Question:
Can you please explain to me John 3:8. How is the Holy Spirit like the wind? I just do not understand what this means.
Answer:
This is a question that is circulating around and around the world today. There are many people who, because of such statements in the Bible, have come to the conclusion that there is no Holy Spirit. The truth is that there are many things in the Bible which we will not be able to understand until we are in heaven, simply because we are earth creatures. This is where the element of faith comes to play in understanding such things in the Bible.
First of all, let me state that the Bible teaches that there are three persons who make up the Godhead —the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (1 John 5:7.) In Genesis 1:2, the Bible is clear that the Spirit of God was present during the creation of this world. There are several instances in the Old Testament where the Spirit of the Lord is mentioned as doing a great work—the books of Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings just to mention a few. Of course, there is that famous passage by King David in Psalm 51 where he pleads with the Lord to not take the Holy Spirit from him. We cannot lightly dismiss these Bible teachings.
We must take into consideration what the Bible has to say about the Holy Spirit before we can understand the Holy Spirit as the wind. The Holy Spirit is the One who reproves us of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. (John 16:7, 8.) The Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth. (John 16:13.) The way that this all takes place is through the silent working of the Holy Spirit on our hearts and our minds.
Truth has force. It may be a gentle force, or it may be a strong force. There is the gentle breeze, and then there is the hurricane which blows with tremendous power. When the wind of the Holy Spirit blows on the heart and mind of an individual, things happen. That is why the word spirit is used in the Bible, both in the Hebrew and in the Greek, to describe the work of God through that heavenly agency. In both the Old and New Testaments, the word spirit means breath or wind.
Let us define this further. Wind is moving air, and this fresh air is needed continually for life itself. Even seeds often require wind for their dispersal and subsequent growth. Likewise, the Holy Spirit is the presence of God who is the giver of all life.
Wind has no material shape or form. It is invisible; we cannot see the source or the destination of wind. It is a mysterious, unseen force. Nevertheless, its presence is known by its effects. In the same way, the unseen Holy Spirit can be experienced in a refreshing way. His presence is displayed in the work He does in human lives by transforming, sanctifying, encouraging, and teaching.
Wind is a powerful force. It cannot be stopped or controlled by people. Likewise, the Holy Spirit is not subject to human control. The moving of the Holy Spirit is God at work.
In and through all the descriptions about God, we find enough information so we can grasp what God is about, concerning our salvation. We may not be able to understand every heavenly element, but enough has been revealed to us to generate faith so we can hold onto the rest until Jesus comes.
Pastor Mike Baugher is Associate Speaker for Steps to Life Ministry. If you have a question you would like Pastor Mike to answer, e-mail it to: landmarks@stepstolife.org, or mail it to: LandMarks, Steps to Life Ministry, P. O. Box 782828, Wichita, KS 67278.