Wind of God

Appreciation and Introduction Gratitude for songs, testimonies, and prayer requests. Expresses contentment and appreciation for being in God’s house. Acknowledges the presence and importance of the Holy Spirit. Reference to Acts 2:1-4 about the day of Pentecost. All were in one accord in one place. Sound from heaven like a rushing, mighty wind. Cloven tongues like fire appeared. All were filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke in other tongues. Worship and the Holy Spirit People worship differently, and that’s okay. Anticipation of uninhibited worship in heaven. Appreciation for times when the “wind blows” in church (the Holy Spirit is present). There are times for stillness for the seed to fall. Desire for the Holy Ghost in the church. If the Holy Ghost wasn’t present, would seek it elsewhere. If one doesn’t feel the Spirit, there may be something wrong in their heart. Not the fault of others or external factors. God is not a respecter of persons; He blesses all equally. If you want the Holy Ghost, He will give you all you want of Him. If one doesn’t like the Holy Spirit, this church may not be a good fit. The Holy Ghost needs to lead in everything done in the church. The Pastor’s Perspective The more people filled with the Holy Ghost, the better for the pastor. Contrast between preaching to an unresponsive crowd and a Spirit-filled congregation. Signs of a Spirit-filled congregation: raised hands, tears, smiles, recognition of God’s presence. God is the answer, and the question is when. God administers through the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost dwells within, not just visits. The Holy Ghost stays until the job is done, taking believers to the end. Belief that one couldn’t make it without the Holy Spirit’s help. Old Testament Examples of the Holy Spirit (Wind) The Word of God is discerned by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps people get what they need from the Word. Exodus 14:21 – Deliverance at the Red Sea Moses stretched out his hand, and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind. The wind blew all night, dividing the waters. The Holy Ghost has been a deliverer. The Holy Ghost is a wind that will deliver the people of God all the time. The Holy Ghost is always working, whether one is conscious of it or not. The Holy Ghost frustrates the devil. Reference to Job, whose hedge was removed, but his life was protected. The Holy Spirit’s deliverance is still moving today. Numbers 11:31 – Sustenance in the Wilderness The children of Israel murmured and were hungry. God sent a wind that brought quails from the sea. The quails fell around the camp, two cubits high (three feet deep). The Holy Ghost brings what is needed to make it another day. The wind of sustenance feeds the soul. The Holy Ghost moves to make sinners uncomfortable and saints rejoice. God used the Spirit to gather billions of quail. The wind brought sustenance when it was needed most. Reference to Ezekiel, where the Lord asked if dry bones could live. The bones came together, but they were still dead until the wind blew into them. 2 Samuel 5 – Assurance David sought God before going into battle. David asked if he should go up against the enemy and if God would deliver them. God loves zeal but also gives assurance. God told David to wait for a sign: the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees. The wind will start blowing, and you’ll know it’s time to go. The wind gives assurance. The unction is needed to preach. Without the unction, it’s just teaching. The Holy Ghost won’t bear witness to anything untrue or false. The Holy Ghost will bear witness if your heart is for God. Jonah 1:4 – Repentance Jonah ran from God because he didn’t want to preach to the people of Nineveh. You can’t run from God; the Holy Ghost is everywhere. The Lord sent a great wind into the sea, causing a mighty tempest. The wind of God can break, stop, or wake one up. The wind of God blows to bring repentance. God can use the Holy Ghost to bring you to a place of repentance. New Testament Promise and Provision of the Holy Spirit (Wind) John 16:7 – Promise of the Comforter It is expedient that Jesus go away so the Comforter (Holy Ghost) can come. The Comforter is the Holy Ghost. Jesus had bound Himself to an earthly body and couldn’t be everywhere. The Holy Ghost isn’t bound to anything. Jesus promised to send the wind of God (the Holy Spirit). Acts 1:4-5 – Promise of Baptism with the Holy Ghost Jesus commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem but to wait for the promise of the Father. John baptized with water, but they would be baptized with the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost will lead and guide in all truth and righteousness. Acts 2:1 – Provision of the Holy Spirit On the day of Pentecost, they were all with one accord in one place. Suddenly, there came a sound from heaven as a rushing mighty wind. It filled all the house where they were sitting. The Spirit of God still does that today. When people are walking with God, the wind will blow in their lives. All that Jesus was trying to tell them became clear when the wind started blowing. John 3:7 – Born of the Spirit Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth. So is everyone that is born of the Spirit. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; Jesus was talking about being born again in the spirit. The Holy Ghost had to blow over and be partaking in your salvation. God is saving your spirit, not your flesh. The Holy Spirit has blown in the lives of His children from the time He left them until now. The wind is still moving as long as the people of God are on planet Earth. Discernment of Spirits There are strange winds blowing today that are not of God. These winds are false and imitate the Spirit of God. They are a form of godliness but deny the power thereof. Try the spirits to see of what sort they are. Not every spirit that blows in your life is of God. People are getting caught up in smoke, mirrors, darkness, and strobe lights. These things appeal to the flesh and stimulate the emotions but are not of God. If it ain’t of God, you ain’t getting born again. Be sure every spirit you face is Him. Gratitude for the rushing mighty wind that blew into the hearts of those men and forever changed them. The wind leads or stops them, making them go to the left or right because He knows. Invitation and Closing Invitation for those who need the Lord to come forward. If you haven’t felt the wind of God in a while, get right with Him. Repent of your sin, turn from it, yield yourself to God, and trust Him. He will forgive you of your sin and purge you of all unrighteousness. He will forgive you if you confess it. The wind of the Holy Spirit will start blowing in your life again.