Wind is a metaphor for the Spirit of God
I’ve been fascinated by wind since childhood. I love to watch the long grass of the field sway and move to the slightest change in wind direction.
I love how trees bend and bow in response to the force. There’s something powerful and mystical about it.
This is one reason that I love Pentecost — the wind rushed into the house where Jesus’ disciples stayed.
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting (Acts 2:1–2, NIV).
The wind has two main characteristics — speed and direction. Like the wind, the Holy Spirit appears abruptly out of thin air and moves wherever He wants.
On the day of Pentecost, the people encountered the Holy Spirit in a very special way. God poured out the Holy Spirit’s power on all of God’s people. Before this, the Spirit of God would rest upon an individual for a particular moment in time.
The descent of the Holy Spirit was promised in the Old Testament. The prophet Joel wrote:
And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions (Joel 2:28, NIV).
The Holy Spirit is still active and working today. When we come to faith in Jesus, God moves in. He dwells within us, making our bodies a temple.
The Spirit of God comes to:
Convict us of our sin (John 16:8, NIV).
Reveal truth to us (1 Corinthians 2:10, NIV)
Lead us (Romans 8:14, NIV)
Sanctify and justify us (1 Corinthians 6:11, NIV)
Fill us with love (Romans 5:5, NIV)
Anoint us (1 John 2:20, NIV)
Comfort us (2 Corinthians 1:3, NIV)
Produce fruit in us (Galatians 5:22–23, NIV)
Renew and wash us (Titus 3:5, NIV)
Intercede for us (Romans 8:26, NIV)
Teach and remind us (John 14:26, NIV)
I love to hear stories of people who experienced the infilling of the Holy Spirit. And like the wind, I am fascinated by the influence He’s had in my life.