In The Storm
Navigating Life Seas • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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18 The next day as we were being violently storm-tossed, they began to jettison the cargo;
19 and on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands.
20 Since neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was assailing us, from then on all hope of our being saved was gradually abandoned.
21 When they had gone a long time without food, then Paul stood up in their midst and said, “Men, you ought to have followed my advice and not to have set sail from Crete and incurred this damage and loss.
22 “Yet now I urge you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.
23 “For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me,
24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.’
25 “Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told.
Some Storms are our own cause while others are out of our control.
Either way our obedience while in the storm effects how we weather it.
This passage shows us two types of people in the ship, those who caused the issue and those caught up it due to proximity.
18 The next day as we were being violently storm-tossed, they began to jettison the cargo; 19 and on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands.
Anything that might add weight, so any extra anchors, cables, weapons, tools…
Many times as we hit storms we try to address them and navigate out of our own wisdom and our own power.
20 Since neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was assailing us, from then on all hope of our being saved was gradually abandoned.
This is the results when we try to do it our way…
any means to navigate was gone, they were sailing blind
All Hope Is Gone!!!
How many times do we find ourselves sailing blindly?
21 When they had gone a long time without food, then Paul stood up in their midst and said, “Men, you ought to have followed my advice and not to have set sail from Crete and incurred this damage and loss.
We all love an “ I told you so” moment-Unless it is directed at us.
But Paul has a good purpose for it that we will see later.
Now that they had seen what he said was true, their hearts could be prepared for the Gospel.
Sometimes the Lord allows us to go through storms others caused so that we can be Pauls to them, to meet them were they are.
22 “Yet now I urge you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.
If he had not reminded them of the “ I told you moment” they may not be as inclined to listen to his next words of Hope.
Again we sometimes go into the storm with others so that we can be the light of hope physically with them.
Sometimes we scream at God for a voice and fail to realize that the saint He sent is right there with you.
When dealing with trauma, many times what someone needs the most is someone to be present with them, to hear them.
Apart of the kingdom call is to be that calm, that beacon of hope…
…but if we don’t stick close to the source “ie the Bible ect” we will not sine as brightly or be as prepared.
23 “For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, 24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.’
It is amazing how many times God’s people are told to not be afraid.
Fear does a great number of things to us… (times in my career that I or someone else could have been hurt or killed if I had froze up)
Fear makes folks do stupid stuff. (panic doors on this building)
Fear will always lead to a lack of trust in God
25 “Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told.
Many times man has placed his comfort in his own means…
Tyre thought they were safe…
Alexander the Great built a massive land bridge (causeway) in 332 BC to conquer Tyre, an island city-state located in modern-day Lebanon
The people of Jericho thought they were safe.
Wall street thought it was safe until 1929
Farmers thought they were safe until the Dust Bowl years of the 30’s.
Keep the faith, keep your courage, not in yourself, man. or any other vice, but (sola) solely on God.
Take Home?
Who is the captain of your ship?
