Subject: Weathering the Storms of Life
Text: Acts 27:20-44
Introduction: I believe there are basically three kinds of storms: storms we cause, storms that God causes and storms caused by others. I know that we can agree there are some storms that we cause in our lives. The reasons for the storms may vary but many times include the following: (a) we take the wrong advice from a so-called expert, which leads to bad decisions, (b) we often listen to popular opinion, or the majority, and make unwise decisions or (c) we base our decisions solely on our present circumstances. Bad decisions cause us to drift away from the plan of God for our lives. Then we began to discard precious cargo such as our relationships and responsibilities. Finally, we begin to get discouraged and wonder, “What’s the use?” When weathering a storm, we need to remember that God is always there even in our self-made storms. It really does not matter whether the storm is a self-made storm, a storm God caused, or a storm others caused, how do we handle these storms? How should we respond while weathering the storms of life? I believe Acts 27 provides us with some helpful suggestions. While weathering the storms of life, as children of God, we must: (1) look for the Presence of God (2) listen for the Promise of God (3) experience the Peace of God and (4) participate in the Preservation of God.
This is the subject to address this morning. How can we weather the storms of life in such a way that our Lord Jesus Christ will be glorified and others watching will be inspired by our faith in God?
In Acts 27, the Apostle Paul and his companions boarded an Egyptian grain ship bound for Italy. Remember the Apostle Paul was a prisoner of the Roman Empire for allegedly starting a riot in the temple area in Jerusalem. He was accused by the High Priest before Felix, the Roman Governor. After two years, Felix was relieved of his position leaving Paul in prison. When Festus took over as Governor, he did not know what to do with Paul because Paul had appealed to Caesar as a Roman citizen. Festus then invited King Agrippa and his wife Bernice to listen to Paul in a public arena for the purpose of forming some acceptable political charges before shipping him to Rome. Again, Paul used the opportunity to witness of his faith in Jesus of Nazareth. Paul’s witness was so effective that Agrippa said he was almost persuaded to be a Christian. It was decided that arrangements should be made to ship Paul and his companions some 2,000 miles away to Rome to stand trial before Caesar. By this time, it was late September of the year. This six-month voyage, from September of 59 through March of 60 A.D., would be filled with danger and adventure. Our storyteller, Luke, gives a detailed account of their journey.
As you read this account, you sense the storm clouds building and the winds becoming stronger, more violent and more dangerous. Throughout Acts 27, Luke refers to the weather and the sailing conditions: “The winds were contrary" (verse 4), "the wind did not permit us to go farther" (verse 7), "with difficulty sailing" (verse 8), "moderate south wind" (verse 13), "violent wind" (verse 14), "violently storm-tossed" (verse 18), "neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was assailing us" (verse 20), "being driven about" (verse 27), "hit a reef" (verse 9), "ship broke up" (verse 10).
How can we weather the storms of life? First, look for God’s Presence in the Storm.
1. Look For the Presence of God. “And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away. 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. 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.
For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve” (Acts 27:20-23).
When most on the ship were worrying and wondering, Paul was seeking God through fasting and prayer. This was not the apostle’s first voyage, nor was it his first shipwreck on the Mediterranean Sea. He had been in three wrecks already, and God had always been with him. We should look for the Presence of God in the storms because God has a purpose and a plan. God used this storm to bring men to a place where their souls melted, where they were at their wits’ end and they had nothing or no one to turn to on board for security. Their ship was breaking up. Their self-confidence was gone. They were men paralyzed by a sea of uncertainty, helpless and hopeless, looking into the very eyes of death. In spite of all this, Paul, God’s man, says, “To be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve…”
Our Lord allows storms to come into our lives for a variety of reasons. For unbelievers, some storms are sent so that men will cry out to God for salvation. In the case of believers, God uses storms for several reasons, as we see recorded in the lives of Job, Jonah and in the lives of the disciples of Jesus in the New Testament to perfect his work in our lives. Realize that we are not alone in the storm. Look for the Presence of God. Secondly, listen for the Promise of God.
2. Listen For the Promise of God. “Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee” (Acts 27:24-25).
Severe storms are normally noisy and frightening. They tend to overwhelm us. God speaks in a still small voice, so we must listen for the promise of God. The promise of God gives us assurance in the midst of the storm. God was saying, “Paul, you are going to make! You are going to stand before Caesar. And God is going to spare the lives of all who sail with you.” The word of God causes faith to come alive in our hearts. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).
“Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalm 107:17-21).
In the midst of storms, look for the presence of God and listen for the promise of God. God will send His Word. There is a word from the Lord. Even though these men would not heed Paul’s earlier warning and had sailed into a hurricane, God gives His word to Paul. Now those men are compelled to receive Paul’s words and their hopes are revived. The word of God is the power of God to us who believe. Listen for God’s Promise!
3. Experience the Peace of God. “Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me” (Acts 27:25).
When the storm was at its worst, Paul’s spirit was at its calmest. The reason for his calmness was the peace of God. The secret of living within a storm is to trust in the presence and power of our Risen Lord more than in the tension of the storm. The sailors caught in this violent storm were seasick, terrified, helpless and hopeless, and yet this Roman Jewish prisoner Paul with no earthly authority tells them with authority, “Be of good cheer! I have a feeling that everything is going to be all right! Why Paul? Because I have seen His Presence, heard His word, and experienced His Peace. Everything is going to be all right! You see, Peace is not the absence of a storm; peace is the calm assurance that God is still in charge of my life and controls every detail. Though I am in a storm, I will trust God. “What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee” (Psalms 56:3).
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3).
“Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:4-7).
I heard a story about a train traveling through the night in a very violent rainstorm. The lightning flashes were almost blinding, the rain hitting the windows was deafening and the strong wind gusts rocked the train from side to side. When the lightning flashed and lit up the darkness, the passengers could see the rising water along the tracks. This created terror in the minds of the passengers. Several passengers noted that through all the noise, lightning and wind, one of the passengers, a little girl, seemed to be at perfect peace. The adult passengers could not figure out why the little girl was so calm during all this excitement. Finally, one passenger asked her, “How is that you can be so calm when all the rest of us are so worried about what might or could happen?” The little passenger smiled and said, “My father is the engineer.”
Weathering the storms of life, we must look for His presence, listen for His promise, experience His peace and participate in His preservation.
4. Participate in the Preservation of God. “Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing…” (Acts 27:29-33).
“And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship. And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoisted up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore. And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmovable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves. And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape. 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: 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” (Acts 27:39-44).
This is a powerful passage concerning God’s method of preservation. It is important for us to use everything we have and do everything we know to do that we might be saved. God promised that not one life would be lost, but there are some conditions: These men needed to eat and be strengthened that they may begin to lighten the ship by throwing out the wheat into the sea. And when day came, they observe a certain bay with a beach, and they resolved to drive the ship onto it if they could. Had the experienced sailors been allowed to abandon ship, no one could have guided the ship away from the rocks to the sandy beach. They raised the anchors, loosen the ropes of the rudders, and hoisted the foresail to the wind; they were heading for the beach. The ship ran aground; and stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern began to be broken up by the force of the waves. And the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, that none of them should swim away and escape; but the centurion, wanting to bring Paul safely through, kept them from their intention, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land, and the rest should follow, some on planks, and broken boards. Moreover, all 276 men were brought safely to land.
You see, we must participate in the preservation of God. Sometimes people of God who recognize His presence, receive His promise, and experience His peace, fail to participate actively in the preservation. Most promises of God are conditional and depend on your active participation. If you are going to survive a physical storm, you must take proper precautions. In a marital storm, you must do your part. In a financial storm, you must play a part. In order to weather the storms of life, you must use your God-given wisdom, skill, talent and hard work to survive.
Scripture references are from the King James Version of The Holy Bible.
