John 3: 7, 8
You should not be surprised at my saying, "You must be born again." The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.
--NIV
In the name of the Holy Spirit, amen.
This week as we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit, we focus on the Church. In the passage quoted here, Jesus explains that we cannot predict where the Holy Spirit will go. It is not visible to our eyes. Since the Church is built by the Holy Spirit, the true Church is not visible to our eyes either. But, as the wind leaves its mark by rustling the leaves of the trees, so the Holy Spirit leaves its marks which indicates where the true Church is.
The marks that the Holy Spirit leaves to indicate where the true Church is, are the very means through which the Holy Spirit works. They are the Gospel, and the sacraments. Where we find these things, we will also find the true Church. Still, as Jesus indicated by His words, we cannot tell who is a true member of the true Church, and who is not.
Think of it like the ink in a retractable ball point pen. We are not able to see through the outside of the pen to know if there is ink in the pen, but God is able. We, however, can see if the pen writes or not. If it writes, we know there is ink in it. So it is with the Church. If the Gospel is preached and the sacraments are administered, then there are believers there.
This means two things for us. First, we should never speak as if a person must be a member of our church in order to be saved. Second, we should not act as if a particular church body has no believers if the Gospel is preached,and the sacraments are administered.
So the Spirit goes where the Spirit wishes, but only in connection with the means of grace. Thankfully it is the Holy Spirit who calls, enlightens, and sanctifies. It is not we. We do not bear that great responsibility. Instead, we simply do our best to make sure the marks of the Church are kept pure among us, because those marks are used by the Holy Spirit to build the Church. Amen.
Prayer: Dear Holy Spirit, forgive us for judging the faith of others which we cannot see. Forgive us for the times when we think that there are no other believers besides us. Thank you for giving us the marks of the true Church so that we know where believers are found. Encourage us to gather together with our brothers and sisters in the faith, so that we may be strengthened and kept in the true faith, amen.