Misc. - "What an Opportunity" - Acts 27

“What An Opportunity”

Wow, what an encouraging time of worship!

1. The Storm

There are “storms” all through the Bible.

Some are the result of us being brought into them because of someone else.

Some are because of our own decisions.

Paul, did not bring this storm on the group, in fact, he really tried to avoid it.

How do we bring storms on ourselves?

a) Choosing Impatience

Acts 27:9 KJV 1900

Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,

b) Ignoring Godly Advice

Acts 27:10–11 KJV 1900

And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.

Julius would have rather listened to the ship owner and not a prisoner.

Be careful who you let speak into your life.

c) Choosing comfort

Acts 27:12 KJV 1900

And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.

d) Trusting Circumstances

Acts 27:13 KJV 1900

And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.

2. The Encouragement

They find themselves in a storm, and were in it for about 2 weeks. No sun, rain, noise, chaos.

look what happened in verse 20

Acts 27:20 KJV 1900

And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.

It was so bad, that it did not seem like there was any hope.

Have you ever been there?

Actually, are you in a situation like that right now?

Thank God the story wasn’t over...

Paul began to encourage the people on that boat!

a) Encouraged them with Truth

b) Encouraged them with Testimony

Acts 27:23 KJV 1900

For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,

I know WHOSE I am

This was about the fact that Paul was bought.

He was possessed by the LORD!

It wasn’t about him giving personal accomplishments

I know WHOM I serve

Acts 23:11 KJV 1900

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.

“Many Christians see difficulty in ever opportunity, Paul saw opportunity in every difficulty.”

3. The Purpose

So what happens?

They get the ship to land, and everything Paul told them happened!

God was going to send Paul to Rome!

a) People are Precious to God

276 people on this boat, and they were saved because of one man!

The ship sunk

The cargo was lost

but God saved people!

You can turn to God and He can save you!

b) God was not finished

Acts 23:11 KJV 1900

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.

Acts 28:16 KJV 1900

And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him.

Acts 28:20–24 KJV 1900

For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee. But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against. And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.

Closing:

What an opportunity…

Tonight, if you’ve never been saved, tonight is your night.

Tonight, maybe the opportunity you should recognize that you’re in a storm and can turn back to God in repentance.

Maybe it’s to understand that God is not done, an