“T” is for Trust

Preamble:

Series came during prayer – “Trust God”, we have all heard it many times. Trust is very important to God and it needs to be with us. In fact,

Our entire relationship with God is based on trust

I heard the Lord speak to me that life with Him is simply “A Matter of Trust”.

But trust in what?

The more I meditated on that question, the more I focused on the wonderful and marvelous attributes of our Loving, Heavenly Father. It didn’t take long to fill up Post It notes with lists of wonderful and amazing reasons to trust God. There are so many reasons to trust God that we will dedicate the first week of every month of this year discovering how to trust God even more. This will help us greatly in our preparation for the Return of the Lord. Our hearts will not be as many found recorded in the Bible of “men’s hearts failing them for fear” because of the things coming upon the earth. Instead, we will be part of the true remnant church who is preparing herself, as a bride, to be the strongest witness of the love of God this world has ever known!

Intro:

We can trust God because He loves us.

Your trust in God is in direct proportion to your revelation of His love for YOU.

The more you KNOW Him, the more you TRUST Him.

What is Trust?

English

assured reliance on the character, ability, strength of someone

Greek

4100 πιστεύω [pisteuo /pist·yoo·o/]

Place confidence in

be committed to one’s trust

to trust in Jesus or God as able to aid either in obtaining or in doing something

Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.

Key Scripture

John 14:1 NLT

1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.

Stages of Trust

Everyone trusts something

Captain trusted the owner

Paul trusted God

Followers – Prisoners trusted life boats

Leaders – sailors trusted … jumped ship – Leadership abandon ship – life preserver – SELF preservation - you KNOW its bad when…

Threw cargo – nothing left but you and I – what are you going to do now?

Trust God to outlast your storm!

Shipwreck – marriage, job, faith

Drifters – Driftwood, floaters, no longer attend church, lone rangers – see them in stores, restaurants…

Trust in God at all Times – Good and Bad

It’s easy to trust when times are good.

Faith involves trusting in the Lord.

The people of God in the Bible trusted in the Lord despite what they saw.

God is Trust WORTHY

A Christian, by definition, trusts God with the most important thing in their life, which is the eternal salvation of their soul.

The same God who is trustworthy to take care of your death by conquering all the forces of hell on your behalf is also trustworthy to take care of your life!

God Delivers Paul Through a Storm – Acts 27

Trust God BEFORE, DURING, AFTER the Storm

We can trust in the Lord in the midst of disaster and turmoil

When things go wrong – how do you respond?

If everything is going well in our lives, it is relatively easy to trust in the Lord. However, there are times when we face major challenges to our faith. Amongst his many challenges, trials and sufferings, Paul was shipwrecked three times (2 Corinthians 11:23b–25).

In today’s passage, we read of one of these occasions.

Trust God BEFORE the Storm – v 10-11

The apostle Paul was arrested for heresy by the Jewish leaders. Lower Roman courts found him innocent, but the Jews refused to leave Paul unpunished, so he appealed to Emperor Nero in Rome. God told Paul that He going to on his way to the supreme court of the Roman Empire

Acts 27:10–11 NLT

10 “Men,” he said, “I believe there is trouble ahead if we go on—shipwreck, loss of cargo, and danger to our lives as well.” 11 But the officer in charge of the prisoners listened more to the ship’s captain and the owner than to Paul.

Looked Good on Paper – v 13

At first it looked as if Paul had been wrong in predicting disaster as the weather was perfect for the journey (Acts 27:13)

south, gentle wind

Acts 27:13 NLT

13 When a light wind began blowing from the south, the sailors thought they could make it. So they pulled up anchor and sailed close to the shore of Crete.

Human nature – don’t listen, and did not prepare – didn’t think it would happen to them – not my ship – not my kid – not my family – not my church – not my staff

“God said” – sometimes we are “led” by own ambitions and confuse it or misinterpret the journey for God’s will. They usually say it when things are new and exciting. They romanticize what they think the journey will be like. But sometimes challenges are right in front of us. It is during those times when we discover what we truly believe.

Trust God DURING the Storm

Types of storms

Force of Nature – health scare – gov’t shutdown – accident – 3 am phone call

You can trust God even in the midst of bad news!

Actions are Reflections

Your trust in God is displayed during the trials and storms of life.

Paul’s Storm was a Hurricane – v 14

Good things Turned bad fast – change of “direction” - north eastern wind - typhoon

14 But the weather changed abruptly, and a wind of typhoon strength (called a “northeaster”) burst across the island and blew us out to sea.

Sudden – Paul’s storm “came out of nowhere”, it was “all of the sudden”, everyone was “blindsided”

Strong = “Blew me away”

Scared – It must have been a terrifying experience.

Sad – Luke writes, ‘[they] finally gave up all hope of being saved’ (v.20).

Sailor’s trust shaken

Trust doesn’t give up - but lets go and lets God

15 The sailors couldn’t turn the ship into the wind, so they gave up and let it run before the gale.

Lifeboat hoisted – v 16

16 We sailed along the sheltered side of a small island named Cauda, where with great difficulty we hoisted aboard the lifeboat being towed behind us.

Tied ship – dropped anchors – v 17

17 Then the sailors bound ropes around the hull of the ship to strengthen it. They were afraid of being driven across to the sandbars of Syrtis off the African coast, so they lowered the sea anchor to slow the ship and were driven before the wind.

Crew’s trust shaken

threw cargo – v 18

18 The next day, as gale-force winds continued to batter the ship, the crew began throwing the cargo overboard.

threw gear – v 19

19 The following day they even took some of the ship’s gear and threw it overboard.

Trust the Son when you can’t see the Sun

Hope and appetite thrown overboard – v 20

20 The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone.

Paul Trusts God

Yet, Paul kept on trusting in the Lord, telling those on board to ‘have faith in God’, that God was still in control and that he had promised to rescue them (vv.23–25).

Disasters Test Your Trust

It took a disaster for the crew to listen to Paul.

Beginning – Paul “blown off” - until the crew was almost blown away by the storm!

God’s Grace and Favor– Paul the prisoner is now in charge. He tells them, ‘you really should have listened to me’ (v.21, MSG).

Acts 27:21 NLT

21 No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, “Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this damage and loss.

Lose ship – save lives – v 22

22 But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down.

Trust God’s Message - and God’s Messenger

Angel stood – v 23

Acts 27:23–25 NLT

23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, 24 and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ 25 So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said.

Trust I will make it – even though I lose the ship – v 26

26 But we will be shipwrecked on an island.”

Trust the end is in sight! V -27

27 About midnight on the fourteenth night of the storm, as we were being driven across the Sea of Adria, the sailors sensed land was near.

Trust is more than Survival Mode

Sailors Trusted natural again vs 28-30

did they forget what Paul said?

Short memory or their own interpretation (repeating pattern of error)

sounder

28 They dropped a weighted line and found that the water was 120 feet deep. But a little later they measured again and found it was only 90 feet deep.

anchors

29 At this rate they were afraid we would soon be driven against the rocks along the shore, so they threw out four anchors from the back of the ship and prayed for daylight.

life boats

30 Then the sailors tried to abandon the ship; they lowered the lifeboat as though they were going to put out anchors from the front of the ship.

Survival Mode – Even though God SAID they would all be safe, Paul still had to stop the sailors from jumping ship – or else they would have lost their lives and jeopardized others. (v.30)

Evangelism – Grace Under Fire

The turmoil gave Paul an opportunity to speak about his faith. He takes the opportunity although he must have been suffering greatly from hunger and the effects of the storm.

Servant

Paul saw himself as belonging to God (‘the God whose I am’) and being his servant (‘whom I serve’). But God was not only his owner and master; Paul trusted God and had a deep assurance of his love. He knew that God wanted the very best for him, as he does for you today.

Security

Paul assured them, ‘Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head’ (v.34). And, ‘after he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat’ (v.35).

Pressure Exposes True Beliefs

Kenneth Hagin was commissioned by God to “Teach My people faith”. Teaching faith prepares and conditions one how to stand during the storms and needs of life. Jesus compared believing God to a wise builder vs. a foolish one.

Storm - Peter thought he believed God until his back was against the wall.

Will you still believe God in spite of persecution, lack, sickness or job loss?

Storms expose the weak links – you will be surprised who they are (sailor) – trust God’s strength to protect you in spite of their weakness (hireling)

Pressure exposes cracks. People can crack under pressure – especially when it affects THEM.

Angel showed up at the darkest hour – There stood beside me…

Paul trusted what God said - – STAY in the SHIP

31 But Paul said to the commanding officer and the soldiers, “You will all die unless the sailors stay aboard.”

Sailors finally trust Paul – v 32

32 So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away.

Life lesson: disobedience brings suffering - How many innocent people suffer harm (all) at the expense of a few disobedient? (Aachen, Jonah).

Trust in Communion – vs 33-37

33 Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat. “You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for two weeks,” he said.

34 “Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish.”

35 Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it.

36 Then everyone was encouraged and began to eat—

37 all 276 of us who were on board.

Crew threw food overboard – v 38

cargo – wheat – line draws closer – food more vital than merchandise – trust they wouldn’t need it?

38 After eating, the crew lightened the ship further by throwing the cargo of wheat overboard.

Trust they saw the coastline

39 When morning dawned, they didn’t recognize the coastline, but they saw a bay with a beach and wondered if they could get to shore by running the ship aground.

Crew DROPPED (cut) the anchors

trusted they don’t need them anymore… RAISED the SAIL (hope) – there is another city…

40 So they cut off the anchors and left them in the sea. Then they lowered the rudders, raised the foresail, and headed toward shore.

Once again they thought they were going to have a non-eventful ending

41 But they hit a shoal and ran the ship aground too soon. The bow of the ship stuck fast, while the stern was repeatedly smashed by the force of the waves and began to break apart.

Soldiers didn’t trust Prisoners

tried to end them

42 The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure they didn’t swim ashore and escape.

Officer trusted Paul – who trusted God! Lives saved – twice! V – 43

43 But the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul, so he didn’t let them carry out their plan. Then he ordered all who could swim to jump overboard first and make for land.

Everyone safe and sound – v 44

44 The others held onto planks or debris from the broken ship. So everyone escaped safely to shore.

Trust God AFTER the Storm - Plan B is Greater!

In spite of disaster striking, God was in ultimate control: ‘The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan’ (vv.42–43a).

God gave Paul favor in the eyes of people as well as in God’s own eyes. As a result, ‘everyone reached land in safety’ (v.44).

Nothing could stop God from saving Paul and using him to work out his purposes and save lives.

Personal Application

Over the years, I have written beside this passage a list of the challenges we have faced. It is amazing to look back over the years and see the way in which God has delivered us in so many areas.

Today, whatever challenges you are facing, write them down, put your trust in God, believe that he will be with you and give you success in whatever he asks you to do.

Closing – Communion

The Apostle Paul shared the good news of salvation of life and safety to a crew of sailors, then they broke bread together.

Today, we also have heard the Good News of eternal salvation, and we will share in the Lord’s Supper as we break bread.

As Paul celebrated the Lord’s Supper during a storm, let us also celebrate the Lord’s Supper as a memorial that as God was with Paul, He is also with us. Celebrate by trusting the blood as you drink and trusting His broken body as you eat the bread.

Survived – Overcame

T- shirt – Paul’s 3rd shipwreck! – LEARNED to trust God from the 1st two storms!

Paul STILL arrived in Rome

SAFE and SOUND – on DRY LAND – TERRA FIRMA – YOU MADE IT – THE STORM IS OVER AND YOU ARE ALIVE AND WELL!

End

Things may not end up like you thought it would (ship destroyed) but at least you made it!

Island of Malta

Delayed but not denied

Don’t kick yourself when you realize your faith is not as strong as you thought it was – learn from it – get over it – get back up – keep going!

Questions to Consider

Where can you trust God more?

Where can you show God’s faithful in your life?

In what areas are you struggling to trust God completely in?