Voyage To Rome (Part 2)

Notes
Transcript
Review
Review
Turn to Acts 27.
This morning we followed along as Paul, Aristarchus, and Luke set sail on their voyage to Rome. Besides Paul, there was a number of other, likely violent criminals on board the ship who were bound for Rome also. A nor’easter arose that was so bad that after two weeks, they had lost all hope of survival. Let’s pick back up in verse 21.
Message
Message
Read Acts 27:21-26.
Next slide here: in danger of being blown towards Africa.
Paul refrained from saying anything for a long time, but finally he spoke up and addressed those on board. What we read sounds like one of the biggest “see, I told you so”’s in the Bible. It’s in verse 21.
“Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me…”
Now, I doubt that Paul was just making a subtle little jab. I doubt that he was being petty, but it may come across that way a little bit to us. Rather, Paul knew the will of God but they did not. This knowledge gave Paul great steadiness despite the circumstances.
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Paul’s steadiness through the voyage - Acts 27:21-38.
My first point is all about the steadiness that Paul exhibits on this voyage because he certainly does, but let me caution you: Paul indeed struggled on this voyage. We know this because of what the angel said.
One person writes that “Paul always had a powerful sense of the presence of God, but on this occasion the Lord granted an angelic revelation to him.” - Witness to Christ: A Commentary on Acts, Ac 27:9–26, p 379
The angel’s message is very interesting. I’ve explained before that in the New Testament era Greek, there were different ways for saying “no” or “stop”.
When the angel spoke to Paul, he said “fear not” - which is a present tense command.
A present imperative indicates that a practice has begun and should be stopped at once.
In other words, the angel was not saying, “Paul, don’t start being afraid…” Rather, the angel was saying, “Paul, stop fearing.”
I think sometimes we read the Scriptures and we develop this subtle impression that these men and women were superhuman. Somehow they didn’t have the same struggles and temptations that we do.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Paul, like everyone else, was fearing for his life. All hope that they should be saved was taken away. They thought it was over.
“Paul, stop fearing.”
Paul didn’t have steadiness of heart naturally. He had steadiness of heart because he chose to believe the Lord and take Him at His word.
That’s faith.
There were three things that Paul knew that gave him steadiness in this storm.
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He knew that God was with him - Acts 18:10.
I’m not going to spend a lot of time on this point, but it’s a reality that Paul could cling to even though they couldn’t see the sun or stars for many days.
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For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.
We have the same assurance today.
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Application: Christian, if you’re walking with the Lord as best as He has shown you in His Word, you can have the same confidence.
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He knew that he was in the will of God - Acts 23:11.
Paul was on a journey through the legal system of the Roman Empire. This voyage was just a part of that journey. So he knew that he was in the will of God even in this voyage and this storm.
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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.
Application: Storms in life do not automatically mean that you are outside the will of God. Now it could mean that, but you’ll know it. The Holy Spirit will speak very clearly in your heart when you are not right with God. However, sometimes there are storms in the will of God too. That’s what this was.
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He knew that he would reach the final destination - Rome - Acts 23:11.
Acts 23:11 (KJV 1900)
…as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
Paul knew that the storm was not the final destination.
Application: Christian, what’s your final destination? Heaven.
Yes. Keep that in mind when you’re in the middle of the storm. It will steady your heart by remembering that the storm is not the end. Heaven is.
Paul knew he would be brought before Caesar. He knew that the lives of everyone on board would be spared!
So he said, “be of good cheer!”
Paul said these words as he spoke over the howling winds and rain of this raging storm. It’s easy for us to read now, but imagine what it was like for him to say, “be of good cheer! I believe God!”
When the seas of life are calm, you must believe God. When the storms of life are raging, you must believe God!
Let’s skip down to verse 33.
Read Acts 27:33-37.
After fourteen days, Paul gets up and encourages the men to eat some food. Before they do, he leads them in prayer thanking God for the food. What a testimony!
Application: Praying before a meal is a bold witness for Jesus. Be bold!
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The shipwreck that pauses the voyage - Acts 27:39-44.
Read Acts 27:39-44.
As best as you are able, just put yourself into their shoes and imagine this experience. I won’t describe the whole scene for time’s sake, but verse 42 is remarkable.
If the prisoners escaped, any soldier that survived the shipwreck would be executed. It was a lose-lose situation for the Roman soldiers. Besides, keep in mind, it is probable that the prisoners were violent criminals. Why not execute them now? One reason prevented the centurion from doing this: he wished to save Paul.
Paul had gained the centurion’s trust at this point.
The sailors executed a planned grounding of the ship and true to Paul’s word, they all made it safely to land on what turned out to be the island of Malta.
Next slide here: shipwreck on Malta.
Application: If only the centurion had listened to Paul’s counsel in the first place - it would have saved them a lot of heartache and peril. The same is true today. Many people would save themselves much heartache if they would simply listen to the counsel of those that walk with God - whether its their pastor or a godly friend.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Since they didn’t listen to Paul’s counsel, they suffered a shipwreck, but the silver lining is that the shipwreck was just a pause. It wasn’t the end of the voyage. By God’s grace, a shipwreck, or a bad decision in life, doesn’t have to be the end of the voyage for you either. You can humble yourself and admit your sin before a holy God and enjoy His forgiveness and fellowship again.
Next chapter, Paul and his friends will keep moving forward toward Rome, together.