ONE STORM AFTER ANOTHER?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
I HAVE LITTLE STONES WITH MAKE TODAY COUNT PAINTED ON THEM TO GIVE.
THREE KINDS OF STORMS:
1. RAIN: MOISTURE THAT FALLS VISIBLY IN SEPARATE DROPS.
2. FLOODS: overflowing of large amounts of water.
3. WIND: storm with very strong wind that can cause damage.
PAUL IS A PRISONER. ON HIS WAY TO ROMAN. PAUL HAD LEARNED STORMS ARE PART OF LIFE. RECALL, 3 KINDS OF STORMS… RAIN, FLOODS AND WIND…
Acts 27:18 And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; 19 And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. 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.
PAUL WARNS: YOU SHOULD HAVE LISTENED TO ME… I TOLD YOU!
Seems few want to listen. Who you going to listen to: The CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP? The army soldier? Some old preacher?
Acts 27:21 But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.
GOD ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS. BE OF GOOD CHEER.
Acts 27:23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, 24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. 25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
THE ENCOURAGEMENT IS CONDITIONAL: STAY WITH THE SHIP.
Acts 27:31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
BY FAITH YOU MUST EAT. FAITH DEMANDS ACTION. ENCOURAGEMENT DEMANDS REACTION. THEY WERE ALL OF GOOD CHEER. 276 MEN.
Acts 27:34 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. 35 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat. 36 Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.
OK I HAVE ENDURED THE STORM… THE STORM SEASON IS OVER? NOW GIVE ME A SEASON OF REST AND PEACE.
Jesus was tempted for a season. Then the devil leaves him alone. The devil departed for a season waiting for a new opportunity. Then the angels came and ministered to him.
Matthew 4:11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
QUIT COMPLAINING… SOMETIMES THE STORMS, TRIALS AND SUFFERING HAPPEN BACK TO BACK. PAUL LEAVES ONE STORM AND GOES DIRECTLY INTO ANOTHER STORM. WHAT WAS IMPORTANT TO PAUL?
QUIT CRYING? QUIT COMPLAINING. We don’t need to fuss and complain: WE JUST NEED TO SHAKE OFF THE SNAKE…
Acts 28:1 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita. 2 And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold. 3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. 5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
SHAKE THE SNAKE INTO THE FIRE. No committee meeting, JUST SHAKE IT OFF.
PAUL SHOULD HAVE HAD SIDE EFFECTS… THEY CHANGED THEIR MINDS… GOD PROTECTS HIS CHILDREN … SURE IT IS BACK TO BACK STORMS… YES GOD IS ABLE…
Acts 28:6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
A Man HAD A DIAGNOSIS WITH A TERMINAL DISEASE AND WAS GIVEN LITTLE TIME TO LIVE. HE AND HIS WIFE DISCUSSED HOW THEY WOULD TELL THEIR FRIENDS?
They decided to have a party with the THEME: MAKE TODAY COUNT. They invite all their friends to come with praise and worship on their lips and hearts. The diagnosis was serious: TERMINAL! SHORT TIMER! As they gathered to praise and worship. The man told his friends: MAKE TODAY COUNT! The Diagnosis was sad? BUT THE ATTITUDE WAS MAKE TODAY COUNT. LIVE ONE DAY AT A TIME AND MAKE TODAY COUNT. The promise was TODAY WOULD BE A GOOD DAY TO HAVE A GOOD DAY.
CONCLUSION: STORMS WILL COME, STORMS WILL GO. WE WILL HAVE SEASONS OF RAIN, THEN FLOODS AND WIND DAMAGE. WE MUST MAKE TODAY COUNT. DO SOMETHING FOR SOMETHING TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com. (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
I would appreciate if you would whisper a prayer for me. I am told I have BONE CANCER.)
WE WALK BY FAITH!
