Sermon Tone Analysis

Today we dedicated 4-5 babies, 5 kiddos and a couple of tweens to the Lord.

A decision made by parents to commit to giving their children to the Lord and trusting for God’s intervention in their lives.

Also this weekend, three of our teens graduated from High School!

In times like these we see blue skies, calm seas and happy sails!

Life presents the opportunities and optimistic futures, but most of us have lived long enough to realize that the sea of life can quickly become raging!!! Stormy!

Tempestuous!

It is in these times that many will lose their faith in the Lord, call it quits on Jesus, or run into the world to find escape from their difficulties.

Jesus never said we not see storms in life, but He did say He would be there with us.

I want to look at a story in the book of Acts - turn with me to Chapter 27

A

Paul was under trial with Agrippa - he petitioned to appeal to Caesar.

So, he was taken as a prisoner and set sail on a ship out of Egypt carrying wheat to Italy.

This was a large boat carrying vast amounts of grain and 276 people aboard.

It had a Centurion who would have been the BUSINESS MAN in charge of the shipment, a pilot - one steering the ship and a Captain, most likely the owner of the vessel.

The time of year was late fall to winter and thus the seas were stormy and had great danger as a potential.

They found themselves of course and troubles by winds, and after a short time in a harbor where Paul pleads to remain for the season until the storms pass by, the pilot and captain convince the Centurion to head to a different port.

Here they find themselves in grave danger for 14 days.

So grave, they have thrown all the cargo except the wheat overboard, all furniture, supplies, any thing of excess.

The sailors so distraught have been fighting being tossed and fro by wind and wave that they have not eaten for 11 days, and they fear being run aground into quicksands where they would perish.

This is not a pretty scene.

Every life is severely threatened, there has been great loss of wealth and certain ruin of many kinds presents itself to all aboard.

1. Storms and Shipwrecks Happen In Life

Here we see the picture that storms, hardships and shipwrecks happen!

Life WILL present its difficulties.

Threats

Loss

Pain

It seems so unfair, and threatening!

We often question - WHY DO THESE THINGS HAPPEN?

2 cor

These are words spoken by the Apostle Paul!

His life was no picnic!

In fact he had been shipwrecked 3 times!!!

When difficulty occurs in our lives, we cannot think that God has abandoned us!

We cannot jump to the conclusion that we have offended God, or are deserving of punishment, or have been forsaken!

STUFF HAPPENS!!!

We live in a sinful world that is tainted by the fall of man, and corrupt people, and the rain falls on the just and the unjust.

<att 5:44-46

You can interpret this to be good or bad, but what it means is that the seasons of life, both good and evil effect ALL PEOPLE.

Job spoke these words

What does that mean for those of us who walk through deep waters and difficulties??

We cannot think ourselves as alone or disliked by God, stuff happens to everyone

We need to realize that our problems in life do not change the unfailing love of God for us — His love is constant and remains

We must hold on to HOPE in Christ in the midst of difficulty and TRUST that God will see us through to the other side

2. God’s Voice is Still Discernible in the Storm

There is something very evident in this story - Paul heard the voice of God - in fact, he encountered a messenger of God!

Do we think that God is not able to hear us when we call upon him, or to speak into our lives when something is up?

I remember years ago, right before I was about to go through one of life’s biggest storms for myself.

I was in the sanctuary of our church praying - all had been seemingly great, no difficulties, life was good, it was happy - I was blessed!

It was almost like an audible voice spoke to me - this is all about to change!

I could not prevent that storm from happening, I could not stop it, escape it, or even slow it down.

It would hit me like a whirlwind - but having heard the voice of God - I knew He had not abandoned me.

No matter what occurred, how discouraged I felt, how depressed I may have become - I still understood that God was there.

How on earth did Paul find a place to converse with God in the midst of this raging storm with people and things being tossed to and fro, and even encounter an angel!?

The Lord spoke to Paul and said NOT ONE WILL DIE… it was a word to hold onto

There is still that quiet place that we shut ourselves in with the Lord and meet Him in that place.

We tell him how we feel, what is going on… He understands our weaknesses...

psalm 107.1-

We can express our deepest anguish and desire of destruction of those who have harmed us

The Lord wants us to know He is there and He wants to hear from us and speak to us!!!

We will stop and listen?

We cry out to HIM, but WAIT TO HEAR FROM HIM!

God wants us to still our hearts to hear His voice!

SO — in the middle of the storm - take time to listen to what the Lord wants to say!

Sometimes that means being quiet so we can hear...

3. God Brings Us Through the Storm to Refuge

Did Paul make it through the storm?

Did everyone else make it through the storm?

Was their loss - yes, but there was still life and where there is life there is hope....

I just have to say, that the entire group of people aboard this ship arrived safely onto the island

the name of that island is MALTA and it means --- REFUGE!

If you are in the midst of a raging storm, if you feel tossed to and fro and beaten by the wind and the wave, if you are worn out, angry, hurt

Remember --- YOU WILL COME THROUGH

God is a refuge and He brings us THROUGH the storms of life to REFUGE or safety!

Refuge is a place from safety or danger or trouble...

Every sea calms down, there is a port awaiting somewhere to take you in and allow you rest...

Hold fast your confidence in God and don’t quit or give up, but know that He will bring you through the storm to safety...

CONCLUSION

We will all experience storms in this life...

At some point the smooth sailing will be taken over by wind and wave...

But there is a voice that speaks in the midst of the storm --- peace---

There is a Word given to us to hold onto...

We will come out on the other side, and we will find REFUGE!