The New Movement is in the Adverse Winds

by Barbara Yoder

The last two days I noted that once again, adverse winds had struck in the most unsuspecting places, Arizona. Tornadoes came out of nowhere in a place no one expects them to come. Tornadoes are whirlwinds, adverse winds. What is getting ready to happen in Arizona?

Several months ago the Lord spoke several things to me, not long paragraphs, just short phrases to give me hints about the future. One phrase was fresh winds, another was movement, a third was awakening and visitation. As a result of that we titled our Fall Conference, "Fresh Winds Blowing, The Movement."

I inquired of the Lord about the phrase, fresh winds. It seemed like all we were seeing were adverse winds. In Michigan we have had several wind advisories in the last couple months (or more) with gusts up to 75 mph. About a month ago, the day before Rosh Hashanah, the winds were so extreme in our area that they blew down power lines in the city of Detroit. These power lines hit homes or garages and, in at least 5 different neighborhoods, fire broke out. In all 85 homes were destroyed.

I thought what in the world was the Lord saying. These were not fresh winds. Fresh winds to me are soft breezes that are refreshing, cooling, gently blowing a sailboat along its course. These winds were violent, destructive and unrelenting as well as recurring. How was I to make sense out of this. All of a sudden I heard the Lord say, "the fresh winds are in the adverse winds. Don't fear the adverse winds but head into it." I began to study winds in Scripture.

In Acts 27, an account of an adverse wind is reported. Paul had warned the centurion not to set sail but because there was a soft south wind, he set sail anyway. Shortly thereafter, "a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon." (v 14) This is a destructive nor'easter wind. This wind thrust the ship aground and it was destroyed. They ended up on Malta.

Throughout the journey, Paul kept his cool by seeking the Lord and His protection for the people. Despite the fact that Paul warned them not to go because this would happen, he did not get angry when they ignored him and the very thing he said would happen, happened. Instead he fasted and prayed for the men on the ship because he cared about them. In fact the Lord said to him that not one of them would be lost. Paul encouraged the men with this word from the Lord. I wonder how many of us would have prayed for them like Paul after they disregarded his original warning . . . . they got what they deserved! So why pray! God had already spoken and they disregarded it. Not Paul, he hung in there and prayed them all the way through even after they disregarded the word of the Lord through Paul.

Paul's stance throughout the journey got the centurions attention and he came to respect Paul greatly, so much so that he saved Paul's life. The sailors were planning to kill all of the prisoners. All of their lives were spared.

Now the story begins to intensify and drama breaks out. Having landed by shipwreck on Malta, the natives lit a fire to warm them. This woke up a snake and the poisonous viper flies out of the fire and bites Paul on the hand. Paul just calmly shakes the viper off. The natives were sure he was going to die. He didn't. The reality that Paul lived convinced the natives he was a god. Then Publius, the leading citizen of Malta, took Paul and the others into his estate to take care of them.

Now the Movement Begins

Publius father was sick and dying. Paul prayed for him, then laid hands on him and healed him. (Acts 28:7) Paul did not look at the devastation of the situation, his eyes were on God. Though this was not God's original plan for them, God never wastes a moment. So through Paul, God began to break out on the isle of Malta in a healing movement starting with Publius father. Others noted this and now all the sick were being brought to Paul. (Acts 28:9 when this was done, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed.)

There were fresh winds within the adverse winds. The adverse winds brought destruction. But that destruction caused them to land somewhere they never would have landed had it not been for that destructive storm. The fresh winds of the Holy Spirit blew in a healing movement on the isle of Malta.

We are in days of extremely adverse winds. It is within those winds that the fresh winds will begin to blow. They are the opportunities that will arise within the troubled area to release the power of the Holy Spirit in a whole new way. It was a healing movement that was released on the isle of Malta. It might be a salvation movement in some other place.

But the message in the story is look for the possibilities. Don't be thrown by the loss and devastation. God is going to break out in the most unlikely places and through the most difficult circumstances.

Job experienced a devastating wind that blew down the four corners of his house. (Job 1) He lost everything. It was a horrible experience, one that took time to recover from. Yet his latter days ended up greater than his former. God did not intend for him to stay devastated.

We are in a brand new day. The enemy will try to overwhelm us with what isn't happening or what is going down the tube of destruction. Aha! Look up. A movement is about to break out. An opportunity to touch hurting people with the Gospel of the Kingdom will present itself. Run to the devastated areas. They are setups for a fresh Holy Spirit breakout. They are setups for a latter house that is greater than the former.

Kingdoms are clashing, conflict is increasing. This will cause many to be deceived, lose hope, give up and check out. But here is a message in Acts 27 and 28, don't give up, hang on, believe God and pray through. He has not set you up to be destroyed. He is setting you up to be a deliverer. A deliverer of healing, salvation or whatever.  Paul did not let the adverse circumstances move his internal compass off course. He kept looking for the Holy Spirit breakthrough and breakout. He kept going in faith.

In the adverse winds are the fresh winds of the Holy Spirit. Sail on! There is a planned Holy Spirit movement within the storm.