Euroclydon The Storms of Life

Matthew 14:22-33

Acts 27:9-14,

Calgary Wind Storm

Last Sunday I was listening to the radio when I heard that Calgary had declared a state of emergency. Windows up to 149km/hr (I dont drive that fast). Trees falling, roofs being lifted, shingles flying off roofs, sky scrapers losing windows! C-Train shutdown, downtown core closed off.

It was big, but not big enough to have a name

Hurricanes are Named

After the alphabet: Albert, Betty, Charlie, DeniseKatrina You dont remember the little onesonly the big onesKATRINA/Andrew

Euroclydon Only Storm Named in the Bible

Acts 27:9-14
Paul is imprisoned, traveling to Rome (MAP) Crete to Rome = 500km (Peace River to Edmonton) 14 Days in a storm, no food because they are busy dumping water out of the boat, (Compared to Jonah this one is bigger, the boat ends up crashing, etc) ThenEUROCLYDON!

1.) We will have storms in our lives

Everyone Faces Storms Luke 6 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is
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like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.[h] 49 But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great.

Both men have storms in their lives

Even PaulEven the Disciples (Matthew 14)

Even when you are walking with God in faith and Obedience there are storms

2.) God always knows where Paul was (you are)

Matthew 14 Jesus sent them out. Acts 27 God wants Paul to witness in Rome Acts 27:22-25 And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but
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only of the ship. For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, 24 saying, Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you. 25 Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.
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V25 Paul must still believe it

3.) God is in control of the storm

Same path as Jonah? Disciples Even the wind and the waves obey Him.

**Black Dot Paper first** 3b.) God sees the Big Picture
Black Dot Paper Keep your eye on the donut
As a minister was addressing a group of men, he took a large piece of paper and made a black dot in the center of it with a marking pen. Then he held the paper up before the group and asked them what they saw. One person quickly replied, I see a black mark. Right, the preacher replied. What else do you see? Complete silence prevailed. Dont you see anything other than the dot? he asked. A chorus of noes came from the audience. Im really surprised, the speaker commented. You have completely overlooked the most important thing of allthe sheet of paper. In life we are often distracted by small, dot-like disappointments or painful experiences, and we forget the countless blessings we receive from the hand of the Lord. But like the sheet of paper, the good things are far more important than the problems that grab our attention.

Someone has written: As you travel down lifes pathway, may this ever be your goal:/ Keep your eye upon the doughnut, and not upon the hole!

4.) Storms Strengthen You

God can turn our circumstances, our troubles, and our storms to our good also. Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Hurricanes are Good Tried to Prevent Hurricanes
I had always thought of hurricanes as something mankind could do without. But recently I learned that they are necessary to maintain a balance in nature. These tropical storms, with winds up to 150 miles an hour and accompanied by torrential rains, glaring lightning, and rumbling thunder, can be devastating. Yet scientists tell us they are tremendously valuable. They dissipate a large percentage of the oppressive heat which builds up at the equator, and they are indirectly responsible for much of the rainfall in North and South America. Meteorologists therefore no longer use to prevent them from being formed. They are convinced that hurricanes actually do more good than harm.

cloud-seeding techniques

Cod Illustration
Years ago in the northeastern United States codfish was a big commercial business. There is a market for eastern cod all over, especially on the West Coast. The demand posed a problem to the shippers. At first they froze the cod, then shipped them elsewhere, but the freezing took away much of the flavor. So they experimented with shipping them alive, in tanks of seawater, but that proved even worse. Not only was it more expensive, the cod still lost its flavor and, in addition, became soft and mushy. The texture was seriously affected. Finally, some creative person solved the problem in a most innovative manner. The codfish were placed in the tank of water along with their natural enemy--the catfish. From the time the cod left the East Coast until it arrived at its westernmost destination, those ornery catfish chased the cod all over the tank. And, you guessed it, when the cod arrived at the market, they were as fresh as when they were first caught. There was no loss of flavor nor was the texture affected. If anything, it was better than before. Each one of us is in a tank of particular and inescapable circumstances. It is painful enough to stay in the tank. But in addition to our situation, there are God-appointed "catfish" to bring sufficient tension that keeps us alive, alert, fresh and growing. Its part of Gods project to shape our character to be more like his Son. In the New Testament the Apostle Paul had a catfish in his life:

Prov.10: 25 when the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm for ever. (NIV) Sometimes the Lord calms the storm; sometimes he lets the storm rage and calms the believer.

5.) Do You Trust God?

Sword in your hand

Years ago a military officer and his wife were aboard a ship that was caught in a raging ocean storm. Seeing the frantic look in her eyes, the man tried unsuccessfully to allay her fears. Suddenly she grasped his sleeve and cried, "How can you be so calm?" He stepped back a few feet and drew his sword. Pointing it at her heart, he said, "Are you afraid of this?" Without hesitation she answered, "Of course not!" "Why not?" he inquired. "Because its in your hand, and you love me too much to hurt me." To this he replied, "I know the One who holds the winds and the waters in the hollow of His hand, and He will surely care for us!"

Storms Will Come Storms Will Go But Jesus always Remains Girl Shot by Brother by Accident Gun in a childs hands vs gun in a Policemans hands

RUN on WORDS You may seem over your head at times swim on! You may get weak and weary but swim on! You may get discouraged hang on to the Lord and dont let go! Keep on swimming! You may reach the shore feeling as though you have been through the greatest storm that life could give to you but you will make it through! Grab on to a piece of the ship! Hold on to the mast! Grab a piece of wood as it floats by! Except we abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved! This is a strong warning for those who dont want to be in church! I know that the church is people and wherever we come together in His name, Jesus will be there. We cannot forsake the assembling of ourselves together. Each time we come together God feeds us the meat of His word and the Holy Spirit gives us encouragement and strength for the trouble we face. Where is the most likely place to meet with Gods people? Its in the building we call the church a building that houses the meeting of the real church. Acts 27:31, "Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved."

Camp Meeting Storm The Great Elijah wanted to Die 1 Kings 19:4 4 But he himself went a days journey into the wilderness,

and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!

Euroclydon Gospel to the Maltans Someone? - To realize the worth of the anchor we need to feel the storm.

God sent a mesenger to warn them of this shaking but they didnt listen (Acts 27:10) He sends us a message of a shaking Euroclydon is Coming (Hebrews 12:26b-27) removal of things shaken remainder of what will not be shaken

Conclusion 1. What do we know about storms in life? a. Storms will come b. Storms will go c. Jesus always remains 2. I dont know what storm youre facing today, however, this is what I know: a. Jesus is bigger than your storm b. Jesus will never allow your storm to destroy you c. Jesus gives you the faith to endure the storm d. Jesus gives you the authority to overcome your storm 3. What are you going to do in the midst of the storm?