Oakwood Community Church
Finding Faith in the Storms of Life - Acts 27
Locations & Times
Oakwood Community Church
11209 Casey Rd, Tampa, FL 33618, USA
Sunday 8:00 AM
Job 5:7
“But man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.”
“But man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.”
When a storm of life clouds overtop of you, Satan wants to shake your faith in God!
Two Questions:
1. How do storms challenge our faith?
2. How does our faith challenge the storm?
1. How do storms challenge our faith?
2. How does our faith challenge the storm?
HOW DO STORMS CHALLENGE OUR FAITH?
1. Storms challenge our comfort zone.
(Acts 27: 7-9, 14, 18, and 20)
1. Storms challenge our comfort zone.
(Acts 27: 7-9, 14, 18, and 20)
Paul's Fourth Journey
Ephesians 2:10
“You are Christ’s workmanship created for GOOD WORK which he prepared beforehand that you might walk in them.”
“You are Christ’s workmanship created for GOOD WORK which he prepared beforehand that you might walk in them.”
“To take you to His end by the way you know would profit you little. He chooses for you a way you know not, that you may be compelled into a thousand intercourses with Himself, which will make the journey forever memorable, both to Him and to you.” ~Author Unknown
HOW DO STORMS CHALLENGE OUR FAITH?
2. Storms challenge our values.
(Acts 27:18-19 and 38)
2. Storms challenge our values.
(Acts 27:18-19 and 38)
Acts 27:18-19 and 38
“…the boat was violently storm-tossed, they began to jettison the cargo…on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard… they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.”
“…the boat was violently storm-tossed, they began to jettison the cargo…on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard… they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.”
Proverbs 11:4
“Riches do not profit in the day of wrath.”
“Riches do not profit in the day of wrath.”
Job 23:10
“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.”
“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.”
HOW DO STORMS CHALLENGE OUR FAITH?
3. Storms challenge our commitment to the Lord.
(Acts 27: 30-32)
3. Storms challenge our commitment to the Lord.
(Acts 27: 30-32)
Hosea 6:1-3
“Come, let us return to the Lord (not to our worldly pleasures); for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.”
“Come, let us return to the Lord (not to our worldly pleasures); for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.”
Our confidence is not in the quality of our faith but in the character of God.
Psalm 121:3
“He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.”
“He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.”
Psalm 66:8-9
“Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard, who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip.”
“Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard, who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip.”
Psalm 112:6-8
“For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.”
“For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.”
THREE ANCHORS TO STEADY YOUR FAITH
1.We must let down the anchor of ownership.
(Acts 27:23a)
1.We must let down the anchor of ownership.
(Acts 27:23a)
Acts 27:21-23
“Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you (good news), but only of the ship (bad news). For this very night there stood before me an angel of God, to whom I belong…”
“Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you (good news), but only of the ship (bad news). For this very night there stood before me an angel of God, to whom I belong…”
Psalm 100:3
“Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”
“Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
“…You are not your own, for you were bought with a price…”
“…You are not your own, for you were bought with a price…”
Isaiah 43:1
“…I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”
“…I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”
THREE ANCHORS TO STEADY YOUR FAITH
2. We must let down the anchor of worship.
(Acts 27:23b)
2. We must let down the anchor of worship.
(Acts 27:23b)
Psalm 30:5
“Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”
“Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”
Psalm 121:7
“The Lord will keep you from all evil.”
“The Lord will keep you from all evil.”
THREE ANCHORS TO STEADY YOUR FAITH
3. We must let down the anchor of trust.
(Acts 27:25)
3. We must let down the anchor of trust.
(Acts 27:25)
Acts 27:25
“So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.”
“So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.”
James 1:6-7
“The one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.”
“The one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.”
Revelation 21:4
“God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
“God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death will no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Psalm 34:19
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”