Introduction:
In life we are faced with difficult situations and challenges. At times it seems as though our situations are the final chapters of our lives. Our jobs pose problems for us or even our health may begin to fail us. It seems as though everything we’ve tried is not working. That condition is not your conclusion.
Point Number One: “Be Of Good Courage”
Life has a way of throwing us a curve ball from time to time. Sometimes we’re left thinking to ourselves, “Lord why me?” There is going to come a time where it seems like everything is going wrong. Am I on somebody’s street? I don’t know about you but sometimes it seems as though I can’t see anything but the darkness of life. I know I’m right. If you haven’t experienced this yet, just keep on living on living and don’t die too soon for as sure as we are here tonight, you will see these times.
In Acts 27:22 says, “But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.” Paul is offering some words of encouragement to the crew on the ship. He’s trying to tell them that their condition is not their conclusion.
I see the word courage.
Courage by definition is the ability to face danger, difficulty, uncertainty, or pain without being overcome by fear or being deflected from a chosen course of action. (Lion In The Wizard Of Oz Needed Courage.)
I know some folks are so spiritual that they don’t need encouraging words from time to time. I got to keep this thing real. I don’t know about you but every now and then I need some words of encouragement. Life for me gets hard and sometimes I don’t feel like I can make it; but when a friend, comes by with a few encouraging words it gives me that extra zeal to go on.
Galatians 6:1-2 says, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
I know some of you are saying “Well preacher you are a preacher and you are suppose to be able to do this and to do that. You are anointed and you can handle any and everything. Well that’s true because Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me, but every now and then I have to go to my island of Patmos and say “Father I stretch my hands to thee, no other help I know.” Somebody in here knows what I’m talking about.
I don’t know about you, but I’m still a work in progress. I’m still developing in Christ. I have not arrived yet.
Don’t you let any Negro or Negroette try to make you feel less than what you are. Even though we all don’t develop at the same time, we will still end up at the same place. It may be your condition, but it’s not your conclusion.
Now as Paul talks to the crew he tell them to “keep up their courage because not one of you will lose your life.” Paul knew that being on that ship in the storm was a condition, but it was not the conclusion. I can imagine that once Paul made this statement, smiles permeated from man to man.
Now keep in mind that these men were on this ship in a storm for fourteen days in total darkness. Eating was not on their mind. They were not eating because of the storm and they feared for their lives. That was their condition but it was not their conclusion.
Now how can Paul be so cool about the situation a say what he said? The reason Paul was cool about the situation is because he had his hook-up. If you go back and read in your leisure in chapter 27 verses 23-25, and angel appeared to Paul and reassured him that the crew would be saved, but the ship would be destroyed.
As long as you have your hook-up the with the messenger, which is the “Holy Spirit,” He will reassure you that your condition is not your conclusion.
I’m not following you preacher. The Bible says in Matthew 24:13,
“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
And this is the scripture that I like:
1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
The crew on the ship believed Paul because he had already warned them about the stormy seas from the very beginning.
Point Number Two: “Your Trials Are Just A Test”
Looking at the scripture of Acts 27: 23-24, it says, 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.
Trials are uncomfortable situations that we all prefer not to endure. But if there is no cross there can be no crown. The old cliché says, “No pain no gain.” Your trials are a condition, but it’s not your conclusion.
We as Christians must go through trials and tribulations to build up our loins in Christ. Preachers what in the world are you talking about?
Trials can do several things for the Christian:
Trials prove that a Christian really trust God: God allowed the ship to go through the storm and to be destroyed to test the faith of Paul and to show the men on board Who He was and What He was.
Trials are used by God to cause men/women to turn to God for salvation: for some of us God had to take us rock bottom to get our attention because of our stubbornness, arrogance, and selfishness.
Trials make a believer stronger so that he/she can stand against even tougher trials in the future: the world need to see the demonstration of God’s presence and power in our lives because the only way they can see it is in the life of the believers as they go through the trials.
No Pain, No Gain. No Pain, No Gain. No Pain, No Gain!!
(Use the Example Of Lifting Weights.)
You got to go through to get to. You got to go through to get to because when you get to you will look back and ask yourself the question, Lord How did I Get Over?”
You Got Over Because Your Condition Is Not Your Conclusion!!!!
Your Trials and Tribulations Help To Make and Confirm Your Testimony When You Witness!! How Can You Witness About A Storm If You Haven’t Been In One?
When You Are Going Through A Storm, That’s God’s, “Party Time” To Show You Who He Is And What He Can Do. That When He Shows Up And Shows Out!!!
Just Be Still And Know That I Am God!!
Romans 5:3-5 says, “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Your tribulations are a condition, but it’s not your conclusion.
Ephesians 3:13-14 says, “Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. 14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 Timothy 1:4 says, “4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: 5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:
Your suffering and tribulations are a condition, but it’s not your conclusion.
And when you get sick and tired of being sick and tired of those same Negroes and Negroettes that keep coming against you, I have some good news for you. I have something for you that will put all of those troublesome Negros and Negroettes in check that will give you some peace.
2 Timothy 1: 6-9 says, Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
Conclusion:
Just before I take my seat I want to share with about a man. I want to share with you about a man who was in a condition, but He knew it was not his conclusion. This man went though every kind of trial you could possible imagine. He took the bombs of life to show you that you can take the small bullets of life. That man is Jesus Christ.
I know some of you in here right now are saying in your minds that I don’t understand. That could be true, but I know a man that does understand. His name is Jesus.
He is the one who is able to keep you from falling. He is the one that took that walk to Cavalry and hung on that old rugged cross. It was His condition, but not His conclusion.
He is the one they pierced in the side and water and blood flowed from his side. It was His condition, but not His conclusion.
He is the one that said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” It was His condition, but not His conclusion.
He is the one that gave up the ghost on that dark Friday. It was His condition, but not His conclusion.
There were those that just knew that it was the end of Jesus when he died on that old rugged cross. They just knew that when Jesus died His condition was His conclusion.
There were those that just knew it was all over for Jesus Saturday morning. They just knew that it was all over for Jesus and His condition was His conclusion.
There were those that just knew it was all over for Jesus Saturday night. They just knew that His condition was His conclusion.
But as Saturday night was coming to a close, Sunday morning was starting to begin. But something happened on Sunday morning. Early Sunday morning something happened.
Early Sunday morning before the cock could crow, that man. I said that man that was laid in that old cold tomb, that had a condition of death, and people just knew it was His conclusion.
I said that man, dressed in a white robe that have eyes of fire and knew His condition was not His conclusion, got up. He got up early Sunday morning with all power in hands. Like I said When He Shows Up, He Shows Out.
Scientist with all their knowledge cannot explain how Jesus got up from the grave.
Science with all its formulas cannot explain how Jesus got up from the grave.
The President of the United States cannot explain how Jesus got up from the grave.
Theologians with all their theology cannot explain how Jesus got up from the grave.
Fortune Tellers with all of their tarot cards and charms cannot explain how Jesus got up from the grave.
Buddha with all his candles and beads cannot explain how Jesus got up from the grave.
Elisha Mohammed with all his followers cannot explain how Jesus got up from the grave.
Confucius with all his knowledge cannot explain how Jesus got up from the grave.
Josephus with all his historical knowledge cannot explain how Jesus got up from the grave.
Nostradomus with the ability to see into the future cannot explain how Jesus got up from the grave.
Pythagoras and all of his mathematical formulas cannot explain how He got up from the grave.
The Jehovah’s Witness with all their witnessing cannot explain how Jesus got up from the grave.
Daddy Grace with all his blessings cannot explain how Jesus got up from the grave.
All I know is that the Bible said He got up on the third day and that’s good enough for me. I could care less about the how, I’m so glad that He did.
PRAISE GOD!!! PRAISE GOD!!!
