What sank the ship? Acts 27:9 – 25
Paul was on his way to Rome as a prisoner, aboard a grain ship with 276 people on board.
They were laid over in a harbor called Fairhaven, and faced the decision on whether to sail on or wait there.
They knew that storms were coming because of the time a year that it was.
They had a choice!
3 stages of life. We also have seasons in life.
Before the storm during the storm results of the storm.
We all face storms – We can choose how we deal with them.
Which path will take.
What direction we will go.
How we deal with the aftermath.
Storms are inevitable – trials, temptations, struggles, tribulations.
The storms may not be of our making – they may be out of our control.
Storms will come to life.
The storm did not sink the ship! – Bad decisions sank the ship.
Acts 27:9 – 13
5 contributing factors to the sinking of a ship.
1. Impatience (9) “The fast was now already passed.”
Late September or early October – winter is coming (hurricane season for us).
Have you ever got ahead of God’s plan for your life, or taken a risk on your own? Paul is going to Rome by divine appointment. Obstacles get in the way and God can use them to reveal himself.
God does not work on our time – how well we know.
I’m not a patient person – I want it now, I want right now, or I’ll get someone else or do it myself.
(10) No time to listen to the man of God – they just couldn’t wait.
Waiting on God is hard – it is also arrogant.
Waiting on God is humbling – Patience is a learning experience.
The ships staff got impatient and the results of their impatience headed them into a storm that they could have avoided.
Some of their impatience caused procrastination. They were not forced to make a hasty decision. They knew the seasons.
2. Expert advice (10) “Nevertheless the Centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship.”
The Centurion was persuaded by the owner of the ship.
Soldier persuaded by a sailor.
Expert – former spurt.
Experts built the Titanic but Noah built the ark.
Advice is easy to get – it comes from everywhere and everyone.
Self-help books fly off the shelves yet we get worse with each generation.
Commentaries on every subject and everyone has an opinion.
But true wisdom comes from God!
We must be careful where we get our advice from – there are a lot of experts but there are few truly wise men.
3. Looking for a comfortable situation. (12)
“And because the Haven was not suitable/commodious to winter in.”
“The easy life is the life for me.”
Everybody likes the easy way. The most comfort with the least effort.
A. Comfort is great – We find comfort in the Lord.
We find comfort in the Holy Spirit – he is our comforter.
B. Being comfortable can lead to complacency.
Unmotivated, uncaring, on driven, and lazy.
Churches are dying all around us because people want to do anything they just want to receive.
Consumerism has contaminated many churches.
We must get out of our comfort zone, off of our pew, and put in effort to get reward.
Example – athletics and finances.
Athletes know that they must work, work out, and work at their craft to become better. Professional athletics is now a year-round job to stay in shape.
Finances require effort – If you don’t work you don’t get paid.
If you want more you must get better your job.
What you did is not enough – what you can or will do is what bring success.
Life is not easy.
An axiom – “You can have anything you want if you’re willing to sacrifice enough for it.”
Where are our priorities?
Are you looking for an easy life/comfortable situation?
4. Listening to the majority (12) “The more part advised.”
Do we hear the preacher or to the people?
Do we listen to God or two good men?
Democracy is based on biblical principles that it is not God’s method of government.
God is in control – public opinion is not considered.
No matter what we think or how many there are of us we cannot override God.
Examples – 10 of the 12 spies advised against entering Canaan.
The majority ended up dying in the wilderness.
Korah and his 250 were swallowed up by the earth because of rebellion.
The majority is not always right they are just the majority.
Being a Christian is not popular in our current culture, but it is necessary for eternal life, heavens reward, and God’s blessings.
5. Favorable circumstances (13)
“Supposing that they had obtained their purpose.”
We cannot live our lives based on circumstances.
Good decisions are based on circumstances.
“If” this happens then it must mean that I should….
“If” statements are very dangerous games.
Circumstances can be manipulated or interpreted any way that we choose.
God does not authorize nor does he condone our assessments of circumstances as his direction for our lives.
Satan will send you false messages, tell you lies, manipulate circumstances, and give you only half of the truth.
Our obedience to the guiding and direction of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God may not always lead us to favorable circumstances, but they will always lead us to blessed ones.
Acts 27:14 – 25
“In the midst of the storm (14) but not long after.”
A storm they didn’t have to face, but because of bad decisions they were in.
Despite the warnings of God’s man they set sail.
They planned to stay close to the shore but the storm drove the farther out than they wanted and the seas battered them more than they expected.
Sin will do that!
Euroclydon – a Northeaster (hurricane).
Three days into the storm despair sets in – 14 total days.
One bad day is bad enough – two weeks will destroy most of us.
(17) They tried to fix it on their own – use tables to undergird the ship.
We will use our resources and our strengths to save us.
They tried to work it out on their own – struck sail.
We will just ride it out and hope for the best.
(19) They tried to get rid of things, lighten their load.
They through the tackle overboard.
We try to make deals like that with God.
“God if you’ll save me from this storm I will…
quit my bad habits – attend church more – tithe –read my Bible – pray.”
These are all things we need to do anyway!
(18) exceedingly tempest tossed (20) no small tempest. (20) All hope is gone.
There’s nothing else that they can do.
They have exhausted all of their resources.
(20 – 22) Paul speaks up – he has a word from God during the storm.
1. The storm will wreck the ship.
There are always consequences for disobedience.
2. The storm will not take your life.
God is in total control and he can keep you through the storms.
3 statements of faith.
1. (23) Comfort in the storm “Who’s I am”
We are kept, sealed, secured, and protected by the mighty hand of God.
Storms will come but God will protect his people.
John 10:29 “My father, which gave them to me is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my father’s hand.”
Satan can’t take me – I’m a child of the King!
I can have comfort in God – not in my circumstances.
2. (23) Confidence in the storm “Whom I serve”
Paul is confident that God will accomplish his will in Paul’s life.
Romans 8:28 “we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, who are called according to his purpose.”
I can have confidence in God – he is proven that the Paul and to me.
3. (25) Confirmation in the storm “For I believe God”
Strong and unwavering even in the midst of the storm.
Hebrews 13:5 “Let your conversation be without covetousness: and be content with such things as you have: for he has said I will never leave the nor forsake thee.”
I can have confirmation in God’s word and in my spirit for his guiding and loving hand.
When we decide to do things our own way, we put ourselves in perilous situations.
“You can choose your sin but not your consequences.”
We must watch out for: impatience expert advice comfortable situations majority advice favorable circumstances.
If you choose these over God’s word you are in for ferocious storm.
Storms are coming – how are you going to deal with them?
Will you stand comforted by God (whose I am) with confidence in him (who I serve) through the confirmation of God’s word (I believe God) and the testimonies of other storm survivors.
Maybe you are in the storms now and you need God’s protection.
Maybe you just survived the storm and you need to praise God.
Maybe you’re headed into a storm and you need direction from God.
Wherever you are in your journey God is available.
The storms of life are inevitable.
Do not put yourself in the path of a storm because of bad decisions.
Don’t think you can work it out.
Don’t face the storms alone.
God can and will accomplish His will for your life if we will be obedient.
Paul was on a journey with God for God to Rome and the storms were just obstacles that God used to reveal Himself
