When All Hope is Gone
Acts Series with Pastor • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 39 viewsThis is a message that shows how to get your hope back. What do you do when all hope is gone?
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Text: Acts 27: 18-26 42-44
Acts 27:18–26 (NLT)
18 The next day, as gale-force winds continued to batter the ship, the crew began throwing the cargo overboard. 19 The following day they even took some of the ship’s gear and threw it overboard. 20 The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone.
21 No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, “Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this damage and loss. 22 But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. 23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, 24 and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ 25 So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. 26 But we will be shipwrecked on an island.”
Acts 27:42–44 (NLT)
42 The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure they didn’t swim ashore and escape. 43 But the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul, so he didn’t let them carry out their plan. Then he ordered all who could swim to jump overboard first and make for land. 44 The others held onto planks or debris from the broken ship. So everyone escaped safely to shore.
Have you ever been there before?
In a place in your life where hope has seemingly dwindled away, bit by bit?
Have you ever been there?
When the problems in your life felt like they were more than you could handle at the moment...
Have you ever been there?
Where every time you try to grasp onto that feeling called hope, it slips through your fingers?
Have you ever been there? Where you've found yourself uttering those words...
"I can’t do this anymore…"
"I’m tired of trying…"
"I have nothing left to give…"
"This is too much..." Or perhaps the most painful,
"I give up…"
Family, I’m sure you've been there once or twice before.
and That’s a rough place to be in.
Family, I believe this is where these brothers are in this text.
A storm.
They've been sailing through the turbulent seas of the Mediterranean,
battling against relentless north and east winds.
The journey has been grueling and gruesome, pushing them to their limits.
And to top it off,
after enduring the storm's fury,
they catch a glimpse of hope—they're nearing the shores of safety.
But just when they thought they were almost there, Boom.
Another setback.
A sudden turn of events destroy their hopes.
The ship is caught in the grip of an unexpected storm,
threatening to dash them against the rocks.
The bible says that the storm has “Raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars.”
It is dark and gloomy, a grim reminder of their dire situation.
and At this point, the Bible tells us that all hope has faded away.
What do you do… When all hope is gone?
What do you do……..When your hope has faded away?
This is the question that I want to try to answer today…..because I know some of you have come in feeling hopeless.
Feeling like your hands are tied
Feeling like you can't go any further.
and Feeling like there’s nothing more that you can do...
But when all hope is gone………
When you’ve gotten to the point, where you feel like you have no more hope in you…
you must learn to
1. Remember the Promise (21-24)
1. Remember the Promise (21-24)
Acts 27:21–24 (NLT)
No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, “Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this damage and loss. But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’
The Bible tells us that they’ve lost hope.
The crew and passengers on that ship were in a desperate situation.
No one had eaten for a long time, and despair hung heavy in the air.
and It’s in this place of hopelessness that Paul stands up, calls the crew together,
and speaks words that must have seemed audacious in the midst of their circumstances.
"Y’all should’ve listened to me," Paul says.
"You shouldn’t have left Crete to begin with.
All of this could have been avoided."
But then, he says two words that blow my mind: Those two words are ”Take courage."
Take courage… What a familiar statement.
Take courage… In the midst of what you’re going through, take courage.
In the midst of what you’re dealing with, take courage.
Paul’s "Take courage" echoes the encouragement Jesus gave throughout His ministry.
Take courage… It speaks of trust and steadfastness in the face of adversity.
Take courage… It’s a beacon of hope in the darkest of times.
Take courage… It’s reminder that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness.
Take courage… It’s call to stand firm on God’s promises.
Take courage… It’s an invitation to step out on faith, even when the path is unclear.
Take courage… It’s a declaration that victory is assured through Christ Jesus.
So when Paul says "Take courage," he's telling them... It's all good; God's got this under control.
And the truth of the matter is, most of our hopelessness stems from a lack of courage.
When faced with challenges and uncertainties, it's often easier to yield to fear and doubt than to take courage and trust in God's promises.
We hesitate to step out in faith, fearing failure or the unknown.
But courage is not just about bravery in the face of danger;
it's about steadfastness in trusting God's faithfulness.
It's about believing that God is with us,
that His plans are for us,
and that His strength is in us.
When we lack courage, we forget that God has promised to never leave us nor forsake us
When we lack courage, we forget that He will give us the strength we need to endure.
So, stop allowing fear rob you of hope.
Paul says “Take courage”
and I can hear some of the people on the ship now…
Paul….You have lost your mind.
We are about to DIE….
How can you be so sure that we will be alright?
and I can hear Paul saying… I know because an angel of the Lord came to me with a message saying:
"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."
So, he says to them, "Take courage! Because God has already given me a promise and I believe God, and it will be just as God said."
and notice , this promise wasn’t just for him alone but included everyone aboard that ship.
The angel says…So God in his Goodness…Said that everyone on this ship…will make it out alive.
now if I was there…I would have asked…
Paul…how can you be so sure of this?
How do you know that your God will keep his end of the bargain….
and I believe Paul would’ve responded and said….
This isn’t the first time This has happened.
at one point Me and Silas were in a prison
We praised God and trusted His promises, and not only were we set free,
but everyone’s chains were loosed and the doors were opened.
“Let me pause real quick and let you know that Your life should be so anchored in God’s promises that His promises don’t just set you free, but they overflow to everyone around you.”
and let me encourage you and say When you've lost hope,
remember the promises God has given you.
Because God is a God, who keeps his promises
Remember the Promise
“God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good”
Remember the Promise
Isaiah 41:10 - "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Remember the Promise
Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper and not harm you, to give you hope and an expected end."
Remember the Promise
“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You."
Remember the Promise
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
When all hope is gone, you must remember the promise God made to you.
His promises are steadfast anchors in the storms of life,
His promises offer hope and assurance that His plans for you are good, and because he keeps his promises, He will fulfill them just as He said.
When all hope is gone…REMEMBER GOD’S PROMISES.
NOT ONLY MUST YOU REMEMBER GOD’S PROMISES.
BUT SECONDLY
YOU MUST
2. Embrace the Process (26-40)
2. Embrace the Process (26-40)
Acts 27:26–40 (NLT)
But we will be shipwrecked on an island.” About midnight on the fourteenth night of the storm, as we were being driven across the Sea of Adria, the sailors sensed land was near. They dropped a weighted line and found that the water was 120 feet deep. But a little later they measured again and found it was only 90 feet deep. At this rate they were afraid we would soon be driven against the rocks along the shore, so they threw out four anchors from the back of the ship and prayed for daylight. Then the sailors tried to abandon the ship; they lowered the lifeboat as though they were going to put out anchors from the front of the ship. But Paul said to the commanding officer and the soldiers, “You will all die unless the sailors stay aboard.” So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away. Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat. “You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for two weeks,” he said. “Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish.” Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it. Then everyone was encouraged and began to eat—all 276 of us who were on board. After eating, the crew lightened the ship further by throwing the cargo of wheat overboard. When morning dawned, they didn’t recognize the coastline, but they saw a bay with a beach and wondered if they could get to shore by running the ship aground. So they cut off the anchors and left them in the sea. Then they lowered the rudders, raised the foresail, and headed toward shore.
So much has happened after "the promise."
Between verse 26 and verse 40,
The storm doesn’t let up. It’s still raging, and the ship is being battered by the waves.
The sailors, in their desperation, try to abandon the ship, pretending to lower anchors while actually intending to escape on the lifeboat.
Paul here warns the centurion and the soldiers, saying, “Unless these men stay with the ship, we cannot be saved.”
The soldiers heed Paul’s warning and cut away the ropes of the lifeboat, letting it drift away.
Paul then encourages everyone to eat, reminding them they need strength to survive. He then has communion service on the ship in the storm. The bible says He takes bread, gives thanks to God, breaks it, and begins to eat,
After eating, they throw the remaining wheat into the sea to lighten the ship.
The next morning, they see a bay with a sandy beach and attempt to run the ship to the beach, But the ship strikes a sandbar and gets stuck, with the stern and broke into pieces by the pounding surf.
The soldiers then plan to kill the prisoners to prevent them from swimming away and escaping.
But the centurion says, for the sake of paul, no one dies..
you see The promise is good, but the bible says in v. 26 “But we will be shipwrecked on an island”
God promised Paul he would get to Rome, and He promised the people they would be safe,
But the process would cause them to be in a storm still,
to be desperate,
to be hungry,
to lighten their loads,
and to be shipwrecked before reaching their destination.
and the truth of the matter is….
Just because God has given you a promise doesn’t mean you won’t face storms.
The rain keeps pouring,
the winds keep howling,
and the waves keep crashing,
Because the presence of a promise doesn’t mean the absence of problems.
In fact, sometimes it seems like the storms intensify right after you receive a word from God.
It’s in these moments that your faith is truly tested.
It’s easy to believe when the skies are clear, but can you hold on to hope when the clouds gather and the thunder rolls?
It’s easy to praise God when everything is going well, but can you still lift your hands in worship when everything seems to be falling apart?
It’s easy to trust God when your bank account is full, but can you trust Him when you don’t know how you’re going to pay your next bill?
It’s easy to have faith when your health is good, but can you maintain that faith when you’re waiting on a diagnosis?
It’s easy to speak of God’s goodness when your family is intact, but can you testify to His faithfulness when relationships are strained or broken?
When all Hope is lost, we must learn to embrace the Process….
Because
The Process Builds Character
The Process Reveals God’s Power
The Process Teaches Dependence on God
The process is where I got my prayer life.
The process is where I got saved.
The process is where God showed me He was a healer.
The process is where God showed me He was a provider.
The process is where God showed me He was a way maker.
The process is where God showed me He was a miracle worker.
We must Learn to EMBRACE THE PROCESS
They had to throw things overboard… that’s part of the process.
The ship was completely broken… that’s part of the process.
BECAUSE
Sometimes, a part of the process is God destroying the very thing you thought was supposed to get you to shore.
You thought that job was going to sustain you, but God had a different plan.
You thought that relationship was your forever, but God knew it wasn’t right for you.
You must learn to trust the process.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
When all hope is gone,
1. YOU MUST REMEMBER THE PROMISE
2. you must embrace the process.
3. Trust God’s Provision (42-44)
3. Trust God’s Provision (42-44)
The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure they didn’t swim ashore and escape. But the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul, so he didn’t let them carry out their plan. Then he ordered all who could swim to jump overboard first and make for land. The others held onto planks or debris from the broken ship. So everyone escaped safely to shore.
God made them a promise.
He took them through a process.
THE STORM CONTINUES.
THEY ARE SHIP WRECKED AT THIS POINT,
And the Bible says that the soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners. BUT IT WAS THE COMMANDING OFFICERS THAT WANTED TO SPARE PAUL.
In Roman times, soldiers were responsible for their prisoners.
If a prisoner escaped, the soldier would have to pay with his own life.
So, when the shipwreck happened, the soldiers’ first instinct was to kill the prisoners to ensure none of them escaped, WHICH SAVES their own lives.
This action was not just out of fear but was a standard procedure to protect themselves from the consequences of losing prisoners.
Imagine being in Paul’s situation:
You’ve just survived a violent storm and a shipwreck.
You’re clinging to hope,
only to realize that the soldiers,
the very people who should be ensuring your safety,
now want to kill you.
It seems like just when you’ve overcome one trial,
another is waiting for you.
It feels like you’re taking two steps forward and TWELVE steps back.
But God had a different plan.
The avenue didn’t change;
They still had to face the storm
THEY STILL HAD TO BE shipwreck.
But the outcome CHANGED.
Despite the soldiers' plan,
God intervened through the centurion, who wanted to spare Paul’s life.
The centurion ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. T
he rest were to follow, holding on to planks or other pieces of the ship. And so it was that everyone reached land safely.
AND I LIKE THIS PART OF THE TEXT BECAUSE THIS PART OF THE TEXT TEACHES US….
THAT GOD DOESN’T NEED A LOT TO PROVIDE.
God can use the broken pieces of your life to bring you to shore.
Think about it: they reached safety not on a sturdy, intact ship
but on the broken pieces of what was left.
AND Those broken pieces were enough to carry them through to God’s promise.
ALL IM TRYING TO TELL YOU IS….TRUST IN GOD’S PROVISION BECAUSE
God can use the broken pieces of your life to bring you to shore.
He can use the broken pieces of your marriage.
He can use the broken pieces of your childhood.
He can use the broken pieces of your mental health.
He can use the broken pieces of your past failures.
He can use the broken pieces of your broken dreams.
He can use the broken pieces of your finances.
He can use the broken pieces of your relationships.
He can use the broken pieces of your self-esteem.
He can use the broken pieces of your career.
AND He can use the broken pieces of your health.
Because God is a God of broken pieces.
When all hope is lost:
Trust God’s provision.
BECAUSE GOD DON’T NEED MUCH TO BRING YOU TO SHORE.
GOD CAN USE Two fish and five loaves TO FEED THOUSANDS.
GOD CAN USE A little ruddy boy named David to defeat Goliath
COME HERE GIDEON GOD CAN USE Gideon's three hundred men TO deliver Israel .
GOD CAN USE A widow's small jar of oil to provide for a family.
and God can use A poor boy born in a mangerto became the Savior of the world.
Because God is a God who can use little to do much…..and my testimony is….
Like a ship that's tossed and driven,
Battered by an angry sea,
When the storms of life are raging,
And their fury falls on me,
I wonder what have i done,
To make this race so hard to run,
Then I say to my soul, soul take courage,
The Lord will make a way somehow.
Is there anybody here today who feels like they are in the midst of a storm?
Is there anybody here who feels like all hope is gone?
Let me encourage you today
Trust God’s provision.
When you feel like you’re down to nothing, God is up to something.
When you feel like you can’t go any further, God is carrying you.
When you feel like the pieces of your life are too broken to be used, remember that God is a God of broken pieces.
He will use every shattered piece to bring you to shore. He will make a way out of no way.
So take courage, for God is with you. Trust in His promise, embrace His process, and rely on His provision.
The Lord will make a way somehow.
