The wind blozveth where it listeth
William MacDonald emphasizes the sovereign and unpredictable work of the Holy Spirit, urging believers to embrace His unconventional methods rather than confine Him to human expectations.
In this insightful sermon, William MacDonald explores the sovereignty and freedom of the Holy Spirit as described in John 3:8. He highlights how the Spirit moves beyond human control and traditional methods, often working in unexpected ways to accomplish God's purposes. MacDonald encourages believers to embrace the Spirit’s unconventional leading and participate actively in His reviving work rather than resist it. This message challenges Christians to trust the Spirit’s wisdom and be open to new movements of God’s power.
Text
“The wind blozveth where it listeth.” (John 3:8)
The Spirit of God is sovereign. He moves as He pleases. We try to pour Him into our particular mold, but our attempts are invariably frustrated.
Most of the types of the Holy Spirit are fluid - wind, fire, oil, and water. We may try to hold these in our hands but they have a way of saying “Don’t fence me in.”
The Holy Spirit will never do anything that is morally wrong, but in other areas He reserves the right to act in exceptional and unconventional ways. For example, while it is true that God has given headship to man, we cannot say that the Holy Spirit cannot raise up a Deborah to lead God’s people if He wishes.
In days of declension, the Spirit permits behavior that ordinarily would be forbidden. Thus David and his men were allowed to eat the shewbread, which was reserved exclusively for the priests. And the disciples were justified in plucking grain on the Sabbath day.
People say that there is a definite, predictable pattern of evangelism in the Book of Acts, but the only pattern I can see is the sovereignty of the Holy Spirit.
The apostles and others did not follow a textbook; they followed His leading, which was often quite different from what common sense would have dictated.
For instance, we see the Spirit leading Philip to leave a successful revival in Samaria in order to witness to a lone Ethiopian eunuch on the road to Gaza.
In our own day, we must guard against dictating to the Holy Spirit what He can and cannot do. We know that He will never do anything that is sinful. But in other areas He can be counted on to do the extraordinary. He is not limited to a certain set of methods. He is not bound by our traditional ways of doing things. He has a way of protesting against formalism, ritualism and deadness by raising up new movements with reviving power. We should therefore be open to this sovereign working of the Holy Spirit and not be found sitting on the sidelines, criticizing.
Sermon Outline
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I
- The sovereignty of the Holy Spirit
- The Spirit moves as He pleases beyond human control
- Types of the Spirit: wind, fire, oil, water
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II
- The Spirit’s unconventional actions in Scripture
- Examples: Deborah’s leadership, David eating shewbread, disciples plucking grain
- The Spirit’s moral perfection and exceptional workings
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III
- No fixed pattern of evangelism in Acts
- The Spirit leads beyond common sense or tradition
- Philip’s mission to the Ethiopian eunuch as an example
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IV
- Warning against limiting the Spirit’s work
- The Spirit’s protest against formalism and ritualism
- Call to openness and participation in the Spirit’s revival
Key Quotes
“The Spirit of God is sovereign. He moves as He pleases.” — William MacDonald
“We may try to hold these in our hands but they have a way of saying 'Don’t fence me in.'” — William MacDonald
“We should therefore be open to this sovereign working of the Holy Spirit and not be found sitting on the sidelines, criticizing.” — William MacDonald
Application Points
- Trust the Holy Spirit’s sovereign leading even when it defies human logic or tradition.
- Avoid trying to control or limit the Spirit’s work within your own expectations.
- Be open and willing to participate in new movements of God’s power and revival.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'The wind bloweth where it listeth' mean?
It illustrates the Holy Spirit’s sovereign and unpredictable movement, which cannot be controlled or confined by human plans.
Can the Holy Spirit act outside traditional church methods?
Yes, the Spirit often works in unconventional ways that defy human expectations and established patterns.
Does the Spirit ever act immorally?
No, the Holy Spirit never does anything morally wrong but may act exceptionally beyond normal rules.
Why did Philip leave a revival to meet the Ethiopian eunuch?
Because the Holy Spirit sovereignly directed him to witness to the eunuch, demonstrating His unpredictable leading.
How should believers respond to the Spirit’s work today?
Believers should remain open, avoid criticizing, and actively participate in the Spirit’s sovereign and reviving work.