From the desk of Steve Shultz:
Have you ever felt "blown around" when things in your life take a turn or change?
Well, the wind of God's Spirit is blowing right now - and gaining momentum.
This fresh word by Al Thomas will let you in on some really good news - you don't have to be blown away, God's got discernment and EVERY other tool you need to move with His wind - and stay on course!
Also, this great teaching CD by Bob Jones prophetically addresses some of the very things that are transpiring right now! And one of our top sellers is this excellent book "If This Were a Dream, What Would it Mean?" by Murray Dueck - get your copy today!
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Blessings,
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Steve Shultz
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Al Thomas:
"DISCERNING THE WIND OF GOD'S SPIRIT"
I was reading John 3:8, where Jesus told Nicodemus, "The wind blows where it pleases and you hear its sound, but you don't know where it comes from, or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
It was a causal reading, and I wasn't seeking any special revelation or insight. Yet, as I read it, something in me said to read it again, then again and again. It almost seemed silly as I kept reading it over and over, but the Holy Spirit said, "Servant of God, read it again. I have wisdom for you and others." So I obeyed, and countless times I read it until something clicked inside and wisdom came:
THE WIND BLOWS
There has never been a time or a moment when the Spirit of God has not been actively working, and He is always moving in your life. He broods when there is chaos in your life (Genesis 1) and rejoices when you rest in His peace.
He has never taken His eye off of you. If He watches the sparrow, He will watch over you (Matthew 10:29-31). He holds all of creation together with His Spirit (Colossians 1:16-17).
When the Wind rushes mightily (Acts 2:1), everyone knows "something" is afoot, but only the discerning can understand a gentle breeze of the Spirit and benefit from it.
Some people feel all alone, thinking nothing is happening. Elijah felt that way. He whined, "I'm the only one left" (1 Kings 19:14), until God told him that His wind is still blowing...through seven thousand of His servants that are in reserve (verse 18).
If the Holy Spirit has you in the waiting mode, don't fret (Psalm 37), He's still working, and if you listen He will tell you when it's time to move. Don't feel it's too late, or even that the death of your vision is imminent.
God often waits for the vision to die so He can resurrect it (John 11:4), showing you that He is in charge, not you. The wind is moving, the question is: Are your sails up? A breeze is starting in the Body of Christ and in you.
WHERE IT PLEASES
The Holy Spirit is always up to something, but He is under no obligation to always tell you what that something is, unless (at that moment) you are under the anointing and being led by Him. Scream, yell, fast, have a fit (do whatever), and still the Holy Spirit will move where, when, on whom and in what measure that He decides - distributing to each one as He wills (1 Corinthians 12:11).
He commands, and then we move (John 5:19). God's rule in our life is not to be questioned, but obeyed. Some wonder, "Why would God use that person and not me?" The wind blows, not where we think it should blow, or on whom we think it should blow - but where it pleases.
They tried to roll a great stone over the mouth of the tomb where Christ was buried. They sealed it and set a guard. Suddenly, the wind of Heaven blew.
Do you need a resurrection in your ministry? Is there a stone that will not move? He can blow anything down if He directs you to speak to it (Matthew 17:20). Have you ever seen what you thought was a "God project" come to an end? Be careful - it has to please the Wind. Can you hear it?
YOU HEAR ITS SOUND
You don't need a lesson in thermodynamics to tell you that something is going on when the wind blows. When a crime is committed, detectives look for evidence. When the Spirit moves, there is evidence. But we miss God when we try to figure Him out with our brains (our natural man).
God does not speak to our brains, He speaks to our spirit (John 16:13). The brain is locked in a bone vault (the skull) and we must lock it away - "crucify" our natural, carnal mind, refusing to use it to figure out what God is doing or saying. Although the brain is a wonderful gift from God, it is not the most valuable gift; the Spirit of God is.
We can only discern what the Holy Spirit is doing with our spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10-15). To hear the sound and understand what is being said or shown to you, the mind of Christ must be in operation (Ephesians 4:23). Jesus told Nicodemus, "We speak what we know, and testify what we have seen..." (John 3:11). Seek His Wind.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE IT COMES FROM
Again, when the wind blows, it's a mystery to many because they try to figure it out with the natural senses. Nicodemus wanted everything explained (John 3:9). It wasn't that Nicodemus was insincere; he was looking for human logic.
Jesus was saying, "Stop trying to explain; just worship. Stop arguing; just accept. Put your sails up and let the Wind blow."
The Father desires that none of His servants refuse to put up their sails simply because things might get out of control. They don't understand that God would rather pull you out of the water (as you learn to walk on it) than have you fearfully seated in the boat (Matthew 14:28-31).
In the Spirit-led life, you step out in faith and learn by doing. The Spirit will teach you (John 14:26). Caution: don't care so much about what other people think because this will hinder the wind. Stay humble as you yield to the Spirit, even if it seems undignified. Only care what God thinks. A gust is about to blow in your ministry.
FOR WHERE IT IS GOING
If you step out and trust the wind of His Spirit, you'd be amazed where He will take you. Remember, you don't carry the Spirit, the Spirit carries you (Acts 8:39-40).
Nicodemus did not know that the wind of the Spirit was going to carry him one day to Pontius Pilate's council to help pick up the body of Jesus (John 19:39) and help carry Him to a dark tomb. Imagine the privilege!
When you yield to the wind of the Spirit, God will allow you to carry a living Savior (not a dead Jesus) to places of darkness where His light can shine. If you are not letting the Spirit carry you, you are carrying a dead Jesus into a dark tomb that can do nothing for you or others (except bring a foul smell). But God has greater things for you (Hebrews 6:9-10), so put your sails up. Gale winds of revival are in your future. Don't miss it (Habakkuk 3:2-4).
"Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit, saith the LORD of hosts." Zechariah 4:6b
Al Thomas
Celebrating His Life Ministries
Email: a.thomas@myactv.net
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Al and Sherry Thomas travel extensively in America and Southeast Asia. They founded Celebrating His Life Ministries in 1997, and are gifted teachers of the Word. Beforehand, they served at Mount Hope Prison Ministry for three years. Al has pastored in Wisconsin and California and was associated with evangelist Jim Spillman, a great man of God who was known for miracles happening in his meetings. Al and Sherry have a prophetic and healing anointing and have seen many miracles, such as blind eyes healed, deaf ears opened and many other healings. They currently minister in approximately sixty churches a year.
