Winds of Revival
He was a lot bigger than I was. When he hit me with his fist to my stomach, he knocked the wind out of me. I lay on the ground gasping to get the wind back. It took awhile. I came out of the experience wanting never to lose my wind again.The devil is bigger than you or I. He periodically gets a swing at us and may 'knock the wind out' of us. Ironically, it is usually our own fault. We allow ourselves to get led into temptation; we neglect God's Word and prayer; we allow bitterness to take root; we covet things that we think would make our lives more pleasant or easy. We set ourselves up for a wind-sucking blow to the gut. The devil does not miss the open stomach.
To have the wind of the Holy Spirit knocked out of us can be described in several ways:
It is to become carnal/fleshy instead of spiritual, more interested in the things of this world than the things of God and not able to please God. Romans 8:8
It is to become calloused/hardened instead of soft and pliable before God. Hebrews 3:8
It is to grow distant from God, instead of being intimate. James 4:8
It is to be full of yourself instead of full of the Spirit. Ephesians 5:18
It is to sin when you should be holy. 1 Peter 1:15
It is to forsake God as your first and most important love. Rev. 2:4
These are not descriptions of a situation in which you are helpless. God not only holds you responsible for getting the wind knocked out of you, He holds you accountable for setting the situation right. His Holy Spirit confronts you with the truth. Then you must do what he calls you to do. You must repent and obey God. It is a deception of the devil to get you to think, "Unless the Lord gives me the spirit of repentance, it is useless for me to try and change."
Jesus told the woman caught in adultery to "Go and sin no more." John 8:11
Jesus told Simon and Andrew to "Come and follow me." Matthew 4:19
Jesus told the blind man to "Open your eyes."
Jesus told the rich young ruler to "Go and sell all that you have and give it to the poor." Mark 10:21
You can do what He asks you to do.
And when you do,
the winds of revival
will begin to blow..
© 10/2001 Don Reigstad