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THE WINDS OF CHANGE
JOHN 3:8
Introduction
Tonight I want us to look at something we can’t see! We cannot see the wind can we?
Jesus said to Nicodemous here in John 3:8–“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."
God was trying to use the wind to teach Nicodemous something about the Holy Spirit of God.
We can’t see the wind, but we can see its effect!
Devastating hurricane winds sometimes hit the South coasts and East coasts and even the West coasts of our country at times. As do tornado winds in many different areas of the world including this one.
It is one thing to hear about such winds on the news, but it is another thing altogether to be in the midst of such a storm or to suffer effects from such a storm.
I remember as a little boy going through Hurricane Dora back in the 1960's in the hallway of my Aunt and Uncle’s house who lived next door to us. The howling of the wind is something that I don’t think I will ever forget. We survived that storm but not without damage to persons, property and possessions!
However, we know that winds are not always destructive. In fact, they sometimes can be (and oftentimes are) very beneficial and helpful.
I believe that we can learn some Scriptural lessons as we look at some obvious characteristics of the wind.
I. DANGEROUS WINDS WITH HEARTBREAKING OUTCOME.
We all know how destructive wind can be. We’ve all seen the results of tornados, hurricanes, as well as straight line winds as they have wreaked havoc in folks lives.
Here is an official report describing the destructive force of the wind:
"Long and heavy timbers are driven to considerable depths (up to nine feet) in the solid earth. Timbers are driven through the sides of buildings. Straws, bits of glass, and pieces of metal are driven into wood. The strongest trees are uprooted or twisted off near the roots.... Railroad trains are thrown from the track. Iron bridges are completely dismantled and carried from their foundations."
I’ve seen news reports where 2x4’s have been driven through trees, broom straws have been driven into 4x4 posts, and houses have been completely lifted from their foundation and moved to places where they don’t belong.
I remember a tornado that hit just outside of Springfield, Tennessee, about 5 miles from where we moved from. It lifted a mobile home up and I don’t think they ever did find any evidence of it. It was completely gone! There was no debris!It was just gone!
Did you know that there are also some spiritual winds that are destructive too!
They are extremely dangerous and just like the results of a hurricane or a tornado they often have a heartbreaking outcome.
A. The Winds Of Heresy.
Ephesians 4:14–“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”
The winds of heresy involves a spirit all right–but not of God! The winds are blowing all around us and we need to beware that we don’t get caught up in their destructive effects!
1. Some Have Changed Their Translation.
NIV, NASB, TEV, NLT (and on and on we could go). . . that kind of sounds like a short order at the Waffle House doesn’t it?
I remember when Charity and Philip were growing up and would get into a fuss, we could ask them "What happened?" each one would say it was the other ones fault. They would give me two versions of what went on.
Now you know that both of them couldn’t be right, but both of them could be wrong!
Things that are different are not the same.
2. Some Have Changed Their Titles.
Many have dropped the name Baptist. Many should.
Many have dropped the name "church". Some try to do both! They come up with "Fellowships" "Worship Centers" all sorts of names.
Jesus died for the Church! (exp. The 7 Churches in Asia– Revelation)
3. Some Have Changed Their Teaching.
Just like the Pharisees who Jesus said in Matthew 15:9–“But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”
We need to “earnestly contend for the faith” as Jude said in Jude 3.
There is always the temptation to soft pedal some things or to step back from some things that we know we should stand strong for!
B. The Winds Of Household.
Proverbs 27:15-16–“A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike. Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind,”
This is talking about women who are out of place in their home.
That’s another very dangerous wind.
Ephesians 5:22-24–“22Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.”
But men can be out of place in their home too!
Ephesians 5:25–“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”
The Winds Of Heresy.
The Winds Of Household.
C. The Winds Of Harvest.
Hosea 8:7–“For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind….”
Be careful what you sow in your life!
Be careful what you sow in your family!
Be careful what you sow in the Church!
Galatians 6:7-8–“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
DANGEROUS WINDS WITH HEARTBREAKING OUTCOME.
II. DIFFICULT WINDS OF HARSH OPPOSITION.
There are always some nice people who live in the path of the hurricanes and tornados.
They did not invite the storm, but it still comes.
A. Contrary Winds. (Mark 6:45-52)
Do you ever feel like everything is against you?
Me neither-except when I am awake.
Did you know that sometimes the Lord allows “contrary winds” to blow in our lives.
Here we can understand that the Disciples may have felt abandoned by the Lord.
Can you identify with their:
Frustration. (Vs 48)
Desperation. (Vs 48)
Depression. (Vs 50)
They forgot His previous Works. Things looked out of control, but the Lord had it all under control!
Contrary Winds.
B. Correcting Winds.
1. Winds That Change Our Direction.
Jonah 1:4–“But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.”
Some folks struggle so hard to live outside of the will of God.
Jonah really didn’t want to do the will of God!
But, God wanted Jonah! Hey, God wants US too!
We can struggle with and resist the will of God for our lives, but it will only bring the correcting winds into our life as God seeks to get us back on course!
2. Winds To Change Our Demeanor.
Jonah 4:8–“And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live.”
Jonah finally did the will of God, but he was very unhappy with it.
God wanted Jonah to have an attitude adjustment!
He wanted Jonah too see these people as HE saw them!
We no longer live in a moral man’s world.
We no longer live in a Family friendly nation.
We might not always like the kind of folks we have to deal with in doing the work of God. Harlots, drug addicts, drunkards, perverts and such like!
But God loves them and Jesus died for them! AMEN!
When God corrects us we just need to get back to doing the will of God and get happy about doing it!
Job 5:17–“Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:”
You know how when you ride in your car with the windows down, it rearranges some things and the wife and daughter want you to roll up the window and turn on the A/C?. Why? Because the wind rearranges their hair in a way they don’t want it too.
Some people don’t want God to work and move in their life, they don’t want God to rearrange things, to shape them, to form them or to mold them.
They want to be saved but then they want to just leave things to suit themselves.
Difficult Winds of Harsh Opposition–Contrary Winds, Correcting Winds . . .
C. Connecting Winds. (Acts 27:4-14)
I call this connecting winds because of the chain of events surrounding them.
Paul was not here of his own choosing. He was bound to the situation as it was.
Some of you have some winds blowing in your life from situations that are not of your own choosing.
Thank God, He gave a WORD in the Storm…and He has His WAY in the Storm!
DANGEROUS WINDS WITH HEARTBREAKING OUTCOME.
DIFFICULT WINDS OF HARSH OPPOSITION.
III. DIVINE WINDS OF HEAVENLY ORIGIN.
"He bringeth the wind out of his treasuries" (Psalm 135:7).
A. The Winds Of Preparation.
The Egyptians were in Hot pursuit and the Israelites were in a horrible panic.
It was a sleepless night.
Defeat seemed inevitable- they were in trouble on all sides, but while they were a worrying, God was working!
Suddenly the tents began to sway. The breeze was blowing! Then it grew stronger! "Oh great, as if we don’t already have enough problems, now this!"
Exodus 14:21 "And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided."
If you’re having sleepless nights because of the wind blowing in your life, just go ahead get some rest. Don’t worry, Gods gonna bring you through to the other side!!
Isaiah 27:8–“He stayeth his rough wind. . .”
When things get rough we can call on the "author" of the winds.
David, in the day of his calamity, said "the Lord was my stay" (Psalm 18:18).
God helps us to stay put and face the storm. Learn to STAY on God. Jesus can say to the wind, "Peace, be still."
Job said, "He breaketh me with a tempest" (Job 9:17).
We need to be broken to properly serve God. A wild horse is of no value until he is broken.
Rebellious Christians have not been "broken."
Psalm 51:17–“A broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
God "gathereth the wind in his fists" (Proverbs 30:4). He lets us "inherit the wind" (Proverbs 11:29) if we trouble our own house with sin, confusion, abuse or rebellion.
The Winds Of Preparation.
B. The Winds Of Presence. ( 2 Samuel 5:21-25)
David prayed in the midst of battle. Just as our modern military realizes that it must have the aircraft go before them in order to prepare the way, he realized that he must have God go before Him to prepare the way! His aircraft was prayer!
By the way, you want God to go with you-there are some things that must be left behind. (Vs. 21)
No night is so dark to hide His face,
No storm is too rough to be calmed by His grace,
No wind is so strong to stay His hand,
No mountain so great to resist His command
C. The Winds Of Power.
Acts 2:2–“And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.”
The Wind Of The Holy Spirit Is A Power Generating Force.
Wind mills have been used for thousands of years to grind grain and pump water for irrigation. Modern wind farms can generate the same amount of electrical power as a nuclear power plant!
For centuries the wind has been used in sailing to carry ships and boats across the seas.
When the WIND blows it brings some things with it doesn’t it!
Sometimes it brings showers
* Showers come from God!
* God wants to shower His blessings upon us!
* God wants to shower His blessings upon this church!
We need to pray for the Wind of the Holy Spirit to blow upon us, within us, and through us!!!
When the stormy winds blow, we need to be like Paul in Acts 27 when he said, "Be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.” (verse 22). God can handle the wind and get us safely to the shore!
Home Page Contact Us Service Times Sermons Are You Going To Heaven?
NOTICE: THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!