The Storm-Tossed Life (18-25)

Intro: Last week we looked that the topic, “What is a Christian” from Acts 26. We learned that a Christians has spiritual eyes open to see Jesus; a heart transformed by God’s power; and eagerly wants other to be followers of Christ.

This week we will look at a related theme: How do Christians handle suffering; or what does a storm-tossed life look like.

Context: The context of Acts 27 is a voyage. Paul is being transferred by sea to Rome in his appeals process. The account has vast detail of sea travel that it’s been viewed by historians as one of the “most instructive documents for the knowledge of ancient seamanship’ (FF. Bruce); It’s also written from a first hand account by Luke (27:1)

Biblical narratives like Acts 27 typically have 3 parts: conflict, climax, and resolution. The verses of our focus sit between the climax and resolution.

Starting in v 7, we learn that the sea voyage is marked by difficulty (conflict)

This was a very risky time for travel. The most dangerous season to be in the Mediterranean sea was Mid Sept-Mid Nov, and they are smack in the middle of that season.

Against Paul’s good advice to stay, those in charge insisted in pressing on to the next safest harbor (v12)

We pick up in v18-- “violently storm tossed” (climax)—especially as this goes on for days.

Without the ability to see sun or stars (v20), there was no compass—no direction, all bearings lost—hope of being saved was abandoned.

Apply:That describes the storm tossed life. That may even be how feel that now, have experienced it, or will. So we do well to lean from this account a few lessons.

Christians do not get a pass from being storm tossed (18-21)

If you are a fan of the board game Monopoly, you know the “get out of jail” card.

The thing about the “Go to Jail” punishment in Monopoly is that it’s not deserved. It’s not because you actually do something wrong in the game—it’s not because you cheated or stole; you just get dealt the wrong hand, land on the worng space. A “Go to Jail” card is found in the chance pile.

We can think suffering is like that. It’s random and by chance.

The first thing we need to see about being stormed tossed is that it comes by God’s providence.

In v14, we learn that this storm comes from a “tempestuous wind” —a hurricane force wind.

Where did this wind come from? Natural law? Or is God like a macromanager, hands off?

Let’s look at a few places the Bible affirms God’s control of something as basic as weather

Acts 14:17 ESV

Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”

—Rain is good, needed for survival.

Psalm 148:8 ESV

fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word!

**So God brings the rain, but also the the strong wind that turns it into a storm.

Another storm-tossed voyage is found in Jonah. There is one huge difference—Jonah was running from the Lord in disobedience.

Jonah 1:4 ESV

But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship threatened to break up.

When I was a kid growing up in Pittsburgh, there was a local weather man named Joe DeNardo. He had a little slogan “Joe said it would”

No, so Joe…actually the Lord God said it would

Scripture is clear that God controls the weather—he decides if our journey will be storm-tossed or not.

For some mysterious reason, the Lord God planned for this to be storm-tossed voyage carried along by his providence.

Confessional Christians for centuries have affirmed that God’s providence brings

This doctrine affords us unspeakable consolation, since we are taught thereby that nothing can befall us by chance, but by the direction of our most gracious and heavenly Father; who watches over us with a paternal care, keeping all creatures so under his power, that not a hair of our head (for they are all numbered), nor a sparrow, can fall to the ground, without the will of our Father, in whom we do entirely trust

--Belgic Confession Article 13 Of Divine Providence

Apply: So Christinas cannot avoid being storm-tossed yet....trusting in God’s providence brings unspeakable consolation. A firm view of God’s providence means we can trust his most gracious hand. Do you know even when you are storm-tossed that your Father is watching over with parental care?

May our Father give us help to entirely trust his good hand.

Christians have a God who is near in the storm (22-25)

It’s often in the critical emergencies of life that our true self is exposed. In this crisis Paul models what Christian who is storm-tossed.

Q: When you are storm-tossed, what is our greatest need. Is it TO have the storm pass?

We all want storms to pass; but Scripture reminds us that our greatest need is always God.

Ps 73 is written by a storm-tossed many for the storm-tossed soul

Psalm 73:28 ESV

But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.

In vvs22-25, we see that Paul has what is best in the storm—He has God.

With this God-centered outlook, Paul stands up to encourage a group of desperate-distressed people.

This fits with the advent theme of hope today. God’s people are a storm-tossed people, but never lack hope.

There are a few aspects of having God near in the storm

First, note that God is mentioned 3 times in this section (v23, 24, 25)

He is the God we belong to and worship (v23)

Apply: When we are storm tossed, it may be the thing we need to remember: We belong to God. We are under his care and protection.

Also, storms have a way of revealing who we really worship and trust.

Back to the book of Jonah. After the Lord sends the storm on the sea, the sailors were afraid:

Jonah 1:5— “The sailors were afraid, and each cried out to his god.”

Apply: When we are storm-tossed, who do we cry out to? Is another person our main refuge? Binge watching, overeating, over-drinking can all be ways we are crying out.

What we need to remember is that we belong to God and what we need most is to have our hear set on worship.

He is the God who is gracious (v24)

V24 says: God has granted you all those who sail with you.

It’s implied in a few translations (NET, NRSV, NLT) that God has granted safety to all

The we are near God, his grace not only touches are lives, but effects many around us—God’s grace to Paul will deliver 275 others out of the storm.

Apply: Being near God means that our lives will be a channel of grace to others. The grace of God in our lives can have a contagious effect.

He is the God we can trust (v25)

Paul affirms the certainty of their safety. Why? Because God has promised and he is trustworthy.

The simple call to faith is found in v24—in the Lord’s Words

“Do not be afraid Paul” —Do not fear. I still have a remaining assignment. you will stand before the emperor.

It’s not just that God is near in the storm, he has a purpose much greater than the storm! He is the God we can trust.

Sum

As we are wrapping up the journey in Acts, we need to keep in front of us that mission is central to Acts; this is not just set here to show how to handle our personal storms in life…it has a broader purpose connected to Acts 1:8—gospel witness to the ends of the earth.

**For Jesus’s mission to carry on, it will mean many more will enter the storm-tossed life. This is especially true in bringing the gospel to the ends of the earth.

Cross-cultural gospel work; church planting will come with the call to enter the storm-tossed life.

Christ-connection: When we talk about The Storm-Tossed Life and how vital it is to God’s saving mission, The Lord Jesus comes to mind.

One of the reasons Jesus is our trust and treasure is because he did not avoid the storm, but entered it—willing, obediently, even joyfully.

—He is a man of sorrows , aquatinted with grief (Is 53)

—He learned obedience through what he suffered (Heb 5:8)

—It’s interesting the Jesus compared himself with Jonah, the storm-tossed prophet (Mt 12:40)

But Jesus’s storm was not that he was hurled into the sea out of disobedience, but hung on a cross out of full obedience.

Apply: We sometimes look at a storm-tossed situation and see it just in a negative light. Yet....

If God did not plan for Jesus to live the Storm-Tossed life, we would have no hope. The very emblem of our faith—a cross-says that the best can come from a storm-tossed life.

Conclusion-

The shipwreck ends story ends with hope. All on the ship were saved and brought to physical safety (44)

This world is really a shipwreck plunging into irreversible disaster.

But God provides safety and salvation—the safety and salvation for all who trust and treasure his Son, our Storm-Tossed Savior.

“He comes to make his blessings flow far as the curse is found”

The storm-tossed life calls for sober-minded hope.

1 Peter 1:13 ESV

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.