PART 15STONED + SHIPWRECKED

Warm-Up• As American Christians,

what are the most severe trials, difficulties, or obstacles we face?–Diagnostic 1: Did your answers pertain to the Church corporately, or you individually?–Diagnostic 2: In which aspects is your Christian experience corporate vs. individual?

Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three

times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been

constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from

bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in

danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in

danger from false believers.

I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have

known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is

led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?

2 CORINTHIANS 11:24-29

Let Me Sum Up…• Severely Beaten (lashes,

rods + stones) x9• Shipwrecked x3• Elements against him (sea,

rivers, country)• Adversaries (bandits, Jews,

Gentiles, false believers)• Deprived (sleep, food, water,

warmth, clothing)

“Rational” Conclusions• God is trying to tell you something.• God is holding you back.• God is not protecting you.• God is not providing for you.• Ergo:–God has not ordained you for this work.–Turn back now, or it will get worse!

Evidence to the Contrary• Name five history-making

heroes of the faith that had easy sailing.• The New Testament is filled

with red letters describing the hardship and adversity that confirm we’re fighting on the right side.• Maybe an illustration?

Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is God’s

word.

EPHESIANS 6:17

Paul: Horn Grabber• Read Acts 14:8-20–From 60 to 0 in 8.3 seconds.–From 0 to 60 again!

• Verse 20 – Sure wish we had 20 more verses of that story!

Paul: The Invincible?• Prison can’t hold him (Acts

16:26)• A mob can’t kill him (Acts

21:31)• Zealous assassins can’t

reach him (Acts 23:24)• Survives 14-day storm and

shipwreck (Acts 27:44)

Paul: The Invincible?• Deadly snake? Meh. (Acts

28:5)

• Next time you’re making an inventory of your hardships, make a column for the miraculous deliverances, provisions, and “coincidences” God has orchestrated.–If that column isn’t bigger, you did it wrong.

Why?• God is forcing you to depend

on Him.• God is showing you, and

those around you, that it’s His power at work.• God is proving to you the

worth of His kingdom.• God is stripping you of

earthly dependence.• God is deepening your trust

in Him.

If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The

God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows

that I am not lying.

2 CORINTHIANS 11:30-31