Watchout For WOLVES: Keys To Discerning Authentic Ministries & Evaluating Doctrinal Trends

God’s Relationship to the Winds

When it comes to the wind, whether we are talking about natural winds or winds of the Spirit, God is in control. John got a revelation of angelic beings holding the four winds (Rev. 7:1). After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. When Jesus came and walked among us, He demonstrated supremacy over the elements, stilling the storm (Mt. 8:26; Mark 4:37; Luke 8:23) and walking on the waves (Mt. 14:24, 32; Mark 6:48-51). Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. 25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” 26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?” Mathew 8:23-27 God uses the winds to test us. The winds can test us in at least three ways, just like they can test a structure that is built by man. Jesus told the story of the two builders who built houses. Both houses experienced the winds and the rains. One house stood the other one did not. Winds can serve as a test to approve that which is good. In 1 Corinthians 11:19, Paul wrote, “ For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. ” The Message Bible says it this way, “ The best that can be said for it is that the testing process will

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