“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man, but holy men of God spake, as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” 2 Peter 1:21
Dear Ones:
If there is one evidence, proof, and actual present working of God in the heart and life, it has to do with the working of the Spirit of God. There is no doubt when Jesus addressed Nicodemus, that He sought to communicate to him the fact that the work of the Spirit in a life, or lives, or nations, was not something that one could fully understand. Isaiah puts the matter before us in these terms: “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (55:9) Little, sinful man, cannot grasp the workings of God except as God chooses to reveal them to him, and opens his eyes see them, and his heart to believe them. So, the Lord Jesus uses the wind as an example, a picture of the Spirit, who is invisible, but whose work and movements are recognizable, as the effects of them are very clear.
In the Old Testament, in the consideration of Cyrus the king of Persia, we find written in Isaiah, the account of God’s working in him: “…the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, the king of Persia.” (2 Chronicles 36:22) In the book of Haggai, we find the will of God revealed with regard to recommencing the work on the second temple. It was then that, “….the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, the governor of Judah.” (1:14) Scripture tells us that He also stirred up the spirit of Joshua the high priest, and the spirit of the remnant of the people.” The result was that they all came together to work, and rebuild the house of the Lord. In the book Nehemiah, Nehemiah puts the working of the Lord in him a little differently. He would speak in his prayer that the Lord would prosper him, with regard to gaining audience, and permission of the king, to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. He then would add, “…Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me.” (2:18) In the book of Judges, we find, with regard to Samson, where, “…the Spirit of the Lord began to move him at times.” (13:25) Did any of these men “see” the Spirit of God? No. However, there were definite effects, like the wind, when the Spirit moved and stirred them up.
It is not possible for a single Christian, nor the entire church of Christ, to grasp the full meaning and extent of purpose and power that the Lord manifested on the day of Pentecost, when the Spirit of God was poured out. We find that no one saw the Spirit of God, but the disciples who were gathered together praying for the coming, or outpouring of the Spirit, according to the promise of the Father, and the words of the Lord Jesus, did hear a “sound from heaven.” (Acts 2:2) It was like “…a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the house.” There was also the appearing of “…cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.” (v.3) However, no one saw the Holy Spirit, only the effects of his working. Why? Because God gave to the disciples that day the announcement of the Spirit’s coming in power and God’s holiness. It was not only the moment when the church of Christ, His body, would be born, but it was the declaration of what was the prelude of His working for the future, testifying to the world of Christ’s saving grace and power.
When Solomon wrote, “…Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden,” (Song of Sol. 4:16), he was speaking of the working of the Spirit. When Ezekiel was commanded by God to speak to the wind, he prophesied: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” (37:9) Both men believed in the moving of the Spirit.
Dear Father, Stir us, fill us, and lead us by the Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad