God Can Do Anything Series

This week I came across a rare photo of a TV remote control from the 60’s and 70’s. This brought back memories of some of my favorite after-school TV shows like Hogan’s Heroes, Lost in Space, the Beverly Hillbillies, and Gilligan’s Island. Interestingly, each of these classic shows dealt with people who were lost or out of place. Last week I referenced part of the Gilligan’s Island theme song and for our passage today, some additional lyrics come to mind: “The ship set ground on the shore of this uncharted desert isle…”

As we journeyed with Paul through Acts 27, we established this truth: In the storms of life, make sure you have an anchor for your soul. We have extra copies of the 20 Storm Lessons on a table out in the lobby. You can also access them by going to the Sermon Extras tab on our website or on the mobile app.

After the ship ran aground on a sandbar, the stern was demolished by the pounding of the surf. I imagine the centurion barked out orders, “If you know how to swim, go for it! If not, grab a plank or other debris and make your way to shore!” I’m sure the cold autumn water took their breath away and made their muscles spasm. When their feet finally hit the beach, they were surprised to learn all 276 passengers were alive, even though the mighty Minnow was lost.

Let’s pick up the narrative in Acts 28:1-10: “After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta. 2 The native people showed us unusual kindness, for they kindled a fire and welcomed us all, because it had begun to rain and was cold. 3 When Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. 4 When the native people saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer. Though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But when they had waited a long time and saw no misfortune come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god. 7 Now in the neighborhood of that place were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, named Publius, who received us and entertained us hospitably for three days. 8 It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him, healed him. 9 And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured. 10 They also honored us greatly, and when we were about to sail, they put on board whatever we needed.

Here’s our main point today: God can do anything when you give Him everything. I see ten lessons we can learn from our passage.

1. Trust God to keep His promises. Previously, God promised Paul he would testify before Caesar in Rome. In addition, he assured them none of the passengers or crew would be lost. The ship was destroyed but all the sailors and prisoners were delivered. We see this in verse 1: “After we were brought safely through, we then learned that the island was called Malta.”

They were happy to hear they beached on “Malta” because it was part of Rome, and therefore under its protection. The name “Malta” means, “flowing with honey as a place of refuge.” Incidentally, today the spot where they shipwrecked is called, “The Bay of St. Paul.”

The island of Malta was only 17 miles long and 9 miles wide, so it’s incredible how God providentially steered the ship in the storm to land on this small strip of land in that part of the Mediterranean, which was 375 miles wide!

On Friday, I had an experience which reminded me God can do anything. Beth and I were in the suburbs to meet with Pastor Ray and Marlene and to attend a Keep Believing Ministries board meeting. We placed an order at Chipotle and when I walked outside, I held the door for a guy who turned and noticed a woman wearing an Iowa sweatshirt. He asked where she was from and she said, “The Quad Cities.” He excitedly responded, “I was just in the Quad Cities yesterday.” At this point I spoke up and said, “I live in the Quad Cities!” How did God do that? All three of us were in the same place at the same time and we all had the QCA in common. God can do anything!