Acts 27:39-44

Let Go.

The storms of life, trials and hardship. All chances for us to learn something, to come out of them more refined. We have studied how important it is to be close to God during these moments. You will need His help, You need His Holy Spirit to lead you and guide you to experience peace and strength when life seems to throw everything at you. God has called you to something, in reality He has called each of us to a deeper faith, a deeper commitment, to look to Him to fill us. To rely on Him for nourishment, direction, happiness…in short when we live into who we are…when we know that in Christ, we are made new…we are where we are meant to be…we are brought into the presence of our Father, Who is at work in our hearts. Wanting to get you to see Him, to see that when we make our own decisions, going against the His counsel, it hurts us. He has a heavenly vantage point, and knows what we need…Hold fast to Jesus. Take the hopeful posture of expectation in prayer in all seasons of life. God doesnt waste a hurt, He can use any situation. I want to encourage you this morning again, to let Go.

Let go of your life, I know it goes against our nature to abandon the thing that is keeping us afloat in the storm…Its feels weird to step into a plan that you aren't aware of…Trust your God your guide. He has good plans for you. I can make you this promise…His plans will look differently than yours.

Isaiah 55:1–9 ““Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Right now, this morning…if you are in need of the Lord to speak, open your hearts to Him now. Open your ears that you may hear His voice, He has good plans for you! Trust that His plans are better, that whatever season you find yourself in, however lost you may feel, broken you are…all you have to do is Come to Him open and ready for His voice.

Acts 27:39–44 “Now when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to run the ship ashore. So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach. But striking a reef, they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the surf. The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape. But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.”

The night has ended, Day light brings in the new plan and the Fresh chance to step into all that God has planned for you.

Remember, the Promise of God. Hold onto His word during the night, and find His faithfulness in the day to come.

The Crew messed up, they ignored Godly counsel…and decided to ignore the signs, and put their trust in themselves. It seemed like it was paying off at first, but they ended up being caught in the Northeaster Wind…a powerful, sudden wind…

We talked about how God uses the east wind to show His judgement, His wrath, and His authority many times in the OT…

The crew found themselves in a terrible storm, they were not prepared, as we often find out when we take the lead…

God’s plans, are so far above ours…He sees things we wont ever see while we are here on the earth…Thats why He sent us His Son, to first save us…now that we are saved, His Holy Spirit then helps us obey and live like He asks us to live. Dependent, reliant, Holy…

In the middle of the Storm God promises to take care of us, all we need to do is listen to Him…to trust and have faith that His plan is good enough. Jesus, Whom Paul loves and worships, spoke to Paul and assured him that God would save not just Paul, but the whole Crew…at the cost of their plan, their stuff…

In order for God to save you, you have to let go of whatever it is from keeping you from taking His hand. You have to be willing to lose your life…meaning, control of your life. You have to cut the ropes, sever the ability to retreat back into your life before Jesus stepped into your heart, you have to do something that may be unfamiliar to you.

If it is…this verse is for you! They didn't know where they were at, the land was not recognizable…

They didn't know where…or when…what we would think to be pretty important details…

You have to let Go of the where and when…you dont need to see the whole picture to be saved…

This is Faith. Trusting without the need to see…

God takes care of The when and where, He takes care of the doorways, we obey and step through them.

This is it, time to let it all go. They removed all the instruments that would hinder them from obedience.

When God calls you to something…its going to sound different, its going to look different…take heart.

When its time for action, go all in. When God says “Its time to let Go” Let it ALL go. Get the rudder out of here, the anchors, the sails, anything that would keep them from not running the ship aground.

When God ask you to take the next step in your faith, get rid of anything that would keep you from taking the step. If he is asking you to be a better spouse, co worker, son, daughter, whatever it is…get rid of the things that would hinder you from being completely obedient.

BPM: Obey Completely.

Every word, every syllable that God speaks to you, follow it unto completion. You run the race until the finish line. You pray every day, you read every day. Engage with God every day, whatever He is asking you to do…do it.

Be ready. More often than not, the easier option rarely works out. They were aiming for the beach, that would be a softer landing…but they ended up striking a reef instead.

It would be interesting to see if had they not weighed anchor…

God’s plan is going to look different than yours…dont look for easier…look for God.

Striking a reef posed a problem: The criminals would escape.

This bump in the road probably wasn’t part of God’s plan, i’ll just make an adjustment for him…

God’s ways are much higher than ours…what we think are problems are not to God. You dont have to do anything but trust and Obey, wait and let God be God.

The Centurion, had a front row seat to God through Paul. He was taking it all in, and God used the Centurion to save the people…

what looked like “God couldn't do it” turns into “God always does it”

Dont let the sudden change of plans discourage you. Dont try and pray God onto your timeline…Obey Completely.

God kept His word…as He always does. It will always be done His way…the people are safe! Even the ones who couldnt swim were thought of.

God is infinitely higher in every area…Lean into Him! Look at what He has done for you! What He is doing for you now, and what He wants to do for you later.

You are going to be brought safely to where He is calling you, He is a good good Father, and loves you very much. It may not look like a safe landing, it may not feel like one…but set your thoughts and feeling aside…and run to the Father. He has good plans for you! What looked the the end, was just the beginning.

Know that God is able and willing to bring you to safety! Trust Him, let go of your life…let go of what you think, and let God not just save you…but change you along the way.

Romans 12:1–2 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Lean into your Holy God, who is able to bring you into true and lasting safety.