Contrary Winds

CONTRARY WINDS

I. THE WINDS WILL BLOW

Acts 27:1-4 the words ...the winds were contrary.. not only summarizes the book of Acts as it describes the early history of Christ's church, but also characterizes the journey that every Christian is to expect until we reach our heavenly shore. Paul's life was filled with contrary winds.

Acts 14:22 Paul and Barnabas exhort the Christians that they must remain faithful and expect ..much tribulation.. before entering into the kingdom of God.

John 15:20 Jesus told His disciples before His death that “If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you”...

II Timothy 2:7-12 All through the New Testament we are warned and promised that trials and tribulations will be our constant companion if we are truly serving Christ as His disciple.

II Corinthians 11:21-27 The contrary winds may come upon us through friends, family, or those that are familiar to us but do not hold to the same truths as we do.

Matthew 4:1; I Peter 5:8 The devil himself may be the very one to bring you the contrary winds as you attempt to walk the walk of faith during your spiritual journey.

I John 2:15 The contrary winds may attack us from all corners of what the world can throw at us as it did with King David in II Sam. 11(the flesh), or as it did with Achan in Joshua 7 (the eye), or like it did with Nebuchadnezzar in Dan. 4 ( pride).

II. REACHING THE DESTINATION

Luke 8:22-26 No matter how many storms and no matter how bad the contrary winds may be, with the master and builder of our faith in the ship with us we will reach the other side no matter what.

Matthew 14:22-32 Some Christians have an attitude sometimes that we are tougher and stronger than we really are. When a strong, contrary wind smacks us in the face Jesus is there to lift us up.

Acts 28:16 After a Christian life filled with trials, tribulations, persecutions and many contrary winds that blew constantly at him, Paul reached his final earthly destination.

Exodus 12 Though Moses had much tribulation and winds that blew contrary, he delivered the nation of Israel out of Egypt.

Joshua 1 After forty years of wondering (contrary winds) through the desert, Israel finally reached the Promised Land.

I Thessalonians 4:16-18 We are exhorted by Paul to comfort one another with the promise of a brighter day, a brighter future that awaits us after we have endured the contrary winds of this life.

III. NOT WITHOUT SACRIFICE

Acts 27:10 This exhortation from the Apostle Paul warns us that although we are on the right team with the right Captain and the promise of reaching our destination, if we are to accomplish that which we are charged with before we reach the end of our journey, there will be bumps, bruises and hurts.

Ruth 2:11-12 A great example of a person being saved from sin in the Old Testament has to be Ruth. The scriptures indicate that she turned away from everything that would cause her to turn from God.

Exodus 32:32; Hebrews 11:24-27 The great Moses forsook everything including his own salvation in order to complete the task that God gave him to complete.

II Corinthians 4:17 When we see Jesus at our final destination we will understand that though He tells us to take up our cross and follow Him during our spiritual journey, we will discover that what we thought were contrary winds and heavy trials and tribulations were only little puffs of wind after all.