October 19, 2025 | Speaker: Angel Rosa
“The presence of the storm does not mean the absence of God.”
This past Sunday, The Gathering experienced a Spirit-filled, powerful message from Angel Rosa that shook the room and touched hearts. His sermon, inspired by Acts 27, called us to look beyond what we see with our natural eyes and trust in what God is doing behind the scenes. The message revolved around a theme many of us can relate to: storms. But not just the kind that everyone sees. Angel spoke about secret storms — those internal battles that we hide from others, yet carry heavily within us.
From the opening moments, it was clear this message would go deep. With transparency, humor, and spiritual insight, Angel unpacked the reality that being a Christian does not exempt us from trouble. In fact, some of our most intense growth happens during our most difficult seasons.
“If you want to see God do His best work, it will be while you’re in the middle of a storm.”
Visible vs. Secret Storms
Angel began by showing how we often present ourselves as “fine” on the outside, even while we are falling apart on the inside. We show up to church with smiles, dressed well, raising our hands, but some of us are dealing with emotional hurricanes, financial tornadoes, or spiritual tsunamis. These are the secret storms — battles we think no one else knows about. But God sees, and more importantly, God is present.
“Psalm 46 says God is an ever-present help in time of trouble. That means in your midnight hour, when you’re crying on your pillow, He is there.”
Angel spoke passionately about how these storms can come from different sources:
- Some storms God allows, to grow and strengthen us.
- Some storms come from the decisions of others, as in Paul’s shipwreck story when the crew ignored his advice.
- Some storms are of our own making.
- And some are invisible, where we seem fine to others, but we are barely holding on inside.
Anchors in the Storm
Drawing from Acts 27, Angel highlighted how the sailors, in desperation, threw out four anchors to steady the ship. He turned this into a profound spiritual metaphor. We too, in our storms, need anchors:
1. The Anchor of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is our Comforter and guide. When we can’t trust our senses, when everything looks dark, the Holy Spirit leads us into truth.
“You’re looking at your situation with natural eyes. But the Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth. He knows your past, present, and future.”
2. The Anchor of Hope
Hope keeps us from despair. It tells us that daylight is coming. Even if the storm rages, we know it won’t last forever. Our hope is not in our circumstances but in God’s promises.
3. The Anchor of Faith
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith declares, “I am coming out of this!” even when nothing around us suggests it’s possible.
“Faith is an action word. Don’t just sit there waiting. Speak the Word. Act on what God says. Declare your breakthrough!”
4. The Anchor of the Word of God
When everything else shakes, God’s Word remains. Stand on what He says, not on what others say. Angel warned us to be careful of listening to “vision killers”—those voices that contradict the promises God has spoken over our lives.
“I refuse to believe the labels others gave me. I am a new creation in Christ. I choose to believe the report of the Lord.”
You’re Not Alone in This
One of the most powerful parts of the message was the reminder that our storm is not just about us. Just as Paul’s faith saved not only himself but all 276 people on board, our endurance, our faith, and our testimony can be the lifeline for someone else.
“Sometimes we think what we’re going through is just about us. But someone else is watching how you survive.”
Angel painted a moving picture of what the church is supposed to be: a body that grabs the broken pieces of someone else’s boat and helps them get to shore. He quoted Acts 27:44, describing how some made it safely to land by holding on to planks and debris from the wrecked ship.
“We got a plank. We got a piece of the boat. And we’re going to help you get to shore.”
Let It All Out
In a deeply emotional and Spirit-led ending, Angel invited everyone to come forward who was going through a storm. The sanctuary filled with worship, tears, and declarations of faith. People stood in the gap for each other. Hands were lifted, not just in surrender, but in solidarity.
“When you’ve been delivered, when you know what God has brought you through, you can’t help but shout.”
And shout we did.
Angel closed by reminding us that it’s not about the ship—it may be destroyed. It’s about the destination. God didn’t promise to save the boat. He promised to save you.
“I don’t know how you’re going to get there, but you are going to get there. You are going to make it. God is not finished with you yet.”