Four Winds of Adversity - Part Two

There are four different winds of adversity that are going to come against the believer in this season of God. We should expect adversity as we enter into the new season that God has for us. The first wind of adversity that you are going to encounter will be frustration.

The second wind of adversity that many of you are going to experience is perplexity. To be perplexed means to be puzzled. The Merriman-Webster Dictionary defines perplexed as “filled with uncertainty, full of difficulty.”

The Apostle Paul wrote these words in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 – “We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” The American Heritage Dictionary defines perplexity “as being filled with confusion or bewilderment, puzzled.”

Some of you are walking through a time of perplexity. You are puzzled by what is going on around you. You don’t understand why you are confused or bewildered. In times of transition we must understand that confusion is normal. We must be careful to hear the voice of God during transitional times.

Why does God allow us to walk through times of perplexity? 2 Corinthians 4:10 – ““Always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus Christ, that the life of Jesus might be manifest in our body.” The end result of perplexity is despair.

Notice three very important things that we must know when we are walking through seasons of perplexity:

1) It is a sign that a spiritual battle is going on around you.

Anytime you are perplexed and wonder why things are happening the way that they are happening it is a sign that a spiritual battle is going on around you.

We must realize that there is a war for the purposes of God in the earth.

This battle is an unseen battle. It can only be realized by spiritual insight.

In II Kings 6:15-17 – “And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?”

Verse 16 – “So he answered, Do not fear, for those who are with us are more those who are with them.” Verse 17 – “And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray that he may see. Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

2) Perplexity Is Not An Indication of Low Spiritual Estate

The enemy will use perplexity to discourage you and accuse you concerning your relationship with the Lord.

So often when we encounter fiery trials we ask the question, “what have I done wrong?” Perplexity is not an indication of low spiritual estate.

What is God doing when we are perplexed? He is pruning us. He is surfacing things in our heart that will short-circuit the plan and destiny of God.

John 15:2 – “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.”

3) Perplexity Is Always An Indication That A New Day Is About To Dawn.

We are on the threshold of a brand new day. We are about to enter into a new season. Why has the Body of Christ been in perplexity? Because God is about to bring us into our new season. The following people in the Bible are examples of how perplexity is an indication that a new day is about to dawn:

1. Abraham had to separate from his nephew Lot. Lot chose the well- watered plain, and it looked like he got the better parcel of land. But God gave Abraham the whole land as his inheritance.
2. Moses led the children of Israel out into the wilderness only to be What happened? God opened up the Sea and performed the greatest miracle of the Old Testament.
3. Esther suffered through perplexity, but received ½ the Kingdom.
4. Joseph was sold into slavery, falsely accused at Potiphar’s house, was shut in prison, but later became the Prime Minister of Egypt.

Frustration and perplexity are signs that you are about to enter into a new day. It is a new day.