A TRIP TO THE SUN —#3
A trip to the Sun • Sermon • Submitted
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MIRACLES OF PROTECTION
MIRACLES OF PROTECTION
“Save me, God!” — If you save me today — Serve you forever.
Help me pass test — Get out of ticket — Home (Never drink) (Miracle)
How can God protect someone with out protecting someone else?
How can God protect someone with out protecting someone else?
Let’s talk about the tension today of a God who can save and who does protect but some times thing don’t come out the way we think they should!
God has power to save — Miraculous protect from harm
39 The Lord rescues the godly; he is their fortress in times of trouble. Psalm 37:39 NLT
39 The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
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Long before you face a problem, God already has a plan.
Long before you face a problem, God already has a plan.
Long before rain flooded earth — God planned for Noah be on boat.
Before Jonah thrown overboard — God planned send a fish rescue.
Before Israelites cornered by Egypt army — Planned part Red Sea.
Before found bad news health — Lost your job — Girlfriend broke heart
God already had a plan.
God already had a plan.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------What do we know about GOD?
God is a God who has the power to miraculously save.
Commission angels — Shut mouth of lions — Calm a raging storm.
Long before you face a problem — God already has a plan.
THE MIRACLE OF PROTECTION
THE MIRACLE OF PROTECTION
Girl predicting future $— Paul/Silas cast demon — Owners falsely accused
22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Acts 16:22-23
22 The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely.
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Focus Paul: Stripped — Beaten wooden rods — Where is God?
That’s not fair!
That’s not fair!
Paul was a Roman citizen — Politically exempt punishment.
Maybe YOU’re … Not stripped from clothes — Stripped hope, faith, trust.
Beaten rods — Beaten words, doubts, discouragement — Where is God?
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Certainly Paul — Disappoint w/God: Let me down — Didn’t protect — Not fair.
what normally people do - “i’m Quitting SmallGroup” — “stoped praying” — “didn’t go to church” — “start listening to Secular music” — “I’m going to Show God.”
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Paul didn’t wait to worship after miracle: Worshipped before.
Paul didn’t wait to worship after miracle: Worshipped before.
What is a miracle?
God in heaven intervenes on earth: God intervened
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.
Writer to the Hebrews told us to offer a “sacrifice of praise.”
15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
One thing is to : Praise God > When you see his power.
Another thing is to praise Him > When you don’t.
Two times to worship God: When you feel like it — When don’t.
Worshiping him: Who he is — Not: What he does or doesn’t do.
What happens? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.
Middle of prison — Midnight — Praising — God shows up — Earthquake.
Jailer wakes up—See doors open—Draws sword to take life.
Paul, “Don’t kill yourself. We are here.”
27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.
Jailer falls—What do I need to do to be saved?
Believes—whole family.
30 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
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Not only was Paul saved — So was jailer and entire family!
Before Paul went to prison — God already had a plan!
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God miraculously protected Paul’s life! (Obvious)
God often protects you in so many ways you don’t understand!
EX.... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Late meeting—Stuck waiting train—God may be protecting.
Wanted to get accepted to that school—Protecting you.
God protects: Some prayers—Gave me what I wanted—Needed.
Praise God—Didn’t let you marry that one guy begged thought loved!
As we get to know the goodness and faithfulness of God—Convinced.
Long before you face a problem, God already has a plan.
Sometimes God’s eternal purposes don’t align with our temporary plans. (Learn)
Sometimes God’s eternal purposes don’t align with our temporary plans. (Learn)
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God deliver Paul from prison until He didn’t
Not only time Paul arrested: (Estimated 5—6 years in prison.)
After 5th missionary journey — Prison
Tried by Nero—Not crucified : Beheaded
Just like 10 other surviving disciples (John boiling oil)—Serving Jesus.
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Sometimes God’s eternal purposes don’t align with our temporary plans.
We truly, truly trust Him, God still Good in the middle of the storm
Baby doesn’t make it — Drunk driver kills teen—168 people don’t survive.
Does it Hurt? - Yes — do we Grieve deeply? - Yes. does it Feel devastating? - Yes.
BUT do we Continue to trust? YES
We do not just trust Him we Worship Him — Not — for What does — but for Who he is.
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So what do we do? If God can miraculously protect—Pray for protection.
Jesus taught us pray…
Lead us not into temptation—Deliver us from evil—Protect us.
HOW DO WE PRAY?
HOW DO WE PRAY?
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Pray spouse —For Marriage — FOr Pastors — For Friends
Pray for kids — Angels to surround our house — Protection temptation.
Protection lies enemy — Protect from wrong friends.
Do stray — Pray get caught early.
Cheating — Drinking driving — Shoplifting.
Can’t count the # times know God protected me.
So much of what is good in me today, is a result of what God didn’t protect me from.
So much of what is good in me today, is a result of what God didn’t protect me from.
God protected me … from
Before you face a problem, God already has plan. (Pain)
I would Rather hurt in his will than live in comfort outside of it.
I would Rather hurt in his will than live in comfort outside of it.
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Paul never said in prison: Not fair — Can’t trust you.
Did say in prison: Philemon, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians.
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We rejoice in our suffering! Even poured out—Glad rejoice all you.
17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
Also say this not in prison but he said: Delight in hardships—Persecutions—Difficulties—Weak/Strong.
10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
What shall separate us from the love of God?
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Works in all things…
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
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God never promises he will always protect us. (we will Die)
God never promises he will always protect us. (we will Die)
Does promise he will never leave us.
Does promise he will never leave us.
5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say,
“The Lord is my helper;
I will not fear;
what can man do to me?”
Long before you face a problem—God has a plan.
Long before you face a problem—God has a plan.
Let’s Pray
Let’s Pray
God, You are a miracle-working God. We’ve read Your stories of protection in the Bible, and we’ve seen them in our own lives.
We trust You to protect us from what could destroy us and to expose us to what will grow us.
Thank You for Your good plans for our lives.
We love You.
In Jesus’ powerful name, amen.