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Discover how faith and endurance in trials can bring joy and glory. Experience God's love and strength through hardships, finding peace and meaning in the midst of storms.
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Finding Peace & Meaning in the Storm (Acts 27:1-44)
Acts 27:25-26 NLT 2 But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. 23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, 24 and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ 25 So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. 26 But we will be shipwrecked on an island.”
Finding Peace & Meaning in Our Storms • Christian = Storms
Acts 9:15-16 NLT 15 But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. 16 And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
2 Timothy 3:10-12 NLT 10 But you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance. 11 You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord rescued me from all of it. 12 Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
John 16:33 NLT “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
1 Peter 4:12 NLT 12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.
Finding Peace & Meaning in Our Storms • Christian = Storms Why?
Finding Peace & Meaning in Our Storms • Christian = Storms • Storms = Faith 3 Godly Men Testify to this fact
1 Peter 1:6-7 NLT 6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. Peter
Romans 5:3-5 NLT 3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Paul
James 1:2-4 NLT 2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. James
Our lusts are cords that bind us. Fiery trials are sent to burn and consume them. Who fears the flame which will bring him liberty from intolerable bonds?Charles Spurgeon
Finding Peace & Meaning in Our Storms • Christian = Storms • Storms = Faith God requires us to address sin in our lives - Sanctification can hurt God is more concerned with your character than He is with your comfort God wants you to experience JOY … not temporary happiness
Finding Peace & Meaning in Our Storms • Christian = Storms • Storms = Faith • Faith = Knowing Truth Knowing what TRUTH is carries us through the storms of our lives
Romans 8:28 NLT And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Finding Peace & Meaning in Our Storms • Christian = Storms • Storms = Faith • Faith = Knowing Truth Paul knew what God had told him! Do we stand on the truth God tells us through His word?
Truths of God We Can Stand On • God loves us • God is not capable of evil • God is doing a great work in all of our lives • Nothing can separate us from God’s love • God is the only way to freedom from the addictions and sin that ensnare us • God will NEVER forsake us • God is more powerful than any problem we face
What is the end result of our standing on truth in the middle of the storms?
1 Peter 2:12-14, 19 NLT 12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. 13 Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. 14So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of Godrests upon you.19So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.
1 Peter 5:10-11 NLT 10 In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation. 11 All power to him forever! Amen.
Response • Come forward if you need prayer regarding a storm in your life. • Come forward if you need to turn your life over to Jesus Christ and make Him your pilot through life’s storms.
