When the West Wind Blows

Give double honor to Pastor Meadows, Brother Dinkins, and the FWC Staff

Discuss World Missions efforts in giving to Missionaries for Christmas offering; equipping the next generation of World Missionaries through WMU

Reading of the Word:

King James Version Chapter 27

5 And when we had sailed over the sea of kCilicia and lPamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of mLycia. 6 And there the centurion found na ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein. 7 And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against mCnidus, othe wind not suffering us, we isailed under ||pCrete, over against Salmone; 8 And, hardly qpassing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea. 9

I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the voyage was slow, troublesome and difficult. If it had not been for the Lee of Crete, the Apostle Paul would most likely not had continued his journey. The winds were trying, the storms were brewing, but God provided a place of protection and rest amongst the storms of life that Paul faced, it came by the name of fair havens. In the Greek this is: καλός λιμήν or being interpreted good harbor.

Prayer; you may be seated

Biblical Introduction:

Our familiar narrative begins with a group of jews who made a pact by deciding that they would not eat until they had killed the Apostle Paul according to according . We know of course, this did not come to pass and Paul made his case known to the governor of Caesera, Felix. It was at this time that Paul embarked on his Journey to preach the Gospel to the “ends of the earth” or what we know as Rome. We fail to realize that politics played an important role in the time frame of Paul’s voyage to Rome. Felix was later replaced by Festus and as a result, Paul was imprisoned for another two years. At the end of this time, Paul finally meets with King Agrippa and Festus…this resulted in the launching of Paul’s voyage after appealing to the emperor, when being tried by Festus and the tribunal.

You see Rome could be identified as one of the most powerful empires of time itself. Rome would be a staging for the Christian faith to move forward unto all of the world and Paul knew this. He also knew he had a calling…he did not fear the loss of his own life, but he did know that his calling must be fulfilled. It was his life’s mission given to him by Jesus himself.

Upon setting sale for Italy, Paul begins his journey by launching out of a harbor in Mysia, Adramyttium (adra-mee-tium). It took approximately 23 hours to reach Sidon were, once docked, Julius treated Paul less as a slave and more as a Roman Citizen.

Adramyttium

Preach on the benefits of citizenship

King James Version Chapter 3

20 For our hconversation iis in heaven; kfrom whence also lwe look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall mchange nour vile body, that it may be ofashioned like unto his glorious body, paccording to the working whereby he is able even qto subdue all things unto himself.

The word “conversation” is actually πολίτευμα (politeuma) which means place of citizenship. In this earth the Church might feel like it’s a slave on the ship of life, but let me tell you a secret: we have benefits not handed to those who are not citizens of God’s kingdom or better yet citizens of heaven.

Benefits of belonging:

Peace of mind

King James Version Chapter 1

7 For God hath not given us uthe spirit of fear; but vof power, and of love, and wof a sound mind.

2 Tim 1:7

The Fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance

The Gifts of the Spirit and the 5 Fold Ministry

King James Version Chapter 4

11 And he gave some, gapostles; and some, ghprophets; and some, ievangelists; and some, kpastors and lteachers; 12 For the mperfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for nthe edifying of othe body of Christ: 13 Till we all come ||in the unity of the faith, and of pthe knowledge of the Son of God, unto qa perfect man, unto the measure of the ||stature of rthe fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more schildren, ttossed to and fro, and ucarried about twith every wind of doctrine

4

Eph 4:11-12

πολίτευμα (politeuma)

According to both bells and pomegranates were hun at the hem of the priests robe.

This was to inform the people that the ministry was not dead and still alive.

We try to do ministry with the gifts and not the fruits, but we must have both for ministry to be alive and well!

Paul’s Mission to Rome: Progression to Fair Havens

Make sure the map is on the overhead projector

Expound on how ship travel worked and how it could take days to even months to get a ship that would provide voyage to the desired location.

Paul launches from Adramyttium; Paul launches from Sidon

Paul lands in Myra and loads an Alexandrian ship bound for Italy

They sailed under the lee of Crete to avoid the winds in which they finally met the western winds between Cape Salmone and Lasea.

It was at this time that Paul faced winds that could potentially destroy the vessel he was on. The west winds were troublesome and hindered his progression towards Rome. Yet, he continued on with difficulty to the place called Fair Havens or a good harbor.

- When they sailed, they did not proceed by a direct route west toward Crete or Rhodes, passing along south of Cyprus. Their square rigged vessel could not readily tack into the prevailing west or northwest winds of that season so as to make headway in a zigzag fashion on the open seas. Rather, sailing “north of Cyprus,” they used the island as a shield against the wind (27:4).

You see, while the crew of the Alexandrian ship thought otherwise, this good harbor was a place to avoid the winter season’s deadly west winds. This good harbor could have been a place of refuge until the season was right for travels.

The west winds where going to blow whether the crew sailed or not, it was up to the centurion on whether they would face them or not:

The man of God advised not to, but the centurion listened to other voices instead.

Preach

We in the Church: Do we listen to the world or the Man of God

You see nobody will question who was in charge, it was the Centurion, Julius. Yet could the results of the ship and it’s crew been much different if Julius would have heeded the voice of God in his life? I would say so.

Let me bring this down to the Church:

We are bombarded by voices of success, voices of temptation, voices of people who are not necessarily evil, but do not have the will of God for your life in mind.

Much similar to our spirit, what you feed the spiritual man is what you will become. If you feast on the world and things of the flesh, you will be as the world and not as of Christ. If you feast on the things of God and meditate on those things which are good, you will be spiritual and grow closer to Christ.

King James Version Chapter 4

8 rFinally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are ||shonest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are tpure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are uof good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

The Bible teaches us to keep our minds on the work of God

Your coworker may not understand it

Let me take it further, your family member may not understand it

But if you have a revelation and relationship with Him…you better understand it! We’ve got to get our mind on Christ and keep it on him. Don’t get distracted by the West Winds of your life!

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So let me say this: “the voices you entertain will be the voices that dictate your gain. Some voices will drive the spiritual man insane and destroy you before you ever make it to where God’s taking you.”

We submit ourselves to jobs, the government, this and that, but when it comes to submitting to the voice of the man of God in our lives we laugh and say that’s not important.

If you don’t listen to your boss, you’ll be fired.. I’ll just leave that one there.

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So you may be asking yourself where are you going with this Brother Berry? I’m glad you asked.

tells us our purpose in life:

King James Version Chapter 8

28 And we know that kall things work together lfor good to them that love God, to them mwho are the called according to his npurpose. 29 For whom he did oforeknow, he also did ppredestinate to be qconformed to rthe image of his Son, that he might be sthe firstborn among many tbrethren.

But it doesn’t end there because God has brought each and everyone of us into a good harbor where we can hear the man of God in our lives. Guess what his job is according to ?

13 Till we all come ||in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the ||stature of the fulness of Christ:

The word for unto in the phrase “unto a perfect man” can also be translated into. God is working to perfect us, but he uses pastors to keep us on track. I’ve heard many of great men say if you don’t have a pastor, you’re simply not Apostolic!

Are you submitted to the man of God in your life?

As the Praise team comes

Conclusion

In closing I’d like you to realize this, that no matter how hard the west wind blew, that no matter how much people failed to listen to Paul’s godly advise, the man of God kept going. He was on a mission to take the “whole Gospel to the whole world”!

So let me ask you this? What’s hindering you from receiving your blessing this morning? What’s hindering you from being baptized in the precious name of Jesus? What’s hindering you from receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost? What’s hindering you from repenting from your old ways?

Today we stand in a good harbor where God can equip us to face the west wind that’s blowing against our spiritual ship! Today we are in a place were God can alter whatever situation your going through!

WHEN THE WEST WIND BLOWS JUST KEEP GOING

WHEN THE WEST WIND BLOWS JUST KEEP SEWING

WHEN THE WEST WIND BLOWS JUST KEEP KNOWING THAT GOD IS WITH YOU AND WILL SUPPLY YOUR EVERY NEED!!!

Altar Call