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This sermon is given to strengthen our faith in God, that we, the Body of Jesus Christ, will rise up and proclaim the life changing gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world. Passage One: "And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary." ( Acts 27:4 ) When the turbulence of life gets hard at times, the only thing that can keep us going is our faith in God. The purpose of this sermon is to encourage you to keep going inspite of contrary circumstances. When the winds of life become contrary, we must have faith that no matter what we may encounter, God will enable us to endure until He gives us the victory. Passage Two: "And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, stake sail, and so were driven. "( Acts 27:15-17 ) Let's talk about the ship. It represents the things that drive us in life. We all are driven by something. Some people are aimlessly drifting without purpose, without goals, and with no specific destination. God has a purpose and a plan for every human being. We need not be driven by the contrary winds of life. Are you being driven physically, mentally or financially? God has promised us that even before storms arise in our lives that He will bring us out of them. Storms are never easy to overcome, but inspite of that, we have God's promise. Passage Three: Paul said, "...Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer; for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar; and lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer; for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me." ( Acts 27:21-25 ) Are you going through a storm? Are you being driven by the contrary winds of life? I would like to encourage you as Paul did, that faith in God will give you the strength to keep going through the hard turbulence of life. Passage Four: "Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, SO SHALL THY SEED BE. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform." (Rom. 4:18-21 ) When it seems that everything is against us, I am fully persuaded that faith in God gives us the strength to stand up and face obstacles and overcome them. Remember, we are more than conquerors through Him that loves us.
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