IT MAY TAKE A STORM TO FIND GOD’S PLAN… WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IT!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
THE TARGET OF THE GOSPEL.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
When I was teaching school I had a very wise Pastor named Ralph Tennyson. He was a super pastor. One day after the sermon a member asked: PASTOR, DID YOU PREACH THAT SERMON TO ME? I was so surprised by his answer. He looked right in her eyes and said: OF, COURSE I PREACHED IT TO YOU! GOD NEVER CALLED ME TO PREACH TO WALLS OR TO PEWS. He said: GOD CALLED ME TO PREACH TO PEOPLE! Many times through the years I have referred to his wisdom. God does not call people to teach and preach to pews and walls. God said: Go into all the world and preach and teach the gospel TO PEOPLE. My dear friend we have good news you can use if you choose. We have a duty and responsibility to go and to send… GOD IS THE I AM OF DELIVERANCE!
GOD CALLED THE PREACHER PAUL TO REACH THE GENTILES. GOD TOLD PAUL I AM SENDING YOU TO ROME WITH THE GOSPEL MESSAGE.
Paul travelled much of the known world of his day. Paul and his fellow workers had been in CAESAREA. Paul knew in his heart that God was calling him to go to ITALY. Paul was a prisoner. He was accompanied by a Roman soldier. They found a GRAIN SHIP ready to leave port and head toward Rome. The ship sailed from Caesarea to a port named FAIR HAVENS.
Paul was given liberty to minister to some friends. Then they loaded up on the ship and sailed toward CYPRUS BECAUSE THERE SEEMED TO BE SOME CONTRARY WINDS. They sailed off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia.
Paul’s guard found an Alexandrian ship and they loaded on it. THE CONTRARY WINDS CAUSED THE PROGRESS OF THE SHIP TO BE VERY SLOW… SO THE SHIP DOCKED AT FAIR HAVENS. Paul was much different than the other prisoners the guards were transporting. Many of the prisoners were terrible criminals and they would die in the arena in Rome.
I AM TELLING YOU!!! WARNING! DANGER! DANGER! LISTEN TO ME! PAUL HAD A MESSAGE TO THE GUARDS AND TO THE CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP. WHY SHOULD AN EXPERIENCED CAPTAIN OF A SHIP LISTEN TO THE DUMB LAND LOVER PREACHER… HE KNOWS NOTHING ABOUT SHIPS…
Acts 27:9 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, 10 And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.
Paul was not just a land lover. Paul knew God and he was filled with the Holy Spirit. He had a gift of discernment. Paul knew as the contrary winds had slowed down their journey that they had lost much of the opportunity of traveling in good weather patterns. They were rapidly approaching the season of foul, stormy weather. Paul speaks loud and clear: there will be much danger if we proceed. Perhaps the ship, the crew and passengers will face the great danger. They could lose all the cargo of grain from Egypt that is going to Rome. But there is a possibility of death! Listen to me. Listen there is great danger ahead. PLEASE LET US STAY HERE UNTIL THE DANGEROUS WEATHER HAS PASSED. PAUL ADVICE TO WAIT IS IGNORED AND OVERRIDDEN.
WE SEEK PLEASURE AND COMFORT! WHO ARE YOU GOING TO BELIEVE? CAPTAIN? PREACHER? THIS IS NOT THE BEST HARBOR FOR US. LET US FIND A MORE COMFORTABLE PORT UNTIL THE STORMS PASS OVER… NO WAY? Acts 27:11 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul. 12 And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.
SMOOTH! SMOOTH! SEE THE CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP KNOWS MORE THAN THAT DUMB OLD PREACHER… WE CAN PROVE HIM WRONG… PULL UP THE ANCHOR --- LET’S GO! WE LOVE THE SMOOTH WATER…
Acts 27:13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.
DISOBEDIENCE HAS CONSEQUENCES. THERE IS NO TURNING BACK --- SMOOTH SAILING? THE SHIP’S SMOOTH SAILING IS TEMPORARY… A WIND OF GAIL FORCE COMES ON THE SHIP. IT’S TOO LATE! SORRY WE CAN’T TURN AROUND… THE SHIP IS AT THE MERCY OF THE BOISTEROUS WAVES AND WINDS.
Acts 27:14 But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.
ONE OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT LISTENING TO THE PREACHER IS WORRY, DEPRESSION, GLOOM AND FEAR. FEAR COMES AS A DIRECT RESULT OF BYPASSING THE OBEDIENCE OF THE MAN OF GOD…
Acts 27:17 Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.
We have lost all the control of this situation… Now all we can do is RIDEOUT THIS STORM. All the cargo is thrown overboard and we are still in danger… THE TEMPTIOUS IS TOSSING OUR VESSEL.
ALL HOPE OF ANY RESCUE FROM THIS STORM SEEMS DOOMED? THIS NOT LISTENING TO THE PREACHER WILL BE VERY EXPENSIVE. WE HAVE LOST EVERYTHING. WE HAVE EVEN LOST ALL HOPE. MANY DAYS OF HOPELESSNESS…. HOPE IS GONE JUST LIKE THE CARGO. NO SUN? NO MOON? NO STARS?
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.
WE DID NOT HAVE TO BE IN THIS STORM!!! YOU DID NOT LISTEN TO MY MESSAGE BEFORE, NOW I AM TELLING YOU LISTEN TO ME! LISTEN… I TOLD YOU! I WARNED YOU! NOW LISTEN! SEA SICK? GREEN AT THE GILLS? WEAK FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO EAT AND HOLD DOWN THE FOOD?
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.
ROMAN GUARDS, I TOLD YOU! CAPTAIN YOU SHOULD HAVE LISTENED. We could have avoided all these troubles and trials and loss of cargo if you had just listened to my message...
WE NEED TO RECEIVE ENCOURAGEMENT DURING THE STORM. PAUL SAYS YOU DIDN’T LISTEN TO ME BEFORE BUT GOD HAS MERCY. LISTEN TO ME NOW… HOPELESS? HELPLESS? DOOMED? I HAVE GOOD NEWS YOU CAN USE IF YOU CHOOSE… BE OF GOOD CHEER…
Acts 27:22 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.
ARE WE IN A SELF INFLICTED STORM? SO WHAT! LOOK UP --- THE SUN WILL SHINE AGAIN. This ship will be lost, but listen to me not one life has to be lost… 276, THIS IS CONDITIONAL…
WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IT… GOD HAS HEARD MY PRAYERS… WE HAD A VISITOR ON THE SHIP LAST NIGHT… THE MESSAGE NOW IS CLEAR… DON’T GIVE UP, GOD HAS A PLAN…WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IT… CONDITIONAL…
Acts 27:23 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.
THE ANCHOR HOLDS: SOMETIMES ALL WE CAN DO IS DROP THE ANCHOR AND WISH FOR THE DAY…
Acts 27:29 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.
THE BRUTAL STORM AND DESTRUCTIVE WINDS HAVE TAKEN THEIR TOLL… LET US JUMP SHIP! --- WE HAVE SOME LIFE BOATS --- WE WILL ALL DO OUR OWN LITTLE THING. EXCEPT YOU STAY WITH THE OLD SHIP OF ZION… YOU DROWN!
Acts 27:30 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, 31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
CONCLUSION: We may have lost all hope? The ship is tattered and battered. Face the storm but listen to the old preacher. No matter how broken the ship appears grab and hold on to, rap yourself around a broken piece… HOLD ON! HOLD ON! GET A BROKEN PLANK AND HOLD ON… THIS STORM IS A LESSON… TRUST GOD’S PLAN.
Acts 27:44 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.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
I AM, I AM THAT I AM… I AM THE SAME GOD THAT DELIVER 276 FOR PAUL WILL DELIVER YOU!
