The Warm Wind of the Holy Spirit

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. – Acts 2:2-4

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Last week, the warm spring sunshine inspired me to write about the Scripture’s comparison of our Lord to the sun.

Several days later, my devotional discussed the Holy Spirit, and how the Hebrew word for spirit also means “breath, wind.” It couldn’t have been more timely, as the day was sunny, warm, and windy.  The breeze carried the scent of spring and renewed life: composting leaves, cool dirt, and coming rain.

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I always appreciate God’s precise choice of words in Scripture, and his use of the same word for “Spirit” and “wind” helps clarify the Spirit’s personality and role in our lives – as in the example of his role on the day of Pentecost, described in the Scripture above.

After the arrival of the Holy Spirit and the injection of his power into the apostle’s lives, everything changed for them. They became courageous and victorious, achieving more for the cause of Christ than they ever had before.

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In Ezekiel 37, God asked the Holy Spirit to breathe new life into the long-dead, dry bones of God’s people.

Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. 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. – Ezekiel 37: 9, 10

That same Holy Spirit is the Person who dwells within us! And he ministers to us as he has to believers in ages past. Like a warm spring wind, he is intangible, but the changes he effects are powerfully felt.

 

He can breathe new life into a soul deadened by sin and sadness.

He can empower us when our strength fails.

He can move us to perform the Father’s will.

And, as Jesus said, he is our ever-present Comforter.

And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. – John 14:16

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How do you sense the Holy Spirit moving in your life each day? I look forward to your comments.