The Spirit of God is like the wind…

John 3:8

“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

If the Spirit of God is like the wind, why is it that some healers and miracle workers seem to be ordering Him what to do as if they have the right to do so? What should be our attitude in relation to the Holy Spirit? Practically, who is in charge…sinners saved by grace or Him, the third Person in the triune and holy God?

As Jesus has implied and verbalized in the above passage, we cannot order the Holy Spirit around when we cannot even see Him in action. Therefore, let us bow before Him with fear and trembling as we seek Him to intervene in our lives daily. Most of the time we are unaware of His constant watch over us waiting for us to obey Him in spirit and in truth. We often grieve Him by not understanding how He moves among us e.g. especially on the distribution and use of the spiritual gifts. He will give His fruits to every believer as a consequence of his/her being born again in Christ. How then can we hinder Him from doing His job?

Further, He may act in silence sometimes or noisily at other times. He has the prerogative, we do not.

How do we limit His actions?

Example

• By disobeying Him intentionally or unintentionally. God’s children usually want to obey Him. By children I do not mean any person who wishes to be known as a Christian publicly ad privately. I mean the true believer who has the Holy Spirit in him/her and who worships God in spirit and in truth. Nevertheless, they are still forgiven sinners on the mend.
• By intentionally using denominational, theological and other affiliations as labels for reasons other than administrative ones. Friends become enemies when they stop having fellowship with each other over differences with regard to spiritual gifts. Sometimes the world is better at handling this matter even though ultimately for financial, status or political issues.
• By intentionally acting in such a manner as to show one is better than the other, the Spirit is grieved within His body of believers.

Let each of us recall and reflect how we have grieved Him in openness or in secret today or yesterday so that we may repent and not grieve Him any more in that matter.

Have we reached that point of quiet pondering, genuine repentance when the Holy Spirit is convicting day by day?

Silent listening to the still small voice of God…His voice of pure love…tranquility and peace.

Will the prodigal return?

Joy and forgiveness awaits us in the Father’s presence…not sorrow and condemnation (John 3:16 & 17).

Remember,

God is love, joy and peace; He is patience, kindness and goodness; He is also faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. He is not in a hurry to achieve things like we are; neither is He slow to take action when necessary. He moves with confidence without sinful pride. He is holy.

The only appropriate response is to

• Go to your room
• Close the door
• And talk to Him on bended knees…

Journal what happens in the room with God…