The Character
Of
True Commitment
Text: Acts 27:9-10, 22-25
Intro: The word “committed” is found but twice in Acts chapters 27 and 28. And even there it does not refer to the Christian’s commitment to God. However, I find in these two chapters, a number of principles of Christian commitment that we would do well to take note of, and to practice in our daily lives.
What is true commitment? How can we tell if a person is really committed to the Lord? Are we to assume that a gung-ho attitude about good works is evidence of real commitment to Christ? Is commitment merely a fair-weather quality, or is it deeper than that—something that will take one through the difficult storms of the Christian life?
As we look into Acts 27 and 28, we find the Apostle Paul in one of many predicaments he faced in his tumultuous life and ministry. However, throughout Paul’s trials and tribulations, he remained faithfully committed to His Savior and Lord. In spite of beatings, constant criticism, and even death threats, this great man of God never quit on God. He remained steadfastly committed to the Lord Jesus.
When we pick up Paul’s story, in Acts 27, he has just come from a hearing before Festus and Agrippa, in which the Jews had accused Paul of sedition against the Roman Empire, and sacrilege against the temple of the Jews. Paul is on his way to Rome to appeal his case before Caesar. The circumstances of this fateful voyage give us much insight into how true commitment to Christ responds in life’s upheavals. The principles found here should help us to take stock of our own commitment to the Lord. It should also help us to see if our commitment and faithfulness to God is real, or mere religious rhetoric.
Theme: The character of true commitment is demonstrated in…
I. LIFE’S STORMS
A. Commitment Is Seen In Our Surrender In The Storms.
Acts 27:14 “But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.
15 And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.
16 And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:
17 Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands (“sandbars of Syrtis”1), strake sail, and so were driven.”
NOTE: [1] The analogy has been used many times, but it still illustrates my point. Just as a stiff, and unyielding tree is quickly broken by the high winds of a storm, even so will the Christian be broken, who angrily refuses to yield and submit themselves in the storms of life. It is its ability to bend and yield itself to the assaulting storm winds that prevents a tree’s destruction. In the same way, the Christian’s willingness to be shaped and stretched by God in the trials of life will find that not only will they survive the ordeal, but that their walk with God will be strengthened.
[2] The committed Christian will learn that if it isn’t possible to “…bear up into the wind…(v. 15)” in one of life’s storms, then the only answer is to yield one’s self to God in it, to see if God is using the storm to drive you in a different direction. You see God had an assignment for Paul on the island of Melita. That’s precisely where the ocean storm took him. What may appear to be disaster to us may actually be direction from God. We must learn to yield ourselves to God in the storms, and see what beauty He may bring from it.
I Almost Failed to Give Him the Key
The early years of the 19th century were troubled times in the German confederation. Rumors of revolution and rioting had the federated government in panic. Klemens von Metternich, the chief statesman of the confederation, ordered thousands of young men drafted into the army to guard the borders and put down internal revolts. Across the countryside, young men in uniform tramped off to an unknown destiny.
In one German village stood a grand old stone-walled church with an ornately carved facade, beautiful stained glass, and a stately pipe organ. The organ was famed throughout the region for its beautiful, rich tone. One day the aged caretaker of the church was interrupted during his chores by a knock on the great oak door of the sanctuary. He opened the door to find a young man in uniform on the steps.
“Sir, I have a favor to ask,” the young soldier began. “Would you please permit me to play the organ for one hour?”
“I’m sorry, young man,” the caretaker replied. “No one but our own organist is permitted to play the organ.”
“But sir, I’ve heard so much about the organ of this church, and I’ve walked so many miles just to see it, just to play it for a single hour!”
The aged man paused, then shook his head sadly.
“Please,” the soldier pleaded. “My commander gave me a 24-hour leave. In a few more days we move to another province where the fighting is expected to be heavy. This may be the last chance in my life to play the organ.”
The caretaker reluctantly nodded. He swung the door open and beckoned the soldier inside. Then he took a key from his pocket and held it out to the soldier. “The organ is locked,” he said. “Here is the key.”
The soldier took the key and unlocked the ornate cabinet of the organ. Then he began to play. A billow of majestic chords rolled from the great golden pipes of the organ. The caretaker stood transfixed as the glorious music washed over him, bringing tears to his eyes. He moved to one of the pews and sat down, as if entranced.
Within minutes, people from the village gathered at the church doorway and peered in. Removing their hats, the villagers stepped into the sanctuary and sat down to listen. Streams of beautiful music filled the sanctuary for one hour. Then the gifted fingers of the organist struck a final chord and lifted from the keyboard.
The young man closed and locked the keyboard cabinet. As he stood and turned, he was surprised to see that the church had nearly filled with parishioners who had laid aside their chores to listen to his music. Humbly receiving their compliments, the young soldier walked down the center aisle to return the key to the caretaker. “Thank you,” the young man whispered.
The old man rose to his feet and took the key. “Thank you,” he answered, grasping the young soldier’s gifted hands. “Young man, that was the most beautiful music these old ears have ever heard. What is your name?”
“My name is Felix,” replied the solder. “Felix Mendelssohn.”
The old caretaker’s eyes widened as he realize whose hands he grasped—the hands of the young man who, before he was 20 years old, had become one of the most celebrated composers on the European continent. The old man’s gaze followed the young soldier as he left the church and disappeared into the village street.
“To think,” the old man wondered aloud, “the master was here and I almost failed to give him the key!”
So it is with us. The Master is here. God is with us. His grace envelops us. If you give him the key to your heart, he can make unimaginably beautiful music in your life—music that will make the world stop, listen, and wonder. The Master is here and he is ready to transform us by his grace. He is ready to give us a new beginning. It is not only our duty, but our joy to give him the key to all that we are and have.2
B. Commitment Is Seen In Our Selectivity In The Storms.
Acts 27:18 “And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;
19 And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.”
NOTE: [1] This storm in which Paul and the others found themselves was so severe that they had to lighten the ship to stay afloat. On the third day, the situation became even worse, so that the tackling of the ship had to be thrown overboard. There is a principle to be observed here: The storms of life often teach us what is truly important. We learn to do without the trappings of life that were pulling us down spiritually. In other words, we learn to be very selective about what we feel we must hold on to. We’re not talking about things that are necessarily wrong, but things that are spiritual weights—things that hold us back and pull us down. The writer of Hebrews alluded to this idea when he said, “…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily best us…” (Heb. 12:1).
[2] Anything that was deemed unnecessary to keeping that little ship afloat was thrown overboard. The storms of life often do the same thing for the child of God. Storms test our commitment to Christ. They force us to answer the question, “Am I willing to live with less that I might learn to trust God more?”
[3] The late Ron Dunn, once made a very thought-provoking statement, one he had personally experienced. He said, “You’ll never know that the Lord is all you need until He’s all you’ve got.”3 Life lived at that level of relationship with Christ is certainly a life of total commitment.
C. Commitment Is Seen In Our Security In The Storms.
1. The storm in which Paul and his shipmates found themselves seemed hopeless.
Acts 27:20 “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.”
2. Paul’s security in the storm rested with God, his helper.
Acts 27:21 “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.”
NOTE: [1] Twice in these five verses Paul exhorts his shipmates to “be of good cheer” (vss. 22 & 25). In both cases, that exhortation is given on the basis of Paul’s commitment to and confidence in God. In verse 22, Paul’s exhortation to take heart was based on the fact that he belonged to God and served Him. That’s commitment. In verse 25, Paul’s exhortation is based on complete trust in God. That’s commitment. To put this another way, Paul’s commitment to God inevitably led to security in the storm, of which God was the object.
[2] I also want to point out that the storm did not produce Paul’s commitment and confidence in God; it merely exposed it.
[3] Perhaps we would do well to ask ourselves this searching question: “Upon what or whom does my sense of security rest: circumstances, or Christ?” Paul said, “…be of good cheer: for I believe God” (Acts 27:25). That is precisely where our security must lie. It’s amazing that so many Christians, who find themselves in the midst of one of life’s trials, had rather put their confidence in their own wits and wisdom than to rely upon the all-knowing and all-powerful God. Let me illustrate:
The Boy Scout
A noted brain surgeon, Dr. Bronson Ray, was taking a stroll when he saw a boy on a scooter smash headfirst into a tree. Realizing that the boy was seriously injured, the doctor told a bystander to call an ambulance.
As he proceeded to administer first aid, a boy not much older than the injured one, nudged through the crowd that had gathered and said to Dr. Ray, “I’d better take over now, sir. I’m a Boy Scout, and I know first aid.”4
[4] As a passing observation, let me point out that, in verse 22, Paul comforted his shipmates by telling them that God had shown him that there would be no loss of life, but that there would be loss of the ship. We can apply that, in principle, to God’s work in our lives. God sometimes permits the loss of our ship (whatever we’re depending on, other than our faith in God, such as our health, possessions, friendships and connections, or our abilities) so that He can expose where our real security lies. “…Whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Rom. 14:23b).
D. Commitment Is Seen In Our Steadfastness In The Storms.
Acts 27:27 “But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;
…………………………………………………………..
30 And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under color as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,
31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.”
NOTE: This incident also gives us a principle about commitment. When the pressure is on, and stays on, those not fully committed to the Lord, will look for ways to quit—“jump ship,” if you will. The pressures of the last days are exposing those possessed of true commitment to Christ, and those who are not. Churches all over this nation are seeing a lot of folks “jump ship.” In these dark days, we need Christians who are steadfast. Don’t retire on God; re-fire.
“I often wish that I could lie down and sleep without waking. But I will fight it out if I can.” So wrote one of the bravest, most inspiring men who ever lived, Sir Walter Scott. In his 56th year, failing in health, his wife dying of an incurable disease, Scott was in debt a half million dollars. A publishing firm he had invested in had collapsed. He might have taken bankruptcy, but shrank from the stain. From his creditors he asked only time. Thus began his race with death, a valiant effort to pay off the debt before he died.5
E. Commitment Is Seen In Our Sustenance In The Storms.
Acts 27:33 “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.
34 Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.
35 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.
36 Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.”
NOTE: This ship and its occupants had been tossed up and down for 14 days, by an unrelenting storm. Due to being preoccupied with their survival, they had neglected to eat anything during that time. If we’re not careful, we Christians can neglect the Word of God, which is our spiritual sustenance and strength, during the storms of life. Matthew 4:4 says, “…Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
II. LIFE’S SHIPWRECKS
A. Commitment Does Not Prevent Disaster.
Acts 27:39 “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.
40 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.
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.”
NOTE: Just because the child of God is fully committed to Christ does not mean that his or her life will be excluded from life’s mishaps and disasters. This was clearly demonstrated in the life of Paul the Apostle. As if it weren’t bad enough that he was unjustly made a prisoner of Rome, he was also subjected to a raging ocean storm for two weeks, without anything to eat. Now, on top of all that, he was forced to swim for his life in a raging ocean. But even this did not convince Paul to throw his hands up and quit on God. He had received God’s promise that he was going to Rome, to give testimony for Christ, so he knew he would live through this ordeal.
B. Commitment Does Provide For Deliverance.
Acts 27:42 “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.”
NOTE: Those committed to the Lord are not exempt from problems. But in spite of them, God will allow nothing to prevent them from fulfilling His purposes. As long as Paul was committed to God, he would be preserved until God’s work through him was complete. Overcoming problems has a lot to do with one’s perspective.
Turning Dirt Into A Ladder
The late Jerry Clower told a story about Uncle Versie Ledbetter, who had a mule named Della. One day Della fell into a cistern Uncle Versie thought he had covered up but hadn’t. Uncle Versie had a problem. There was his best mule down at the bottom of that cistern and no way he could get the mule out of there. He didn’t want her to stay down there and starve to death, so he decided he would get a shovel and cover her up. It would be cruel, but it wouldn’t be as cruel and inhumane as to let Della starve to death in the bottom of that deep cistern.
Uncle Versie took a shovel full of dirt and threw it down into the cistern, and every time a shovel full of dirt hit old Della, she’d shake the dirt off and stomp it. It wasn’t long before Della had shaken off enough dirt and stomped it so that she was high enough to jump out of the cistern.
In this life we will have a lot of dirt thrown at us. Criticism, hardships and trials are bound to come our way. We can react negatively to these situations, or we can act in faith and trust God to use the problems as a blessing in our lives. When the world throws dirt at you, use it for a ladder. If you don’t handle it properly, the dirt could form your grave!6
III. LIFE’S SERVICE
A. Committed Saints Serve Despite The Attack Of The Serpent.
Acts 28:1 “And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
2 And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.”
NOTE: The Bible refers to Satan as a serpent (Gen. 3; Rev. 12:9; 20:2), who is crafty and deceptive. 1 Peter 5:8 also tells us that he is like a lion, who is on the prowl, looking for prey to devour. We can be certain that if one is fully committed to Christ, the devil will do everything he can to hinder that person’s efforts for the Lord. Never has there been a committed Christian, who has not at some time or the other, felt the searing pain of the Serpent’s fangs. But they shake him off by the authority and power of Christ, and continue to serve Jesus (Rev. 12:11).
Jesus was full of the Holy Ghost, and yet He was tempted. Temptation often comes upon a man with its strongest power when he is nearest to God. As someone has said, “The devil aims high.” He got one apostle to say he did not even know Christ.
Very few men have such conflicts with the devil as Martin Luther had. Why? Because Martin Luther was going to shake the very kingdom of hell. Oh, what conflicts John Bunyan had!
If a man has much of the Spirit of God, he will have great conflicts with the tempter. God permits temptation because it does for us what the storms do for the oaks—it roots us; and what the fire does for the paintings on the porcelain—it makes them permanent.
You never know that you have a grip on Christ, or that He has a grip on you, as well as when the devil is using all his force to attract you from Him; then you feel the pull of Christ’s right hand. —Selected7
B. Committed Saints Serve Despite The Adversity Of The Situation.
Acts 28:7 “In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.
8 And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux (“dysentery”8): to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.
9 So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:
10 Who also honored us with many honors; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.”
NOTE: Keep in mind that Paul was a prisoner of Rome. Yet, in spite of all that he’d already endured, he was willing to minister to the heathen people of Melita. But why would Paul do a thing like that? It was simply because he was committed to Christ, not to his comforts. Paul saw in every situation, a possible opportunity to serve the Christ to whom he was committed. This is the character of true commitment to Christ.
Theme: The character of true commitment is demonstrated in…
I. LIFE’S STORMS
II. LIFE’S SHIPWRECKS
III. LIFE’S SERVICE
End Notes:
1 Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. All rights reserved, pg. 1311.
2 Ron Lee Davis, Courage to Begin Again, (Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, OR; 1978), pp. 184-186.
3 Ron Dunn, LifeStyle Ministries.
4 Source unknown. Acquired from bible.org.
5 Source unknown. Acquired from higherpraise.com.
6 Dr. J. Mike Minnix, Editor, PastorLife.
7 Streams In The Desert, December 19, 2008, Compiled by Mrs. Charles Cowman, “God Permits Temptation.”
8 Charles F. Pfeiffer, Old Testament Editor, and Everett F. Harrison, New Testament Editor, Copyright © 1962 by The Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Illinois; pg. 1176.
