Issue 1764 Blowing in the Wind July 4, 2025
Happy Independence Day (July 4th) to all of our readers in the United States.
Recently, the wind was blowing pretty hard, and I remembered a time years ago when I was farm-sitting for my parents in Northern Alberta.
A good old-fashioned blizzard hit. The wind was howling, and the snow was coming down heavily. The wind picked up a full 4X8 sheet of 1/2’ OSB (oriented strand board), which weighed just over 50 pounds, carried it horizontally about a hundred feet, and drove it through the wall of an outbuilding.
For those who live with hurricanes and tornadoes, I’m sure it’s common to see such things, but it was still pretty awe-inspiring.
The wind is a powerful force. It is often used as a metaphor for the Holy Spirit in the Scriptures.
“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8
It’s a perfect metaphor in some ways because we cannot see the wind. It is invisible, but we can see the wind at work. From the gentle rustle of a few leaves, to the waves of blowing grasses in the prairies, to the howling destruction and raw power of a hurricane or tornado, we can see it at work.
We see the effects, not the wind.
When the Spirit convicts us of our sin, we don’t see a physical manifestation, but we certainly feel the weight of the conviction. When the Spirit causes someone to come to Christ, we see a changed life and the angels rejoice in heaven, but we don’t see the Spirit.
The Spirit is always at work here and there, but no one knows what He looks like. Unlike Jesus, who took on flesh, the Spirit has no physical body; He is, well, He is Spirit. His work is undeniable.
The Spirit can be right in the room, or in the heart of a believer, and we won’t see Him. We will see the fruit of His work.
… I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:16-26
You won’t see Him at work, but you will see the results in your life. Sometimes He is but the gentlest of breezes, other times He strikes with the force and fury of a category 6 hurricane.
Until next time, may you be sensitive to the Spirit. May you be reminded of Him when you see the results of the blowing wind. May you be crafted more each day into the image of Jesus.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word – Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
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All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2025 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin, Gleanings From The Word.
Unless otherwise noted, “Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”