Why These Storms? 8-4-2024

Acts 27:15-26 NASB and when the ship was caught in it and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and let ourselves be driven along. 16Running under the shelter of a small island called Clauda, we were scarcely able to get the ship’s boat under control. 17After they had hoisted it up, they used supporting cables in undergirding the ship; and fearing that they might run aground on the shallows of Syrtis, they let down the sea anchor and in this way let themselves be driven along. 18The next day as we were being violently storm-tossed, they began to jettison the cargo; 19and on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20Since neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was assailing us, from then on all hope of our being saved was gradually abandoned. 21When they had gone a long time without food, then Paul stood up in their midst and said, “Men, you ought to have followed my advice and not to have set sail from Crete and incurred this damage and loss. 22Yet now I urge you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, 24saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has granted you all those who are sailing with you.’ 25Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told. 26But we must run aground on a certain island.”

Acts 28:1-10 NASB When they had been brought safely through, then we found out that the island was called Malta. 2The natives showed us extraordinary kindness; for because of the rain that had set in and because of the cold, they kindled a fire and received us all. 3But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. 4When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, “Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.” 5However he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm. 6But they were expecting that he was about to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had waited a long time and had seen nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and began to say that he was a god. 7Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the leading man of the island, named Publius, who welcomed us and entertained us courteously three days. 8And it happened that the father of Publius was lying in bed afflicted with recurrent fever and dysentery; and Paul went in to see him and after he had prayed, he laid his hands on him and healed him. 9After this had happened, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases were coming to him and getting cured. 10They also honored us with many marks of respect; and when we were setting sail, they supplied us with all we needed.


Setting the Stage

1. Storms, like floods or military conflict, were metaphors used to describe the struggles of the Christian life.


2. Jesus taught us followers that storms and floods are survivable if our “house is built upon the rock.” (see Matthew 7:26-28)



I. Will True Christians experience storms?

A. “In this world you will have tribulation. Yet you can be cheerful, for I have overcome the world!” (John 16:33)



B. In Matthew 8, Jesus was awakened during a storm. He asked, “Why are you afraid, and of such little faith?” The inference was that we should not be surprised when we experience storms for God will take care of us. (Matthew 8:23-27)



C. The testimony of Paul was one of literal and spiritual storms. (2 Corinthians 11:25)



II. When will we experience storms?

A. Some storms are demonically driven. (Mark 4:35-41)

1. They drive us to believe lies and blind us to God’s goodness.

2. They cause us to forget every other victory God has brought to us.


B. Some storms occur when we are out of God’s will.

1. Israel and the former and latter rains

a. Leviticus 26:1-13 NASB You shall not make for yourselves idols, nor shall you set up for yourselves an image or a sacred pillar, nor shall you place a figured stone in your land to bow down to it; for I am the Lord your God. 2 You shall keep My sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary; I am the Lord. 3 If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments so as to carry them out, 4 then I shall give you rains in their season, so that the land will yield its produce and the trees of the field will bear their fruit. 5 Indeed, your threshing will last for you until grape gathering, and grape gathering will last until sowing time. You will thus eat your food to the full and live securely in your land. 6 I shall also grant peace in the land, so that you may lie down with no one making you tremble. I shall also eliminate harmful beasts from the land, and no sword will pass through your land. 7 But you will chase your enemies and they will fall before you by the sword; 8 five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall before you by the sword. 9 So I will turn toward you and make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will confirm My covenant with you.10 You will eat the old supply and clear out the old because of the new. 11 Moreover, I will make My dwelling among you, and My soul will not reject you. 12 I will also walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people.13 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt so that you would not be their slaves, and I broke the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.

b. Jonah 1:1-4 KJV Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. 3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. 4 But the Lord sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.


c. Isaiah 48:18 KJV O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! Then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea


C. Some storms occur when folks near us are out of God’s will.

1. Paul - Acts 27:9-11 When considerable time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous, since even the fast was already over, Paul began to admonish them, 10 and said to them, “Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be with damage and great loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” 11 But the centurion was more persuaded by the pilot and the captain of the ship than by what was being said by Paul.

2. Moses, Joshua, and Caleb - Numbers 13, 14


D. Some storms occur even if we are in the center of God’s will.

1. Matthew 14:22


2. Israel at the Red Sea




III. Why will we experience storms?

A. It may be for purposes of chastisement. (Deuteronomy 28)



B. It may be for the benefit of others. (Acts 27, 28)



C. It may be a demonic attack. (Mark 4:35-41) In this case the storm is rebuked, not merely calmed.



D. It may be for the purpose of revealing Christ more deeply to us. (Matthew 14, “They worshipped Him.”)





IV. What does Jesus do when we encounter storms?

A. He prays for us. (Hebrews 4:15; 7:25)


B. He comes to us.


C. He comforts us.


D. He rescues us - one way or another.



Christian Life Lessons

1. Like Paul, learn to call upon God even if hope is lost.


2. Like Paul, focus on helping others who are in the storm with you.


3. Like Paul, focus on peace.

“Generally speaking, God will not get you out of the storm until He gets the storm out of
you.” ─ Marvin Gorman


4. Like Paul, honor God before, during, and after the storm.

This is your “Malta Moment!”

2 Corinthians 1:3, 4 NASB “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”


5. Let the Storm do its work in you.

Matthew 14:32-33 NASB When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!”



Concepts to Remember

1. He not only Enables, The Holy Spirit also Hinders.

A. “You never know what worse luck your bad luck has saved you from.” Cormac McCarthy (author)

B. 2 Thessalonians 2:7 NASB For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is removed. (out of the way - no longer hindering)


2. He prays through us with expressions too deep for words.

A. Romans 8:26-27 NASB Now in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

B. Seek to live in the fullness of The Holy Spirit!