Be of Good Cheer

God wants us to have a right perspective that changes who we are as people. God wants us to have a perspective that's focused on Him. That's different because it shares His happiness, that shares His peace. So you can look at a lot of scriptures to get that example. One example might be the well-known verse of Philippians 4.4, which says, Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say rejoice. Okay, so if you're going to always rejoice in the Lord, that's not really humanly possible for us, is it? That requires this deep inward change in how we see life. Cheerfulness at all times requires a perspective, requires a discipline that can't solely be hinged on what's happening around us.

It's a happiness that only comes from God. Well, today I want us to focus on a phrase spoken by Jesus Christ that's designed to help us refocus when we feel downhearted, when we feel dejected. The phrase, at least according to the New King James, is Be of good cheer. Be of good cheer. If you look at other translations, it's also defined as Take courage, take heart, be encouraged. But these words are very deliberately used by our Savior to create optimism. I realize some people can have like a shallow perspective on Christianity and say that we should be able to smile anytime, anywhere, and all the time. But that is the type of philosophy that really gives no consideration to the realities of life. Because the realities of life is that we will encourage heartache, we will encourage sorrow, we will encourage grief. Who wants to smile at the funeral of a loved one who died way, way, way too young? Be of good cheer, though, is spoken by Christ to help us see a higher perspective. Today's message is all about perspective. He used this phrase on five different situations. Four of them were while he was living and one was after he had been resurrected. So we will go through all of those. Each of them, though, show examples of areas where the Holy Spirit can work with our heart and our mind to look at life with a different perspective. Turn to Matthew 9 verses 1 through 7 for the first use. Matthew 9 verses 1 through 7. It's important for us to know the ground upon which our Christian optimism can securely rest. And one of my goals today is to help each of us leave full of encouragement, full of optimism. So let's start Matthew 9 in verse 1. It says, So he got into a boat, crossed over, and came to his own city. Then behold, they brought to him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic son, Be of good cheer, your sins are forgiven you. And at once some of the scribes said within themself, This man blasphemes. But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier to say? Your sins are forgiven you? Or to say, Arise and walk. But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins. Then he said to the paralytic, Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house. And he arose and departed to his house.

So in this story, what we see is two different miracles taking place. Right? But the far greater miracle was the man's sins being completely forgiven because of his faith in Christ. If you read it, the physical healing of his paralysis was like this secondary evidence proving forgiveness was possible. I title this verse use the cheer of forgiveness. The cheer of forgiveness. And in this instance, Christ spoke the words be of good cheer to really let all of us as believers know that our sins can be forgiven forever. Ties in with the sermonette that we heard earlier.

We may not like to think about it, but we all are regular sinners. We're serial sinners. I've heard the phrase use. But thanks to God that the guilt, the penalty of our sins have been dealt with.

And if you think about that, I truly believe that when that perspective is understood, there is nothing that should give a person more joy than knowing this fact. The knowledge should really make us live differently. That's what God intends. Turn next to Psalm 32 verses 3-5. Psalms 32, 3-5. And as you're turning there, I'll share this interesting acronym I read around the word joy. Cute little phrase, but it has a point to it. It says, J is for Jesus, Y is for you, and O is for nothing being in between. Cute concept, but the concept is joy and sin can't occupy the same heart. Right? And David in Psalm 32 is speaking of his realization of this, his realization of the need to confess his sins to God. I'm going to read it from the New Living Translation. It emotes, I think, what David was really trying to convey on this. Psalm 32, starting in verse 3. When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. Day and night, your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. But then we see David falling before God and crying out, Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, I will confess my rebellion to the Lord, and you forgave me. All my guilt is gone.

We've probably all been down that path along the way. God was faithful to forgive David. And you could just feel him singing out the excitement and the emotions involved in that. We can now go back to the first two verses because the way this psalm was written, he's kind of setting up his point at the beginning, but I wanted to show the emotions that lead to it. Verse 1, Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight.

What joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty. It's an incredible thing to realize that we can be forgiven. And if we come before God, the God of the universe, and we confess our sins, then he will take our sins and place them as far as the east is from the west. That's the promise we have. And not only that, but he will cleanse us from all unrighteousness, which is different, but it goes with what God will do. Satan tries to take that away from us. Satan tries to make us not realize that, and that's why we need to resist him. Turn next to Romans 5 verses 9 through 10. Romans 5 verses 9 through 10. God doesn't promise us an easy life. Why? I think one of the reasons is because it would make us soft. Our sins are forgiven to make us do something, so we move forward living in obedience. We wage battle against the sins of the world, knowing we need God's help to do that. Romans 5 and verse 9. Much more than having now been justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him, for if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of his son, so much more having been reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. So what Paul is teaching in here is what I would call a kingdom principle. Salvation, the greatest miracle that can happen to a person, right? And it's greater than the miracle of healing. It's greater than anything that we can come up with along the way. This greatest blessing, to receive any of the blessings of God, we must first be willing to receive the giver of those blessings, right? That happens from the cheer of a forgiven life in Christ Jesus. Because the sin question's been settled. We don't have that separation between us. And without a relationship with God, we can't have that cheer, the cheer of forgiveness. Turn next to John 16, verse 28 through 33. And what we'll look at is another place Jesus used this phrase, John 16, verse 28 through 33. So we all recognize that it's not an easy life that we walk on earth.

Our lives are full of adversity, full of hardships. But then you get into the perspective part of it, right? When we focus on our circumstances, then we have our eyes on ourselves.

And our feet are firmly rooted and planted on earthly things. What God wants us to do is not let the circumstances of our lives determine or steal our peace. Because when we do that, our happiness is going to go back and forth. John 16, starting in verse 28.

I came from the Father, and I've come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father. His disciples said to him, See, now you are speaking plainly and using no figure of speech.

Now we are sure that you know all things and have no need that anyone should question you. By this we believe that you came from the Father. Jesus answered them, Do you now believe? Indeed, the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, each to his own, and will leave me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

So if you look at verse 33, you see a contrast of two relationships, in the world and in me.

Two things being contrasted. And when Christ speaks of in the world, he's addressing a physical relationship. And we all know that in the world anything can happen.

Christ is telling us that there will be tribulations, there will be troubles and trials in the physical world. There is no lasting good that we can expect from Satan's domain.

And I think that's something to keep in mind, because we often hear people praying, saying, Oh, peace in this world. It's not wrong to pray that there would be peace, but please realize this will never fully come about until Christ comes to reign.

It's not through pick a party and pick a person. No lasting peace is available in this world.

Peace comes only through Christ as he reminds us that he has overcome the world. And that's what he was telling the disciples at that time, though they didn't get it all. So much of the things I think clicked for them over time. I title this the cheer of victory. The cheer of victory is natural flows after the cheer of forgiveness. If you'll turn to 1 John 5 and verse 4, the amazing thing I think we all need to keep in mind is that we, is that you can overcome because you have the same power dwelling in you that Christ had that helped him overcome. That's the perspective difference. That's the thing to keep in mind. It's not about us. We should praise God that Christ Jesus through his spirit has imparted his power in his life to us through our faith in him. And we see that reference next. 1 John 5 and verse 4, for whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world, our faith, the cheer of victory. We're more than conquerors through him who loved us.

And that's why we as brothers and sisters can be of good cheer and have this piece of Christ that's referenced living within us. But that means also we have to focus beyond our circumstances and lift our eyes up to God. Because when we're focused on our circumstances, be prepared for the waves of ups and downs. We all fight that little journey along the way.

God is the rock. That's what gives us the stability. Turn next to Philippians 4 and verse 7. Philippians 4 and verse 7. Believing without seeing is the peace experienced that Paul is going to be referencing in this verse we're about going. It goes back to believing without seeing, though. Looking at looking at a different way at what matters. Philippians 4 and verse 7. Book he wrote from prison. Keep that in mind. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. See, don't look at your circumstances to find your peace. But understand that peace comes from being in Christ and that's what brings contentment. That's the contentment you need to live life and to live a life full of the happiness and the peace that Christ did. It allows us to live and to love in any, in all circumstances.

In order to not focus on our circumstances, then we must have faith that no matter what God plans, no matter what God's timing is, they're perfect. Ouch, though, right? Your times were like, but God, no matter what God plans and his timing is, they're perfect. We may not see that future, but we know God is in the future and he'll be working out all the details and that can give us peace. Perspective. So we've been called to have a cheerful outlook and one that's different than the world around us. And in Christ Jesus, there's the assurance of peace in spite of all our circumstances. Doesn't mean all of our circumstances are going to be awful, but they're not what's driving our cheer in our happiness. We can live in peace because Jesus did it and his power is in us.

We can overcome because he overcame. And if we humble ourselves in the sight of God, then he will lift us up. And when the battle is over, we will rule with him for eternity.

That's the cheer we go for. For our next example, please turn to Matthew 14 verses 22 through 28. Matthew 14, 22 through 28. So, transparency. Being afraid is understandable, right? The major countries of the world have missiles of destruction aimed at each other and they threaten each other. The smaller countries have chemical warfare against their enemies. We have the threat of terrorism with our borders at any time. We can go on and on. Yet, even though there are some scary things that we face, this next example is to show us that we should be of good cheer.

Where we're stepping into it, do you remember the situation in the scripture where the disciples were on the stormy sea? Jesus had just miraculously fed 5,000 men plus women and children, so whatever size of an audience that total made, and he then told them to cross over to the other side. That's what we're entering into. Matthew 14 verse 22.

Immediately, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Now, when evening came, he was alone there, but the boat was now in the middle of the sea. Tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

Headwind. Strong headwind is what that's referencing. Now, in the fourth watch of the night, so I'm going to stop there. So, during the darkest and dreariest time of the night, in the middle of this rocking body of water, the disciples were out there rowing to survive.

A storm had encompassed them. They probably were wandering and envisioning dying in this storm. And then next to what I'll end up reading is, you know, then to make things worse, they suddenly see what looked like a ghost appearing towards them, walking toward them. So, as we look at the disciples, cowering in fear on the water, I want you to remember something. Christ told them to go there. He told them to go ahead. With that perspective, when they responded in obedience, they didn't need to fear, as they would arrive safely on the other side. Yet, the stormy sea made fear consume them. Circumstances, right? As we look upon their situation, I realize Christ didn't promise them a smooth passage. That wasn't part of what he told them to do. He just said, go from A to B. But he knew about the storm they would encounter, and he knew and knows of storms you and I are facing or will face. Christ also didn't leave them alone, nor does he intend to leave you or I alone as we go through the different storms in life.

It's wonderful to know that Christ is charting an overall direction and plan in what goes on in our lives. If we trust and rely on him, we will be led through troubled waters and to be safe. We're very blessed in that way. Verse 26, And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, it is a ghost. And they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, Be of good cheer, it is I, do not be afraid. So I titled this one, The Cheer of Knowing We Can Stay Courageous Through Any Storm.

The Cheer of Knowing We Can Stay Courageous Through Any Storm. So, though we will encounter storms as we travel over the sea of life, that's a given. We can thank God that his watchful eyes will see to it that we don't sink.

In Christ, the course for the believer's life has been charted and his support planned. Everything is not scripted. That is a fallacy. But he has the overall direction. He will guide and work with the decisions where we sin or go in the right direction to help us learn from him. They may have ouchs along the way. But his goal at the end of the day, his greatest purpose, is for us to be his children. The other things are secondary. The circumstances become much more secondary when you realize from his perspective why we exist and what matters most. You matter most. Your spiritual plan matters most. Your success or failure humanly is secondary.

If that becomes more than him, then he will use that in a way to get attention.

But it's what's most important.

Upon seeing the figure on the water, we also know what happens next, right? Peter wasn't so sure it was Christ. So he said in verse 28, Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water. And Christ then commanded Peter to come. And Peter found himself walking on water.

His earlier fear had turned to faith. And because of his faith, he was able to do something that was humanly impossible. But like all of us, then he looked at the circumstances around him and moved off faith, went back to fear, and he started sinking. But at least he had enough sense in that moment to call to the Lord to save him. And Jesus was there, and he lifted him up. I think there's a lesson there, too. God will never leave us nor forsake us. We can be in the worst storms of our life. And the first thing God wants us to do when that trial comes is to hear him say, be of good cheer. It is I. Do not be afraid. That means fear not. If you'll turn to Hebrews 13 and verse 5. Hebrews 13 and verse 5. There's nothing righteous about a believer having a gloomy, longing, despondent, or pessimistic attitude. In fact, you could argue those are the opposite of righteousness. The key is that we should not be afraid, but we should be of good cheer. Hebrews 13 and verse 5. Let your conduct be without covetousness. Now, I want you to broaden that phrase as far as you can broaden that phrase. Covetousness means every imaginable form of coveting, wanting what you don't have to give you happiness. Fill that in, then continue. But instead, be content with such things as you have, for he himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. See, it's this wonderful truth to know that God is with us all the way throughout our life. He will never leave us or get tired of us. But again, that also has to be connected with the reality that we're not promised an easy life. Turn now to Romans 8 and verse 28. Romans 8, 28.

Those who honor God the most are those who walk before Him with a cheerful heart because they believe and they rejoice in His Word and the gospel of the kingdom. That's the perspective that brings the joy. Romans 8, 28. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. All things work together for good. Not all things will be good.

We can say, Be of good cheer in the midst of a storm because He who made the winds, He who holds the seven seas together, has promised to take care of His own. We can say, Be of good cheer because the God we serve will not allow a raging storm to endanger our eternal existence. If we care about the physical, we're not guaranteed that.

He who set the agenda for the universe is concerned about you personally, about us personally, and is still working out all things together for good. Turn to Philippians 4 and verse 6. Philippians 4 and verse 6. See, this sermon is focused on keeping the right perspective throughout our lives. And if we're on a ship in a severe storm, we should not put our confidence in the ship, but in God. The ship, or the bank, or the lawyer, or the doctor, or the boss, or the partner, may let us down, but God won't. Our friends may forsake us. Our employers may fire us.

Our strength may leave us, but we can depend on God. Philippians 4 and verse 6. Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication. With thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Turn it all over to God, is what it's saying. No matter what the day may hold, no matter how bleak the outcome seems to be, no matter how severe the pain, or how hopeless the situation is, please let me encourage you to be of good cheer, because if you're called by God's love and peace and grace, then you have every reason to be of good cheer.

I'd like to read now verse 19, and again I'll remind you, Philippians was written while he was in prison. Philippians 4 verse 9, And my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Perspective. God's rescue may not be at our timing. It may not be the way we choose, but Christ is with us now and forever, and as a result we can be able to have courage, even in things that are scary. Let's go to the next example. Turn to Matthew 9 verses 18 through 22. Matthew 9, 18 through 22, and we'll learn from a situation where there are two miracles that we're going to step into, but we're going to focus on the first. You'll get a clue of the second by when we read into it, but the focus in this situation is going to be on the first.

Have you ever felt completely helpless? Impossible situation. You have no clue how you're getting out of it. If you have, then you can understand the woman in this scripture that we're about to enter into because she had this incurable disease. Matthew 9 verse 18, while he spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshipped him, saying, my daughter has just died, but come and lay your hands on her and she will live. So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did his disciples. So that's previewing the second miracle we aren't going to go into. But along the way, and suddenly a woman who had a flow of blood for 12 years came from behind and touched the hem of his garment. For she said to herself, if only I may touch his garment, I shall be made well.

So again, let's frame this whole thing and put a little perspective. Jesus was on his way to heal the ruler Jarius's daughter. Great faith by this gentleman that his daughter died, but he said, you can heal her. When this young girl was growing up, when she was making her dad proud and his eyes sparkle and playing and delighting him, another woman, referenced in verse 20, was desperately going from doctor to doctor. But the sad result was for 12 years, maybe the entire life of this dead girl. They describe her, you get depression, she's a young daughter who died. Maybe for that entire time, this woman had gone trying to find a cure she couldn't find.

So you can almost feel her pain. Throughout life, we will face obstacles. We will face situations that can hold us back from progressing or excelling or whatever we long for. Every day for 12 years, this lady dealt with the sight and the stench and the weakness and the shame of her problem. Every day, she probably looked for something new or someone new to help her and face the depression of that not happening. Even in this situation, you can almost picture she may have just gone from another doctor, Ben Tiri, as she was going forward. And all of a sudden, she got enveloped by this crowd. She's like, what's going on? She's like, what's going on? And somebody said, Jesus, the great healer, is passing through town.

Okay, now we sort of move forward. Have you ever tried to push your way through a crowd to get to someone? Go to a big football game, and that's a great way to experience trying to get herded by a big crowd. It's hard. You have to be determined to do it. So she made her way, deciding she was going to try to work her way through. And all of a sudden, she ran into finding he was surrounded by all these big fishermen, probably. Whatever it was, she figured out she wasn't going to become the center of the attention in there. But she got this wave of courage and thought, with her faith, if I can only touch his clothes, I will be healed. Now, the longer account on this is Mark. I'm using this specifically because of the phrase used. But the pieces that are filled in by Mark's account is immediately she felt she was healed. Immediately Jesus knew his power had gone out, and he turned around. The woman then feared and trembled, and it says, fell down and told the whole truth. Now we can kind of go into this story because that's kind of abbreviated in here. Matthew 9 and verse 22 says, But Jesus turned around, and when he saw her, he said, Be of good cheer, daughter. Your faith has made you well, and the woman was made well from that hour.

So I titled this, The Cheer That Our Faith Provides Healing. The cheer that our faith provides healing. It's really, it's a wonderful story of faith, of hope, of healing, Christ's power. And I think there's a lesson for all of us because we may not have an incurable disease, but we have all experienced her desperation. We've all had things we really, really long for, maybe where we feel hopeless, where we need a miraculous touch.

And even now, you may be striving to hold on to your faith because of, fill in the blanks, past regrets, anger, shame, guilt, hurt, bad decisions, whatever. Many reasons we may want to reach out and touch our Savior, touch the hem of Jesus' garment. And if we look at the story in both Matthew and Mark, it tells us there's this large multitude. Who knows how big that is? But you're talking to hundreds of people. Multitude thronging around him, with a lot of people touching, mostly a lot of people touching Jesus. Now play that irony out. I'm pretty sure the woman with the issue of blood wasn't the only one with a need. I mean, if I picture this scene, I can imagine people proclaiming Jesus was Christ, people shouting out, he's a great teacher. Some people even saying, Jesus healed me on the way. I have needs.

It's funny, though, that everyone thronging around, tonight, touching Jesus, except this woman who was desperate enough to fall at his feet and profess her faith. The only one at that very moment that manifested the fruit of faith was the woman, and she was the only one of that group that was healed.

Our greatest blessings often come after our greatest desperation.

Our greatest healing often comes after our greatest sorrows.

It's about a perspective thing and realizing what matters in life.

Both only come after we realize how great our bondage is to sin and to our human nature.

Because that knowledge is what's supposed to influence how we look at our problems, how we look at our trials, how we look at life.

It's when we're facing our biggest problems that we need to get ready for our biggest solutions if we're trusting God and looking to Him. You'll notice in verse 22, there's an interesting word that Jesus used.

He called her daughter. Now, put that in context.

This woman was identified as the daughter of the King of Kings, creator of the universe. So, for us, we can each rest assured that Jesus has placed for us in His Kingdom a place as His precious sons and daughters. He does the same when we reach out to Him as well. If you'll turn to 1 John 1 and verse 9, when we're at our weakest, our greatest strength can be just around the corner if we realize that God will bless us when we reach out to Him. 1 John 1 and verse 9 says, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Did you get that? He will forgive us and cleanse us from every wrong. It's beautiful. Our part is to humble ourselves and to confess our wrongs and the wrongs of our sins. And in this situation, the woman who had patiently endured this for 12 years experienced this blessing. Turn next to Matthew 11 verse 28 through 29. See, we aren't smart or strong enough to rule our lives without wrong choices. We should work hard. We should ask for God's help, but the reality is we're going to make our mistakes along the way. But we're fortunate that the King of Kings is patiently waiting for us, that He's standing nearby, that He wants us to reach out to Him. Matthew 11 and verse 28, come to Me, all you who labor in our heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest from your soul. That's the perspective. That's the cheer, right? Jesus is always there waiting for us to realize our need for Him. He is constantly knocking, if you want to go to that analogy. But the problem is, right, we get too preoccupied, too self-centered. We shout out His voice. We try to do our own ways. We look to something else, and then finally we realize, oh, that's right. Somebody else who much more reliable had promised to help us. And then we can find good cheer knowing our faith provides healing.

Turn now to Acts 23 verses 10 through 11, and we're going to find the final encouraging example of Christ using this phrase. Acts 23, so you know it's now after He's been resurrected, verses 10 through 11. So what we're stepping into is the end of this story where Paul was on trial in front of the Sanhedrin, and it triggered this massive dispute. You'll notice a weird wording in here of how big of a dispute this must have been between the Pharisees and the Sadducees to the point where the Romans decided putting him in jail was the only way to save him. So Acts 23 in verse 10. Now, when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, that's a weird visual, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them and bring him into the barracks. But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, Be of good cheer, Paul, for as you have testified for me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome. So again, think about the perspective. Put yourself in Paul's place. Paul had been in Jerusalem witnessing for Christ.

He had founded churches and Antioch all throughout that area in Ephesus. He had been to Athens and taught the powerful people who were there. I'm sure that he and his mind envisioned going to Rome but as a free man. And here, Paul is getting a little perspective that he is going to go there as a prisoner. The perspective that I think is being taught here is what I title the cheer of bearing witness for God. The cheer of bearing witness for God. For our lives to make sense, we must recognize that there is a plan of service that God intends for us.

And we should be of good cheer because God knows where he wants us and how to get us there. And it likely will involve us not understanding how things will work out but moving forward in faith. Your life is like mine. Do you realize, though, that God can make even the wrath of people?

Praise you according to his purpose. And a classic example on that one is think of Joseph's brothers. Sold him into slavery, wanted to get rid of him, but God used that event as a stepping stone for Joseph to be used for God's purpose, for his glory. You need to turn there, but Genesis 50, verse 20, is where Joseph tells his brothers, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many lives. See, it's not about us. It's not about our plans. Some Christians feel that it's their constant duty to fight the devil.

Friends, there's not one instance in the Word of God where God's people were ordered to fight the devil. Now, we're supposed to fight the good fight. We're supposed to resist the devil, but we're not told to fight the devil because we need to realize the victory is already won.

Right? Satan can't defeat the children of God unless we allow him to defeat us.

We're not the source of winning this battle. We're the victor and told to cast out demons, not run from them. Is that greater is he that is in you than is in the world? And that's what should give us good cheer, knowing the world has already been overcome.

It's who we look to for our strength. Turn to Acts 27, verses 7 through 10. We're going to continue this story because now we're going to step forward to where the promise is being fulfilled.

And Paul is going to use Christ's phrase of encouragement to bear witness to others. So Paul is on a boat with 275 other people at the mercy of a relentless storm for 14 days. That's worth stepping into. Neither sun nor stars in the sky. Terrifying situation. Acts 27, verse 7. When we had sailed slowly many days... Luke is a very subtle writer. I mean, the wording he uses is kind of funny at times. When we had sailed slowly many days and arrived with difficulty... very under-spoken... off of sinitis, the winds not permitting us to proceed, we sailed under the shelter of Crete off Salmoni. Passing it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fairhaven, near the city of Lesai. Now, when much time had been spent and sailing was now dangerous because the fast was already over, Paul advised them, saying, Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives. So what we find in verse 10 is Paul was trying to persuade the captain of the vessel not to sail, but he was more influenced by the owners of the boats and I'm sure whatever the monetary implications were of him proceeding forward and did not listen. Not long after they had sailed, then Paul's warning became this reality and there was an angry wind, the waves covered over the ship, the mast was knocked off, so the vessel was just at the mercy of the seas during this big storm and everyone thought they were they were going to die. Hope had gone, everyone except Paul.

See, no matter what you want, whether you want them or not, storms will happen in our lives. It's what's going to happen. Many times storms will occur suddenly. They're going to occur without warning and they're going to make us wonder if we can survive. They may be financial storms that strike our economy. They can be physical storms that strike our health. Social storms that strike our relationships. Emotional storms that strike our minds.

Occupational storms that strike our careers. Spiritual storms that strike our faith or personal storms that strike our families. They're going to happen. Nobody can avoid them, at least not for very long. But when that storm occurs, what happens is it can create confusion and frustration and fear and anxiety and grief. In verse 22 through 25, what we find is the story continuing and Paul witnessing to his shipmates that there is a spiritual guide that's far greater with the plans that he has working out.

Verse 22, and now I exhort you, be of good cheer, for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you but of the ship. So I kind of get this silly picture of somebody at the height of the desperation running to the captain of the ship and saying, you need to go get Paul. He's running up and down the decks shouting, be of good cheer, be of good cheer. Kind of gives you a different visual of what might be going through here. But it's this concept of if you're going to tell people to have good cheer in the midst of a crisis, you better have a good reason.

And Paul did. Verse 23, for there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, do not be afraid. Paul, you must be brought before Caesar, and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you. Therefore, take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. So God gave Paul all the insurance he needed to bear witness and help these others, and it seems all their courage was lifted. So there's a lot of lessons we could learn from this example.

It's a fascinating one along the way. But I think not as important as realizing no matter how dismal and hopeless our circumstances may feel, God is never too far away to reach into our lives and make it better. It's important to know. We can comfort our hearts realizing that God is an interested spectator in what happens in our lives. And as such, we should shine a light of service. We should bear witness for our Savior. It's not about us. It's about being used by Him to reflect that hope to others, that peace to others. God won't let things interfere with His plan or purpose for the highest good in our lives.

And if we look upon our lives in this way, then every experience we enter into will be one that isn't a burden, no matter how unbearable it seems, but it will realize it's an opportunity for us to serve Him for His greater purpose. And that should give us encouragement. One final thought before I close this message. Abandoning ship. Kind of an interesting concept, and I would argue that it's a common occurrence theologically these days. People leave the truth in search of some new religion because higher earthly gain or higher physical safety or higher fill-in-the-gap is promised. Some even leave the faith because a few storm clouds are seen.

What I want you to keep in mind is the promise of salvation is made to those who stay on board with Christ. Stay to the end, not those who flee in fear. And I'm sure in here there's some who are facing despair over whatever it might be. Maybe sickness is your constant companion. Maybe medicine has failed you, but Christ says, Be of good cheer.

Take courage. So in concluding this matter this message, no matter what we're facing, God will rescue us. From the storms of life if we trust, if we obey, are you brokenhearted? Well, be of good cheer that Jesus has overcome death. Salvation has been made possible. He has the ultimate say. Remember that in Christ Jesus, the sin question has been forgiven.

It's been settled. Salvation in Him is a reality, and forgiveness of sins is a fact. Remember, in Christ Jesus, there is the assurance of peace and victory in spite of all our circumstances. And since He has overcome and His strength is ours, then we are able to stand and bear witness of the strength of our victorious Lord. Remember, in Christ Jesus, we don't need to be afraid. He won't let anything interfere with the plan or purpose that He has made for us so long as we trust Him implicitly.

Remember, in Christ Jesus, there is healing that lasts for eternity. And remember, in Christ Jesus, the course for believers lives has been charted and planned so that we can bear witness for Him, so that we can serve others.

So even though we may encounter storms along the way as we travel, His watchful eye will help make sure we don't sink as long as we're trusting Him. I hope you find that message encouraging, because cheer and joy should be as natural to us as singing is to a bird. Remember, if we're in a right relationship with God, then there's no reason the words be of good cheer shouldn't be expressed in all experiences of our life. As Romans 8.31 says, if God be for us, who then can be against us?