Weathering Contrary Winds

A. THE CERTAINTY OF CONTRARY WINDS

1. They Come to us all

2. They Come suddenly and unexpectedly

3. They Come from different and often unsuspecting directions

* We like the "south wind that blow softly" (13) and think it will always be so. I love to feel a cool gentle breeze blowing.

* But there are "winds that are contrary" (4)

* There are also winds that frustrate and hinder our best intentions (2)

* There are winds that slow our progress and deny us our dreams from becoming realities (7)

* There are winds that make our lives difficult and distressing (8-9)

* There are winds that toss us, shake us, and frighten us (18)

* There are winds that can cause us to lose all hope of deliverance (20)

B. THE CORRECT (SCRIPTURAL)WAY TO WEATHER CONTRARY WINDS

1. This entire chapter is about storms and contrary winds

2. Can we know what to do when the winds of adversity come? can we survive?

3. The Holy Ghost takes an entire chapter to teach us how to handle Such winds

I. ACCEPT THE WINDS AS A PART OF THE LORD’S PLAN (15)

1. God makes no mistakes (Job.37:1-3)

2. Some of the Lord’s choicest servants faced contrary winds

(Job 3:26, 5:7)(Disciples, Mk.6)(Peter, I Pet.4:12-13)(Paul, II Cor.4:8, Phil.1:29)

3. The Lord knew all about a little island that needed to hear the gospel in Acts 27

4. We may not understand why God allowed thousands to lose their lives last week, but be assured God had a purpose. Perhaps it was God’s wake up call to us prior to these terrorist acquiring nuclear capabilities to do something much worse.

II. ABANDON EVERYTHING EXCEPT THOSE THINGS THAT ARE THE MOST PRECIOUS (18)(19)(38)

1. Winds have a way of blowing away everything except that which is staked down

2. Nobody has to tell the survivors of the World Trade Center (WTC) what’s important today

3. We all have too much excess baggage in our lives (examine yourselves)

4. In the wake of last week’s disaster Sportings Events, Stock Markets, Movie Reviews, Social Issues, etc... All became secondary

III. GET ALONE WITH THE LORD IN PRAYER (21)

1. Where do you think Paul was for so long?

2. I don’t think he was hiding in fear

3. I do know this, when he re-appeared he had the answer (22) And he said God had given it to him (25)

4. I do know that when Paul re-appeared he said he had talked with an Angel (23)

5. I do know that others in Scripture found help through prayer when contrary winds blew.

a. Jacob (Gen.32:24)

b. Jonah (Jon.2)

c. David (120:1 & 142:1)

d. Hezekiah (II Kg.19 & II Kg.20:1-6)

IV. AFFIRM THE LORD’S PRESENSE DURING THE WINDS (23)

God never promised that we would not go throught the floods, but He did promise that He would go with us {Isa.43:2)

God never said that we would not go through the valley of the shadow of death, but He did say that He would be there with us (Psa.23:4)

1. Like Joseph (Gen.39:2) (Ps.23:4)

2. Like Moses (Ex.3:12)

3. Like Samuel (I Sam.3:19)

4. Like the Three Hebrew Children (Dan.3)

5. Like David (I Sam.18:12)

6. Like Hezekiah (II Kg.18:7)

7. Like John (Lk.1:66)

8. Like Paul (Act.23:11 27:23)

V. BE ASSURED OF THE LORD’S PROMISE (25)

1. I’m so glad Paul made that statement, "I believe God that it shall be even as it was told me"

2. "God is not a man that he should lie" (Num.23:19)

3. "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie hath promised" (Tit.1:2)

4. (Phil.1:6)(II Tim.1:12) God promised Paul he’d go to Rome (Act.23:11)

VI. ANCHOR YOURSELF TO THOSE THINGS THAT ARE STEDFAST AND SURE (29)

1. God’s Principles are stedfast (Mt.24:35)

2. God’s Peace is Still Secure (John 14:27)

3. God’s Plan is Sure (Heb.6:19)

VII. ABIDE IN THE PLACE WHERE GOD HAS PROMISED TO KEEP YOU (31)

1. There is a way that seemeth right unto man

2. There is only ONE WAY to be saved, GOD"S WAY!

3. We’re better off in a storm than in a calm, if it’s where God told us to be.

VIII. ATTRIBUTE TO THE LORD PRAISE FOR HIS DELIVERANCE (35)

1. "In everything give thanks" (I Thes.5:18)

2. Early Christians at Jerusalem (Act.5:41)

3. Paul and Silas in the Phillipian jail (Act.16)

4. We have much for which we can praise God

a. Praise God! No more people were killed or injured when the WTC collapsed

b. Praise God! The fourth airplane was crashed before it could kill more innocent people

c. Praise God! Other possible hijackings were folded

No night is so dark to hide His face,

No storm is too rough to be calmed by His grace,

No wind is so strong to stay His hand,

No mountain so great to resist His command