When Hope is Lost
Notes
Transcript
When Hope is Lost
When Hope is Lost
14 But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.
15 And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.
16 And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:
17 Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.
18 And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;
19 And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.
20 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.
Paul experienced some storms in his life...
opposition
obstacles
but all led to greater opportunities to share and to show his faith.
beaten
jailed numerous occassions
tried and jailed by Festus for 2 years
stood before King Agrippa
Appealed to Caesar
Conspiracies and contracts on his life...
Now he is on his way to Rome...
Yet… a literal storm in the midst of a myriad of persecutions and trials...
19 And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.
20 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.
what a position to be in...
in a storm - driven by the wind...
the cargo had already been dumped
the tackling of the ship had been thrown overboard
no ability to control if the circumstances changed
Sun / stars / points of reference / direction / navigation - no sense of direction...
When Hope is Lost
When Hope is Lost
1. Recognize Your Condition
1. Recognize Your Condition
20 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.
a. no hope
b. awareness of what your condition is, is vital to change it...
c. you will not be able to change direction if you don’t know what direction you are headed...
Those who struggle with depression have to be aware of their tendencies
we all face discouragement -
we all face discontentment
we all face inner turmoil -
RECOGNIZE YOUR CONDITION
2. Get Alone with God
2. Get Alone with God
21 But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.
long abstinence -
prayer
fasting
RECOGNIZE YOUR CONDITION
GET ALONE WITH GOD
3. Expect to hear and see God work
3. Expect to hear and see God work
23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
RECOGNIZE YOUR CONDITION
GET ALONE WITH GOD
EXPECT TO HEAR AND SEE GOD WORK
4. Believe God
4. Believe God
25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
RECOGNIZE YOUR CONDITION
GET ALONE WITH GOD
EXPECT TO HEAR AND SEE GOD WORK
BELIEVE GOD
5. Share God’s Grace with others
5. Share God’s Grace with others
23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
His Comfort
acts 27.33-36
His Care
God wants us to take care of ourselves -
health
food, sleep, rest
Trials, troubles
storms and situations are hard on us
physically
spiritually
emotionally
His Charge
Destination - Island
acts 27.26
Direction - the way...
act27.31
they had to abide in the ship - stay in the boat-
don’t bail!!!
God’s Got this!!!!
God’s blessings come in God’s way
RECOGNIZE YOUR CONDITION
GET ALONE WITH GOD
EXPECT TO HEAR AND SEE GOD WORK
BELIEVE GOD
SHARE GOD’S GRACE WITH OTHERS
6. Embrace the Situation
6. Embrace the Situation
40 And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.
41 And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.
RECOGNIZE YOUR CONDITION
GET ALONE WITH GOD
EXPECT TO HEAR AND SEE GOD WORK
BELIEVE GOD
SHARE GOD’S GRACE WITH OTHERS
EMBRACE THE SITUATION
7. Make the Best of what is broken
7. Make the Best of what is broken
43 But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:
44 And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.
don’t just look at the catastrophic damage -
Look for the good
Look for the best of the situation...
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
RECOGNIZE YOUR CONDITION
GET ALONE WITH GOD
EXPECT TO HEAR AND SEE GOD WORK
BELIEVE GOD
SHARE GOD’S GRACE WITH OTHERS
EMBRACE THE SITUATION
MAKE THE BEST OF WHAT IS BROKEN
