Boards & Broken Pieces
Acts 27:44 And the rest, some on boards, and some on [broken pieces] of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.
Paul has really been doing some preaching…
Cities are being stirred up.
Devil is stirred up.
Paul becomes a prisoner… appears before the Governor, Felix, and then King Agrippa.
Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
In fact, Agrippa would have let him go had Paul not appealed to Ceasar. So off to Rome he went.
He’s now a prisoner on a ship headed for Rome
8 And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.
9 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,
10 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.
11 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.
12 And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence
Paul let the Centurion know that it was "God’s Will" for them to winter in Fair Havens.
• God had warned him not to leave the shores of the Island of Crete.
• Being in the will of God should not be a mystery. The Holy Spirit lets us know where are supposed to be.
BUT It is not commodious to winter in Crete. (they said)
Commodious: convenient
Just because things may be difficult for you does not mean that it is "not" the will of God for you to stay put.
• Stay in your marriage, stay faithful at Church, stay on the job. Work through your problems, but stay in Crete.
It’s amazing why people don’t want to listen to the man of God!
What did God put us here for anyhow?
Are we not to watch for your souls?
Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that [is] unprofitable for you.
The reason you’re doing “your own thing” is because you are not surrendered to the Will of God for your life.
Listen: I cannot help what has happened in the ministry… and I know that there have been scandals after scandal that have caused people to be more cautious….
• For there used to be a day when the Preacher preached, that people knew it came from God and didn’t have a problem with accepting it.
• But now we almost have to have a degree in LAW to PROVE what we’re saying comes from God.
• Listen to what the Preacher has to say!
• Listen to the Man that God has set up over the local body to lead HIS CHURCH!
And so against the Man of God’s counsel… off they go!
They think they know more than God’s man does.
13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.
That’s exactly how the devil works!!!
People get out of God’s will… do their own thing… follow their own course, and think they’re doing ok.
The Wind is blowing softly.
SEE preacher, there’s no danger here!!!!
Note that the master of the ship only wanted to go to the other side of the Island of Crete and there to winter.
They stayed close by the shoreline.
The backslider never plans to leave far from home. He still attends Church and hangs around. He tries to keep his ship close to the shoreline.
You may fair ok for a little while going astray on your journey, but before long…
14 But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. A violent agitation
And the ship was blown approx. 800 miles off course.
YOU THINK you know where you’re going, but when the devil unleashes the powers of hell against you and you’re out of the protection of the Lord, there’s no telling where he’ll take you to.
Oh, but I’m in control. You just think you are.
The captain here was no longer in control! He had to let the ship drive.
The ship was shaken. They lost things.
1. The first consequence of leaving Crete…
You’ll be shaken.
2. You’ll lose valuables.
3. You’ll be so far off course, it doesn’t look like you’ll ever get to where you need to go.
21 But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.
22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship.
23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
You should have listened to the man of God… but here you are…
Will you listen tonight?
31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
40 And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea,
41 And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.
42 And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.
43 But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:
44 And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.
Somebody’s ship here tonight has been devastated!
BUT wait… I see a board here…
I see a broken piece of the ship….
If you’ll grab on to this… you’ll make it safe to land!!!
