A passenger on an ocean liner was enduring a rough Atlantic crossing. As he leaned over the rail, his face a shade of green, a steward came along and tried to encourage him: “Don’t be discouraged, sir! No one’s ever died of seasickness yet!” The nauseous passenger looked up at the steward with horror and said, “Don’t say that! It’s only the hope of dying that’s kept me alive this long!”
That’s probably how Paul’s fellow-passengers felt after two weeks of enduring the storm at sea. Not only were they sick; after not being able to see the sun or stars for many days, they had lost all hope of being saved (27:20). In the same way, when people go through severe storms in life, often they lose all hope.
Storms comes to all humanity. The fact that we are saved and members of the family of God does not eliminate trouble or storms from our lives. There is really no way to know when and where trouble will come. One minute the south wind may be blowing softly, and the next minute a tempestuous wind may be blowing.
What are we to do when storms come? Acts 27 presents us with some valuable principles that we need to apply in our lives in the midst of the storms.
What am I to do when it seems all hope is taken away?
I. RETIRE IN PRAYER (21)
There had been some fasting on this voyage.
Even though the SUN had not appeared for many days (20), Paul had seen the SON.
Seeing the SON calmed Paul.
See Isaiah 40:31.
A. Strength will be renewed
B. Soaring will return
C. Speed will be regained
D. Step will be retained
Jeremiah 33:3
When trouble comes, find a place and get along with God.
See Matthew 14:12.
See Luke 18:1.
II. REST IN HIS PRESENCE (23a)
When trouble comes to the child of God, if only we would rest in His presence.
Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though....”
Isaiah 43:2 “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.”
The God who was with Jeremiah, Paul, Peter in prison, with Daniel in the lion’s den , with the three Hebrew Children in the fiery furnace and was with Paul upon the angry storm tossed sea will be with all His children when trouble comes.
Hebrews 13:5 “I will never leave thee”
In this case, it was not the Lord Himself who appeared to Paul (as in 23:11), but His angel (27:23). But it had the same effect, to remind Paul that God was always with him, always aware of the storms that he was going through. When He gave the Great Commission, our Lord promised, “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto to the end of the world” (Matt. 28:20). Here Paul again experiences the reality of that promise. He had experienced it when he was afraid in Corinth. The Lord appeared to him and promised, “for I am with you” (Acts 18:9-10). Paul had also experienced it when he was in custody in Jerusalem, and the Lord stood at his side and said, “Be of good cheer,” and promised that he would bear witness at Rome (23:11). He would later experience it at his final imprisonment, just before his
execution. He told Timothy that no one supported him, but all deserted him. Then he added, “the Lord stood with me and strengthened me” (2 Tim. 4:17).
I have felt His presence with me in times of great need, and it has flooded me with encouragement.
Late in his life, the great pioneer missionary to Africa, David Livingstone, received an honorary doctorate from Glasgow University. As he rose to speak, he was gaunt and haggard as a result of the hardships he had gone through in tropical Africa. He left arm, crushed by a lion, hung helplessly at his side as he announced his resolve to return to Africa without misgiving and with great gladness. He added, “Would you like me to tell you what supported me through all the years of exile among a people whose language I could not understand, and whose attitude toward me was often uncertain and often hostile? It was this: ‘Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’ On these words I staked everything, and they never failed!”
You don’t want to live without that sensitivity to the presence of God. There is no companionship like the unfailing presence of God.
Who can cheer the heart like Jesus, By His presence al divine? True and tender, pure and precious, O how bless to call Him mine!
III. Recognize You’re His Possession (23b).
Paul tells these rough men on board that he belongs to God (27:23). If you have trusted in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, you belong to Him. He purchased you with something far more valuable than silver or gold, namely with His precious blood (1 Pet. 1:18-19). You can be assured that He is going to take care of His expensive purchase.
A. You are His love - “whose I am”
If you pay a lot of money for something, you don’t carelessly toss it into a drawer and forget about it. You put it in a special place, and you check on it often. In some cases, if it is very valuable, you rent a safe deposit box at the bank and put it there. God purchased the child of God with His own blood, and He isn’t about to abandon you.
He loves you too much to abandon you.
B. You are His laborer – “whom I serve”
Paul calls God the one “whom I serve” (27:23). Every Christian, not just those in so-called “full-time Christian service,” should view himself or herself as the Lord’s servant, always on duty.
If we see ourselves that way, as the Lord’s servants, we can be encouraged in the storms of life, because the Lord looks out for His servants. We’re his laborer and just as a company looks out for its laborers, even more so the Lord looks out for His laborers.
He has the best employee benefit package of all! The retirement is out of this world.
IV. REMEMBER HIS PROMISES (24, 25)
Paul took God at His Word. Paul believed the promise of God even when all outward circumstances seemed to indicate their fulfillment was impossible.
Paul’s creed was simply “I BELIEVE GOD.”
Paul believed God in spite of the darkness, in spite of the wind howling against him, in spite of the timbers of the ship are creaking, and in spite of the waves pounding on the ship. Paul believed God against the odds. Paul relates the angel’s words, “you must be brought before Caesar.”
When God says, “you must,” you know that it will happen. He is always faithful to His promises.
It is easy to believe God in the lap of luxury, in the atmosphere of peace, in the comfort of ease, but Paul believed the promises of God in the midst of the storm.
This reliance in the midst of the storm brought:
A. Inward calm
Paul was calm when all thought this was the end.
NEVER DOUBT IN THE DARK WHAT GOD HAS PROMISED YOU IN THE LIGHT.
B. Invincible courage
While others are abandoning themselves to despair, Paul steps forth in confidence and courage and announces their deliverance.
C. Inspiring cheerfulness
God’s promises inspires cheer when we believe them.
The difference between having victory and not having victory is remembering the promises.
Psalm 119:50 “This is my comfort in affliction”
IV. RESONATE HIS PRAISE (35)
Praising the Lord is excellent medicine. I have never known a defeated praising Christian.
In the midst of the tempestuous winds of life, we need to thank God for our blessing. In the midst of the storm, with the winds howling and the waves beating fiercely against the sides of the ship, Paul gave thanks.
See Jonah 2:9. Jonah learned a truth that all we need to grasp. Thanksgiving can be liberating (after thanksgiving, Jonah is set free from the whale).
See Acts 16:25,26. You cannot keep a praising man down!
When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed When you discouraged, thinking al is lost, Count your many blessings - name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done
The soul that give thanks can find comfort in everything; the soul that complains can find comfort in nothing.
Prayer will take care of tomorrow; praise takes care of today.
Conclusion:
The dark clouds one day will gather one day. One day you are going to face circumstances that look pretty bad. One day you are going to find yourself in the midst of trouble. How you respond to it is very important!
