The Journey: Following Jesus through Acts (10)
Scott Bayles, pastor
Scripture: Acts 27:13-44
Blooming Grove Christian Church: 8/27/2017
If you’re new to the Grove or just visiting today, we are coming to the end of a ten-week journey through the book of Acts.
The book of Act deals with the history of the Christian church and its expansion in ever-widening circles. Acts shows the mighty miracles and testimonies of the heroes and martyrs of the early church—Peter, Stephen, Phillip, Paul and others. Everything they did was prompted and held together by the Holy Spirit, working in the lives of ordinary people—merchants, travelers, slaves, jailers, church leaders, men, women, Gentiles, Jews, rich and poor. Every page of the book of Acts announces God is alive and active! He still is.
So as we bring this journey to an end, we’ve got time for one last adventure—one last swashbuckling story of danger and derring-do. That story is found in Act 27. Now, obviously a lot has happened since we left Paul and Silas at the Philippian Jailer’s house in Acts 16. After leaving Philippi, Paul continued his missionary journeys, traveling to great cities such as Athens, Corinth, Ephesus, and Greece. And everywhere Paul went some—like Priscilla and Aquila—believed and became Christians. Others responded with anger and aggression. Eventually, Paul returns to Jerusalem where an angry mob of Jews riots and drags Paul outside the city to stone him. A regiment of Roman soldiers came to Paul’s rescue, but ended up placing him under arrest. He stood trial before the High Council, then Roman governor Felix, then governor Festus, and finally King Agrippa. When Paul realizes he was getting nowhere with these corrupt officials, he appeals to Caesar.
And so Paul must travel to Rome, under heavy guard, to stand trial before the most powerful man in the world. Paul’s journey would take him from Caesarea all the way across the Mediterranean Sea to Italy. Along the way, Paul, his companions, fellow prisoners, and the Romans supervising his transportation, encountered some rough waters. Here’s how Luke describes it:
When a light wind began blowing from the south, the sailors thought they could make it. So they pulled up anchor and sailed close to the shore of Crete. But the weather changed abruptly, and a wind of typhoon strength (called a “northeaster”) burst across the island and blew us out to sea. The sailors couldn’t turn the ship into the wind, so they gave up and let it run before the gale… The next day, as gale-force winds continued to batter the ship, the crew began throwing the cargo overboard. The following day they even took some of the ship’s gear and threw it overboard. The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone. (Act 27:13-20 NLT)
Luke wasn’t speaking metaphorically as he wrote about the terrible storm that engulfed the Alexandrian vessel bound for Italy; the waves were real, the danger genuine. Nevertheless, it’s easy to see the parallels between Paul’s journey to Rome and our own journey through life.
You may be weathering one of life’s storms right now—maybe it’s a financial storm or a family storm or a faith storm. Storms come in all shapes and sizes. And when we’re battered by the storms of life day after day, it can feel like we’re being swallowed by darkness and all hope is gone.
But I think Paul’s journey can give us some hope for own journey. In the midst of the storm, Paul called out to the crew of the ship, “Take courage!” (vs. 22) and Paul himself demonstrated boldness and bravery. So, how can you and I—like Paul—not only survive the storms of life, but have courage and confidence in the midst of them? Let me spotlight four things that gave Paul and his companions hope when all hope was gone. First, we can find courage in God’s presence.
• GOD’S PRESENCE
Paul wasn’t alone on the seas; the Lord was with him. Paul received a vivid reminder of that truth when an angel appeared to him. He announces to the fearful crew, “Take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me” (Acts 27:22-23 NLT).
It would be a blessing if we could enjoy the manifest presence of the Lord as Paul did. But even when you cannot see Him, He is still there: watching, leading, protecting, being God. You don’t have to see an angel standing beside you to experience God’s presence.
Jesus told his followers, including you and me, “I am with you always, even to the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20 TLB). When we’re in the midst of the storm, it can feel like our world is coming to an end. Sometimes it feels like the world is crumbling all around us. But even then, Jesus is right there with you.
Tony Compolo says that when he was a boy growing up in a congested and bustling city, his mother arranged for a teenage girl who lived nearby to walk home with him after school each day. But when Tony started second grade, he wanted to exercise some independence. So he begged and pleaded with his mom to let him walk to and from school alone. Eventually, little Tony got his way. For the next two years he walked himself back and forth to school. It was an eight-block walk with many streets to cross, but he was careful and didn’t talk to strangers or get distracted along the way. Years later at a family gathering, he bragged about his independence as a child and reminded his family of how he walked to school by himself as a boy. His mother suddenly burst out laughing! “Did you really think you were alone?” she asked. “Every morning when you left for school, I left with you. I walked half a block behind you all the way. When you got out of school in the afternoon, I was waiting around the corner. I followed you all the way home. You never saw me, but I was always there, just in case you needed me.”
What Tony’s mom did for him, God does for us. We may not see him, but he’s always with us. In fact, God has promised us in his word: “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown” (Isaiah 43:2 NLT). I don’t know about you, but I would rather be in a storm with God than anywhere else without Him. So, if you are one of life’s storms, remember that God is with you. Trust Him. He will not abandon you or let you down. He will be with you wherever you go.
Further, when we’re trying to survive the storms of life, we can find courage in God’s plans.
• GOD’S PLANS
When this angel appeared to Paul, he didn’t just stand there. He spoke. He said, “Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you” (Acts 27:24 NLT).
The angel reminded Paul that God had a plan for his life. God wanted Paul to stand trial before Caesar. God knew that giving Paul and audience with the most powerful man in the Roman Empire could change everything. Taking the Gospel to capital of the most powerful and widespread nation in the world would hasten it’s spread to the ends of the Earth. This was God’s plan for Paul and no storm, no matter how severe, could threaten those plans.
The truth is—God has a plan for you, too. Buried in the Old Testament book of Jeremiah is one of the most reassuring passages of the Bible. Many of you even know it by heart. It’s a verse that’s so full of hope that we cling to it like a buoy in the stormy seas of life: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV).
This verse reminds us that God’s plotting for our good. In all the setbacks, He is ordaining the best for our future. Every event of our day is designed to draw us toward our God and our destiny. Remember that these words were spoken to a displaced, defeated, depressed group of exiles. They had hung their harps on the willow trees and lost their song. But with the Lord, things are never hopeless. God had a plan for the Israelites. He had a plan for Paul. He has a plan for you!
I’ve had some pretty turbulent and trying experiences in life. And, in the midst of them, it’s impossible to see how any of it could be part of God’s plan. But having come through the storm and being able to look back on it, I can now see what God was doing in my life. And, if He hadn’t brought me into those storms, I wouldn’t be here today.
You are in the hands of the living, loving God! Your life is a crafted narrative written by a good God, working toward your supreme good. God is not making up a plan as he goes along. Nor did he wind up the clock and walk away. God’s purpose, plan and promise is to work out the events of human history and your life in particular for the good—to give you hope and a future, an eternity with Jesus.
So when you find yourself in one of life’s storms, you can find courage in God’s plans. Furthermore, find courage in God’s people.
• GOD’S PEOPLE
After the angel of the Lord appeared to Paul and encouraged him, Paul turns right around and encourages the crew of the ship. He calls the crew together and announces, “So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said” (Acts 27:25 NLT). That’s twice in as many verse that Paul tells the crew to “take courage!”
Then, in the wee hours of the morning, Paul gathered everyone together again and said, “You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for two weeks. Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish” (Acts 27:33-34 NLT).
Luke adds, “Then everyone was encouraged and began to eat—all 276 of us who were on board” (Acts 27:36-37 NLT).
We need to realize that—like Paul—whatever storm you’re caught in, you are not alone. There were 276 other people all experiencing the same storm as Paul. And whatever trials and troubles you’re facing, there are other people who’ve been there—and survived.
God gave us the church so that we wouldn’t have to face the storms of life alone. Sometimes we need to be like the crew of the ship. We need to find a godly person like Paul, who’s been where we are, and let that person encourage us. And other times need to be like Paul. We need to be the ones offering encouragement.
Paul puts it like this: “God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NLT).
God never wastes a hurt. In fact, your greatest ministry will likely come from your greatest misery. Who better to encourage the parents of Down syndrome child than another couple who have child afflicted in the same way? Who could better help an alcoholic recover than someone who fought that demon and found freedom? Who could better comfort a wife whose husband left her or had an affair than a woman who went through the same agony?
I’m convinced that God allows us to experience certain storms to prepare us to minister to others when they go through the same storms. But whichever side of the storm you’re on, it’s about getting through it together! That’s what Paul and his fellow travelers did.
So when you’re caught on the stormy seas of life, you can find courage in God’s Presence, God’s Plans, God’s People, and—finally—godly prayers.
• GODLY PRAYERS
As the storm continued to rage and the seas level began to drop, the sailors feared that the ship would soon be smashed into the rocks along the shore. So, the Bible says, “they threw out four anchors from the back of the ship and prayed for daylight” (Acts 27:29 NLT).
If you were aboard that ship, you better believe you’d be praying too! When we face life’s challenges, when we struggle with our decisions, when storms strike and waves crash, when our faith is tested—every Christian can lift up his/her tear-stained face toward heaven and say, “Father,” and the God of the universe turns his head and bends his ear to listen.
Prayer is our greatest resource and our greatest solace. Someone once said, “When life knocks you to your knees—well, that’s the best position in which to pray, isn’t it?” And while you’re down there, don’t just pray for daylight. Give thanks. That’s what Paul did.
Remember when Paul encouraged everybody to eat? The Bible says, “Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it. Then everyone was encouraged and began to eat” (Acts 27:35-36 NLT). Can you just picture this!? The ship is being tossed and spun on the white tops of angry waves. The crew is fearful and famished. Yet, Paul stops not just to pray, but to give thanks!
Yes, the sun and the star are blotted out by dark clouds. Yes, thunder is cracking and lighting is flashing. Yes, the ship is about to break apart on the rocks along the shore. Yes, the hull of the ship smells like vomit because of all passengers getting sea-sick. But Paul had bread. So, Paul stopped everything and thanked God for the bread! And when Paul gave thanks, people found courage.
This is how we overcome dread, doubt, depression and darkness—by giving thanks! The Bible says, “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (Thessalonians 5:18 NLT). When the tempest is raging and the sky is overshadowed with blackness, start counting your blessing. Even on your worst day, you can find a thousand things to be thankful for. And as your heart fills with gratitude, the darkness dissipates and courage takes hold.
Conclusion:
So I’ll bet you’re wondering what happened to Paul and the other passengers. When morning dawned, they spotted a bay with a beach. So they cut off the anchors, raised the sail, and ran the ship aground. The bow of the ship struck fast and the stern was repeated smashed by the force of the waves until broke apart. The commanding officer ordered those who could swim to jump overboard swim for shore. The rest held on to planks or debris from the broken ship. So everyone escaped safely to shore. Three months later, Paul finally arrived at Rome to wait his day in court.
I think that Paul’s nautical adventure is a fitting end to our journey through the book of Acts. Like Paul, we’re all on a journey. Like, him we’ve set out to follow Jesus wherever he may lead us. Along the way, Paul made several unplanned stops, got stuck in a storm, got off course, and took a lot longer to reach his destination than he expected. The same will probably be true for you and me.
But as long as we trust in God’s presence, God’s plans, God’s people, and godly prayers—we’ll reach the end of our journey safe and sound, just like Paul.
You may have noticed that Acts doesn’t have a conclusion. It ends abruptly with Paul still awaiting trial and still sharing Jesus with anyone who will listen. That’s because the book of Acts—the history of the church—never really ends. Every generation writes the next chapter. Right now, it’s our turn. It’s up to us to continue the journey. The question is—where will your journey with Jesus take you?
Invitation:
In the meantime, maybe you’re weathering one of life storms right now. I’d love to encourage you the way Paul did his fellow passengers. You can talk to me after church, call me at home, or come forward while we stand and sing.
