Stay in the Ship2

“Stay in the Ship”

Acts 27: 30-31

It is hard to want to listen to God when I sense he intends to say things I don’t want to hear.

Roger Barrier; David L. Goetz

Reading Mark helps one learn to trust in a Savior who does not deliver us from storms but through the storms.

David E. Garland

Intro: In our lives we go through storms that make us question why am I going through these trials. Talk about the RR/Cash money tour

[Acts 27:10–11].

We see Paul makes a suggestion which, they will find later, should have been followed. How many times has someone advised us that the path/decision we were taking might not be the best? But we don’t listen just like the people on the boat. Why do we pick and choose when we will listen to the Word of God? They knew who Paul was because the word had spread of his ministry. There is no confusion in Paul life, no uncertainty, no frustration. Paul lived his life as a man who was in touch with God

[Acts 27:13].

The south wind blew softly, so they thought that the captain was right, a man who looked to self and to the wisdom of men. But Paul was looking and believing God.

We all are on the sea of life; we can sail by human wisdom if we so choose. (God gives us free well) The bad part is, amid confusion, world chaos, and darkness, a lot of people are still choosing following their own wisdom. There are a thousand plans for building a better world. But everywhere we look we see failure. We need to only look to God at this time.

[Acts 27:14].

This is technical navigational term of that day. It has to do with the north wind, and it actually came north by east. In other words, the storm came down out of Europe. This was wintertime and the stormy season.

(God’s Testing)

Paul was in Ephesus, this is when his ministry was going well, he had great desire to visit Rome. It was burning in his heart. Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome” (Acts 19:21). We give the enemy to much credit Remember All Things Work together for the Good to those who Love God (Rom 8:28)

In our hour of darkness, despair, and defeat, God will be there to see about you. God appeared to him to reassure him. “And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome” (Acts 23:11). The Lord had assured Paul that he would go to Rome.

[Acts 27:15–18]. Just touch on this part

They were out there in the Mediterranean Sea being driven westward from the island of Crete. It looked very much as if they would crash on the little island of Claudia. They had to let the wind take the ship. They threw all the cargo overboard to lighten the ship. This when we start telling God all the thing, we will give up

[Acts 27:19].

They completely stripped the ship of everything that had any weight.

[Acts 27:20].

They did not think they would escape from it alive. It was in the storm that the voice of the Lord was heard through the lips of Paul.

[Acts 27:21–26].

This was a very encouraging word to all those who were on board the ship. In fact, it was the only thing they had to hold onto. This wonderful testimony of Paul: “Whose I am, and whom I serve.” His confidence was in God: “Be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.”

It was revealed to Paul that they would be cast upon an island.

[Acts 27:28–29].

Now the sailors sounding showed that they were moving in closer to the land. Each sounding showed that the water was becoming shallower.

This ship was approaching land and, since they didn’t want to be cast upon the rocks, they threw out four anchors. We must understand that its always darkest before the Dawn.

[Acts 27:30–31].

The crew was trying to abandon the ship, you see. They acted as if they were dropping anchor, but actually they were going overboard. What they were doing if they were successful would have killed them all. Paul tells the centurion that the only assurance of safety is for all to remain with the ship. Why is it when we get in the midst of a hard time some people want to give up on God and do their own thing.

But we see here that Paul has put his Faith and Trust in God. What a wonderful thing it is to trust the Word of God. The angel of God had told Paul that he and the men (276) would be saved. But they couldn’t be saved their way. They must be saved God’s way. We want to be saved our way (tell story about the man on the roof)

God’s way was for them to stay with the ship. It was a question of believing that God would save them or not believing and taking matters into their own hands. Paul had told them that he believed God. And he tells them that if they want to be saved, all will need to stay on board the ship.

We also have to understand when God is in the midst of a situation, even if everything falls apart if we hold on to a piece of our faith we will be saved.

Talk about the ship breaking apart