3/22/2020 Sunday Sermon
“Surviving a crisis” Acts 21-27
Introduction: We are walking through a worldwide crisis. Context: Paul a prisoner on his way to Rome to stand trial and eventually executed.3 Lessons to learn while traveling with God in times of Crisis.1.In THESTORMwithGod. -Acts 27:13-38 “Do not be afraid”-Ps 107:25-30 (READ)-EXPLORE: “If He is great enough to create a storm, He is also powerful and infinite to have some reason for letting it happen”-God is always involved in human suffering and working out His plan.-(READ) –Prov 3:5-6
2. In THE SHIPWRECKwith God.-Acts 27:39-44-27:6 Got to shore-“Just as the angel said”(23f)-27:44b “In this way, everyone reached land safely.”-EXPLORE: Note the calmness of Paul -opposite of roaring, crashing, winds and waves –Inner peace-(READ) –2 Cor 11:24f-Paul has had a few shipwreck experiences.-Suffering has made him a person of substance.-God is definitely in our shipwrecks.
3.In THE PRESENCE ofGod (Acts 28:1f)-NOTE: Storms, Shipwrecks and a Snake-How do you receive suffering in your life?-(READ) v23 “an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me”-EXPLORE: When storms come, and terrible frightening things are happening, some frightened, rejected, unloved etc.-Paul says “the God whose I am”…Not, whose I hope to be someday if I really live up to. Paul says “I am God’s treasured possession, He loves me.”-In the midst of our storm, while others are wondering if there is a God, or has he abandoned me, Paul has a secret “the God whose I am”. He knows he is loved
CONCLUSION: -What you and I need is someone who will stand with us in our storms and shipwrecks. Only Christianity says God is with you.(Rom 8:37-39)-God himself has been through storms and shipwrecks, remember the cross, the rejection, the torture, the loss of friends.-He has been through there with us.-So Paul can say “…God stood beside me”-If you trust and obey Jesus you too can be confident and say…“God stands beside me”-Will you respond? –Mark 16:16