4 Anchors to Keep You Calm in The Middle of a Storm
Are you struggling with something difficult right now? This message reveals why storms come, what we can do about them, and how to stay calm and get through them.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Apollo Sulse is a youth Pastor at The Bay Church. But that didn’t come easy or right away. In his own words, Pastor Apollo describes his calling:
“I was a teacher for almost 5 years but felt a call on my life to full-time ministry. I took a leap of faith and quit my job to lead a youth group full-time without pay for a year until God opened the door for full-time employment. My amazing wife, Rebekah, and I have been married since 2013 and have two amazing twin boys named Ephraim and Elisha as well as their younger brother, Ezra. We have been doing ministry together since 2008 from the time we started in the same youth group, where we met, to our positions at our current church in Concord, CA. I have been serving as the network youth pastor, intern director, and young adults pastor at The Bay Church and I absolutely love ministry and serving my local community! I believe that God has a specific call on my life to reach, equip, and build up leaders to reach their full potential. I am willing to do whatever it takes to see His love lived out across multiple generations and cultures.”
What To Do When You Find Yourself in a Storm
Sometimes when a storm comes, you wonder, “God, is this where I’m supposed to be?” Storms come to us in ways that are often out of our control; and sometimes they come because of something we did. In the book of Acts, we find that Paul experienced a storm that was life-threatening.
When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment. 2 We boarded a ship from Adramyttium about to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia, and we put out to sea. Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us.
3 The next day we landed at Sidon; and Julius, in kindness to Paul, allowed him to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs. 4 From there we put out to sea again and passed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us. 5 When we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia. 6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board. 7 We made slow headway for many days and had difficulty arriving off Cnidus. When the wind did not allow us to hold our course, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone. 8 We moved along the coast with difficulty and came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.
9 Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement. So Paul warned them, 10 “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.
13 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, 17 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. 19 On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands’ (Acts 27:1-20).
Storms are meant to bring you strength. But the devil steps in during a difficult time and tells you lies to get you to give up. The devil wants you to make a permanent decision during a temporary situation. Remember, storms pass but God’s love is forever.
4 Anchors to Keep You Calm in The Middle of a Storm
God’s presence. When you’re in the presence of God, there is restoration and joy.
God’s people. When we come together we know the miraculous can happen.
God’s purpose. When you’re walking in God’s purpose for you, you can be calm in the middle of storm. When you’re facing a storm, ask God, “what is my purpose? What is your plan for my life right now?”
God’s promise. When we walk in God’s promises we can be calm in the middle of a storm. Stop anchoring yourself to your feelings or circumstances and cling to God.
God is bigger than your circumstances. He sees you and loves you. Even when you feel like you don’t have the strength, we have a God who will carry you.
Suggested Praise and Worship
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This and other sermons brought to you by Faith Chapel, an Assemblies of God church in Pleasanton, CA.
Ephesians 3:14-21: What are you facing today? Understand how to be strengthened in your spirit and withstand attacks from the enemy with this message. You’ll learn what it means to be rooted and established in Christ, and how to walk in it daily.