"THE HEAVENLY WIND" (Pastor Tom Henry) ~ 3/25/25

“The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8)

Divine truths seem to run in twos, the one balancing the other. For example, we have God’s Sovereignty on the one hand and human responsibility on the other. While Scripture presents God’s abounding grace, it also stresses His unflinching justice. While God’s Word teaches the eternal security of believers, it, at the same time, makes clear that the saints must persevere in faith.

In this third chapter of John’s Gospel, we have a wonderful example of this very thing. Two doctrines respecting God’s salvation are here set forth by the Lord Jesus Himself. Not only are they presented in balance, but also in their proper order. First, we have the doctrine of regeneration (Vs. 3-13); followed by the doctrine of saving faith. (Vs. 14-18) The sinner must first be born again, which makes him capable of saving faith. While there may not be a detectable chronological order, there is, of necessity, a logical order. There must first be life before one can exercise faith. (See Ch. 1:12, 13)

It is the Holy Spirit that regenerates a man and gives him capacity for God. It is by the new birth that we are made partakers of the Divine nature. You will notice that in our text when Jesus says, “The wind bloweth where it listeth…” He is first speaking of the Holy Spirit, and then He applies the same words to those who are born again: “So is every one that is born of the Spirit.”

Let us see how the text applies to the Holy Spirit, Himself. Jesus describes the Spirit’s work in the new birth by the word “Wind.” In both Greek and Hebrew, the word for wind and spirit is the same word. The Greek word for spirit is also translated “breath.” The metaphor of the wind cannot fully represent the Holy Spirit in all phases of His operation. Consequently, many other natural figures are employed, such as dew, water, light, oil, etc., but here wind is most instructive, as it is intended to show the freeness of the Spirit’s moving. No one can bind or command, or even predict the movements of the wind, except God Himself. The same is true of the Divine Spirit as He moves among the nations. When Paul would go to Asia, where it seemed most reasonable that he should go, the Spirit forbade him and directed him to Samaria. Certain nations, such as our own, have been so abundantly blessed with the Gospel, while others remain in pagan darkness. The only explanation for this is that the Holy Spirit is free like the wind, to “blow” where He pleases.

We see this same freeness demonstrated in the Spirit’s movements in families where one hears the Gospel savingly, and another makes a wretched choice to continue in sin, despising his own soul. The blessing of the Spirit on some ministries, more abundant than others, all other factors being equal, can only thus be explained: “The wind bloweth where it listeth.” When the Spirit is moving, how we ought to take advantage of His goodness! How we ought to see that we not grieve Him! “Today, if you will hear His voice harden not your hearts.” When we hear the sound of the Divine Wind, let us “hoist the sails.”

Let us next see how the text applies to those who are born of the Spirit. We partake of the nature of the Holy Spirit when we are born of Him. A new freedom is given to our souls. Our will, which was in bondage to our old sinful nature, is now set free. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.” Some want to take this as liberation from God’s holy law. Jesus said the exact opposite: “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31, 32) He went on to say, “Whosoever committeth sin is the servant (slave) of sin…If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”

Our new birth is also manifested by sound. “Thou hearest the sound thereof.” The regenerate person talks differently than before; his new life strikes a whole different note.

There is a mystery about a newborn soul. There is a mysterious change of life; a mysterious love for the things of God; a mysterious assurance. His is a mysteriously transformed life who is born of the Spirit.