A Derecho Spirit
We recently heard about a derecho that passed through our nation, causing massive destruction in its wake. I couldn’t remember ever hearing that word before, so I looked it up to see what it means. A derecho is a windstorm and/or thunderstorm that is intense, widespread, and fast-moving. They are characterized by damaging winds. Some people even refer to them as an inland hurricane.
As I pondered on the derecho, I saw some spiritual applications we can gather from it. I have heard it said that what happens in the natural is often what is happening in the spiritual. The song “There’s a Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On” comes to mind because our world seems to be shaking.
This year has obviously been like no other year for all of us. There seem to be two extremes going on. We are either glued to the news, or we are fasting from the news. However, I noticed something as I have been reading scripture. Paul didn’t spend a lot of time speaking of what was happening in the world. Rather, he spent a lot of time discussing what would happen in the church. Much of what he warned about is apostasy in the church. When I look at the compromise that is plaguing so many churches, it is like a spiritual derecho has swept through.
Let me explain further. Many churches describe a revival as the wind of the Spirit, moving upon a congregation. They are looking for signs and wonders. They claim “revival” when all kinds of weird manifestations begin to happen. Toronto and Brownsville are great examples of these so-called revivals, where there are grand displays of emotion, people acting as if they have no control over their actions.
The Holy Spirit has been described as a gentleman, in that, He won’t force Himself on people. Rather, we have a free will to choose to follow the Lord. However, I have watched some “revivals” on You Tube, where people are writhing on the floor, screaming in pain because they feel as if they are on fire. Galatians 5 tells us the fruit of the Spirit is gentleness and self-control. However, nothing about this scenario seems “gentlemanly” to me. Rather, it reeks of a derecho spirit.
Many churches have flashy, worldly preachers, and magnificent buildings. They draw the crowds because their “worship” music sounds more like a rock band. It titillates their fleshly desires. This is also a sign of a derecho spirit.
Many pastors preach salvation without repentance. This is what Paul calls “another” gospel in Galatians 1. We could also call it a derecho spirit.
The Holy Spirit reveals the Lord to us to enhance our relationship with God and keep us from ritualism. (Ephesians 1:17) Much of what I see happening in churches is a “party” spirit. We can’t develop a deep relationship with anyone through partying. It reminds me of Jeremiah 3:2-3, which speaks of playing the harlot with many lovers. The compromised church has so many lovers. Sadly, the result of their harlotries is that there will be no latter rain, for they have a harlot’s forehead (full of pride), and they refused to be ashamed of their actions.
When the derecho hit my city, there was a quite a bit of damage, one being a particular tree that was blown down. Many who work at the office where it once stood enjoyed this tree. It was a beautiful, tall tree, full of branches and leaves. It gave a beautiful show every autumn, with a vast array of colors. However, the derecho knocked it down completely, revealing that it was all empty on the inside. While it “appeared” to be beautiful, it was dead. Sadly, that is the testament of many churches today. They offer glamour, glitz, and much that satisfies our fleshly nature, but the core is rotted and empty. Unless they repent of their harlotries, they will one day speak the words of Jeremiah 8:20: “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved!” It will happen because they chose to follow a derecho spirit, rather than the Spirit of Truth.
What spirit are you following?
© 2020, Stacy R. Miller
Proverbs 31 Wanna-be 