Navigating Through The Sea Of Hardship

How to Navigate through the SHIP….in the Seas of HardSHIP.

In the Storm, you must stay with the Ship to Survive! Acts 27:9-44

I find it extremely interesting why Luke dedicates an entire chapter to Paul’s experience of this voyage on his way to Rome. I think it holds substantial spiritual and prophetic significance to us and to the Church in these last days.

(Act 14:22 NIV) strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said.

(Jhn 16:33 NKJV) "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."

If we will but allow the Holy Spirit to show us, we can see that there is a storm brewing, from the weather bureau of God’s Word we can forecast what is coming.

I don’t if you have ever been at sea in the midst of a serious storm; but there is an overwhelming sense of helplessness, vulnerability and ambiguity.

I spent over a year with the U.S.S. Carl Vinson CVN70 -- We entered a storm Typhoon sailing through 50+ foot seas to say it was terrifying would have been an understatement. This Ship was 1096ft long displaced 90,000 tons of water with four Nuclear reactors 6500 sailors and over 100 aircraft.

As daunting as that ship was it was nothing compared to the North Pacific seas in the winter.

I’m not going to “Preach” per say through this chapter but rather read it with some observations as to how it might be relevant to the Church and these perilous times we live in.

(2Ti 3:1 NKJV) But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:

I want to navigate through this story and fish out the truths that can help us as we sail through the seas of Hardships in this Christian Experience. Three levels of Storms: Entering One, In the Middle of One, or Coming Out of One!

I. The Setup (9-12)

A. The Purpose: The Apostle was on board; along with Luke the Physician (remember this is his narrative and account) this ship on his way to Rome because after nearly being torn to pieces by an angry mob in Jerusalem while trying to go to the Temple, He was beaten and dragged out, being saved by a Roman Centurion; followed by a plot to kill Paul; he was taken to the Governor Felix and jailed for over two years after pleading his case to the new Gov. Festus, who would have turned him over to the Jews; He appealed to Caesar in fear that he would not receive justice from his fellow Jewish countrymen.

1. The Vessel: Was an Alexandrian Ship hired by the Roman regiment charged with transporting prisoners to Roam to be sentenced usually by death in the arena/colosseum.

a) Paul was different from the other prisoners on board. The other prisoners were probably all condemned criminals being sent to Rome to die in the arena.

2. This was a grain freighter, taking grain grown in Egypt to Italy. According to Hughes, the typical grain freighter of that period was 140 feet long and 36 feet wide. It had one mast with a big square sail, and instead of what we think of as a rudder, it steered with two paddles on the back part of the ship. They were sturdy, but because of its design, it couldn’t sail into the wind.

B. The Warning: (9-11) Paul did not necessarily speak here as a prophet of God, but perhaps as an experienced traveler on the Mediterranean, having already traveled some 3,500 miles by sea. Knowing the seasons and conditions – and perhaps with supernatural wisdom – Paul advised that they not go on.

1. i. 2 Corinthians 11:25 tells us that by this time, Paul had already shipwrecked three times. He, like most everyone, knew that sailing in this season was dangerous.

2. No Big Surprise they didn’t listen to Pual, Many of us will be tempted to listen to men rather than listening to God…(i.e. What did Paul know about sailing?

3. Some storms can be avoided by listening to God rather than men....

4. Turned out to be Prophetic…(vs. 21)

II. The Storm. (13-15) -- Many times throughout the bible we see great Storms often reflecting the Judgement of God (Pharaoh -- the the Thundering and Hail mingled with fire) Job: the lighting and Tornado that killed his cattle and children...this was Satan’s doings.

A. The Sultle Winds -- (13) There is often a calm before the Storm...some of the most beautiful days I have seen at the beach are the days right before a Hurricane!