
Which will the church of 2011 be?
If it's a Spirit-filled church it's already determined by Jesus Christ.
"The wind blows where it wills. You hear its sound, but you can't tell where it's coming from or where it's going. So is EVERY ONE that is born of the Spirit."
