the breach was far too wide But from the far side of the chasm You held me in Your sight
Verse 2 So You made a way
across the great divide Left behind Heaven's throne
to build it here inside
There at the cross
You paid the debt I owed Broke my chains, freed my soul For the first time I had hope
Chorus Thank You Jesus, for the blood applied Thank You Jesus, it has washed me white Thank You Jesus, You have saved my life Brought me from the darkness into glorious light
Verse 3 You took my place
laid inside my tomb of sin You were buried for three days But then You walked right out again
And now death has no sting
and life has no end For I have been transformed
by the blood of the Lamb
Chorus Thank You Jesus, for the blood applied Thank You Jesus, it has washed me white Thank You Jesus, You have saved my life Brought me from the darkness into glorious light
Bridge There is nothing stronger Than (Oh) the wonder working power Of the blood the blood
That calls us sons and daughters We are ransomed by our Father Through the blood the blood (2X)
Chorus Thank You Jesus, for the blood applied Thank You Jesus, it has washed me white Thank You Jesus, You have saved my life Brought me from the darkness into glorious light
Glory to His name Glory to His Name There to my heart was the blood applied Glory to His name
10 “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.”
11 But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship.
12 Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbor in Crete, facing both southwest and northwest.
The Storm 13 When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete.
14 Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island.
15 The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along.
16 As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure,
17 so the men hoisted it aboard. Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Because they were afraid they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor[b] and let the ship be driven along.
18 We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard.
19 On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands.
20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.
21 After they 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 to whom I belong 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.”
The
Journey of Faith Acts 27:10-26 In this passage, we read how Paul tells the crew of a boat that they should not travel during the winter. The pilots tell the centurion that they should travel and when a gentle south wind comes, they set sail and travels. Paul was right. A hurricane like north wind comes and the crew throws away the cargo and tackle to survive the storm. Paul tells the crew the boat will be lost but no one will lose their lives. Similar to us. We look at the world and make decision that seem reasonable. The Harbour was not suitable to stay during the winter and the gentle south wind was good for traveling. The pilot advises the centurion what to do. The pilot is experienced and knows better than Paul. However, Paul listened to God. There are many things we cannot know, and we need to consider what God wants us to do. God needs to be consulted or our best laid plans might fall apart. Lifeguards do not rush in to save a drowning person. They wait until the drowning person I s exhausted and cannot fight anymore. God also will wait until our hearts are broken. It is only then can God intervene effectively. Our hearts need to be ready and willing to surrender completely to God. One of the most dangerous things that can happen to us is to think we can plan and do things without God. This pride will make us stumble. God wants us to succeed. God also wants us to know that He is almighty and will rescue us. Yet, God is more than a hero. He is our Father and our God. Without relying on God, we cannot live. Paul's faith is commendable. Whatever God says should be our greatest comfort. God always know the best way for us.
Verse 1 There is anendless song Echoesin my soul I hear the music ring And though the storms may come I am holding on To the rock I cling Chorus
How can I keep from singing Your praise
How can I ever say enough
How amazing is
Your love
How can I keep from shouting Your name
I know I am loved by the King
And it makes my heart (want to sing)
Verse 2 I will lift my eyes In the darkest night For I know my Savior lives And I will walk with You Knowing You'll see me through
And sing the songs You give
Chorus
How can I keep from singing Your praise
How can I ever say enough
How amazing is
Your love
How can I keep from shouting
Your name I know I am loved by the King And it makes my heart (want to sing)
Bridge I can sing in the troubled
times Sing, when I win I can singwhen I lose my
step And I fall down again I can sing 'cause You pick me
up Sing 'cause You're there I can sing 'cause You hear me, Lord When I call to You in prayer I can singwith my last
breath Sing, for I know That I'll sing with the
angels And the saints around the
throne
Chorus How can I keep from singing Your praise How can I ever say enough How amazing is Your love
How can I keep from shouting
Your name I know I am loved by the King And it makes my heart(want
to sing)
Ending I am loved by the King And it makes my heart I am loved by the King And it makes my heartwant to sing
7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.
8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.
10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
A Call to Patience
James 5:7-11
In this passage, James calls us to be patient in fact, patience is used four times in this short passage. Steadfastness is the outcome of patience.
There are three different calls to patience.
Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. James 5:7 ESV
Are you eagerly waiting for the Lord? James calls us to be patient as we wait. The Holy Spirit is in every one of us and gives us patience.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 ESV
Many of us believe the lie that we are not patient. We have patience from the Holy Spirit, and we need to choose to be patient.
It is a blessing to wait until the coming of Lord with patience. We don't know when Jesus will return, but, like a farmer, we expect fruit to come. It is hard work and much of this depends on the weather. The rain comes when it does, yet the farmer still plants and prunes expecting good things to come.
a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; Ecclesiastes 3:2 ESV
The verse from Ecclesiastes tells us that there are different times for different activities. As a farmer, what are we planting in our lives?
You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. James 5:8-9 ESV
Life is not easy or fair. We need to strengthen our hearts to make the right choices.
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23 ESV
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? “I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.” Jeremiah 17:9-10 ESV
Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. Hebrews 13:9 ESV
It is only by establish in pure hearts or strengthening them that we can make choices that please God and are not corrupted by evil.
Our nature is to grumble whenever we face any problems which are unpleasant or disagreeable to us. We like to blame others for our circumstances.
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment, you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:1-2 ESV
As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. James 5:10-11 ESV
Once again James calls us to patience, but this patience involved suffering. James refers to the prophets who suffered and were patient. Their steadfastness allowed God to be merciful and compassionate to them as they endured their suffering.
Jesus tells us that it is a blessing to suffer for being righteous.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10 ESV
Most of us are patient with our prayer requests and Jesus second coming, but others are being patient with their persecution. Many of us cannot imagine what it means to be persecuted, yet there are many are persecuted.
In the book of Acts we read about many miracles. Today Christians experience similar miracles, but we tend to overlook them. Much like the Israelites, we become forgetful and ungrateful.
The biggest miracle in our life is to be saved from sin by Jesus. Yet, we take it for granted that we have salvation.
God used Paul to do great things and perform miracles. Jesus knew Paul personally and Paul was using the power for Jesus.
And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, Acts 19:11 ESV
The name of Jesus invoked great power. However, people did not know Jesus.
Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists undertook to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” Acts 19:13 ESV
It does not go well for them because the power they were using not commissioned for them to use. They were mimicking Paul and did not know Jesus. Their power was fake and the results were humiliating.
Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I recognize, but who are you?” And the man in whom was the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. Acts 19:14-16 ESV
This can be the same with us. If we do not know Jesus, we can pretend to be a Christian and go through the motions, but what will be the result. We will eventually be found to be fake Christians and suffer.
Understanding that God is the creator of all things and is to be worshipped and obeyed will bring honour and successes. This is what happened with those who used Jesus’ name in the right way.
And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. Acts 19:17 ESV
We need to know God, then know ourselves and finally experience God. Job went through this.
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:5-6 ESV
We first need to know God. Then we can confess our sins. Finally we can Experience God. This will then spill over to others.
Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. Acts 19:18 ESV
that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
NIV - Phil. 3:10
I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
NLT - Phil. 3:10
I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death,
NASB - Phil. 3:10
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
NKJV - Phil. 3:10
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
THE MESSAGE - Phil. 3:10
that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death,
Philippians 3:10 Amplified Bible
10 And this, so that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely] and [in that same way experience] the power of His resurrection [which overflows and is active in believers], and [that I may share] the fellowship of His sufferings, by being continually conformed [inwardly into His likeness even] to His death [dying as He did];
Sermon Outline
I. Knowing the Person of Christ.
II. Knowing the Power of Christ
III. Knowing the Partnership of the Suffering of Christ.
Background
of the city of Philippi Acts 16
1.First convert in
Philippi is Lydia
2.Servant girl's evil
spirit of prophesy exercised
3.Paul is arrested in
put in prison.
4.Paul wrote the book
of Philippians while he was prison
5.Rejoicing is
mentioned 16 time in Philippians
Philippians Chapter 1Joy
of living in Christ
Philippians Chapter 2Joy
of serving Christ in unity
Philippians Chapter 3Joy
in knowing in Christ
Philippians Chapter 4Joy
in resting in Christ
What does Paul want to know?
1.Knowing the person of
Christ.
that I may know him and the power of his
resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Philippians 3:10-11 ESV
In Greek the word used to know has the
meaning that you can never know completely. Paul knew that knowing God is
something progressive. Paul wants to know who Jesus is. Even though Paul was
serving Christ. He wanted to know Jesus more. This knowledge is more than
information from books. This is a knowledge of relationship. By prayer,
communication, you can have a relationship. Beyond information, there must be
revelation and that can only come from communication This knowledge can only
come from a deep relationship. You need to pray to get revelation.
And then will I declare to them, ‘I never
knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Matthew 7:23 ESV
Even those who do miracles and preach Jesus
might not have a relationship with Jesus.
For I decided to know nothing among you
except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
1 Corinthians 2:2 ESV
The real test to show if we know Christ or
not is simply whether or not we keep his commands.
And by this we know that we have come to know
him if we keep his commandments.
1 John 2:3 ESV
2.Knowing the power of
Christ.
Every Christian who knows Christ will want to
know the power of Christ which is the power of Resurrection. The foundation is
to know Christ personally and then know Christ's power. Some just want to know
has power.
and
what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe,
according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he
raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly
places,
Ephesians 1:19-20 ESV
You cannot ignore the fact that there is
spiritual warfare. You need to have the power of Christ or else you will become
prey of the Devil.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the
strength of his might.
Ephesians 6:10 ESV
The more you have relationship with Jesus and
know who He is, the more you will know his power.
3.Knowing the
partnership of the suffering of Christ.
Not many Christians want to know the
partnership of the suffering of Christ. Only the deepest and most mature
Christians will seek the partnership of the suffering
of Christ.
But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s
sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
1 Peter 4:13 ESV
if we endure, we will also reign with him; if
we deny him, he also will deny us;
2 Timothy 2:12 ESV
The
ultimate goal of knowing Christ is to be becoming like Christ.