1. How to Deal with the Storms of Life
Harold Kimrey

2. TEXT: Act 27: "Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also." 11 But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship. 12 Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbor in Crete, facing both southwest and northwest.

3. TEXT: Act 27: When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. 14 Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. 15 The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. 16 As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure,

4. TEXT: Act 27:10-44 17 so the men hoisted it aboard
TEXT: Act 27: so the men hoisted it aboard. Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Because they were afraid they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along. 18 We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard.

5. TEXT: Act 27: On the third day, they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved. 21 After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: "Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.

6. TEXT: Act 27: Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.' 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26 Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island."

7. TEXT: Act 27: On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. 28 They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet deep.

8. TEXT: Act 27: Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. 30 In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. 31 Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved."

9. TEXT: Act 27: So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away. 33 Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. "For the last fourteen days," he said, "you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food--you haven't eaten anything. 34 Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head."

10. TEXT: Act 27: After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. 36 They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37 Altogether there were 276 of us on board. 38 When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.

11. TEXT: Act 27: When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. 40 Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach.

12. TEXT: Act 27:10-44 41 But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground
TEXT: Act 27: But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf. 42 The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping.

13. TEXT: Act 27: But the centurion wanted to spare Paul's life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. 44 The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely.

14. EVERYONE WILL ENCOUNTER STORMS IN THIS LIFE NIV Joh 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
MSG Joh 16:33  I've told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I've conquered the world."

15. EVERYONE WILL ENCOUNTER STORMS IN THIS LIFE Some of us here are facing a storm of difficulties in your life right now, >for some it may be financial, >for some it’s job related, >for some it’s relationship issues, >for some it’s health related… Every storm of life involves your faith. Difficulties will test your faith and shape your character.

16. THERE ARE 5 PRINCIPLES THAT WE NEED TO LEARN FROM THIS TEXT WHICH WILL HELP US FACE THE STORMS OF LIFE
#1. GOD WARNED PAUL IN ADVANCE ABOUT THE PERILS OF THE STORM HE WAS FACING
#2. THE MAJORITY WAS WRONG – THE MAJORITY IS OFTEN WRONG – Don’t go along with the crowd

17. #3. WE ARE “PRONE TO “DRIFT” AS THE STORMS PUSH US ALONG IN THIS LIFE
THERE ARE 5 PRINCIPLES THAT WE NEED TO LEARN FROM THIS TEXT WHICH WILL HELP US FACE THE STORMS OF LIFE
#3. WE ARE “PRONE TO “DRIFT” AS THE STORMS PUSH US ALONG IN THIS LIFE
#4. WE MAY BE TEMPTED TO THROW OVERBOARD SOME THINGS WE SHOULD NEVER GIVE UP
#5. YOU HAVE TO FACE THE STORMS OF THIS LIFE WITH FAITH IN GOD AND NOT RUN FROM THEM

18. 1st Principle: (AS GOD WARNED PAUL IN ADVANCE) GOD WARNS US IN ADVANCE 6 WARNINGS (in advance) #1 of 6: ABOUT OUR SPEECH Jas 1:19 “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” Jas 1:26 “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.”

19. HE HAS GIVEN US 6 WARNINGS (in advance) #1 of 6: ABOUT OUR SPEECH Jas 3:6 And the tongue is like a fire. It is a world of wrong, occupying its place in our bodies and spreading evil through our whole being. It sets on fire the entire course of our existence with the fire that comes to it from hell itself. In the midst of a storm of controversy we are prone to say hurtful things that later we will regret.

20. HE HAS GIVEN US 6 WARNINGS (in advance) #2 of 6: ABOUT YOUR ANGER Eph 4:26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry” Jas 1:20 human anger does NOT produce the righteousness that God desires. Anger is a choice and God warns us that in the midst of the storm you need to watch out that you don’t allow your anger to get out of control.

21. HE HAS GIVEN US 6 WARNINGS (in advance) #3 of 6: ABOUT YOUR MONEY Heb 13:5 “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have” TLV Col 3:5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don't be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world

22. HE HAS GIVEN US 6 WARNINGS (in advance) #3of 6: ABOUT YOUR MONEY 1Ti 6:9-10  But people who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. 10  For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

23. HE HAS GIVEN US 6 WARNINGS (in advance) #4 of 6: ABOUT YOUR PRIDE TLV 1Jn 2:15-17  Stop loving this evil world and all that it offers you, for when you love these things you show that you do not really love God; 16  for all these worldly things, these evil desires—the craze for sex, the ambition to buy everything that appeals to you, and the pride that comes from wealth and importance—these are not from God. They are from this evil world itself. 17  And this world is fading away, and these evil, forbidden things will go with it, but whoever keeps doing the will of God will live forever. 

24. HE HAS GIVEN US 6 WARNINGS (in advance) #4 of 6: ABOUT YOUR PRIDE 1Jn 2:16 “For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world” Pro 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

25. HE HAS GIVEN US 6 WARNINGS (in advance) #4 of 6: ABOUT YOUR PRIDE 1 Pet 5:5 …All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble." The kind of pride that stems from self-righteousness is sin, and God hates it because it is a hindrance to seeking Him.

26. HE HAS GIVEN US 6 WARNINGS (in advance) #5 of 6: ABOUT YOUR WORRIES Php 4:6-7  Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 

27. HE HAS GIVEN US 6 WARNINGS (in advance) #5 of 6
HE HAS GIVEN US 6 WARNINGS (in advance) #5 of 6. ABOUT YOUR WORRIES Mat 6:31-33  “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32  These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33  Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Worry is a slap in the face of God! It screams to us that we aren’t really trusting God to take care of our needs! Worry tells us that we are relying upon ourselves instead of relying on God.

28. #6 OF 6 WARNINGS: ABOUT YOUR FEARS Mar 4: A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" 39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. 40 He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" 41 They were terrified and asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!“

29. #6 OF 6 WARNINGS: ABOUT YOUR FEARS 1 John 4:18 “The one who fears is not made perfect in love” Our Lord is master of the wind and the waves! There is no storm we will EVER face in life that JESUS cannot calm!

30. 1ST of 5 Principles: THE MAJORITY IS WRONG – SO DON’T FOLLOW THE CROWD
1ST of 5 Principles: THE MAJORITY IS WRONG – SO DON’T FOLLOW THE CROWD! Acts 27: "Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also." 11 But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship. 12 Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbor in Crete, facing both southwest and northwest.

31. 1st Principle: DON’T FOLLOW THE CROWD
1st Principle: DON’T FOLLOW THE CROWD! When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. Just because conditions look favorable doesn’t mean it’s God’s will! You shouldn’t entertain every job offer! You shouldn’t try to go through every door that looks open!

32. 1st Principle: DON’T FOLLOW THE CROWD
1st Principle: DON’T FOLLOW THE CROWD! Mat 7:13-14  “Heaven can be entered only through the narrow gate! The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide enough for all the multitudes who choose its easy way. 14  But the Gateway to Life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.  “Everybody is doing it”. Don’t succumb to “Peer Presure”. The majority is not right with God and will not heed God’s warnings, therefore they are on their way to destruction and NOT on their way to eternal life!

33. 2nd Principle: YOU MAY BE PRONE TO “DRIFT” OR BE “DRIVEN ALONG” BY THE STORMS OF LIFE 14 Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. 15 The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. 1. They quit trying to sail to their destination so they gave up. 2. They felt out of control so they were just letting storm push them along!

34. 2nd Principle: YOU MAY BE PRONE TO “DRIFT” OR BE “DRIVEN ALONG” BY THE STORMS OF LIFE 3. How many people are just drifting along, letting the circumstances of life just push them around? 4. How many have no purpose, no ambition, no direction - they just want to go along to get along! 5. Life is tough so why make the effort? – so many have just given up!

35. 2nd Principle: YOU MAY BE PRONE TO “DRIFT” OR BE “DRIVEN ALONG” BY THE STORMS OF LIFE 6. Every storm is an opportunity to grow 7. Every trial is a teacher 8. Every experience is an education 9. Every difficulty is for your development! God will work everything to your good!

36. 2nd Principle: YOU MAY BE PRONE TO “DRIFT” OR BE “DRIVEN ALONG” BY THE STORMS OF LIFE 11. God has something He wants you to learn from EACH AND EVERY storm 12. If you don’t learn from it – then God may have to bring you the same storm again 13. God doesn’t want you to GIVE UP – He wants you to GROW UP! 14. He’s isn’t as concerned about what happens TO YOU as what happens IN YOU! 15. God is more concerned about your character than your comfort!

37. 3rd Principle: WE MAY BE TEMPTED TO THROW OVERBOARD SOME THINGS WE SHOULD NEVER GIVE UP They had been getting beaten up by the storm for 14 days they hadn’t eaten anything! 1. First they threw the cargo overboard 2. Then they threw the ship’s tackle overboard 3. Then later they threw their food overboard. 4. Some of the soldiers even wanted to throw the prisoners overboard!

38. 3rd Principle: WE MAY BE TEMPTED TO THROW OVERBOARD SOME THINGS WE SHOULD NEVER GIVE UP They had been getting beaten up by the storm for 14 days they hadn’t eaten anything! 1. First they threw the cargo overboard 2. Then they threw the ship’s tackle overboard 3. Then later they threw their food overboard. 4. Some of the soldiers even wanted to throw the prisoners overboard!

39. 3rd Principle: WE MAY BE TEMPTED TO THROW OVERBOARD SOME THINGS WE SHOULD NEVER GIVE UP This is a common human condition when things get tough: People tend to discard things, people, values and relationships that they would not even dream of discarding if they weren’t hurting so much! “I’m throwing in the towel.” “I’m giving up on my marriage or my relationship”. “I’m outta here – I’m through!”

40. 4th Principle: WE MAY BE TEMPTED TO GIVE UP Acts 17:31 Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved." God says, there are some things you should never discard or give up on: Don’t give up on people Don’t give up on values Don’t give up on relationships Don’t give up on the church Don’t give up on God

41. 5th Principle: YOU HAVE TO FACE THE STORMS OF THIS LIFE WITH FAITH IN GOD Heb 13:5 …God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Heb 13:6 So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid… Jesus can calm any storm I will ever face: Mark 4:38 “Peace Be Still!”

42. Conclusion: GOD WARNS US IN ADVANCE ABOUT THE PERILS OF THE STORMS YOU WILL FACE 2. THE MAJORITY IS OFTEN WRONG – DON’T FOLLOW THE CROWD! 3. WE ARE “PRONE TO “DRIFT” IN STORMS - BUT GOD WILL SEE US THROUGH ANY STORM

43. Conclusion: 4. WE MAY BE TEMPTED DISCARD RELATIONSHIPS OR GOD-GIVEN PRINCIPLES– DON’T! 5. FACE THE STORMS OF THIS LIFE WITH FAITH IN GOD AND DO NOT RUN FROM THEM AND WHEN YOU DO – GOD WILL BLESS YOU AND REWARD YOU AND YOU WILL GROW TO BECOME EVERYTHING GOD WANTS YOU TO BE!