Jamie and I were in the entrance room at Kings Ranch. We had been talking about the day’s activities and thanking God for a wonderful inch of rain. It was a simple friendly conversation. Nothing was happening of great significance.
Two women knocked at the front door. Jamie greeted them and invited them to come in. There was a little conversation and polite greetings. Jamie laid his hand on one woman’s head and prayed a few words. The woman dropped to her knees and began sobbing. Her sobbing continued for nearly a half hour. Except for moving a few steps after 20 minutes or so, she did nothing else. After a half hour, the woman and her friend stayed at the little altar and continued to pray for a few hours. Later, as the picture shows, Jamie took the time to pray for the two women.
The Wind had come. There was no announcement or prelude. There was no build-up of emotions or spiritual talk. When the Spirit of the Lord comes, as the Bible says, He is like the wind. You cannot see Him but you see His effects. He is often a surprise in a scene like this one. A few years a ago a group of people was leaving another ministry. We were saying our farewells, but I had a question in my heart. That same Wind had come. Ever so quietly He put a simple question in my heart to ask one person who was leaving. I asked the question; the person was notably moved and began sobbing. The departure of the group was postponed as we took time to pray for the person. No one had known the need, but the Spirit did.
No experience, grand education, or planning is a substitute for the work of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. It is easy to ignore Him, refuse to acknowledge His activity, and de-personalize His actions. For the hungry soul, the needy heart, and the broken-spirited, however, His actions are life. It has not changed since Acts. For those who want to know Him and call upon the name of Christ, the Spirit is alive and active. The Bible describes His activities and purposes, but few people read the words as if they can really happen in their lives. That is too bad, because He awaits to blow on the dry heart, to reveal God in a personal way, and often fix or alter things we don’t or cannot perceive.
Be surprised by the Wind.
Picture: taken at Kings Ranch, Hanford, Ca during a mission trip in 2014
