When the Boat Sinks — David Wilkerson

This message is one of the Times Square Church pulpit series. It was recorded in the sanctuary of Times Square Church in Manhattan, New York City. Other tapes are available by writing World Challenge PO Box 260 Lindale, Texas 75771 or calling 903 -963 -8626.

None of these messages are copyrighted and you are welcome to make copies for free distribution to friends. My message this morning when the boat sinks, when the boat sinks, go to Luke the 8th chapter, please, 8th chapter of Luke.

Starting at verse 22, please. Luke 8 22. Now it came to pass on a certain day that he went into a ship with his disciples and he said unto them, let us go over unto the other side of the lake and they launched forth.

But as they sailed he fell asleep and they came down a storm on the lake. They were filled with water and were in jeopardy and when they came to him and awoke him saying, master, master, we perish. Then he arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the waters and they ceased and there was a calm.

And he said unto them, where is your faith? And they were afraid, wondering, saying one to another, what manner of man is this where he commandeth even the winds and the waters and they obey him? When the boat sinks.

The Storm on the Sea of Galilee

Heavenly Father, I thank you the peace of God in my heart. I thank you for the touch of the Holy Spirit that's been promised. Lord Jesus, I come with what you have prepared for me to give to this people and I pray Lord for that special unction and anointing that comes only from your hand.

I acknowledge my total helplessness and total weakness to get through to this people. There's nothing I can say in my flesh. Do I have any impact on anyone hearing me? Now I pray Holy Spirit that that impact come from you that it come from the marvelous work of the Holy Spirit in a broken heart and I pray that the word of the Lord will find its mark in our hearts in Jesus name Amen Jesus gets in the ship and the boat of the disciples said here we go gentlemen to the other side and they launched forth the Bible said Automatically, we think well if Jesus is in the boat, it can't sink.

It reminds me of an account I heard of a gentleman who got on a plane going toward Atlanta and he noticed Billy Graham in the front section of the Plane in the first class and he was moving back and he sat down and a sigh of relief.

He said I know they're gonna be a good trip. God will never let this plane go down with Billy Graham on it. Must have been a good day when they started out on this sail across the sea. These were experienced sailors and they knew how to read the sky there was no descent from anybody.

And so what if a storm comes Jesus is there and nobody would believe that a boat can go down with Jesus on it. You don't believe a boat would go down with Jesus on it. Do you? Should have said that there came down a storm of wind on the lake sudden wind intensifies.

The waves mount. Pouring over the ship mark recorded said the waves beat into the ship so that it was now full. Full of water folks. The boat was sinking. Matthew called it a great tempest. He said the ship was absolutely covered with water and They were filled with water and were in jeopardy.

There this was life and death their lives were at stake. They were in great peril. Now, you know the boats going down when experienced sailors say we are dying we are perishing master. We're going down.

The ship is going down. They awaken him he rises faces the gale winds and rebukes them and You know, the father said command you me. He's commanding the father, you know the father sent the storm and I'll prove that to you in just a moment and the Bible said there's a great call and They arrived at the safe harbor on the other side and all as well.

Now we love these kind of Bible stories. We just love them because they have happy endings. Happy happy endings. We just love it. Is it it's a wonderful Bible story the kids cheer when they find out that Jesus?

Calmed the storm and we say how could looking back? How could those? Disciples have ever doubted why the terror when Jesus is in the boat. Don't you know a boat can't go down with Jesus in it in our minds.

We assure ourselves. Now look the Lord is with me. I'm his child. I'm his servant. I I have all the promises in the Word of God. He's aboard my ship. The winds of adversity can blow and these problems that come to my life.

That's a well and good, but I'm not. I'm never going to be cast into those swirling waters because Jesus on board my boat. Jesus is on my boat with me just at the right moment the nick of time Jesus will speak the word and I'll be delivered.

Mm-hmm. He's going to call my storm in my home in my life my career. He's it's gonna be right on time. We always sing about it. We preach about it. We talk about it. You say well, that's what faith is all about faith is is to motivate Jesus there's our faith and this is what it's all about to be delivered from our storms and and from the hardships and never to be overwhelmed and never be dumped into the sea of Adversity.

When Faith Is Tested by Adversity

From our pulpits we seem to be saying and at times. I think I have seemed to be saying Yes, a great storm is coming in these last days. There's going to be the storm of all storms coming and the winds and waves are going to blow the economy of the world Is going to be broken.

The former Finance minister of France yesterday said that the United States stock market. In fact, he said it in more blunt terms than I ever have that it is doomed He said and the economies of the whole world are doomed.

Setting us up and he's talking about not knowing it setting up a whole antichrist system of commerce. You can make sure That it's coming and there are some people believe that We are not going to suffer we're not going to the right time just wrote moment.

God's going to deliver every one of his Christians. We're all going to be delivered. We're not going to suffer. We're not going to lose our homes, but that folks God forgive it. That's the kind of impression I've left in my preaching.

No, you see the the disciples Talk to Paul talked about those who who lost everything the spoiling of all of their goods. And the time is coming folks in this storm that many many people are going to suffer but we Christians are like David when it comes to in Thinking about enduring a storm.

He said I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest and We perceive that that's what faith will do for us. It will deliver us from our every tempest. Every moment of suffering that this nation has gone through that somehow we are going to be delivered.

Well, everybody around is going to suffer and we'll not have to suffer or endure anything. Now, please understand it was God himself who whipped up this storm. Devil had nothing to do with it. I'm going to show it to you and prove it to you beyond any shot of a doubt.

The scripture said he speaking of God Commanded and raises the stormy wind which lift up the waves thereof. They mount up to heaven they go down again to the depths. This is not the devil trying to kill Jesus and his disciples.

God was going to use this storm to teach the Lord's disciples some marvelous lessons. They could have never learned except in a life-and-death situation. They're going to learn first of all that they have to be stripped of all confidence in their abilities.

They have their strength to get themselves out of a mess. You may be here right now in a real mess in your life. You've got it a binding lust. You may be hooked on internet sex. It may be anything two million Americans now hooked and is getting worse.

They say it could be ten million on the verge. And what about this? Self-motivation that is so common and popular today. If you just motivate yourself get the right book get the right tape get to the right seminar.

You're going to be able to pump up your flesh. You'll be able to conquer anything that's a lie and Sometimes the storm comes to teach us that very lesson and we are brought into an absolutely hopeless situation where we are driven to lesson number two that if I ever get out of this mess if I'm ever delivered God has to Do it by his spirit.

This is a hopeless situation. The boat is sinking. It's about to go down and they are absolutely helpless and the only thing they have left the only option left is a cry to the master and That's what the New Covenant is all about that's what the Holy Ghost has been teaching us in this church and all willing to listen to it.

Deliverance Through the Holy Spirit

The psalmist confirms that the storms are sent to bring us to our wits end. For he command that and raises the stormy winds. They reel to and fro and stagger like a drunken man and they are at their wits ends.

Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble and he bringeth them out of all their distresses. Those who battle a besetting sin those who are entrenched in some kind of a habit that there has you bound.

Folks it will bring you to its end. It will bring you to a place where you say father I hate this it will bring you eventually. God will bring you to you. He'll allow a storm in your life to bring you to that place.

He will bring a storm into your life to bring you to its end and he does it out of love. To bring deliverance to drive you to the cross and to the promises of his covenant. I can assure you you've not yet Learned how impossible it is To conquer your own sins if you've not learned that you can't do it in your flesh.

If you if you if you haven't yet learned that your willpower cannot see you through the hardest Temptations that are coming to this world then be sure you storm is coming. God's going to bring you to your wits end and then at wits end when you cry out to the Lord He said I'll deliver you.

That's simple. What if Jesus had allowed the boat to sink? What if God wanted to refine their faith and even a greater fiery trial than they're going through now? Suppose he allowed the boat to capsize and you see the boat go down and suddenly everybody grabbing for an oar.

They're grabbing for anything and and not not some of them are experienced sailors, and I'm sure they could. They could swim. There may have been some that could not swim but suppose God Jesus had slept right through and It's going down.

It's sinking. The hull is already underwater. It's going down and they're all bobbing in the water. And Jesus is right there with him and the Lord says brethren swim everybody swim. Now you can't picture Jesus women.

Can you you can't picture Jesus? Sweating and huffing and puffing and Sharing the problem and the pain and the suffering of these men now because they're going through a storm and he's trying to teach them something.

See it's one thing to see the majesty and the omnipotence of Almighty God. It's another thing when you see him sweating with you. It's another thing when you see him walking through the storm with you and you come up the other side.

Drenching wet and there he is embracing you with the same dressing wet and he went through the problem with you. I thank God for the omnipotence of God who can speak the word and calm any storm. And yes, you do learn of the omnipotence of God and it rejoices you praise God you worship.

But it's another thing to so fall in love with him and see the human side of our Almighty God in the flesh of Jesus Christ who in your storm says we're going through this together. Your boat's going down, but I'm going to touch you and empower you.

You're going to swim ashore not in your strength, but in mine would have been any less of a miracle. To be delivered from the storm or through the storm. To have survived the storm in a shipwreck and to know that you have experienced something with Jesus and fellowship and suffering.

Because he is touched with the feelings of our infirmities and how is he touched with the feelings of our infirmity unless he's swimming with us. Hallelujah. Am I saying to you this morning? That a Christian who's walking in purity and holiness.

Walking in the spirit. Fully trusting God can end up in a sinking ship and cast into a raging sea. Absolutely. That's exactly what my message is about when the boat sinks. You see Jesus did go down with one of his toes in the boat that he allowed to break up.

Jesus went down with a ship. You say heresy. No, no. No one of the most exciting chapters in all the Bible's acts 27 go there. Please acts 27 to show you Jesus went down in a boat. 27th chapter of Acts.

Just keep it open there if you will, please. 27th chapter of Acts is all about a boat that sank with Jesus on board. The same Christ who calmed the sea for the disciples now allows the storm to continue and finally sink the ship.

Paul's Shipwreck and God's Preserving Purpose

Now folks in this chapter verse 1 when it was determined that we should sail to Italy. They delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius the centurion of Augustus band and entering into a ship.

We launched meaning to sail to the coast of Asia. The purpose is he is to go he's appealed to Caesar and The Lord has said Really mandated him. He said Paul be of good cheer for as you have testified of my this.

This is Acts 23 11 for as you have testified of me in Jerusalem so much you bear witness also in Rome. Look at me, please. Many scholars believe that Luke was with him and Luke was the one who recorded all these details.

We do know that there are 276 people including Paul on this boat and they're headed toward Rome. Now I want you to know that God selected every prisoner. He selected the captain. He selected the boat.

He selected the centurion because he got a purpose. There's something going on here beyond anything our minds can conceive. There's an incredible plan unfolding in the 27th chapter of This we know that before Ship leaves the port to get to Rome.

That it's going to land there because God said you're going to go before Caesar now God can't lie. He's if he says you're going to go to Rome. You're going to testify to Caesar. He's going to end up in Rome and he's going to end up testifying to Caesar.

You know, he's going to get there. No, you know now from what I've read to you that God commands the winds, correct? He's the one who lifts the waves and lowers the waves. He's the one that whips the storm.

He's going to go there. The Bible says to witness for Christ. Oftentimes and listen closely now oftentimes the severe storms are raised upon the most righteous. Did you hear it? The most severe the most severe storms are usually reserved for the righteous.

Somebody going through a storm you think the devil's doing it. No, no, no, no, no God's doing it. God's accomplishing something far beyond you could conceive and when you see it, you'll rejoice in it.

I'm going to show you how Paul rejoiced while the boat was going down. You see Paul is the one who unveiled the New Covenant. Here's a man who's totally dead to the world. He is walking in full revelation power.

He lived for nothing but the gospel. He's pure he's holy he's given to prayer. He's full of faith. He's obeying God. He's in the center of God's will. And yet a tempestuous storm is Caught is raised called you're Rocklin you're Rocklin and it swamps the ship acts 27 verse 14.

But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind called you're reclining. They must have named their hurricanes way back then. This was some hurricane. Now, please fix it mind that Jesus is on that boat.

Didn't Paul say nevertheless, I'll live yet. Not I but Christ liveth in me. Didn't he say he was joined to Christ? Both of his bone flesh of his flesh that he's a part of his body the body the heads in glory and he is on The boat so that he's connected to the head.

Jesus is on that boat. How many can agree with that a good a man perhaps Jesus is on that boat you say if Jesus on that boat it can never go down and Being exceedingly tossed verse 18 and we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest the next day We lighted the ship they lighted the ship verse 19 and the third day We cast out with with our own hands the tackling of the ship.

The ship is in trouble. The ship's about to go down in verse 20 and all Hope that we should be saved was then taken away. Now folks God is whipping up the storm. He's allowing a furious agitation. That's what a tempest means a furious agitation.

Are you going through a furious agitation? Your husband you say yeah, he's. I've got a furious after my wife my family my job. Yeah, furious agitation the tempest. What's this all about? Is Paul being chastened?

Absolutely not. He is not being chastened is he is God teaching him lessons. No, God's not teaching Paul any lessons. This man's been through this kind of stuff before he's not being taught any lesson.

Now if you doubt that God whipped up that storm then you listen to these verses clerk perfectly clear. So I'm 135 7 he make it the lightnings for the rain. He brings the wind out of his treasuries. Psalm 147.

He give us snow he cast forth his ice. He causes the wind to blow and the waters to flow. Psalm 148. Fire hail snow vapor stormy wind fulfilling his word. The storm is fulfilling his plan in his purpose in Paul's life for he the Lord has gathered the wind up in his fist.

I Know what point now the boat's in trouble. It's about to sink. At what point is the Christ in Paul gonna rise up wake up? And when is Paul going to go out to the bow of the ship and look into that gales face and say calm.

Peace and the calm comes just as it did on the sea. With the disciples, what is that just nicotine deliverance? No instead Jesus did appear to Paul. He did speak to him and this is what he said verse 22.

Now I exhort you to be of good cheer. So there shall be no loss of any man's life youth, but of the ship what he's saying. Paul the ship's going down. The ship is going to sink. Mm-hmm, Jesus and Paul may be Luke on board.

The boat's going to be broken into pieces so he gathers everybody on deck. He gathers everybody on deck. And he says there stood by me an angel of God whose I am and who I was. Sir, all of the prisoners all of the soldiers centurion the captain.

Everybody is there and Paul said I've heard from God the Lord appeared to me. He stood by me an angel now that is Jesus because Paul's worshiping me and you don't worship an angel that has to be Jesus.

And he calls him he says Brethren good chair the boat sinking. The captain said my boat. Tons of wheat going down. Good share the boats going to sink. But not one of you will get lost. Everyone of you going to come out of this good news and bad news.

Good news those who can swim. Bad news for those who can't folks. I can't swim. When I was a kid somebody threw me in the water and I almost drowned. They had to put me out and I've been afraid of water ever since I don't even like to look at it.

And if I'd been on that boat. And I'll tell you that God led that boat right into a sandbar and the waves are coming and it's stuck and the back end of the boat broke and. And the Lord broke it in enough pieces to handle 275 there lived to be at least 275 pieces of boat.

Because the command came from the captain everybody can swim jump and swim for your life. Go to the shore. I Would have grabbed the biggest piece of lumber I could find. And I'd be in that. I'm not trying to be facetious, but I'd be there in the water and Paul's there swimming praising the Lord.

Thank you for the word Lord. We're all going to be saved not one 276 heads bobbing in those waves. And he passed if he passed me by. I say Paul wait a minute. This is not Luke 8 22 24 about Psalm 91. Lord all those promises that he delivered me.

This is not deliverance. Paul said David thank God for your board. You better kick and get to shore. And it came to pass. Came to pass. They all escaped all safe to the shore. All right folks these things were recorded by the Holy Ghost for our learning.

The Church as a Witness in Spiritual Warfare

What are we going to learn from this story now? Let me share it, but what I believe the Holy Spirit showed me on this. I have sought God diligently so look this you're not a storyteller. There's a purpose.

What divine Scheme. What is this all about if it's for our learning not folks. Please remember the time frame on this the devil already got his Proclamation that God was going to build his church, and he's building a church on the testimony of men.

Just like Paul and the Apostles the New Testament Church Was going to be built on Christ the rock his gospel going to be preached all the world and Paul's been called to minister the Gentiles. Here is the chief planter of churches a Man with the divine purpose has been trained to suffer for the sake of the gospel.

He's been chosen to go to the Gentiles and the the Lord knows that the devil. This is warfare. He's going to come against the church. He's going to come against every one of God's chosen. He's going to come against men like Paul.

He's going to come against every child of God who seeks the Lord every member of his body. Those who walk in righteousness and holiness the enemy is going to come with winds of adversity is going to come with all kinds of Difficulties and probably try to kill and destroy with messengers sent to Buffett and I believe God is master minded.

Glorious theater. Paul said We are made spectacles to man to angels and to the whole world. That word spectacle in Greek is theater stage a play. Now once you know and listen closely some of you may wonder that you may not see it, but I see it.

Because Paul is not being taught a lesson. The devil's being taught a lesson this is a stage where every demon in hell every prince of power and power Satan himself is commanded to attend and And God has the script all written out call it see spectacle or Paul's trip to Rome and every prince of power and power of darkness is called to watch this seed and They sit and watch as this is not the devil at work.

The devil is being taught a lesson. God's going to show something because he knows the devil has plans and devices against his church. And he takes a man just as he did with Job to set an example. That was that you talk about theater.

That was great theater of Almighty God to show the devil all the imps of hell, even though you're slamming gonna trust your devil. You gotta trust me. God sets this stage. He puts Paul in the middle of this sea and he allows a raging storm to come and in these devils and demons and folks surely there's conversation in that spiritual world and what constant the first of all is.

They see this this stage this theater being opened up and Paul is getting on board with 270 some prisoners and and hard-bitten soldiers and a centurion who it was determined to get these prisoners to Rome and I imagine if they could clap they were clapping good.

Paul's going to get mocked and scoffed and ridiculed by these let's see how much religion he gets much religion Paul has and The devil doesn't know the next scene because he's not omniscient. He doesn't know what God's about to do.

He doesn't know Paul's going in a shipwreck. But all the all the witnesses Bible said there are witnesses in the spirit world these witnesses. Watch as the Lord takes every device of the devil. He's not using the devices of devil.

He's exposing the devices of the devil and can you imagine the consternation when suddenly every demon in hell? Devil himself said this is not fair. This is not good fighting. This is unfair. Because now nobody's going to be ignorant of our devices.

What does he do? He puts in the middle of a shipwreck. The Lord puts him right there in a shipwreck and they say wait a minute, that's our job. Where are the shipwreckers offers of hope if you follow the story?

You will see every device of the devil being exposed. All hope is gone that everything that that the enemy could throw at you is being thrown at Paul shipwreck, and can you imagine the consternation of all the powers of hell and.

And the boat is breaking and Paul goes down to the water and the powers of hell say He's going down. This will get him. He's going to be overwhelmed and suddenly Hell is shaken. Because Paul's not going down and they're getting the message now.

They're getting the message all hell is getting the message that God is saying to the devil. You come against my people. I'm going to show you what happens when all through eternity till I return again every time you come against my people.

Every time they go down in the waters of swirling waters of turmoil despair, whatever it may be I'm going to put a promise in their hand and see them right through to the shore. They're going to reach their destination.

But that's only half the story. Here's the real hooker. Here is what said shivers through all the all of the caverns of hell every prince of powder and power of hell had the shake and tremble because Paul crawls out of the water and he holds a communion service and He begins to praise the Lord and there are two hundred and seventy six people praising God.

Testimony Through Personal Loss

Now folks, I want you to listen to me now and listen closely. God really put this on my heart. Is led to the house of the the leader these are this is it's a little isolated island Melita and there's there's a little kind of a common tin horn leader.

Just I'm not Deprecating it's just this these is a barbarians and they take him to the leader to publish his house. And and Paul is asked to pray for the father and he's healed and you know if we're me I said Lord.

You said Caesar not here. You said Rome senators. Politicians the leader of the whole world the most powerful leader though. You said I'm going to testify before Caesar and Here you are Putting me on an isolated island with a bunch of barbarians.

And I want you to know and when God detours you from some great plan he called you to. And that plan seems shipwrecked to you and you're on some detour. I'm telling you that that detour is going to be the greatest seeding time of your life.

Oh doesn't know it but he's seeding the whole Roman Empire with the gospel because now when he goes to Rome he's got 276 witnesses to the healing power of Christ. He's got 275 276 witnesses to deliverance from the powers of hell.

He is seen they have all seen how God can keep his children and When Paul finally gets to Rome, it's not just one man. He's got an army of witnesses. The captain goes to the owner of the ship that was lost and all the hundreds of tons of wheat.

And he tells the story. This amazing story and all the other captains gather up. Can you imagine all the captains? Can you imagine that whole seaport of buzz? Can you imagine when the centurion goes back to his captains and his leaders and his sergeants?

And he tells this amazing story this man served a man called Christ. His man his God was Christ. This Christ delivered us. Every prisoner I'll tell you there's an underground in prison. It spreads like fire and nothing to do in prison but gossip.

And I'll tell you that gossip went all over every prison in Rome and every prison in the Roman Empire. Every traitor that came by every ship that went out of port this amazing story. This amazing story was told 276 witnesses.

You see he was seating the Roman Empire. Paul never complained through it all he believed God. Are you seeing what I'm seeing? This spectacle unfolds now everybody Swam for the life and this final act of the spectacle this final act of theater now ending in a healing crusade.

They brought people from all over the island to be healed. Can you imagine those soldiers watching the cripples walk? Can you imagine? No, I honestly believe that many many of them were genuinely saved.

No wonder Paul says when he was there. He said many are preaching Christ with contention. Well, who were these many that were preaching Christ with contention? In other words, they were still contentious many of them, but they were telling the story.

Where would they have come from but from this experience with Paul? God is saying You touch my anointed. You Put my anointed in the hospital. They're going to testify to every doctor. They're going to testify to every nurse.

They're going to get the whole place all of a blaze about Jesus. You take away from my children their houses and their lands and their furniture and all their possessions and they're going to take joyfully this morning of their goods and People are going to see that good cheer in spite of the loss of everything and they're going to want to know who this Christ Is and I'll just use that experience to spread the gospel to neighbors and to everybody else.

Devil, go ahead and try it, but you're going to cause a revival. You're going to cause a great moving and stirring of my spirit. Pastor friend of mine in Colorado sent me newspaper clippings. In fact, he He's on my staff.

Works with me in Colorado and our newsletters that go out throughout the country. He sent me copies headlines in Colorado. Man and wife wonderful godly people in their church had two teenage daughters.

Crossing the road at early in the morning. It was still dark a four-lane highway to get to the bus stop for the school bus stop across a police officer a Christian Coming up over the hill didn't see them killed them both instantly.

And the newspapers Came down on the policemen. They came down and everybody was saying soon for everything you can get make millions. Yet after this cover you see this police officer was a Christian who went to schools teaching kids about drugs to stay off drugs and also about traffic problems and He was beside himself in despair.

You see the boat sank. But rather than sue They asked him to come visit their home and they knelt and prayed laid hands on him prayed that God would comfort him. No, we got involved this church got involved to help some financially with with some expenses.

They refused to sue. Newspaper reporters came from everywhere. They radio television. Everyone couldn't believe that this family this police officer who spoke at the funeral. With tears of the grace of God and how God brought them together through the whole thing.

These people testified to all the school to everybody it hit the whole it hit though. It was it was on national news. You see the devil tried to come sink the boat throw them in the sea destroyed them.

But God says no. No, no, I I gave you an example devil. You remember Paul? You Remember this. I I showed you what would happen and the gospel spread Everywhere. What a testimony it was hallelujah. Now I'm going to get to the point and I'm going to close in just about four or five minutes.

Trusting God When the Shipwreck Changes the Plan

This spectacle is for our learning. Also this theater this divine theater is for your learning and mine. You may be on a sinking ship right now your marriage could be sinking it may You you may have already gone through this your boat broke up a long time ago and you're still swimming for your life.

You're swimming though. You know, it's not in your own strength. You know that God is giving you that strength. Did your marriage break up? Did you survive the shipwreck of the loss of a loved one was a loved one taken from you?

I? Was on a plane coming from Florida this past year and a lady a young lady sat next to me. And she was crying and I said, could I help you? Is there a problem? I? Said I'm a minister. I would like to help you and She said well my father is 75 years old and I dismissed him in Florida.

He was healthy never a sign of pain or anything and suddenly I find his cancer Written and he's full of cancer and he's dying. He just has a few weeks to live and She said your minister said yes. He said I can't serve a guy.

Who does that to people takes a healthy man? He's a good man. My father's never hurt anybody I can understand I can't serve a God who would take my father and she had a bitterness and she had an anger in her heart toward God.

Did God give you a word and he he told you of some? Important work he wanted you to do for his kingdom. He said I'll equip you you'll be able to do it and Now It could have been a dream. It could have been something in your career.

I don't know what is but the Lord has put this on my heart that someone needed to hear this this morning. I All week, I felt that there would be people in this service this morning who Feel like you're in a sinking ship.

Or maybe your ship is already broken up and you know, God spoke a word to you. God made you a promise and Something he wanted you to do or something we're going to use you to do. And here you are now detoured.

You're in an isolated situation like Paul isolated. And it's not that dream at all. It's not even an image of it. There's some Ferocious agitation taking place. There's a tempest that came and now here you are wondering if you even heard, right?