STORMS
INTRODUCTION
The problems began when Chippie’s owner decided to clean Chippie’s cage with a vacuum cleaner. She removed the attachment from the end of the hose and stuck it in the cage. The phone rang, and she turned to pick it up. She’d barely said "hello" when "ssssopp!" Chippie got sucked in. The bird owner gasped, put down the phone, turned off the vacuum, and opened the bag. There was Chippie -- still alive, but stunned. Since the bird was covered with dust and soot, she grabbed him and raced to the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and held Chippie under the running water. Then, realizing that Chippie was soaked and shivering, she did what any compassionate bird owner would do . . . she reached for the hair dryer and blasted the pet with hot air. Poor Chippie never knew what hit him. A few days after the trauma, the reporter who’d initially written about the event contacted Chippie’s owner to see how the bird was recovering. "Well," she replied, "Chippie doesn’t sing much anymore -- he just sits and stares."
If we are not careful how we deal with storms, we will be left sitting and staring out in space.
I. STORMS
A. They Come
1. They Come to us all.
Matthew 5:45 “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth
rain on the just and on the unjust.”
2. They Come suddenly and unexpectedly.
Acts 27:13 “And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete. 27:14 But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.”
3. They Come from different and often unsuspecting directions.
B. Worldwide
1. On the land.
2. On the sea.
3. In the desert.
4. In the valley.
5. In the mountains.
C. They Can Make Our Living Conditions Uncomfortable
1. Power outages.
2. Road blockage.
D. They Can Do Considerable Damage
More than one unsuspecting individual has even lost their lives due to storms.
E. Natural Storms vs. Spiritual Storms
II. STORM WARNINGS
A. Warning Signs
1. Darkening clouds
2. Distant thunder
3. Stirring in the wind.
B. Warnings Sounded
1. Speaking From Experience Or By Inspiration (Paul had experienced 3 shipwrecks.)
Acts 27:9 “Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, 27:10 And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.”
2. By the “fast” here is evidently intended the fast which occurred among the Jews on the great day of atonement. That was on the tenth of the month Tisri, which answers to a part of September and part of October. It was, therefore, the time of the autumnal equinox, and when the navigation of the Mediterranean was esteemed to be particularly dangerous, from the storms which usually occurred about that time. The ancients regarded this as a dangerous time to navigate the Mediterranean. Barnes’ Notes
3. Paul exhorted, entreated, or persuaded them. He was somewhat accustomed to the navigation of that sea, and endeavored to persuade them not to risk the danger of sailing at that season of the year. Barnes’ Notes
C. Who Will You Believe?
Acts 27:11 “Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.”
D. Sometimes You Don’t Have A Choice
Acts 27:1 “And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus’ band.”
III. SAILING IN THE STORM
A. Friends In The Storm.
The first way God works in our lives in stormy times is by putting the right people in the right places at the right time. Matt Condon @sermoncentral
1. Luke (v.1) “we”-- Possible that Luke was allowed to go as Paul’s physician.
Wiersbe
--- Perhaps traveling as the ship doctor. David Guzik
2. Aristarchus (v. 2) --- Paul’s personal attendant.
a. Acts 27:2 “And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.”
b. He [Aristarchus] now appears to have attended him, not as a prisoner, but as a voluntary companion, choosing to share with him his dangers, and to enjoy the benefit of his society and friendship. He went with him to Rome, and was a fellow-prisoner with him there (Colossians 4:10), and is mentioned
(Philem.1:24) as Paul’s fellow-laborer. Barnes’ Notes
c. Some believe that in order for Aristarchus to travel with Paul on this journey, he had to become Paul’s personal slave! Matt Condon
It was doubtless a great comfort to Paul to have with him two such valuable friends as Luke and Aristarchus; and it was an instance of great affection for him that they were not ashamed of his bonds, but were willing to share his dangers, and to expose themselves to peril for the sake of accompanying him to Rome. Barnes’ Notes
3. Friends at Sidon (v. 3)
a. Acts 27:3 “And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh
himself.”
b. To enjoy the benefit of their care; to make his present situation and his voyage as comfortable as possible. It is probable that they would furnish him with many supplies which were needful for his long and perilous voyage. Barnes’ Notes
4. Has God put people in your life who love you like that? Take heart when the seas get stormy, and look around for the people God places in your life. He’s put them there because he loves you and because He knows you can’t make it on your own! Like it or not, we need each other! Because the storms of life aren’t meant to be weathered alone. And we’re foolish if we try. Remember, God will put people in our lives at the right time and at the right place who will be with us through the storm. Matt Condon @sermoncentral
B. We Struggle In The Storm
Acts 27:17 “Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship;
and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were
driven.”
1. Undergirding the ship. (v. 17)
They used ropes, cables, stays, or chains, [helps] for the purpose of securing the ship. The danger was that the ship would be destroyed, and they therefore
Made use of such aids as would prevent its loss.
The ancients were accustomed to pass cables or strong ropes around a vessel to keep the planks from springing or starting by the action of the sea. Barnes
Acts 27:18 “And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;”
2. They lightened the ship --- By throwing out a part of the cargo.
Acts 27:19 “And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.”
3. Cast out the tackling.
The anchors, sails, cables, baggage, etc. That is, everything that was not indispensable to its preservation, for it seems still (Acts 27:29) that they retained some of their anchors on board. Barnes
4. They did everything that was humanly possible, and it wasn’t until they’d exhausted all their ingenuity and all their resources. Matt Condon @sermoncentral
C. Possessions Don’t Matter In The Storm
1. When the storm hits and your life is thrown upside down, that’s when we start thinking about what’s really important. Matt Condon @sermoncentral
2. We all have too much excess baggage in our lives.
3. Sometimes we need to clear the decks. Matt Condon @sermoncentral
D. It’s Dark In The Storm
Acts 27:20 “And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.”
1. Darkness is Frightening.
2. Darkness can cause us to lose hope. They navigated by the skies.
As they could see neither sun nor stars, they could make no observations; and as they had no compass, they would be totally ignorant of their situation, and they gave up all as lost. Barnes
E. Turn To God In The Storm
1. After long abstinence, Paul stood forth. Abstinence may have been involuntary
fast.
2. I exhort you, be of good cheer.
3. No loss of any man life.
4. God sent an angel.
5. We must be cast upon a certain island.
Why do you suppose that many people become depressed, discouraged or frustrated by circumstances? Maybe they are focusing more attention on what they do not have rather than on what they possess in Christ Jesus. Paul Fritz @ sermoncentral
IV. DOING GOD’S WILL IN THE STORM
A. Must Go To Rome
Acts 23:11 “And the night following 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.”
B. Souls To Be Saved From Danger (275 + Paul = 276)
C. An Island Called Melita (Malta) (Acts 28)
1. A snake in the sticks (v. 3)
2. A sick chief, Publius;. (v. 8)
CONCLUSION
Someone has suggested five actions to take when you find yourself in one of life’s storms.
1. Spend some time alone with God (Acts 27:21).
2. Acknowledge His presence (Acts 27:23).
3. Believe His promises (Acts 27:25).
4. Count your blessings (Acts 27:35).
5. Get rid of excess baggage (Acts 27:38).
