Today’s key passage is found in Acts 28:1-10
I want us to start in chapter 24, to see how we get to chapter 27, as we examine chapter 28 (are ya with me so far?)
Chapter 24- Paul is accused of inciting an insurrection
Chapter 25- Since Paul is a Roman citizen, he makes an appeal to Caesar
Chapter 26- Leading up to the appeal, he recounts his early life before his conversion to Christianity and we’ll touch on that a little later
Chapter 27- We see that Paul begins his journey to Rome
• The voyage is to be taken by ship from Caeserea(Kay-sa-REE-a) to Rome and it is about a 2000 mile journey, for safe travel reasons they will be hugging the coastlines of the Mediterranean Sea.
• Along the way, Paul advises the Roman Centurion of a path they should take, but the centurion ignores Paul’s advice, and as a result a violent storm pushes the ship, carrying 276 passengers, many of them Roman prisoners, out to sea.
• This storm lasts for 14 days, and was so violent that the crew feared the ship would go down at any moment. They couldn’t see any sunlight in the day, nor any stars, at night. I can imagine they were feeling very claustrophobic.
• Runs aground at Malta.
o Malta is an island situated just south of Sicily, and east of North Africa. It was an important strategic military base because of how it sat in a tight area between Western Italy and Northern Africa. Whatever empire held this base, largely controlled what entered into that northern part of the Mediterranean Sea.
o Although not a strategic military base, it is very much situated as the Bahamas are to Miami and Havana Cuba. But there is a much different strategic importance for Malta as we’ll soon see.
o
The title of today’s message is:
Shipwrecked
The purpose of the message is for us to consider what we do with our shipwrecks.
Because we all have them!
---Prayer-----
Acts 28:1-10
Stand with me as we honor God while reading His word.
v.2- Besides being near the ocean, another favorite pastime of mine is being around a campfire.
In our backyard we have a burn pit that is about 8ft wide, and about 2 ft deep, surrounded by a rock wall of about a foot tall.
I love getting Lisa and the kids together and listening to music while we watch the fire burn.
• v.2 They kindled a fire and made us all welcome
o You see, it was raining and cold. Make you welcome?
• v.3- Paul gathered a bundle of sticks (Tristan is usually our stick gatherer when we have a fire)
o A viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
? I can see coming soon to a CPC near year a sermon titled “Vipers”
• Tell the story of John Wayne:
• v.4 Church I want y’all to catch this as I re-read v.4:
o Read from my bible
o No doubt this is a murderer:
? A few weeks back many of you heard the message: Damascus or Emmaus.
? I assumed every one knew the story of who Saul was before he became Paul.
? I want to read a verse for you that introduces Saul to us. Acts 7:58
• “And they cast him out (Apostle Stephen) of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the fee of a young man named Saul.”
• Saul was a persecutor of Christians, and he condoned the murder of Stephen!
• Read Acts 28:4 again then say:
Look what God has done with Paul, the murderer formerly known as Saul. These people were amazed that nothing happened to Paul after the serpent latched onto his hand!
This is what God can do.
We are about to discover the REAL reason for the shipwreck. Don’t misunderstand, the CAUSE the shipwreck was the storm, but that wasn’t the REASON for the shipwreck!
The storms of life were nothing new to Paul. Let’s look at Acts 16:25.
Back in my twenties I learned a management philosophy of being reactive vs. being proactive.
Being proactive is preparing yourself for life’s situations.
Being reactive is largely a result of poor preparation, therefore usually not a good outcome.
Acts 16:25 (read from my bible)
Set up beginning in
• v.16-slave girl with demon spirit who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling
• v.17-she was shouting in the streets in a mocking way about what the apostles were doing.
• v.18 after many of days of this, Paul had had enough, and commanded the spirit out of her. And the spirit obeyed the command and came out of her.
• v.19 masters saw their golden egg had been cracked, they took these men to the magistrates and the multitude arose against them
• v.23 beaten and thrown into prison
• v.25-26 read from my bible
o The Holy Spirit had come upon Paul, and he was prepared for the storm!
Here’s the crux of today’s word:
And I’m calling this “from shipwreck to revival”
V.8-9 read from my bible
• 3 months they were there.
• Scripture says “the rest of those on the island” were healed.
• We need to be aware that in the middle of storms, troubles, and trials God is still in control and He is with us!
• Your shipwreck, just like Pauls’ is no mistake.
? This is about your testimony and how your testimony brings about revival for those around you! (REPEAT THIS)
? Shipwreck to revival
• History tells us that the shipwreck led to the first Christian church in the west, right there in Malta, and that Publius(PUB-lee-us) was the first pastor in the west, right there in Malta! The first Christian church of the west, was born out of a shipwreck!
• Don’t you let the devil tell you that your shipwreck is your ending- It’s your beginning!!!
• Because the same power that was in Malta 2,000 years ago, is in you today!
• The purpose of all miracles, but especially healing ones, is to authenticate the gospel message.
• We aren’t told in scripture that Paul brought the gospel to the people of this island, but simply knowing Paul’s story, we can be confident that he did, and many were undoubtably saved.
• I want you to receive what I am about to say as a soul tattoo- The greatest joy next to the joy of your own salvation is winning another soul to Christ.
o Marinate in that a minute (repeat it)
Call worship team up.
• Your shipwreck is someone else’s miracle
• Your shipwreck is the beginning of a revival
• Your shipwreck is someone else’s healing
• Your shipwreck lays the groundwork for a ministry
• Your shipwreck is a sweet aroma to God as you surrender to Him
