Sermon Tone Analysis

The Reading

If you receive this word by faith, would you confess that faith by saying: Amen.

Pray

Introduction

Southside Baptist Church is finishing a preaching series through Acts.

Acts begins with this promise from Jesus:

Jesus promises his followers power to accomplish his mission throughout all the earth - a mission to be witnesses.

Not just any witnesses, but Jesus said, “my witnesses.”

We are Jesus’ witnesses.

We belong to Him, and we testify about Him.

But we cannot be witnesses without power.

And Jesus promises power in His presence — the Holy Spirit.

Throughout Acts, in each section or pericope we have studied, we have asked the question — where is the power in this text?

Where is the Holy Spirit at work in this text?

Sometimes the Spirit’s power is evident when the disciples are waiting, or acting in the name of Jesus, or being positioned by God for a work, or praying, or in agreement about something, or being courageous, or journeying through a process.

It is not a manufactured power.

But it is a power of God’s presence that is demonstrated in all circumstances as the disciples are being witnesses for Jesus in all the earth.

The title of this sermon captures the power of the Holy Spirit evident in Acts 27.

This sermon is titled: “Power in Difficulty.”

It seems odd to say “Power in Difficulty,” but that word “difficulty” shows up repeatedly in Acts 27.

Acts 27 is a long chapter, and takes up quite a bit of space in the book of Acts going into details of the difficulties of Paul’s journey to Rome.

The difficulties are not those that Paul sought out for himself.

He even tried to warn against some of them before they happened!

But nevertheless, it is through the difficulties that the work of the Spirit is seen, clearly witnessing for Jesus when all hope is abandoned.

Proposition

The Holy Spirit illuminates the salvation of God in Jesus Christ when we turn to God in our difficulty.

INTRODUCTION TO TEXT

For the sake of those who are joining us for the first time, the end of Acts follows the missionary journeys of the Apostle Paul.

Paul is appointed by Jesus Christ —

Paul’s journeys have taken the gospel to many cities.

Paul has suffered greatly already.

But now he is a prisoner, with a promise from God that he will stand before Caesar in Rome.

And so the Gospel has travelled from Jerusalem, to Judea, and Samaria, and now Paul is taking it to the “end of the earth” of this day — Rome.

He is on a ship, journeying to Rome, under guard of a Roman centurion and soldiers . . .

v.9 - “Paul advised” - “strongly recommended” (LEB), “to indicate strongly” (LN).

This word is used twice in the NT, both times in this chapter of Acts.

Paul is presented as having two opportunities to interject his strong advice.

Here (27:9) as an urging to change course.

Also in Acts 27:22 - to cheer up, for there will be no loss of life.

This urging is not described as being based on a prophetic word, but on perception.

On what is seen and observed.

“perceive” - this is Paul’s understanding based on what he has seen and heard.

It could be discernment.

It could also be a constant fellowship with the Lord - the Lord told him, but we aren’t told of this encounter.

This text presents a word of instruction for us.

To keep our eyes open.

To keep in fellowship with the Lord.

To discern the times and outcomes of our present circumstances.

Already in this voyage, “the winds were against them” (Acts 27:4).

They —

Again,

The word “difficulty” describes their journey thus far, and Paul perceives difficulty IF they push onward.

Perhaps it was obvious that the season and weather was not right to continue on at this time.

The decision was made to continue on despite Paul’s warning.

And this was a majority decision (v.12).

“the majority decided.”

It’s appropriate to note that the majority is not always right!

And notice there is little certainty.

They put out to sea from there “if somehow” (v.12) “On the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix…and spend the winter there.”

“a tempestuous wind” is the word τυφωνικὸς Think of the word “typhoon.”

“like a hurricane.”

This is a violent wind that lasted for a long period of time.

Not like a tornado that comes and goes, but more like a hurricane that persists.

(LN).

Notice again the word “difficulty.”

Now its third usage, and a continued descriptor of this journey.

“fearing they would run aground” / they lowered the gear / were violently storm-tossed / began to jettison the cargo / threw the tackle overboard…

Last line “all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned”

This is a progression of these sailors doing everything in their ability, incrementally, to deliver themselves from this storm.

The storm continues to press on them, and they take more drastic measures to keep themselves afloat until finally — they abandon all they can abandon, EVEN THEIR HOPE!

We can identify with this in our current pandemic.

Taking new progressive measures each day and week to combat this virus.

It could be that we get to a point after abandoning our work, our travel, our lifestyles, that we even abandon hope!

We hear “it must get worse before it gets better.”

But remember that the Lord may bring things to such a point where all hope is lost, all human attempts have proved futile, where if there is to be a salvation it can ONLY happen by the act of God ALONE.

It is a paradox that belongs to the faith we believe — that in order to gain living hope, we must let go of hope in anything and everything else.

In order to receive the salvation of God in Jesus Christ, we must forsake salvation in anything and everything else.

With God, only when we give what we are holding onto away, do we then receive what God offers.

Only when we yield ourselves to the point of giving in to the inevitable and disastrous outcome of the storm, are we able to yield our will to the One who calm the storm.

Only when we count everything as loss, everything as trash, everything as dung — only then do we gain Christ!

God will not compete as one among many.

God will not support these sailors in their endeavor to save themselves.

Instead, God waits.

Instead, God lets the storm continue to blow.

And God waits until all hope is abandoned of being saved because ONLY at that point are they then ready to call out to God in their trouble and receive deliverance from Him, the master of the waves and the storm.

Because they have exhausted all other options.

The space in between verses 20 and 21 represent a turning point.

(You might draw a line between them in your Bible to represent this).

Because verse 20 ends with all hope being abandoned, and verse 21 begins to speak hope and life in the midst of hopelessness.

This is a great “I told you so” moment in Scripture!

But don’t miss this — It is BECAUSE they did not listen to Paul at first, that now he is in a position to be heard!

Had they listened to Paul — it would have been a better voyage, but in the providence of God they did not listen, and now they witness (and we witness) God’s mighty power in the storm, and also God’s mighty ability to save.

This is the second use of that word “urge” in this chapter and in all the New Testament.

The first time Paul urged (strongly advised) them against taking the trip.

But the grace of God is displayed as Paul now a second time urges them, strongly advising them, to take heart.

That is, to become encouraged, to cheer up! (LN).

This Paul seems to go against the grain!

To always be contrasting with their circumstances!

They were determined to go on their course at first, and Paul urged them not to.

Now they have abandoned hope, and Paul urges them to be cheerful!