Sometimes we have to go through to get to?

Intro: Psalms 23:4 (NIV). David

4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

• Comfort me.. (Rod and Staff)

• Rod and staff are not there to punish but to guide.

Title: Sometimes we have to go through to get to…

Saul of the NT:

·       He was a man that had a hatred for followers of Christ.

·       He imprisoned them. Beat them

·       Stood and witnessed as they stoned Stephen to death.

He was on the road to Damascus when he had an encounter that would change his life forever…

Acts 9:1-6 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

5 “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

Paul was a Jew of Jews. Pharisee of Pharisee’s…… Proud of his heritage…

·       Pride comes before a fall

·       Paul was literally knocked off his horse

·       Knocked to the ground and was blinded for 3 days.

·       He had to be led by the hand to Judas’s place on Straight Street

·       God told a man by the name of Ananias to go and pray for Saul.

·       He didn’t want to go as he had heard about this terrorist by the name of Saul.

Acts 9:15-16 (NIV 1984) 15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

·       Ananias prayed for him and something like scales fell from his eyes...

·       Paul had no idea of the gentiles that God would give him the opportunity to witness to.

·       He went away for a long period of time as the disciples were frightened of him as they weren't sure if he had really converted.

·       After some time, he then returned to Jerusalem started to preach in the synagogues and the Jews hated him for converting to Christianity.

·       The Jews vowed that they would not eat or drink until they had killed Paul.

Acts 23:11 (NIV 1984) 11 The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”

·       Rome is a massive City and the super power of the day

·       Paul was taken to Caesarea where he had a chance to share the gospel with the governor Felix. Felix sent him away because he was getting so convicted.

·       Also shared with Festus and King Agrippa and said,

Acts 26:25-29 (NIV 1984) 25 “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. 26 The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”

28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”

29 Paul replied, “Short time or long–I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

King Agrippa sent Paul to Rome to stand before Caesar:

·       They put Paul on a boat and then sailed to a place called Sidon where he boarded a ship to Rome Italy.

·       Finally, after all that time Paul was going to where the Lord had told him he would go.

·       Acts 27: 13 talks about a storm with hurricane force came up and they started to throw the cargo overboard.

·       They even fastened ropes around the hull of the ship to tie it all together for fear it would break apart.

·       The storm was so bad they hadn’t seen the sun or the moon for many days, which means they were really lost….

·       That was their means of navigation… Sun, Moon and the stars.

·       They had given up all hope of being saved… Luke saying this not Paul.

Acts 27:21-26 (NIV 1984) 21 After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23 Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26 Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”

1.     Don’t doubt your Deliverer….

·       Paul spoke with confidence and boldness as he stood on the word, God had given him.

·       He was to testify in Rome.

·       Also the Angel spoke to him.. Word from the Lord.

·       When you stand on God’s word and speak it out in faith, God moves.

·       Miracles happen…. Live by faith.

Acts 27:33-38 (NIV 1984) 33 Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food–you haven’t eaten anything.34 Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” 35 After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. 36 They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37 Altogether there were 276 of us on board. 38 When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea. 

39 When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. 40 Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. 41 But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.

42 The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. 43 But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. 44 The rest were to get there on planks or on pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land in safety.

2         The Driftwood can get you to your Destiny

·       Sometimes it’s those things that you think are going to destroy you that become the very thing that saves you.

·       When were are in the midst of the trial we think we will never get through, but in time you will see how God used it to your benefit.

·       The ship was broken into pieces by the pounding surf.

·       But it was those broken pieces that God used to get them to where He wanted them to be.

·       Sometimes God is able to use the brokenness of our lives to enable us to get us to where he would have us to be.

·       He also uses our brokenness to save the lives of others around us that have no hope.

·       They said they had given up hope that they could be saved.

·       But what a witness it must have been to find that not one person had perished in the storm.

·       God was faithful to his Word. Paul stood on the word of the Lord and because of his faith they were all saved.

·       Not one was lost.

Romans 8:28 (NLT)

28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

3       Put down the plank

·       Sometimes we need to let go of the brokenness to get to where God would have us be.

·       Don’t hang onto those broken bits of your life...

·       You have to put them down and look at what God has for you in the next season of life.

·       What if Paul turned up in Rome still carrying a plank of timber from the hull of the broken boat under his arm?

·       It can keep you afloat in the storm, but it’s too heavy to carry all the time...

·       We need to get to a place where we can lay down the broken pieces in order to get to a better place in life.

·       A place that is fulfilling and a place of God’s blessing.

Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV)

18 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

4       Don’t sweat the small stuff

·       When you’ve been through major trials in life you no longer sweat the small stuff.

·       Suffered so much loss that they don’t worry about the small things of life.

·       Just get on with life and realise there is so much more to

·       You never come through a test or trial and come out the other side in the same place. (Noah and the flood)

·       Loaded the ark in the valley where the animals were.

·       After the flood the ark rested on Mount Ararat in Turkey.

·       Things that in the past, would have destroyed you, now don’t even bother you.

·       Paul gets to the shore and standing around the fire to get warm and grabs a handful of light branches to throw on the fire. 

·       A snake driven out by the heat latches onto his hand and hangs on.

What does Paul do?

Acts 28:4-6 (NIV) 4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.

·       The locals knew it was a venomous snake……

·       He just shakes it off and goes on with his business.

·       He knows that if God has a destiny for his life, there is nothing that the enemy can do to stop him from fulfilling it.

·       He stays in Malta for 3 months preaching the gospel. Healing all the sick.

·       Then they take him to Rome on a ship.

Paul arrives in Rome and is under house arrest......

·       He continues to preach the gospel in Rome to the gentiles just as God said he would...

Acts 28:30 (NIV)

30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!

Philippians 4:18-23 (NIV 1984) 18 I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Final Greetings

21 Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send greetings. 22 All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.

23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Philippians 3:7-14 (NIV)

7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 5:6-11 (NIV)

6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.