BLOWN AWAY
"The wind blows where it wills; and though you hear its sound, yet you neither know where it comes from nor where it is going. SO IT IS WITH EVERYONE BORN OF THE SPIRIT." John 3:8
Unpredictable to say the least. I was in a sandstorm last month and the wind was coming from one direction one minute, and then just when you thought you figured it out...it would change directions. I am not sure what idea people have when they think of what it means to be born of the Spirit. According to God's word it is abundant life, it is repenting and being baptized, it is putting off the works of the flesh (your old sinful nature) and abiding in the newness of life which is Jesus Christ. Being born of the Spirit is not to paint peace symbols on everything you own, decide that haircuts are not for you, or make rainbows the topic of your conversations. It has nothing to do with wearing ti-dyed tshirts and rose colored glasses. It is to be grounded in reality, standing on the solid rock which is Christ Jesus the King; unwavering in and fully convinced of what you say you believe. Without saying anything your life is telling others exactly what you believe...loud and clear.
Here's a little clip from Matthew Henry's Commentary on this passage: "The regenerating work of the Holy Spirit is compared to water. The Spirit sends his influences where, and when, on whom, and in what measure and degree, he pleases. Though the causes are hidden, the effects are plain, when the soul is brought to mourn for sin, and to breathe after Christ. Thus the things of the Spirit of God are foolishness to the natural man."
Unpredictable to say the least. I was in a sandstorm last month and the wind was coming from one direction one minute, and then just when you thought you figured it out...it would change directions. I am not sure what idea people have when they think of what it means to be born of the Spirit. According to God's word it is abundant life, it is repenting and being baptized, it is putting off the works of the flesh (your old sinful nature) and abiding in the newness of life which is Jesus Christ. Being born of the Spirit is not to paint peace symbols on everything you own, decide that haircuts are not for you, or make rainbows the topic of your conversations. It has nothing to do with wearing ti-dyed tshirts and rose colored glasses. It is to be grounded in reality, standing on the solid rock which is Christ Jesus the King; unwavering in and fully convinced of what you say you believe. Without saying anything your life is telling others exactly what you believe...loud and clear.
Here's a little clip from Matthew Henry's Commentary on this passage: "The regenerating work of the Holy Spirit is compared to water. The Spirit sends his influences where, and when, on whom, and in what measure and degree, he pleases. Though the causes are hidden, the effects are plain, when the soul is brought to mourn for sin, and to breathe after Christ. Thus the things of the Spirit of God are foolishness to the natural man."
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