THE WINDS OF ADVERSITY

We live in a time when natural and supernatural winds are blowing fiercely and, many times, destructively.  Every weather phenomenon that includes wind shows an increase in tornadoes, hurricanes, and straight-line winds.  There is scriptural evidence that natural winds often coincide with movement in the spirit realm, as was the case when Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee after feeding the 5,000, and a sudden, mighty wind materialized that was about to capsize the boat He and the disciples were in.

In Matthew 7 we find the story of the houses built on the rock and the sand.  Of the house built on sand, verse 27 says, “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, and it fell.  And great was its fall.”  This shows us that the purpose of the destructive wind is to cause us to fall.  To “fall” means “to come from a higher place to a lower place.  Luke 10:18 is where Jesus says, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven”.  Satan loves revenge and he would like to see all of God’s people fall in life.  The enemy’s weapons include two kinds of wind which are manifest to cause us to fall.  These two are an assaulting wind and a subtle wind.  How do we counter these attacks from the enemy?

•  LET YOUR WORDS LINE UP WITH GOD’S WORD:  James 3:4,5 tells us, “Look also at ships; although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are tuned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.  Even so, the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.  See how great a forest a little fire kindles.” 

Our mouths and our words are a major factor in keeping our lives in check and on course.  The higher the winds, the more important the rudder.  One of the benefits of reading the Bible regularly is that at first, it will act as a mirror that reveals your flaws.  As you continue to form a habit of digging into the word of God you will find that it reveals the person you can be. 

• RECOGNIZE THAT THE WIND MAY BE FROM THE ADVERSARY.   Matthew 14:23-24-  And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on a mountain by Himself to pray.  And when evening had come, He was alone there, but the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.  The word “contrary” means “hostile, an adversary or enemy”. 

Many times the winds that are blowing against our lives are rooted in the adversary.  They are from the enemy who is trying to keep you from getting from where you are to where God wants you to be.  In verses 25-26, we read, "Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.  And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, 'It is a ghost!'  And they cried out in fear."  The word “troubled” means “agitated in mind with the result of being fearful”.  The disciples were now envisioning death and destruction,  When Jesus appears, walking on the water, instead of seeing the Messiah they believe they are seeing an angel of death.  

Sometimes the enemy sends a steady, gentler, subtle wind.  This kind of wind has the goal of bringing agitation.  All of us get agitated by various things in life momentarily.  It is when we get agitated and stay agitated that we are in danger of being controlled by our flesh and emotions.  Agitation brings fear and anger and both of these lead to making bad decisions.

•  WE NEED TO RECEIVE GOD’S COURAGE.  In verse 27 Jesus speaks to the disciples and assures them by saying, “Be of good cheer!  It is I; do not be afraid.”  The phrase, “be of good cheer” is also translated as “have courage”. 

After Jesus arrives on the boat, walking on the water, Peter is emboldened and asks that he might also walk on the water.   Jesus encourages him to climb out of the boat and join him.  In verse 30 we read, But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”   It is natural for our minds to interfere with the instructions that God gives us.  The word “boisterous” in this verse means, “the wind was blowing, had been blowing, and kept blowing.”

Jesus reaches out His hand to Peter and helps him rise from his sinking state.  Jesus says to Peter, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”   In this verse, the word “little” does not mean “small in size”.  Rather, it means “of short duration”.  This reveals the importance on standing in faith, in the face of opposition, when we know what the will of God is.   The word “doubt” in this verse means “a second opinion”.  It is the second opinion that got Eve into trouble in Eden.  James warns us about being double-minded.  He tells us that such a man will receive nothing from God.   The second opinion is the subtle and constant wind that blows through our culture, media, ungodly leaders, and sometimes even well-meaning friends.   It is a wind that also is designed to make us fall.