“’The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.’”
– John 3:8

Driving through parts of west Texas, one immediately becomes aware of the proliferation of wind turbines. They are everywhere! Or if one has not seen these, then maybe you’ve seen the large blades carried on very large trucks along I-10. They are huge! The first ones I saw were in Germany. The intent, of course, is to harness the energy of the wind thereby creating a much more efficient – and cleaner – form of renewable energy.

Several years ago, we were traveling to New Mexico for our annual Thanksgiving getaway. Passing some of these “wind farms,” my dear friend, Jim, who worked for City Public Service in San Antonio at the time, remarked: “There’s just one problem with these (at the time, about 10% of electricity consumed in San Antonio was wind-generated).” “What’s that?” I asked. Simple, Jim said. No wind. No electricity. The moral? Try as we might, we’ll never fully harness the power of wind.

Such it is with the Holy Spirit. We can’t “harness” the Spirit, making it do our bidding. As Jesus told Nicodemus, we only “see” the wind through the evidence of its passing. The Spirit, whether it’s at work in the lives of individuals or in the church, is the same. We see evidence after it’s done its work. Nor can we coerce the Spirit to work. In fact, at times, I believe, trying to force the Spirit to come may instead push it away!

But, are we but passive players in the work of the Spirit. As Paul might say, by no means! Rather, followers of Jesus both remain open to the prompting of the Spirit, and to participating at the Spirit’s guidance as we begin to discern it’s work. That is the issue of faith. I believe that, through the Holy Spirit, God is doing incredible things in the midst of Christ’s church, both here and throughout the world. However, if we’re not careful, we can thwart the work of the Spirit. Yes, thwart.

How so? It goes back to that trying to “force” the Spirit to work in ways we see fit, rather than be open and flexible, adapting to the work of the Spirit. Churches pray for new members, but when the Spirit sends them the church’s way, too often the church is either too ill-prepared to receive them (i.e., nothing going on that would attract newcomers), or, and may God forbid this, see them not as the “kind” of members needed. Why, they’re old, like me! They’re not young! We need young members. Maybe, just maybe, those “old” people are just the ones needed by the church! Just sayin’. See you on this incredible journey of discovery as we watch the Spirit work.

Grace and peace,

Mike

February 19, 2017