In the Midst of the Storm
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along.
When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island.
The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along.
They were caught in a storm.
Description of being caught in a storm.
The
Life is a journey and you can bet we will all be caught in a storm from time to time.
a parenting storm
a marriage storm
a family storm
a business storm
4 Storm Survival Strategies
Stay on the Ship
Stay on the Ship
Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow.
When you’re in the midst of a storm don’t pretend like everything is ok when it’s not ok
acts 27
Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.”
They started off by praying for daylight - seeking God, but by verse 30 they were ready to jump ship!
Someone needs to hear - “stay on the ship!”
Someone is ready to bail on their marriage, you need this - stay on the ship!
Someone is ready to jump ship from something that they need to stay on!
Ive been praying, fasting and it seems to be getting harder, or worse! I’m ready to bail!
Sometimes it takes more faith to stay than to leave!
Some say, “God told me to leave” and that is true, at times he does. But there are times that God says “stay on the ship!”
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Gal
Sometimes God is shouting to us:
“If you stay on the ship nobody will be lost!”
First survival Strategy:
Stay on the ship!
Sometimes when you don’t know what to do you need to continue doing what you last knew what you were supposed to do!
Stay on the ship!
acts 27
So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away.
They completely abandoned themselves to God. Sometimes we need to cut the rope!
Old habits - cut the rope!
flirting on facebook - cut the rope!
Going back to hang out with old friends - cut the rope
and be faithful to God in the midst of the storm!
Be Still and Chill
Be Still and Chill
Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything.
Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.”
Get some rest, take a break, it won’t make a difference if you worry
acts 27
Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.”
You’re in the midst of a storm - take a break!
Get some rest so get some food and rest
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?
Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
luke
Worrying, stressing out only produces only bad in our lives.
I wish I were speaking from a position of mastering this- but I am in need of these truths more than anyone!
a few years back my blood pressure was over the top. they put me on medication and told me to do whatever I needed to get less stress in my life.
We all have had to face storms and will continue to face storms - we must learn the fact that stress and worry does not produce anything good!
what does God say to us?
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.
They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves.
Sometimes the best thing we can do is Be still and chill while in the midst of the storm
Praise God in the Storm
Praise God in the Storm
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.
We all - in the middle of the storm - need to be the kind of people who say “Praise the Lord”
Anyone can praise the Lord when everything is going good
The star athlete being interviewed after the championship
the movie star or musician when they receive the award
Anyone can praise the Lord then!
Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.
YET I WILL PRAISE GOD
My marriage is not going great - yet! I will praise the Lord!
My kids are going haywire at home - yet! I will praise the Lord!
At work everyone it going nuts! -Yet! I will praise the Lord!
Sometime you have to praise through until you get a breakthroug!
Don’t let a storm silent your praise
Praise God in the Storm!
God Can Take You to Your Destination on Broken Pieces
God Can Take You to Your Destination on Broken Pieces
But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.
can you imagine being on this ship?
Have you ever been there before - in life
things aren’t coming together, they’re breaking apart!
finances breaking apart
health - braking to pieces
family - I go to church but it seems like it’s falling apart!
Have you ever been in the place where you’ve been in a storm and your emotions are breaking apart!
people hurt you
I never thought I’d be in this place in my career - yet it’s falling apart!
You set sail in life
in family
in school
in business
and all you have left is broken pieces
People of Trinity - God can take you to your destination on broken pieces
But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land.
You have taken up the tabernacle of Molek and the star of your god Rephan, the idols you made to worship. Therefore I will send you into exile’ beyond Babylon.
The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping.
The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely.
It’s bad when your ship gets into a storm
It’s worse when your ship starts breaking apart in the storm
but it’s so much worse when your ship is in a storm, starts breaking up - and you cannot swim!
those who can swim - swim
those who cannot - grab a piece of the broken ship and hang on - God’s going to get you there!
We so often get so focused on what we’ve lost that we forget to see what we have left!
Get your eyes off what it was - and get your eyes on what you have around you!
If God needed the ship to stay together to get you where he wanted you - then nothing would have caused it to break up!
But a soveriegn God has allowed the storm to break up the boat - but you still have enough for God to get you where he wants you to.
Grab ahold of what you have and hang on!
I have only a sliver of faith- hang on!
I have only a piece of my marriage - hold on! it’s enough - you can make it!
I only have a little bit of hope! Hold on! it’s enough
I want to pray over you this morning - this morning I want you to grab ahold of broken pieces and praise the Lord!
I thank you Lord, for praise and faith! We’re going to hold on and praise you because you are going to get us where we need to get! We’re going to continue to be faithful because you have not abandoned us but are with us - even as we cling to broke pieces. We love you Lord!