Stay With The Ship
Scripture Reading: Acts 27:15-20, 21c-26, 29-31,42-44
Ac 27:43-44
THE JOURNEY
Paul's arduous trip to Rome (chapters 27-28) provides us with at least four good tips for making the most of our own journey through life:
1. Recognize the presence of God (27-28) -- understand that God is with you, even in the darkest times. As was see in this text here in verse twenty the sun nor stars had appeared for several days the crew and passengers on this vessel had given up all hope of being saved.
But my brothers and my sister “Man’s Extremity, of weakness, becomes God’s opportunity to help”.
Some examples;
- The Psalms in 116:6 states:
The LORD protects the simple-hearted;
when I was in great need, he saved me. NIV
#. The Disciple in the storm:
Mark 4:38
38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" NIV
All Jesus had to do when he was awaking was say “Peace be still”.
#. The sick Woman:
The woman with the issue of blood who had been sick for twelve long, went from doctor to doctor, had spent all that she had, left with no hope but she heard about Jesus.
- The Disciples Facing a Hungry Multitude:
But Jesus took two little fish and five cheap loaves of bread and fed the multitude.
- Peter in Jail:
Chains were broken, gates were open.
# Paul and his Companion on the High Sea:
Acts 27:20
When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved. NIV
Now that hopelessness has taken hold of the crew, now it is time for God to step in.
Just as did the ship that Paul and the crew was sailing on, it ran aground, but no lives were lost.
In this journey that we are traveling on we will have some Dark clouds that will be hanging over our heads, but we “must stay with the ship”.
There will be times when the days are dark and no sun, no stars will appear, but you, “must stay with the ship”.
Just like the crew it will seem like all hope for you have passed you by, but you, “must stay with the ship”.
One thing we must understand about God is that He never waits until things happen before He has already made a way.
God had already told Paul back in chapter 23 when he was before the Sanhedrin Council that he would be His witness in Roman.
Acts 23:11
The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome." NIV
So we can see that God had already made a promise to Paul that he would maker it to Rome.
Reassurance came again in chapter
Acts 27:21-26
21 After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: "Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss.
22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.
23 Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me
24 and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.
'25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.
26 Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island." NIV
We must realize that God is superintending our every move. Even when we are not walking in the way we ought to go.
We may have to go through some things to get where God has promised to take us. God had already promised Paul that he would get to Roman, but He did not say how or what would happen along the way. But one thing was sure and that was Paul would get there.
2. Rely on the people of God (27:1-3; 28:2,7-10,14-15,30) -- lean on the people whom God graciously puts in your life.
3. Rest on the promises of God (27:22-25; cf. 23:11) -- know that what God has said, he will do.
4. Remember the purposes of God (28:8-9,17-31) -- keep your eyes on the destination and ultimate goal.