Are you bracing yourself for life's storms? Allow us to guide you through the stormy seas, as we chart the course of Paul in Acts 27. We reveal hidden treasures within this story, demonstrating how Paul's unwavering faith and courage amid adversity became a beacon of hope. Promising a deeper understanding of seeking Godly counsel, we unravel the power of encouragement during trying times. Each of us may face tempestuous seas, but remember, our worth isn't gauged by worldly possessions but by the faith and trust we anchor in God.
Ever wondered about the power of God’s Word in the face of life’s challenges? Get ready to discover how choosing God's word over man's report can dramatically shift your perspective. Brace yourself for an enriching experience as we delve into the confidence of trusting in God's unique plan for you. Let's join hands to defy fear and discouragement, and learn to encourage others with God's words. Together, we'll learn to navigate each storm, with the assurance that through Jesus, victory is always within reach. This is not just another episode; it's your compass to weather any storm with courage.
Are you bracing yourself for life's storms? Allow us to guide you through the stormy seas, as we chart the course of Paul in Acts 27. We reveal hidden treasures within this story, demonstrating how Paul's unwavering faith and courage amid adversity became a beacon of hope. Promising a deeper understanding of seeking Godly counsel, we unravel the power of encouragement during trying times. Each of us may face tempestuous seas, but remember, our worth isn't gauged by worldly possessions but by the faith and trust we anchor in God.
Ever wondered about the power of God’s Word in the face of life’s challenges? Get ready to discover how choosing God's word over man's report can dramatically shift your perspective. Brace yourself for an enriching experience as we delve into the confidence of trusting in God's unique plan for you. Let's join hands to defy fear and discouragement, and learn to encourage others with God's words. Together, we'll learn to navigate each storm, with the assurance that through Jesus, victory is always within reach. This is not just another episode; it's your compass to weather any storm with courage.
Speaker 1:
This is Faith Walk. My name is Don Carpenter and today I've got a word of encouragement for you. I'm going to be basing it on Acts 27. This is when Paul was in the ship in a major storm. He had told them not to leave Crete and conditions just continued to grow worse. Keeping up your courage when you're in the midst of a storm it's easier said than done sometimes, and we can look at here and we can find that Paul is finding himself, maybe just like you, in a situation that was not of your making, but somehow or another, events are unfolding in such a way that it's a tremendous trial to you.
Speaker 1:
The thing about advice that Paul was talking about you know people are great for giving advice. You know lots of times people say, well, listen to me, and they aren't always people who have the mind of the Lord or know the mind of God. But you know, advice that has its origin in God. You cannot buy that. It's not advice that is worldly, it's not at human advice, it's not somebody who says, well, I remember when and this is what happened, and none of that is taking place.
Speaker 1:
God's advice is based on beginning to end knowledge. It is a word that God will give you regarding the issue, your issue, your storm. Listen to God's advice. His advice will come in prayer sometimes. Sometimes it comes through godly men and women that you know that they have a word from the Lord for you. Now, the thing about advice it's expected to be followed when it's given. You know we give advice to somebody and we expect them to follow it out and it's going to help them solve their issue that they're faced with. When God gives advice, we're thinking man, when this word comes from God, they've got to follow that, because you can't get better advice or better word than from God. But God's advice is never an idea. It's not something that's risky. His advice is not something that may or may not be solid. God's advice is always solid. And another thing about God's advice you can count on this. When God gives you advice, he has your good in mind. Sometimes people give us advice and it's just tainted, maybe a little bit. That may serve them if you follow that advice. Have you ever heard someone say or maybe you may have even said this yourself, I should have listened Well, advice, when you follow God's advice, you'll always be glad you're listening, because God wants you to keep up your courage If you become discouraged, and over a prolonged period of time, it is easy to get discouraged.
Speaker 1:
If you look at the circumstance and you look at it long enough, you might get a hopeless feeling. Do you know why encouragement is given? The Bible tells us to encourage one another. Christians are to encourage one another, and that's what Paul was doing this day, talking to the men that were on the ship in the middle of the storm. And that's when we need to be encouraged is when we find ourselves in the middle of the storm. In verse 22 of Acts 27, paul says keep up your courage.
Speaker 1:
Encouragement is the antidote or the protection against discouragement. Let me tell you that again. Encouragement is your protection against discouragement. Encouragement comes in when we no longer can see hope. You know, all through the Bible we can read about people who were going through great stress, great problems, great battles, and godly men and women always had somebody. God always had someone there to encourage them. And when a godly man or woman comes across your path or that you seek advice from them, remember they have been sent by God to encourage you because God wants to protect you against your discouragement.
Speaker 1:
I'm thinking of Jonathan, the King's son. He encouraged David according to 1 Samuel 23, 16, and in 1 Thessalonians 5, verse 11, we as believers in Christ, to build up one another. So remember, encouragement is protection against discouragement. And what a word. Because they all thought they were going to die. They on that ship. They've been in this storm for two weeks. They haven't seen the light of day. Winds are howling, the rain is driving, the waves are high, men are seasick. It's a terrible situation. And then we get this word. Paul gives them this word and he says to them he says in verse 22, he tells them to keep up their courage and he says there will be no loss of life.
Speaker 1:
Sometimes you're not necessarily going to save all the things you're trying to save. What is important is that you must be encouraged, you must be strengthened. Your life does not consist in things. It's not your position in life, it's not how rich you are, it doesn't matter how many possessions you have. When the enemy is attacking you, I'm telling you right now, the greatest thing that you can possess is to be encouraged, and we have to always remember that Sometimes there's a great price to pay. But I'll tell you, I'm going to remain encouraged and I'm not going to allow someone else's backsliding to tear me down, nor am I going to find myself going into that position.
Speaker 1:
So we've got Paul the Apostle standing here and he's about to reveal onto these men how he knows these things. You see, paul is a man of God. You may be a man or a woman of God and God will speak things to you and he'll be working for you and doing things, and oftentimes we're unaware, even as believers, that God is working. Okay, God's not walked away from you. God has been looking for your good the moment you encountered the adversity you're finding yourself in. And there's Paul. Reveals something to them. They know he's a man of God.
Speaker 1:
There's been a lot of talk. There's 276 men on board this ship and they've been talking about this man of God called Paul. And here's what he tells him. He says an angel of God stood before me. Paul thought it was necessary to reveal onto them because he's got a word from God for them. It's just like when we go to church and the preacher says to us that the Lord has given me a message for you. We should be listening when we hear that. See, what is interesting is nobody else saw the angel. No one else was aware that there was a heavenly visitor on board that ship that was in trouble, that ship that was sinking, that ship that had 276 men and they had no hope of ever seeing land again. But they were not aware that God was speaking to somebody on board that ship and Paul was ministered to by an angel. God was close by and the Lord was standing between him and certain death.
Speaker 1:
Men and women who are filled with the Holy Spirit are interceding for you. You are not alone. No storm, no storm can pass by without Jesus being involved. Hallelujah, christ is in the midst of your storm and Paul goes on to make it even stronger. In verse 23 he says the God to whom I belong and I serve. He made a declaration to tell these men do you know that I have a word from God for you? And I've got a word from God for you today? Be strong, for the Lord, your God, is with you. It is so encouraging, as a believer in Christ, knowing that you can know. Just think about that for a moment. Paul heard the Christ. He heard men calling out to their strange and foreign gods. Rigging was breaking off in the wind, storm winds were howling, and yet in the midst of the storm, paul had peace. God was there, knowing that. You can know.
Speaker 1:
Sometimes people say, well, don't go getting all spiritual on me when you're losing hope and there's no answers. You thank God that there are people, that there are spiritual people around you, because God wants you to stay encouraged, and you know what the word was that he gave them. He says in verse 24,. He says all who sail with you. That's what God said. God said I'm going to save their life All who sail with you. You know what made the difference here the man of God. He was the life that made the difference among these 276 people.
Speaker 1:
There is somebody in your life today who can make a difference, because God has the power. God is your protector, god is your provider and God is not forsaking you. Hallelujah, it's not who you know, friends, it's who you're with. And when you're with God, hallelujah, who can stand against you With when you're with God? That means you've got that covenant relationship with God and that's what Paul had and that's what holds you in the midst of a storm. I will not quit because of God. And God wants you to say today I will not quit, lord and believers that you walk with. They can also say we will not let you quit. We're going to pray for you, we're going to hang on for you. We're going to claim you and your family. We're going to stand in faith. We're going to spiritually defend you and your loved ones. We're commanding Satan to back away and we are declaring God's salvation to your unsafe family members and we're declaring God's deliverance to you.
Speaker 1:
I like the confidence that Paul had here In verse 25, he says I believe God. I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I've been told. What has God told you? Has God told you that he's forsaking you? Has God telling you today that he doesn't love you anymore? Is God telling you get away, leave him alone? If you're hearing those kinds of words, you're not listening to God. There's another voice speaking in your life and there were men on that ship who heard that voice of Satan speaking. That's why such fear was in them. But you are hearing the voice of God and I believe that when you pray about somebody and you get a word of encouragement for them, I believe you should go and tell them. I believe you should contact them and tell them that God has not forsaken them.
Speaker 1:
Bible says in Revelation 3.6, he who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the church. And I'm saying to you today, as a believer, I'm giving you a word of the Lord. You see, god has a tailor plan for your life. He has a plan that is so unique that you can know that is special for you. But, believers, we base our decisions, we look at our outcome. That's based on God's word. See, you made that great decision there to follow the Lord. And you made that great decision when you said Jesus is Lord of my life. And I've got to ask you, in the midst of your storm do not let the circumstances bring discouragement Whose report? Who are you going to listen to? And I'm going to give you the report of the Lord. Man's report is often flawed and is sometimes futile and it gives you false hope. And it looks like it's the right thing. But the word of the Lord is to you today. Be of good cheer, don't be afraid. Victory is yours, in Jesus' name.