Help for the Hard Storms of Life - Part 1
Acts 27:4-26
Sermon by Rick Crandall
McClendon Baptist Church - May 14, 2008
*Storms: A loved one lets you down in a devastating way, the drunk driver swerves at you, your great job gets cut, the test results come back bad for you or someone you love. Someday you will find yourself in a storm just as serious as Paul faced here, but we can look into the Word of God and see what to do.
1. First: Attempt to avoid every storm you can.
*A lot of storms in life can be avoided, and this was one of those storms. The men in charge of this ship made some big mistakes, and that’s what put them in this awful storm. But we can learn from their mistakes.
1-Learn to be wise about leaving. The sailors’ first big mistake had to do with leaving. We see this in vs. 9-14:
9. Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them,
10. saying, "Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.’’
11. Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul.
12. And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there.
13. When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete.
14. But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon.
*There is a time to leave and a time to stay. These men left when they should have stayed. And many people are facing storms today, because they made a mistake about leaving. This is true of husbands and wives, of people who left school, and people who left jobs. It’s also sometimes true about people who leave their church. Don’t ever change churches unless you are sure that the Lord is leading you to do it.
2-Be wise about leaving. Also be wise about listening.
*Why do people make mistakes about leaving? Often it’s because they make mistakes about listening. That’s what happened here. In vs. 9&10, Paul tried to warn them that it was a mistake to leave. Paul told them, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.”
*Of course Paul was right, but in vs. 11, the centurion listened to the wrong people. You’ve got to be careful who you listen to. In vs. 11 we see that experts can be wrong, and in vs. 12 we see that the crowd can be wrong too. You’ve got to be careful who you listen to.
3-Be wise about listening. Also be wise about looks.
*The sailors’ third mistake was about how things looked. We see this in vs. 12&13, where Luke said, “Because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there. When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete.”
*Appearances can be deceiving. Sometimes the devil tries to make the grass look greener on the other side of the hill, so, in vs. 12, that little harbor didn’t look good enough, and in vs. 13, the weather looked too good. They did not see what was right around the corner, so they sailed out of that harbor -- right into harm’s way, right into a storm that could have been missed.
*The Titanic did the same thing on her maiden voyage in April of 1912. It was a classic case of a tragedy that could have been avoided. The ship was originally designed to carry 60 lifeboats, but they were so sure it couldn’t sink, they cut that number to 40, then 32 and finally to only 20 lifeboats. Then they sailed full-speed into an area known to have ice. The Ship California tried to warn them, but the Titanic cut-off their message, because it interfered with regular communication from Newfoundland. After they hit the iceberg, many of the life boats pulled away only half full. But the biggest error was their attitude, “Not even God could sink this ship!” Of the 2,200 people on board only 700 survived. One thousand five hundred people died -- and it all could have been avoided. (1)
2. So attempt to avoid every storm you can. -- Then strive to survive the storm.
*Some storms can’t be avoided, no matter what we do. Sometimes we are in trouble because of somebody else’s mistake. That’s what happened here to Paul. But God’s Word teaches us to take action. Strive to survive. Under God’s leadership, do all you can to make it through the storm. This story gives us 5 steps we can take.
*First: take stock of the situation. See what you can do and what you can’t do. That’s what the travelers did in v. 15. As Luke said, “When the ship was caught, and could not head into the wind, we let her drive.”
*Take stock in the storm. It may not be as bad as you think it is. Erma Bombeck wrote about a little boy named Donald who was afraid of starting school. Donald said, “My name is Donald, and I don’t know anything. I have new underwear, a loose tooth, and didn’t sleep last night because I’m worried. What if a bell rings and a man yells ‘Where do you belong?’ and I don’t know? What if the trays in the cafeteria are too tall for me to reach? What if my loose tooth comes out when we have our heads down and are supposed to be quiet? Am I supposed to bleed quietly? What if I splash water on my name tag and my name disappears and no one knows who I am? (2)
*Things may not be as bad as you think, so take stock in the storm. Then take action. Do something. Do any good you can. But you have to sort your priorities. We see our travelers doing this in vs. 16-19:
16. Running under the shelter of an island called Clauda, we secured the skiff with difficulty.
17. When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrtis Sands, they struck sail and so were driven.
18. And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship.
19. On the third day we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands.
*Notice that in the storm the things that seemed important suddenly lost their value. That makes it easier to sort our priorities. Pastor and author Paul Powell gave this testimony:
-A cousin of mine, Bev Hudgins, had been confined to bed with cancer for more than six months. However, she made an ardent and painful attempt to attend a concert she had long anticipated.
-I was lucky enough to be seated next to her. I asked, “What have you learned from your experiences with cancer?”
-She said, “I’ve learned it’s easy to say good-bye to all the material things. I am having a difficult time saying good-bye to those people who are closest to me. And I am grateful that there is one relationship, -- my relationship with God in eternity, that I won’t ever have to say good-bye to.” (3)
*Bev Hudgins had her priorities sorted just right. When you are in the storm, sort your priorities. Then you will be able to take the right action. But also start listening. You may have been too stubborn to listen in the past, but don’t let that keep you from listening to God now. That’s what Paul was saying in vs. 20-22:
20. Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.
21. But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete & incurred this disaster and loss.
22. And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.
*The centurion started listening to God’s wisdom, and because he did, all 276 of those men were saved alive. Start listening in the storm. And serve God. Paul did not quit serving when he got caught in this storm. As he said in vs. 23&24, “There stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’”
*Paul said, “I serve God.” -- And that’s what we should do! Serve God even in the storm, and show concern for other people. Paul showed his concern in vs. 21-25:
21. After long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss.
22. And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.
23. For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve,
24. saying, `Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’
25. Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.
*Paul clearly showed his concern for the other people on that ship. People want other people to care about them. Many people will respond to evidence of your Christian concern. Remember the old saying: “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
*I read about a lady named Mamie Adams. She always went to a certain post office in her town because the workers there were friendly to her. One time Mamie went in to buy some stamps. The lines were extra long, that day, because it was just before Christmas. Someone pointed out that there was no need to wait in line because there was a stamp machine in the lobby. “I know,” said Mamie, “but the machine won’t ask me about my arthritis.” (4)
*People want us to show concern for them -- real concern. Paul showed concern for other people, because he was concerned about them! He loved them with the love of Jesus Christ. Paul was concerned about people he barely knew, concerned about people who were not concerned about him, concerned about people who had mistreated him, concerned enough to pray.
*Look at vs. 24 again. There the angel told Paul, “God has granted you all those who sail with you.” Doesn’t that sound like answered prayer? God gave all of those people, because Paul prayed! There are times in life when we can’t avoid the storm. There are times when our hands seem tied. But do everything you can do, remembering these 5 steps:
-Take stock of the situation.
-Sort your priorities.
-Start listening to God.
-Keep serving God.
-Show your concern for others.
3. In short: Strive to survive. -- But also trust God to take you through the storm.
*That’s the most important lesson for us tonight. Trust God to take you through the storm. We see Paul’s great faith in vs. 25 where he simply said, “Take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.”
*“I believe God.” That’s the way to make it through -- the only way to make it through the storm!
*Robert Morgan tells a story that took place on the Sunday after the Titanic sank. It happened in Belfast, where the great ship was built. Naturally, the townspeople were devastated. Men met on the city’s streets, grasped each other’s hands, burst into tears and parted without speaking a word.
*Morgan told about one church that lost 16 men to the icy waters. All were mechanics on the Titanic. On that dark Sunday, the pastor read the Scripture from Mark 4:35-41.
35. On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side.’’
36. Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him.
37. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.
38. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?’’
39. Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!’’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.
40. But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?’’
41. And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!’’
*That Sunday, the preacher read this story. Then told his troubled church that only one vessel in all of history had been truly unsinkable: the little boat occupied by the sleeping Savior. And, the preacher added, “The only hearts that can weather the storms are hearts with Jesus inside.” (5)
*Is He living in your heart? Jesus Christ died on the Cross to take the punishment for our sins. Thank God He rose again from the dead to conquer death for all who trust in Him. Put your trust in Jesus. And keep your trust in Jesus, even when you go through the worst storms of your life.
(1) Original source unknown
(2) Erma Bombeck story found in 12-29-02 email from Sermonillustrations.com
(3) JOY COMES IN THE MORNING by Paul W. Powell - p. 13
(4) Bits & Pieces, December, 1989, p. 2. (Found at Sermonillustrations.com)
(5) THE UNSINKABLE SHIP - JULY 24 (Morgan, Robert J., From This Verse, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
