Winning Over Every Wind of Doctrine

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but there is no greater title than King of Kings, Lord of Lord -- and His opinion is the one that counts.

In the Body of Christ today, congregants do not know or believe in the One who has saved them. Like Job, they have heard of Him, but they do not know Him, and they do not know Him because they believe that which is not true concering Him.

Paul warned believers to beware of this trend:

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

"For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

"Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

"That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive" (Ephesians 4: 11-4)

The diverse winds carry us far away from God's intent for us.

The account in Mark 6 demonstrates the power of contrary winds against the Body of Christ:

"And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.

"And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.

"But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:

"For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.

"And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered." (Mark 6: 47-51)

In v. 48, "winds" translates the original word "ἄνεμος, anemos, which means "the wind", and also "fig", when refered to the context of empty doctrines, the same word which Paul uses in the Ephesians 4:14.

Therefore, to read the winds contrary to the disciples as a figure for empty doctrine is more both accurate and acceptable.

Now, in Matthew 14, the gospel writer records the faith of Peter, who wanted to meet Jesus on the water:

"And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

"And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus." (Matthew 14: 28-29)

As long as Peter kept looking at Jesus, heeding His voice, Peter was fine, walking on the surface of the water, notwithstanding the storm that was sweeping the disciples' boat. Then the wind caught Peter's attention:

"But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me." (Matthew 14:30)

Here, "the wind" is ἄνεμος, anemosm, representing also contrary doctrine. The wind was strong, "boisterous", ischuros: strong, mighty powerful; yet the hand of the Savior was stronger, whose arm is not so short that it cannot save (cf Isaiah 59:1)

In the Body of Christ, every time a believer inadvertantly heeds diverse and damnable doctrine, he will lose his footings. Yet like Peter, if we call out for Jesus, He rescues us!

Not only does He draw us out of the depths, but He then makes our standing in Him more sure, more certain, more stable!:

"Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." (Romans 5:20)

No matter how much we may fail, Jesus' grace is sufficient for us, and in our weakness His strength is made perfect! (cf 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10)

The gospel and its truth, for Jesus is the Truth -- is simple:

"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." (2 Corinthians 11:3)

Moreover, there is another Wind, or Spirit, who always guides us into truth and wisdom, a wind that Eve did not have -- The Holy Spirit:

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." (John 16:13)

In his first Epistle, John testifies of the supreme power of wisdom in the Holy Spirit:

"But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things." (1 John 2: 20)

followed by:

"But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." (1 John 2:27)

Christ is simple; He is easy to receive. Church denominations and religious make complicated what He has already made plain. As Jesse Duplantis asserted, it takes a "good" theologian to mess up what God has made so simple to understand. The winds of false and limitig doctrine may be blowing in the world, but if we stay on the rock, the assurance that in Christ we are made the righteousness of God (cf 2 Corinthians 5:21), and therefore need not pay attention to rituals, reason, or other rival causes. Know that you are safe in Him forever, and nothing will ever able to shake you!