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The Wind from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.

Today I want to talk about the Wind. We cannot see the wind blowing, but we can see the effects of it and we can feel the air movement on our skin. For example you can see someone’s hair blowing in the wind, but you can’t see the wind itself that is moving it. I want to begin in Acts chapter 2:

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:1–4 NKJV

About 120 disciples of Jesus were gathered together in the upper room, including Peter and Mary. Jesus Himself had been arrested and crucified about fifty days earlier on the day of Passover, but He had remained on the Earth until about 10 days before this and appeared to them from time to time. They were probably tempted to leave the city before they were arrested and killed, but Jesus told them to remain in Jerusalem until they were clothed with “Power from on high.”

In Luke 24:49 Jesus told them:  “And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49 NASB).   

The Mighty Rushing Wind that came in Acts chapter 2 was the promise of the Father. That Wind brought the “Power from on high” and it brought the power of heaven down to Earth. It was God’s Holy Spirit, and it covered and filled the disciples. Indeed the word for Spirit means “Breath.” In John 20:22 Jesus breathed on some disciples and said “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Jesus called Him the Helper and He said that it was to our advantage that He Himself went away so that the Helper could come, John 16:7:

“But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. (John 16:7 NASB). 

Jesus went to heaven, and He usually stays there. I say usually because He apparently came back to see Paul when he was in prison in Acts 23:11. So Jesus may visit Earth from time to time, but in general it is the Holy Spirit whom we interact with on a day-to-day basis. Jesus ascended to heaven, and the Holy Spirit descended like a Mighty Rushing Wind, and He has been here ever since.

Jesus called the Holy Spirit “The Helper”. Think on that for a moment. What do most people on Earth need today? Help in some way.

The greek word used here for Helper is “paraklētos” (Strong’s concordance #3875) meaning: “The Helper, Counselor, Encourager, Mediator, the Assistant, the Legal Advisor”. That is who Jesus was sending and He would be as invisible as the wind. You will never see the Holy Spirit, but you can feel His presence, and see Him affect your surroundings.

Religion often views God as distant and hard to connect with, but the truth is that He is as close as that wind that you feel on your skin. He is in the operating room with you. He is in the court room with you. Yes, He is watching television with you. “You Are the Air I Breathe” is a pretty accurate description of the presence of the Holy Spirit.

When you need help, He is the Helper. When you need counseling, He is the Counselor. When you need encouragement, He is the Encourager. When you need comfort, He is the Comforter.

Now God generally works through His people and we are His hands and feet on the Earth. What I mean is that if you need help, the Holy Spirit may prompt one of His troops to come help you, but in certain circumstances, He may just do it Himself. Perhaps the person that He is trying to use will not yield to His prompting and therefore He has to do it. For example, we know a couple that needed $1200 very badly and when they opened their dryer, $1200 suddenly blew out of it. He is God. He does what He wants.

So when you are all alone, and it seems that no one cares. That all is lost. That there is no need to continue you on. When hope is gone. Think of the wind that you feel on your face, and remember the precious Holy Spirit, for He is here with us, right now.

You can pray this with me if you like:

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please fill me with Your Holy Spirit and let me feel Your presence right here, right now. Help me recognize when You are speaking to me. Help me remember that You are the God of now, and You are here. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.