Put the Wind in a Box

Constrain the Spirit

My wife told me of a persecuted Christian lady who was pregnant and picked up by the authorities just for being a Christian. Somehow, both she and her baby survived and made it back to her family. During her captivity, she was tortured quite badly but continually spoke in tongues and about the Holy Spirit. One of her captors tried to befriend her saying, “Just stop talking about this Holy Spirit – that’s all you need to do.” Her answer was this, “How can I constrain the Holy Spirit - you may as well try to put the wind in a box.”

There are so many lessons we can glean from this story but I want to concentrate on just her answer to her captors, “How can I constrain the Holy Spirit - you may as well try to put the wind in a box.”

How many times have I complained about those churches that squash any move of the Holy Spirit. How many are like the one I spoke of the other day – apologising for any move of the Spirit in their meetings – “It’s not usual here.” How many churches have grieved the Spirit so many times by stopping Him moving. Perhaps some have done it so many times that He will not return – what a tragedy that would be – for their people of course.

Why do we always seek to constrain Him or get Him to move as we want Him to move? Why do we try to control the uncontrollable? Why do we try so hard to limit the limitless? Why do we even attempt to place finite boundaries around the infinite? What foolishness is it that seeks to control God? People pray to God. They sing praise to Jesus. Is Holy Spirit the junior partner of the Trinity? Is He an afterthought who somehow matters less that Father and Son?

I remember, years ago, talking to a senior Christian about his faith. When I mentioned Holy Spirit, he said “Ah yes, the Holy Ghost.” This elderly Christian, full of faith, had no idea who the Holy Spirit is. He had no experience of Him. No knowledge of Him. Had never spoken to Him or with Him. He was simply a mystery wandering somewhere in the ether – untouchable, unknowable, unreachable – a complete enigma. It does strike me that there are so many like that old saint in the present church.

I wonder, has the Holy Spirit been ignored by the church today? Do so many still regard Him as a bit of a mystery man. A strange sort of chap wandering somewhere in the ether – untouchable, unknowable, unreachable, silent and inactive. Oh my friends – if only everyone could know Him – teacher, guide, friend, companion, wise counsellor, healer, one who whispers so quietly in my ear. The still small voice of 1 Kings 19:12

Although we have managed to constrain Him simply by ignoring Him and disobeying Him, He is still the Holy Spirit of God and for us to try to constrain Him, then we might as well try to put the wind in a box. He will always be there ready to speak to us. Always ready to befriend us, ready to reveal God to us, ready to comfort us. So many roles for us and we, so willing to reject Him.

As Katherine Kuhlman once said, “Please don’t grieve Him – He is all I’ve got.” He is all many of us have got, so next time there is a strange happening in one of your services, just say quietly, “Welcome Holy Spirit – you are welcome here today”. You may be surprised what will happen next.