God's Kingdom Promises Cannot Be Stopped
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
We concluded last weeks message in Acts 26 with Paul’s defense before Festus and Agrippa. Paul has now pleaded that his case be brought before Caesar himself, since he is a Roman Citizen by birth.
People frequently take some of the most coveted cruises around the Mediterranean Sea and for good reason it is beautiful.
In Acts 27 Paul sails on the Mediterranean however, this was not modern day cruise. He is traveling with shipmates that are primarily prisoners and on a ship that lacks any of the luxury of modern day cruises.
A couple of things to keep in mind as Paul heads on this arduous journey by sea to Rome.
Notice that Luke the writer writes in the first person plural pronoun to indicate that he is accompanying Paul on this voyage to Rome.
First, we serve a God who keeps His promises: When we say that God is Faithful what do we mean. God’s faithfulness is a part of God’s character. God is not faithful to some and unfaithful to others. God is always faithful. As Paul embarks on this Journey to Rome we must understand that the faithful promises of God never fail even when we are filled with doubt and disbelief.
Second, this trip is not fore the faint of heart: There are many times on the voyage when most of those on the ship had lost faith and hope that they would finish the voyage alive. Sea travel in the first century was risky and dangerous at best. Ships did not have the same construction as our modern day sea bearing vessels.
Third, Paul never forgets His Life’s Purpose: You will notice in our text this morning that as dire as the situation gets Paul’s concern is always for the other people on the ship. He uses every opportunity to be a witness and ambassador for Christ.
And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius. And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. The next day we put in at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for. And putting out to sea from there we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us. And when we had sailed across the open sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia. There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy and put us on board. We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind did not allow us to go farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. Coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.
Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, saying, “Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said. And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.
Has anyone ever been at sea during a major storm? I was at sea traveling from Okinawa to Pohang Korea.
It took us a day longer to arrive at our destination due to a tropical depression that had moved into the East China Sea. Needless to say the trip is not one that I would like to repeat.
Note: Luke is able to give such a detailed account of the voyage because he was on the ship with Paul.
Question: If God is the all powerful, omnipotent all knowing God, why did he not provide more favorable weather for Paul’s voyage to Rome.
You rule the raging of the sea;
when its waves rise, you still them.
Nature reveals the very nature of God
His power, holiness, strength, provision, and control….
We see the immense power of the storms that the earth has gone through in all of its storm laden past history….
We read in Romans about the divine nature of God being displayed through his eternal power and divine nature. Romans 1:20
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Note: consider the very ship that Paul was journeying on was harnessing the winds in its sails to move the ship along the ocean waves. The very power in natures storms are a testimony to the God of creation which man is responsible fore recognizing.
When you stand over a fault line where a recent earthquake has split the earth open it makes you consider the vastness of God’s amazing power.
Or when you stand in the eye of a category 5 typhoon it is impossible for the mind not to go to the creator who sustains and holds everything in his control.
Paul was ready to go and die for the sake of the gospel, however, he had a calm assurance in the midst of the storm that he would prevail through the storm and reach his destination in Rome.
Perhaps God used the storm tossed voyage to remind Paul of his constant control over his voyage and even his whole life.
1. We must not forget God’s Sovereign Control.
1. We must not forget God’s Sovereign Control.
A decision needed to be made at New Haven that would determine the future direction of this voyage. Paul attempts to be the voice of reason seeing the trouble that was ahead of them and not yet fully knowing the outcome. Of course we know that Paul was ready to die however, his greater concern was for those traveling with him to Rome.
Faith comes through taking risks for God, however, there are times when risks may be unduly taken when caution should be used.
The purpose of the hast in putting to sea was to move to a more hospitable harbor to spend the winter.
Paul knew that he was God’s special ambassadors and that God would move heaven and earth to get him to his final destination. However, this assurance was not for the other passengers on the ship including Luke.
They took a route close to the shore of create until the ship found itself caught again in the storms fury they now began to take evasive measures fearing they would run ground…..
They began to jettison cargo
The began to jettison the tackle overboard.
All hope had now been abandoned.
Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. But we must run aground on some island.”
*Hope Over Nature
*Hope Over Nature
The second message Paul delivers is different than the first call to take caution. Now an agent (angel) of the Lord has given Paul the message.
Paul must appear before Caesar
All of those on board are to be spared and will be graciously be delivered from the storm.
The Providence of God
God has a plan that is already in motion. God will see to it that Paul gets safely to Rome because He is a promise keeping God even in the middle of the storms.
God created the world, but his involvement didn’t end there. The Old and New Testaments teach that God is still closely involved in even the smallest aspects of life for his creatures. We use the word providence to describe God’s ongoing care for the created world.
(Remember Paul’s speech in the Areopagus Paul proclaimed that “in God we live, more, and breath, and find our being. (Acts 17)
God also sometimes works directly to accomplish His will. These works are what we call miracles. A miracle is God’s circumventing, for a short period of time, the natural order of things to accomplish His will.
The blazing light that fell on Saul on the road to Damascus is an example of God’s direct intervention (Acts 9:3). The frustrating of Paul’s plans to go to Bythinia is an example of God’s indirect guiding (Acts 16:7). Both are examples of divine providence at work.
Cultural Problem
We like to assume that there are things we can control apart from God.
If God is in complete control, how can we be truly free in the decisions we make? In other words, for free will to be meaningful, there must be some things that lie outside of God’s sovereign control—e.g., the contingency of human choice. Let us assume for the sake of argument that this is true. What then?
If God is not in complete control of all contingencies, then how could He guarantee our salvation?
Paul says in Philippians 1:6 that “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” If God is not in control of all things, then this promise, and all other divine promises, is in doubt. If the future does not belong completely to God, we do not have complete security that our salvation will be made complete.
Paul knew the sovereignty of God and fully trusted in God to be in complete control apart from nature or human effort to get in the way of God’s plan.
In the storm narratives of the Gospels, Jesus addresses the disciples’ fear (Mark 4:35–41; 6:45–52). In these moments, Jesus shows the disciples that he is Lord of the storm. His words, “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid” (Mark 6:50), are words of comfort for all his saints. We are prone to have “little faith” (Matt 8:26).
But Jesus can be trusted even when waves crash around us. The Lord said these reassuring words through Isaiah: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine. I will be with you when you pass through the waters” (Isa 43:1–2). What set Paul apart from the others on the ship was his assurance of the presence of God and the promises of God. And that’s what we have too.
*Faith Over Panic
*Faith Over Panic
The ship continued to be tossed by the waves of the storm, the sailors had let down four anchors to try to slow the ship from crashing into the rocks. The crew had decided to try and escape from the longboats on the side of the ship.
Paul somehow got wind of this plan and proclaims that unless they remain on the boat they will all perish.
When does panic set into our own lives. Instead of trusting in God’s unfailing promises we are running for the long boats to escape from the storms of life.
It seems as if Paul was embracing the storm tossed sea. Paul saw the end result of God’s divine providential plan and how God was using him in the middle of the storm to be the voice of reason and providence.
The disciples showed us what to do and not to do during our storms. They went to Jesus in the middle of the storm however, they fell short because they went with fear and doubt.
In the Apostles Creed we confess “I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Begotten Son, and Lord.”
Many of us have heard it said that we just need to invite Jesus into our hearts, or we talk about offering an invitation for people to receive Christ. But what does it mean that Jesus is Lord. Notice that Paul says, “so take heart, I have faith in God that everything will turn out just as I have been told.”
Recognizing Jesus as lord of our life is understanding that He is in authority and control of all His creation. This means that Christ is inherently Lord of All. Regardless of whether we as his creation acknowledge His Lordship or not.
The good news is that He gives eternal life to those who willingly bow the knee to Him, and He will even grant us to rule and reign alongside Him.
if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
The Snake and God’s Provision
I think it is interesting the impact that Paul must have had on Julius. He had a great concern for Paul’s safety and his authority that comes from God.
1). Listen’s to him about keeping everyone on board.
2). Once the ship struck the reef on the Island of Malta the soldiers plan was to execute all the prisoners to ensure that not swam away and escaped. Julius wishing to save Paul made sure that his did not happen.
Now the crew was safely on the island of Malta. The native people showed an unusual hospitality towards them until Paul reaches in a bundle of fire wood and is struck by a viper that fastened to his hand. After flinging the viper away the people perceived that he must be murderer expecting him to swell up and die. When this did not happen they then perceived that he was a God.
Paul’s concern never stopped ever in being shipwrecked on this island. The chief man of the island’s father was sick with dysentery so, Paul visited him, praying over him and laying hands on him he was healed.
This came to many of their diseased coming to Paul for healing.
The end of Acts is like watching one of our favorite series on t.v. Where the try and wrap up the whole series with a final episode.
Now “don’t judge me,” but my wife and I have gone back and watched an old series title “Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman.” It’s about life on the frontier of Colorado with all of the difficulties surrounding the Indian nation, the end of slavery, and the lack of medical knowledge of the people of the time that led to many deaths.
When we got to the final episode there were so many things left hanging in the air we all wanted to see everything wrapped up in a nice neat bow and delivered to us in the final episode. This rarely happens with any series we have ever followed. This is the same for Acts and Paul’s life.
We’re not sure how long he lived. We don’t know how long he was able to go on ministering unhindered.
We can’t even be certain he ever made it to Spain. Can you imagine reading a novel that ended like this? If you did, you might write the publisher to say, “Hey! I’m missing a chapter! I need to know what happened to Paul!”
Acts essentially ends on a big “To be continued.” Why? Because Luke didn’t intend to write a biography of Paul. Luke purposed to describe the acts of the Lord Jesus accomplished by the Spirit. He set out to describe the unstoppable progress of the gospel.
2. We Must Make the Most of Every Ministry Opportunity.
2. We Must Make the Most of Every Ministry Opportunity.
Paul’s greatly anticipated arrival in Rome is finally here. He is immediately greeted by the Church when he came as far as the Forum of Appius. We read that on seeing them his first response was to “Thank God,” and then he “Took Courage.” We read that initially he was allowed to stay by himself with a soldier to guard him.
After 3 days he called together the local leaders of the Jews and recounted how he got from Jerusalem to Rome. A day is now appointed by the leaders to hear Paul.
When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved. And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:
“ ‘Go to this people, and say,
“You will indeed hear but never understand,
and you will indeed see but never perceive.”
For this people’s heart has grown dull,
and with their ears they can barely hear,
and their eyes they have closed;
lest they should see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart
and turn, and I would heal them.’
Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”
*We Proclaim the Kingdom from the Scriptures.
*We Proclaim the Kingdom from the Scriptures.
Notice that from morning till evening Paul was expounding scripture to the people of Rome from Moses and the Prophets.
This reminds us of the necessity of discipleship from the scriptures. We hear people say, well I think or believe this or that, I don’t care what you think or believe I want to I know what does the Bible say. If we profess 2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
We must continually feed on this Book. If I were to ask you today what does The Bible say about God’s sovereignty. Could you take me to scripture and defend the sovereignty of God? If I were to ask you what does the Bible teach about forgiveness? Could you take me to scripture that talks about God’s forgiveness?
Paul’s purpose was to convince them about Jesus. Paul continued to point the people to the Hero of our story.
He could have expounded on many other things in scripture however, our gospel rises and falls with what we believe about Jesus Christ.
“From Heart to Heart”
Paul was not giving some boring lecture from his place of lodging. He was reasoning attempting to convince people about Jesus Christ. What we do here every Sunday is Expositional Apologetics, I Hope I haven’t bored you, I hope it wasn’t boring.
How Do You Hear the Word of God?
From Jews to Gentiles Hearing
The major problem that Paul exposes is the people’s hearing of the word of God. They hear but never understand. The last time that Paul mentions the subject of peoples hearing in verse 28 he states that the Gentiles will hear and listen.
Jesus gives a great illustration of this idea of hearing but not believing in the parable of the sower and seeds. There is a difference between good soil and soil that has been tainted by the world’s ideas and philosophies.
Why was it more difficult for the Jews to hear as apposed to the Gentiles? The question we must ask today is why is it more difficult for those who have been tainted with false doctrines or teachings as opposed to someone who does not know what the Bible teaches. They are a blank slate when it comes to the story of Scripture.
More people try to read their own narrative and idea’s into scripture instead of trusting the breathed out word of God.
*We Profess the Kingdom with All Boldness
*We Profess the Kingdom with All Boldness
He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
The Gospel is not bound by the chains of this world, it is un hindered and free to do what the gospel does which is transform and change peoples hearts and minds.
for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!
Today you may feel bound and hindered by your situation in life, but I want you to know that the Gospel still has the power to transform and change hearts and lives. The God from ancient day’s is the same God today. His word is never bound by the confines of this earthly existence. All of creation cries out to the majesty and Glory of our God.
Track the Triumphant Gospel in Acts
And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith.
So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
But the word of God increased and multiplied.
So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.
So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.
We should stop and marvel at the spectacular spread of Christianity. Since the start of Acts, the gospel has taken hold in Jerusalem, in cities all over the ancient world, and has finally made it to Rome.
We often assume that Jerusalem was the center of action in the ancient world, but it wasn’t. It was important to the Jews, and it was the center of the messianic hope, but the city itself was rather insignificant in many ways.
It was on the eastern fringe of the Roman Empire. Rome controlled the area, but the activities there didn’t really occupy Roman interest. Randolph Richards and Brandon O’Brien note the following about the humble beginnings and the explosive growth of the Christian faith:
Pilate was more the main finance officer or tax collector than anything else. The events of Jesus’s life, death and resurrection, so important for the Jews and Christians at the time, were marginal events in a nothing town on the edge of an empire with more important matters to consider.
If we fail to recognize this, we can fail to recognize just how remarkable the rapid growth of the early church really was. For the first couple of centuries, Roman writers often referred to Christians as “Galileans,” indicating how nominal and provincial they considered the early Jesus movement to be.
At the end of Acts we see the beginning of the World-Wide movement of Christianity to the World.
*We Pour Ourself Out for The Kingdom Until we See the King
*We Pour Ourself Out for The Kingdom Until we See the King
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
With the final words Luke lays down his pen. With Paul’s last breath he kept running the race that has been set out for him to run. There is now laid up for him the crown of righteousness which will be awarded to Paul on that day, not only to Paul but to all of the believers.
The sweet day is coming for all who believe when our Lord and Savior will safely usher us from this world into our eternal dwelling place in the kingdom of God.
CONCLUSION
Indeed, the Lord delivered Paul safely to Rome, and in time he welcomed the war-torn apostle to his heavenly home.
Until we too see the King, let us follow Paul’s model of pouring ourselves out in service to the kingdom. Keep fighting. Keep running the race. When you see Jesus Christ with your own eyes, you won’t regret having served him faithfully until your dying breath. We as blood-bought Christians will be in the presence of the glorified Nazarene forever. We will be there with the saints from every tribe and tongue, including those, like Paul, who were slain for the sake of the Name.
And there we will join a multitude of the redeemed in singing praises to the One who is worthy of all our adoration. The mission of Acts is to be continued until Jesus, the source of life, concludes it.
What might it look like for you to speak about Jesus with boldness? We should daily pray for boldness to share the good news of Jesus this week and ask God to help your listeners to respond in repentance and faith.
