Holy Wind, Batman!

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After years of waiting, I've finally gotten married!  And I’ve finally moved down to the Long Branch area to serve my church in the best way I can.  In the midst of all of this, I’ve been praying for God’s direction, guidance and blessing.

Recently I read John 3, the famous passage where Jesus talks to Nicodemus, a high-ranking Pharisee, about being “born again,” or born of the Spirit.  While I’ve totally glazed over this in the past, this passage really came alive for me (in part because of watching The Bible miniseries on Netflix this past Easter).  In John 3:8 Jesus says:

“The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” –Jesus (John 3:8 NASB)

As Pentecostals, we always talk about being led by the Holy Spirit.  But even from this passage, Jesus makes it seem like it’s not an easy thing.  Just like the wind, you don’t always know where it is coming from or where it is going; “so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Now growing into my role even more as a youth pastor, I’m realizing what this looks like in my own life.  It’s not easy to be led by God’s Spirit.  I can’t just “plug in” things I know will work, or follow some type of formula…I have to use my brain.  I have to do hard work.  And most of all, I need to pray.

I don’t always know where to go, or what to do.  In order to lead my wife and lead my youth group, I need to be asking the Holy Spirit where to go, or what to do.

“The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Following God’s Spirit can be hard, but it’s so much better than leading myself.  I refuse come to the end of my life and say, “I did the formula; I did the ‘Christian’ thing.  I didn't use my brain, stretch myself or work that hard.  I just did whatever Christians are supposed to do.”  Instead, when I get to heaven, I will say that I lived a life following God’s Spirit.  I did what God wanted me to do.  I was in tune with Him.  I didn’t always know where I was going, but it’s ok, because I was going where God was leading me.  And that’s better than anywhere I could lead myself. 


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