Living Missionally During Adversity

Acts 27:13-26

Acts 27:13–26 (NLT)

13 When a light wind began blowing from the south, the sailors thought they could make it. So they pulled up anchor and sailed close to the shore of Crete.

14 But the weather changed abruptly, and a wind of typhoon strength (called a “northeaster”) burst across the island and blew us out to sea.

15 The sailors couldn’t turn the ship into the wind, so they gave up and let it run before the gale.

16 We sailed along the sheltered side of a small island named Cauda, where with great difficulty we hoisted aboard the lifeboat being towed behind us.

17 Then the sailors bound ropes around the hull of the ship to strengthen it. They were afraid of being driven across to the sandbars of Syrtis off the African coast, so they lowered the sea anchor to slow the ship and were driven before the wind.

18 The next day, as gale-force winds continued to batter the ship, the crew began throwing the cargo overboard.

19 The following day they even took some of the ship’s gear and threw it overboard.

20 The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone.

21 No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, “Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this damage and loss.

22 But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down.

23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me,

24 and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’

25 So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said.

26 But we will be shipwrecked on an island.”

INTRODUCTION:

As disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, you and I are part of a grand mission. We are involved in building the kingdom of our Lord and King.

If you and I are to live missionally, we must approach all circumstances with the mission of Christ consciously in focus. This is especially true in the midst of adversity and negative circumstances. It is during these times of difficulty that the greatest opportunities for impacting the lives of other people (especially the lost) develop.

In our text, we can see some vital principles we need to understand if we are to live missionally during adversity.

I- EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED. (Acts 27:13-14)

Acts 27:13–14 (NLT)

13 When a light wind began blowing from the south, the sailors thought they could make it. So they pulled up anchor and sailed close to the shore of Crete.

14 But the weather changed abruptly, and a wind of typhoon strength (called a “northeaster”) burst across the island and blew us out to sea.

A- Not everything that happens in life follows our plans.

1- Paul understood this fact:

a. People tried to kill him after his conversion - because he was witnessing for Christ. (Acts 9)

b. God changed Paul’s missionary plan. (Acts 16:5-10)

“5 So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day.

6 Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time.

7 Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there.

8 So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas.

9 That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!”

10 So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.”

B- The one thing that we can expect is the unexpected.

1- The wisest man who ever lived wrote (Proverbs 27:1) “Don’t brag about tomorrow, since you don’t know what the day will bring.”

a. Sometimes people are the source of the unexpected.

The people in Lystra tried to worship Paul and Barnabas as gods, then turned on them in hostility when Paul and Barnabas told the people that they were not gods. (Acts 14:8-20)

b. Sometimes nature is the source of the unexpected.

(text)

storms

Natural disasters

sickness

II- ENGAGE MISSIONALLY WITH THE PROBLEM AT HAND. (Acts 27:16-20)

Acts 27:16–20 (NLT)

16 We sailed along the sheltered side of a small island named Cauda, where with great difficulty we hoisted aboard the lifeboat being towed behind us.

17 Then the sailors bound ropes around the hull of the ship to strengthen it. They were afraid of being driven across to the sandbars of Syrtis off the African coast, so they lowered the sea anchor to slow the ship and were driven before the wind.

18 The next day, as gale-force winds continued to batter the ship, the crew began throwing the cargo overboard.

19 The following day they even took some of the ship’s gear and threw it overboard.

20 The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone.

A- When the unexpected happens, missional Christians must become involved. (Acts 27:16)

Acts 27:16 (NLT)

16 We sailed along the sheltered side of a small island named Cauda, where with great difficulty we hoisted aboard the lifeboat being towed behind us.

1- Being on-mission for Jesus means that we must seize the opportunity for positive involvement.

2- The text indicates that Paul and his companions became involved in the effort to secure the ship.

3- The Great Commission teaches us that we are to be on mission for Jesus in the world.

(Matthew 28:19) “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

a. The words translated “go and make disciples” may be accurately rendered, “go and as you are going, make disciples.”

b. This makes it necessary that we not hold ourselves aloof from people around us.

c. Jesus set the example.

He responded to needs around him.

Raised the widow’s son

healed the blind, sick and lame.

B- When the unexpected happens, missional Christians must reflect a godly attitude. (Acts 27:17-20)

Acts 27:17–20 (NLT)

17 Then the sailors bound ropes around the hull of the ship to strengthen it. They were afraid of being driven across to the sandbars of Syrtis off the African coast, so they lowered the sea anchor to slow the ship and were driven before the wind.

18 The next day, as gale-force winds continued to batter the ship, the crew began throwing the cargo overboard.

19 The following day they even took some of the ship’s gear and threw it overboard.

20 The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone.

1- Notice the differences between the lost crew members and Paul and his companions:

a. The crew:

fear

reacting in panic mode

loss of all hope

b. Paul and his companions:

Not reacting in fear

Not engaged in outrage or debate

Hope in the Lord

2- You and I must respond properly in order to be a positive witness for Christ.

a. We must respond according to Holy Spirit guidance and not according to the fleshly emotions and desires.

(Galatians 5:19-26)

Galatians 5:19–26 (NLT)

19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,

20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,

21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.

25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.

III- EVANGELIZE MISSIONALLY AS GOD OPENS THE DOOR. (Acts 27:21-26)

Acts 27:21–26 (NLT)

21 No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, “Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this damage and loss.

22 But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down.

23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me,

24 and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’

25 So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said.

26 But we will be shipwrecked on an island.”

A- Encourage people with the fact that there is good news in the middle of the circumstances. (Acts 27:21-22)

Acts 27:21–22 (NLT)

21 No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, “Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this damage and loss.

22 But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down.

1- The best witness is a positive witness.

a. People without Christ will many times lose all hope and resort to worry and despair.

b. As believers in Christ, we should have our hope anchored in Christ.

(1) Even in the face of death, we are never to “grieve like people who have no hope.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13)

c. We should always seek to point out that there is hope and be ready to tell why.

(1 Peter 3:15) “Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.”

B- Evangelize people with the good news of Jesus. (Acts 27:23-26)

Acts 27:23–26 (NLT)

23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me,

24 and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’

25 So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said.

26 But we will be shipwrecked on an island.”

1- Paul pointed out the source of his “Good News.”

23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me,

24 and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’

2- Paul expressed his confidence in God and encouraged the other passengers to trust in His words.

25 So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said.

26 But we will be shipwrecked on an island.”

Acts 27:33-37

“33 Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat. “You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for two weeks,” he said.

34 “Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish.”

35 Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it.

36 Then everyone was encouraged and began to eat—

37 all 276 of us who were on board.”

3- Be sure to share a clear message of Christ as the opportunity is given.

a. Paul presented a clear and compelling message about Jesus.

(Acts 28:22-24 )

Acts 28:22–24 (NLT)

22 But we want to hear what you believe, for the only thing we know about this movement is that it is denounced everywhere.”

23 So a time was set, and on that day a large number of people came to Paul’s lodging. He explained and testified about the Kingdom of God and tried to persuade them about Jesus from the Scriptures. Using the law of Moses and the books of the prophets, he spoke to them from morning until evening.

24 Some were persuaded by the things he said, but others did not believe.

CONCLUSION:

You and I know that we are to always strive to live missionally. But what about when adversity come our way? How are we to respond during adversity?

I- EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED.

II- ENGAGE MISSIONALLY WITH THE PROBLEM AT HAND.

III- EVANGELIZE MISSIONALLY AS GOD OPENS THE DOOR.