Pastor S. Collins www.LifePointRenton.org
Acts 27, Job
Music that goes with this Blessed be your name – Matt Redman Why do bad things happen?
1. Why did it happen? 2. Why does God allow evil? 3. Why do bad things happen to me?
The promise is this – Bad things will come to you at some time. Best to be prepared
Reasons for bad storms – are probably these 4
1. Satanic opposition – he opposes us, he exists, he can mess with us
2. So God can work through me – use my struggles to prepare me to help others.
3. Deepen our maturity – it is through tragedy that we grow and develop.
4. Because we live in a fallen world.
When sin entered the world with Adam & Eve – the wages of sin – death and tragedy came into existence. Everything changed with this sin – Bad things happen to both bad and good people.
How do we respond to the question – Why did it happen to me?
What doesn’t work.
1. Being a Lone Ranger – all by yourself.
2. Running from the storm. Best is to turn and face it.
What does work.
1. Hold on to your relationship with God. He will get you through.
2. Hold to others in relationship in the church.
The better attitude to have towards trouble.
Why not me?
Who better than me – to go through this storm?
We don’t need to know why – we just need to strengthen our relationship with God and trust him. The relationship with God is enough. Praise God for the opportunity.
Let it be me.
Response to bad things.
Takes you closer to God – – – or it – – – Moves you farther from God
Acts 27 – The message is basically – storms come and when it seems helpless – we need to trust in God and he will see us through.
This voyage probably changed many lives as they saw the power and trusted in Paul’s God. They cut the anchors, let the rudder go free, hoisted the sail and trusted. God could have made the voyage smooth and uneventful but the lives would not have experienced the journey and the perspective it gave to them. Through adversity we come face to face with who we really are and what is really important.
Jon Huntsman’s book – Winners Never Cheat