Coming in on Broken Pieces

It was was 16 years ago that a good friend of mine preached at my installation services coming in on broken pieces from this same text. That sermon stuck with me all these years because it is indicative of how many will make it in. As our theme scripture for 2021 reminds us that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. ( Ac 14:22). Even Jesus reminded us that In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16:33). I wish i could tell you that it will be smooth sailing from this point on. I wish I could tell you that there will be no storms. I wish I could tell you that you will not have any shipwrecks along they way. But I can’t! Paul told the Thessalonians in 3 3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. 4 For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. (1 Th 3:3–4). The good news is suffering and difficulties have benefits. Peter said, 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. (1 Pe 5:10).

In this text we find Paul at the end of a tremendous storm that was likely to kill all 276 on board. At the end of this tumultuous journey. The ship runs a ground and all on board have to find a way to shore.

I wish I could tell you that following Jesus means you will never have to face any storms. I wish I could tell you that following Jesus means that the waters of life will always be calm. I wish I could tell you that following Jesus means life will be rosy and all of your days sweet.

BUT I CAN’T

You can be both in the center of God’s will, and still in a storm.

YOU CAN BE PREACHING IN THE PULPIT IN A STORM, SINGING IN THE CHOIR IN A STORM, DOWN ON YOUR KNEES IN A STORM

TROUBLE DON’T JUST COME FOR THE SINNERS IT COMES FOR the saints also!

You don’t get to choose your storms. Life comes with troubles, regardless of whether or not you follow Jesus. You only get to choose if you want Him to join you in your troubles, or if you’d rather go through them alone. Yesterday I was out at Gatling’s and to my surprise I was called to do a service for a 28 year man. He was killed in Indianapolis. I am reading the obituary and realize this youngman grew up in University Park. So of course I texted Mayor Roudez. I said this young man is the same age as Joe and Linda sons. They must know him. Well it was confirmed when I saw both Justin and Jacob. I bring this up because this family was in a major storm. One that may require them to get to shore on broken pieces. It brought up memories when Jacob was shot. That was a major storm for the Roudez family. Thank God Jacob is still with us.

SOME STORMS COMES AND DESTROY AND OTHERS COMES TO BRING US CLOSER TO GOD EITHER WAY STORMS ARE UNPREDICTABLE AND WE NEVER KNOW THE OUTCOME UNTIL IT’S OVER.

SO HERE WE HAVE PAUL IN THE MIDDLE OF A STORM AND THE SHIP has ran ashore! AND THAT JUST HOW IT IS SOMETIMES WE FIND OURSELVES IN STORMS THAT HAS US STUCK IN A PLACE WHERE WE DON’T EVEN KNOW HOW WE GOT THERE, AND THE WAVES STRIKING AGAINST THE BOAT BROKE THE BOAT INTO PIECES AND BEGAN TO WONDER IF ANYONE WOULD BE SAVED, AND THAT’S HOW LIFE IS SOMETIMES WHEN THE WAVES OF LIFE COMES UP AND BEAT AGAINST YOU AND IT SEEMS LIKE THE STORM HAS BEAT AGAINST EVERYTHING YOU ONCE THOUGHT WAS A SAFETY NET NOW THERE NO HUMAN DEFENSE AGAINST IT THAT’S WHEN WE CRY OUT TO GOD FOR HELP.

THE BIBLE SAYS THAT ONCE THEY REALIZE THE SHIP WAS NOT GONNA MAKE IT THE Centurion soldier said TO THE ONES THAT COULD SWIM TO JUMP OVERBOARD AND SWIM TO SHORE BUT TO THE OTHERS THEY were toLD TO GRAB HOLD OF PIECES OF THE SHIP AND USE THAT AS A MEANS OF SUPPORT UNTIL THEY GET TO LAND

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO JUST ENCOUNTERED A STORM AND CAME OUT OF IT, THANK GOD YOU MADE IT AND YOU LIVED TO TELL THE STORY BUT, SOMEBODY DON’T HAVE THAT TESTIMONY BECAUSE THEY COULDN’T WITHSTAND THE STORM THEY COULDN’T TAKE THE WIND AND THE RAIN! TO YOU I SAY STAY ON GUARD FOR THE NEXT ONE BECAUSE THERE WILL ALWAYS BE ANOTHER ONE

BUT I WANT To ENCOURAGE ANYONE THAT’S IN THE MIDDLE OF A STORM RIGHT NOW EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY NOT KNOW WHAT THE OUTCOME MAY BE YOU GOTTA GRAB HOLD OF THE BROKEN PIECES AND LET GOD GUIDE YOU TO A PLACE OF SAFETY, SEE I KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE WHEN THE STORM OF LIFE COMES RAGING AND YOU CAN’T SEE NO WAY OUT AND YOU WONDERING HOW YOU GONNA MAKE IT, HOW LONG THIS WILL IT LAST, AND WILL I SURVIVE. SOMEBODY BEEN WAITING ON GOD FOR A LONG TIME WONDERING WHEN THIS STORM WILL BE OVER

AND THERE ARE SOME STORMS THAT ARE PRIVATE STORM OR QUIET STORMS THAT YOU ARE DEALING WITH THE WAVES THAT KEEPS BEATING UP AGAINST YOUR SPIRIT AND YOU WRESTLING DAY AND NIGHT WONDERING IF THIS WILL BE THE LAST DAY

AND YOU IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU CAN’T SWIM OUT OF YOu may have tp be LIKE SOME PEOPLE AND IT MAY SEEM LIKE OTHERS ARE GOING THRU SOME TO THE SAME STORMS AS YOU IF NOT WORSE THAN YOURS BUT THEY SEEMS TO SWIM TO SHORE BEFORE YOU BUT GOD SAID YOU MAY FINISH LATE BUT I PROMISE YOU’LL FINISH GREAT