Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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Fear
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Openness
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Conscientiousness
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Extraversion
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Introduction
If you have ever driven on a long trip you have probably had this experience.
You’re driving along and suddenly think, am I going the right direction?
Was that last turn the right one?
Or did I miss it?
Then you start looking for signs, or city names, or something that will help you know if you are going the right way.
I will never forget one instance, mostly because my brother Tim won’t let me, but anyway.
We were traveling to the coast from my parents house in Burney.
I’m driving, and I knew exactly the direction we needed to go.
Right up until we all start looking around and thinking, this doesn’t look right.
At that point we start looking for landmarks and road signs.
It turned out that I had forgotten to make a very important turn.
When we get the feeling that we might be going the wrong way, we need confirmation.
This same principle is true in life.
Sometimes the circumstances and situations that arise start making us feel like we are going the wrong way.
That’s when we start to question.
Maybe we didn’t understand.
Maybe we were supposed to do something different.
Did God really lead us this way?
Oftentimes, it is trials and difficulties that make us ask this.
Paul has just been through a series of trials.
While there have been gospel opportunities along the way, he has still had a very difficult time.
As they resume their journey to Rome, God provides confirmation of Paul’s mission.
When we begin to doubt God’s direction and purpose, He sends reassurance.
Reassurance can take two primary forms.
As God sends reassurance we recommit to our mission.
When doubts arise, God enables us to be…
1. Reassured by circumstance vv.
11-16
Just as circumstances can be the source of discouragement and doubt, they can also reassure us.
Sometimes we need to change our perspective to see circumstances as reassurance.
Earlier in Acts we saw the disciples being reassured by suffering.
Look back at .
This opposition by the Jewish leaders told the disciples that they were on the right track!
It made them more bold.
Other times it was God removing obstacles that encouraged them.
We have the appointment of deacons in ch.
6; Paul’s conversion in leads to peace for the churches (v.
31); the salvation of Gentiles in ; the miraculous release of Peter in ch.
12; Paul surviving stoning in ch.
14; the miraculous release of Paul and Silas in ch.
16; and that’s just a sample!
Here’s the point.
God provides reassurance of our mission through our circumstances.
Sometimes that reassurance is through the opposition of those who hate the gospel.
Other times that reassurance comes through God’s provision, protection, and strength.
In this passage we find three methods used by God to reassure Paul and confirm his mission.
Method #1.
Paul is reassured…
a. Through favor vv.
11-13
READ v. 11
This wasn’t a very popular port.
There just “happens” to be a ship wintering there that can take them further on their route to Rome.
This is the provision of God!
The Christian life is filled with Divine appointments, not coincidences.
Look at (S).
They spend three months on this island with people continually coming and being healed by Paul.
God is reassuring Pau through His provision of a ship.
READ v. 12
Here’s how they went (S).
There is no explanation as to why they stay in Syracuse for three days.
It seems likely they had to find another ship to continue their journey.
What I see here is God’s provision of smooth sailing.
All blessings are from God.
Even blessings of good weather and safe travels.
This is emphasized in (S).
After facing so much bad weather and difficulty, they now seem to travel fairly easily.
This highlights that God really wanted Paul on the island of Malta.
READ v. 13
Now they travel to Rhegium and then to Puteoli (S).
Again I am struck but how different the narrative is here as opposed to earlier.
They sail from place to place with apparent ease.
God is letting Paul know that the time to go to Rome has come.
God’s favor is on display as they have good weather and smooth sailing.
God’s favor confirms our mission.
We face hard times and trials and difficulty and we start to question if we are really doing God’s will.
We start to question if God has called us to do what we do and be where we are or if we are operating in the flesh.
God confirms our mission.
He reassures us.
One of the ways He does that is through easier circumstances.
All it really takes is one event, seen through the right lens, to reassure us that we are on the right path.
Method #1.
God confirms Paul’s mission through favorable circumstances.
Method #1.
God confirms Paul’s mission through favorable circumstances.
Method #2.
Paul is reassured…
b.
Through fellowship vv.
14-15
READ v. 14
There are two things that I love about what this verse describes.
1 - The body of Christ is to care for one another.
Here we have fellow believers housing and caring for a traveling member of the body of Christ!
Paul is a prisoner of Rome at this point.
Associating with him is probably not the best move from a human standpoint.
Many people distance themselves from someone who is in Paul’s situation.
Not these believers.
2 - The centurion allows Paul to stay with them.
This is a small miracle in my opinion.
A prisoner is allowed to stay with people who may have an interest in helping him escape.
Paul has shown many times already that escape is not something he will consider.
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