Sermon Tone Analysis

Acts Series#47

Back to the Beginning: When Church Was Church

*Surviving the Storms of Life*

*Acts 27:13-44*

Delivered by James L Goforth, Jr

New Life Baptist Church

August 27, 2006

 

Well … we are almost through the end of our study of Acts and almost to the end of this accounting of Paul's adventures as recorded by Luke

 

However, this book is NOT about Paul, it is about the early church, and we are trying to learn in the 21st Century from the 1st Century Church

 

As we found out last week, though the scripture says "there is wisdom in the counsel of many", the majority isn't always right

 

And sometimes the decision of the majority leads into storms

 

I want us to pick the story up today and I am going to just be real practical

 

Now hear me, Dr. Phil, and Oprah, and all the rest, cannot solve all those problems in one segment or even an entire show, even though it seems that they do.

And if you are going through storms today, I'm not going to solve all your problems in the next ½ hour.

However, I'm going to try and give you some principles, that if you apply them, and follow the scriptural principles, I believe they CAN help you survive the storm you are facing now, or will face in the future.

We all face storms and difficulty in life, the question is how do we handle the storms of life?

We are in an economic storm

We are in a cultural storm

We are in a family storm

You are in a Schooling Storm

Maybe a Relationship Storm

 

Maybe you are in a Spiritual Storm

 

So, while I can’t solve it all here today, I can give you some principles that if you go back and pray through them and apply them as the Lord leads, I believe you can get through the storm and come again to safe harbor.

Well let's Read the Story and see if you can Listen for Principles while we read and then I will give them two you

 

Read Acts 27:5-44

 

Let me give you 7 principles today, and I'll spend more time on some than on others

How do I survive this storm?

First,

*1.

Avoid When Possible*

 

  *A*.

*some* people that just *prefer* storms

    1.

Let's be honest now, there are some of you who like storms

    2.

you will create storms when necessary

    3.

some people stir the pot just to see the swirls in the soup

    4.

They'd rather have negative feedback than no feedback at all

    5.

They like the attention that storms bring

    6.

When storms are in their lives people come to help and though it's hard it's not lonely

    7.

That's an unhealthy way live

 

 

  *B*.

*Some* storms are *OUR* *fault* because of choices, sin, etc

    1.

as much as we’d like to blame someone else, we could have avoided this one

    2.

learn from this in the future and stay away from it.

When you pray “lead us not into temptation” sometimes God says, “hey stop going over there … I didn’t lead you there”

 

  *C*.

*Some* people are *called* to *helping* people in storms

    1.

Some of you feel that you can’t avoid the storm because you’ve got to help that person.

Maybe so, but be aware that if you enter the storm, you might not survive the storm.

2.

Nearly every storm has casualties and it might be you, so don’t get in unless you are prepared

    3.

so, if you want a guarantee, then avoid the storm whenever possible

 

Principle #2

 

*2.

Listen to the Voice of Wisdom*

* *

  *A.*

*Don't go* simply *by* what you *feel* or what *appears* to be positive

    1.

Our text says “They felt a gentle south breeze and thought … "yes … this is it"

We are guilty often of taking the first favorable sign that fits with our desires and assuming that is the hand of providence, the will of God

/ /

/"Lord if I make it through the next light, then it will be your will that I make this decision in life"/

 

    2.

The gentle South wind is, /"see Paul this is God's will" /

V13 says "they thought they had obtained what they wanted"

 

    3.

It was only about 30 miles to Phoenix.

With a gentle south wind it would only take a few hours to travel that distance.

4.

How often have our short trip against better judgment turned into WEEKS in a storm?

 

    5.

They got about 9 miles before that GENTLE wind from the south blowing, became a NORTHEASTER … A strong hurricane force wind blowing from the northeast to the southwest

 

    6.

The Scripture says that this storm rushed down on them.

There were mountains some 7,000 feet high along the coast of Crete and as they passed along the coast this gentle wind suddenly was replaced by Enormous winds that came, as if out of nowhere, over the mountains and probably broadsided their boat, pushing them off course into the open sea. 

    7.

The word translated "hurricane force", or "violent", wind, is the Greek word, /tuphonikos ~/too-fo-nee-kos~/ /

 

    8.

The Greek says the storm was called /Euprosopeo ~/yoo-pros-o-peh-o~// that is translated as a "northeaster" but the literal translation means "/to make a fair show"/  In other words this northeaster that blew over the mountains was quite a spectacle, some kind of a show, it was a Perfect Storm.

If this was on the Discovery Channel we would watch it!

9.

But they didn't HAVE to be there, and many of the storms of life can be avoided if we will listen to the voice of wisdom

 

  *B.

Voices of Wisdom*

    1.

Voice of Wisdom #1 - The Word of God - Various scriptures from Ps 119

      a.

Ps 119:4 /you have ordained your precepts that we should keep them diligently/

      b.

119:11 /Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee/

      c.

John 6:63 /… The Words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life … (Jesus) / 

      d.

Deut.

32:47 /They are not just idle words for you - they are your life.

By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess./

e.

119:45 /I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts/

      f.

119:93 /I will never forget your precepts for by them you have preserved my life/

      g.

119:104 /I gain understanding from your precepts …/

/      /h./

/119:159 / see how I you're your precepts … /

precepts are truths, foundational principles that will give guidance and direction for all things whether you have an exact word on it or not.

Not only that but this Hebrew word, only used in Psalms, means instructions that, not only will help but also we are OBLIGATED in COVENANTAL RELATIONSHIP to adhere to them.

We have to listen to the Voice of Wisdom because we are in a love relationship with Christ and obligated to follow his precepts

      i. 2 Tim 3:16 The Word of God is /God Breathed and useful /… /that we may be thoroughly equipped/ …

God's word is not only Inerrant, that is without error, but it is Infallible in that it will not lead you INTO falsehood if correctly followed

 

    2.

Voice of Wisdom #2 - The Holy Spirit living in you -

      a.

John 14:25 / the Holy Spirit … will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said.

/

      b.

John 16:13 /he will guide you into all truth … /

 

    3.

Voice of Wisdom #3 - The Church - i.e.