STORMS OF LIFE

There are many different “storms in life” that we have all experienced and have found it difficult to walk through.  But with God’s grace and strength we can come safely through them, and be made stronger as a result of the storms.  And we can have our faith renewed by His faithfulness for which all glory and honor is given to Him!

Acts 27:1-44; 28:1-31 (Larger Passage)

STORMS OF LIFE are sometimes caused by our own decisions and actions!

Acts 27:9-11 “…Paul admonished them, and said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the cargo and ship, but also of our lives.  Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul. ”

STORMS OF LIFE can be very severe!

Acts 27:20a “…And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared and no small tempest lay on us,”

STORMS OF LIFE can cause all hope to be lost!

Acts 17:20b “All hope that we should be saved was then taken away.”

STORMS OF LIFE allow God to speak to us and share His love and encouragement!

Acts 17:22-25 “And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship.  For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, fear not, Paul thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.  Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.”

STORMS OF LIFE can often become worse before it ceases, causing our faith to be tested and tried!

Acts 17:27, 29 “We were driven up and down…Fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks…”

STORMS OF LIFE teach us not to lose faith!

Acts 17:33-34 “And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.  Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.”

STORMS OF LIFE teach us to give thanks in all things!

Acts 17:35-36 “And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and

gave thanks to God in the presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.  They were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.”

STORMS OF LIFE teach us the faithfulness of God to bring us safely through the storms!

Acts 27:43-44 “Paul commanded them that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land: 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.”

CONCLUSION:

Romans 1:5-17 (Larger Passage Romans 1:1-17) speaks of the early desire of Paul’s heart that the Lord had called him to ultimately go to Rome: “…We have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for His Name: Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ: To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.  For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers; making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.  For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; that is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. 

Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that off times I purpose to come unto you, but was let hitherto, that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.  I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.  So, as much as in me is, I am ready to –preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

In Romans 15:22-25, 28-33 Paul shares his desire to come to Rome by way of Spain: “For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.  But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you: whensoever I take my journey to Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company. 

But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints…When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.  And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessings of the gospel of Christ.  Now I beseech you, brethren for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me; that I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints; that I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.  Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.”

In Acts 20:22-38 “And now, behold, I go bound in the Spirit unto Jerusalem, no knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Spirit witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.  But none of these things move me, neither count my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.  And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the Kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.  For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with His own blood.  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.  Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. 

And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.  I have coveted no man’s silver or gold, or apparel.  Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.  I have shewed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.  And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more.  And they accompanied him unto the ship.”

In Acts 21:8-15 “And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.  And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.  And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus.  And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus said, Thus saith the Holy Spirit, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.  Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart?  For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.  And after those days, we took up our carriages, and went up to Jerusalem.  ”

Acts 23:11 states “The Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.”

Finally the Acts 28:31-32 passage concludes by revealing the ultimate fulfillment of the Kingdom purpose of the storms through which Paul endured in his life:

“And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the Kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.”