divine leaf blower

Pneuma: Greek word used in the New Testament 350 times.
Depending upon the context, it can mean Holy Spirit or wind.  [1]

Some hang on for dear life and then, finally letting go, drop like rocks. Others float, soar or spin like tops until they reach their destinations.

Such is the life of a leaf when autumn winds come. Such is also the life of a minister of Jesus Christ when the Holy Spirit blows through his congregation.

Following the Spirit of God’s leading is not always easy, especially when it means significant changes for a local church. Yet, our divine leaf blower is trying to get our attention whether we like it or not. How we react to the inevitable breath of God determines the length and effectiveness of our spiritual flights.

There are three possible options when faced with God’s will for us and our congregations:

1. We follow the Spirit’s leading and go with it.
2. We resist the Spirit’s leading and go our own way.
3. We waffle and do a little of both, a little following and a little resisting.

Most of us would agree that the first option is the only feasible one in which to pursue. It makes no sense to do the latter two—spiritual success is only achieved by following God’s leading. Yet, some of us in ministry are guilty of dabbling with the latter two options.

As leaves blow off a tree, they suffer significantly different fates. Some hold on for dear life, as if they do not want to leave the safety of their branch, the only branch they have ever known.

Most leaves fall to the ground near the tree itself. While some spin like tops, others drop as if they have rocks tied to them, typically stem first. But some—not many—soar or float far from the tree itself.

Ministers who are sensitive to the Spirit’s leading in their lives and the lives of their congregations are like the latter. Knowing that the wind of God is coming, they are prepared to react to His leading when it happens. Once they recognize what the Spirit is doing and wants to do, they follow, no matter what the cost. Instead of staying close to the tree, they allow themselves to be divinely blown to new heights in ministry.

In Acts 16, the Apostle Paul and his companions provide a biblical example of what it means to set aside plans and ambitions to follow the Spirit’s leading.

Acts 16:6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.
Acts 16:7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.
Acts 16:8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.
Acts 16:9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."
Acts 16:10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

It is clear from verse seven that the men have plans to minister in “Asia," specifically “Bithynia.” But that is not God’s will. After discerning what His will is, they obey and instead minister in Macedonia.

Paul is willing to do God’s will, no matter where it takes him and no matter what it costs. That includes abandoning previous plans and personal ambitions.

The question, of course, is “Are we willing to do God’s will?” If so, we are like the leaves who allow God to blow us—and our congregations—in whatever direction He wants. His will be done. We go with it.

The alternative is our wills be done. We hang on to the branch, the familiar, as long as we can. When the inevitable gust of divine wind comes, we leave the safety of our branch but deliberately fall as close to the tree as possible. Instead of allowing God to blow us and our congregations in new, divinely ordained ways, we short-circuit His will and end up in a pile of rotting leaves at the bottom of a tree.

Metaphorically speaking, no one wants to suffer the latter fate. The trick, then, is to spiritually discern where God is working, where He is leading. Since “no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God” (1 Cor 2:11), we need to pray fervently that the Lord will open our eyes and ears to His will.

For instance, a church’s leadership team may recognize that God has been bringing many unchurched adults to its worship services in the past few months. Recognizing what God is doing in its midst, the church makes a point of presenting the Gospel to these newcomers clearly and consistently. It also chooses to focus primarily on expository sermons and preaching through entire books in an effort to mature them. While these changes may not be embraced by everyone in the church, the leaders conclude that they are needed in order to accommodate what the Lord is doing among the people.

Ultimately, each of us must decide who is in charge of our ministries and how far we will go in doing God’s will. The reality is we do have a divine leaf blower who does want to lead us.

Some hang on for dear life and then, finally letting go, drop like rocks. Others float, soar or spin like tops until they reach their destinations.

Such is the life of a leaf when autumn winds come. Such is also the life of a minister of Jesus Christ when the Holy Spirit blows through his congregation.

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[1][1] pneuma, Online Bible Greek Lexicon.