YOU WILL SURVIVE THIS STORM

MAX LUCADO-ACTS 27

You’ve felt the “perfect storm,” that perfect combination of factors that all come in at one
time. Individually they are faceable, but collectively, they are formidable. All you need is
a lay-off and a recession, or a job dismissal and a sick spouse. You may not be in one
today, but we’ve all been around the block enough to know they will come.

Good news. You will survive this storm. I base my encouragement on one of the greatest
“storm” narratives, Paul’s journey on the stormy Mediterranean sea. Luke and
Aristarchus travelled with him, at Sidon they changed ships to a more cumbersome
vessel. They barely reached Cnidas from Sidon. They sailed south toward Crete to the
island of Fair Havens. The sailors didn’t like Fair Havens. The name was to attract
tourists. The sailors wanted to make it to Phoenix on the island of Crete before winter hit.
When the south wind began to blow, they decided to take their chances.

Paul tried to convince them not to go. Paul was quite possibly the most seasoned seafarer
on the boat. This old preacher had, by this time, taken twelve trips across the
Mediterranean. He had logged 3,500 miles on the Mediterranean Sea. He knew what it
was like to try to sail across the Mediterranean Sea in the winter and he earnestly tried to
convince the sailors not to go but they didn’t listen.

Acts 27:14-A tempestuous head-wind arose called a eurokleiden “Northeaster.” The

coming together of two winds. It barreled down like a rifle on the ocean. The waves
frothed, the sails banged, the sailors looked for land and they couldn’t see it, they looked
for a way out, but they were in the middle of a perfect storm. Everything was happening
at one time.-Heavy winds, wild waves and a cumbersome Egyptian boat filled with
impatient sailors. Just one of those would spell disaster. But when they all hit at one time
the result was a perfect storm. They did everything they could to survive. They hoisted
the life boat, jettisoned cargo, through equipment overboard, but nothing worked. When
you get down to verse 20, the verse reads like a death sentence.

Acts 27:20
20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging,
we finally gave up all hope of being saved.

The perfect storm took its toll. We later read that they were in this storm for 14 days.
Have you ever been on the sea bouncing in a storm for two weeks? Starless nights,
sunless days. They lost their appetite. They lost their hope.

Acts 27:21-25

21 After the men 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. 23 Last night an

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angel of the God whose I am 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.

The sailors receive courage from the Rabbi. What did Paul teach us that we need to
know? Maybe you, like the sailors, have done everything you can think of, every possible
solution, yet the waves still bounce and the winds still blow.

Would you be willing to receive what the sailors received from Paul?

First, a rebuke “Men, you should have listened to me.” V. 21.

We hate to be rebuked, corrected, chastened. But when we ignore God, a scolding is in

order.

We may find ourselves in storms we did create. Part of God’s healing is a rebuke.
Acknowledging that what we did was wrong. He told you this would happen. Like a
loving father disciplines His children.

Secondly, you are not alone.

You are not alone. Paul received a visitor from heaven. The angel came and stood beside
him. Jesus said I am with you. In Jerusalem Jesus once again spoke to him. Paul was not
alone. You are never alone. You are surrounded by myriads of angels and indwelt by the
Spirit of Jesus Christ. He has sealed you. Saints who have gone before are cheering us
along.

Thirdly, you belong to God.

You belong to God. You have been bought with a price. The God “to whom I belong.”
God says “they belong to me.” Responsible party is God. When you gave your heart to
Christ, He is responsible. You belong to Him. You are His sheep. I am the Good
Shepherd and my sheep know me. We are His bride. Galatians 4:7

Finally, you are in the Lord’s service.

You are in the Lord’s service. An angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve.
Paul said I’m not in Rome. God called me to Rome. It’s not my time. It would be nice if
we all had such a clear itinerary from God. But we will not live a day longer or a day less
than God has planned. If God has work for you to do, He will keep you alive so you can
do it.

Psalm 139:16: All the days planned for me were written in your book before I was one
day old.”

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No life is too long or too short. You won’t die too soon. Fill your days with life. Serve
Him.

You will survive this storm. Don’t believe you will live a life without problems.

Acts 27:25-26
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."
We are going to make it through this, but we are going to wreck this ship. God has got us
going through some more challenges.

I’m not saying you will not have any more problems. There may be additional challenges
to your storm. You may have to bury a loved one. You may go bankrupt.

“In this world you will have tribulation and trouble, but BE BRAVE. I have overcome
the world.” Turbulence turns this world into typhoons. But someday, Jesus will silence
the storm. Christ is the commander.

What if you don’t belong to Him? What if you have never called on Christ to save you? If
that is the case, you have reason to be afraid. “All things work together for those who are
called according to His purpose.”

You don’t want to face this storm alone. This very day, all this can change. Let Him be
the Captain of your ship, and allow Him to take you into eternal life.

He says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.” Isaiah 43:2