To the Ends of the Earth, Part 40
6 Pictures of God’s Provision (Part 2)
Acts 27:27-44
Introduction
- Welcome to Seasons Church & 2024 sermon series, “To the Ends of the Earth”
-- Last week we began our examination of chapter 27 with three pictures
• A picture of the journey to Rome (Paul’s final journey)
• A picture of greed and Godly counsel (man’s choices vs. God’s way)
• A picture of a deceptive calm and great courage (Paul’s boldness in a storm)
- KEY: The testimony of faith in God is enduring to the end; through the trials!
-- Jesus said in Matthew 24:12-13, “Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
- Paul’s declaration was that he knew (intimate) God’s faithfulness!
• Even in the midst of this pending trial in Rome, God would be faithful
• Even in this disastrous storm, with a shipwreck ahead, God is (still) good
• Even in face of a no-win situation, God still wins if you belong to Him!
- Today we will finish this dramatic story with what I hope will be two things:
-- An understanding of who God is and a strengthening of our faith in Him
-- Truly, if we will lean into this I believe it will help us this week …
- Read Acts 27:27-44 / Pray
Point 1 – A picture of man’s way vs. God’s way of salvation
- 14 days have passed since Paul told them they should not have left Fair Haven
-- Lost somewhere in the Med, they figured (sensed) they were near land (v27)
-- Logical conclusion: “We’ve got to be close to someplace by now!”
- These men would have been terrified of crashing on the rocky shore
-- A shipwreck in the middle of the night would mean certain death!
-- They even knew (by measuring the depth) they were approaching land (v28)
-- So they dropped anchor and prayed for daylight – simply hoped for the best
- But don’t miss this, these men then decide that waiting was not worth it! (v30)
-- They plot their own rescue, thinking they could solve this by themselves
-- But they forgot about Paul’s declaration of God’s promise (re-read v22-26)
-- When Paul learned of this, he spoke a word to them of warning (re-read v31)
- Understand: Mankind has been scheming our own way of rescue since Genesis
-- Worse: We have trying to figure out how to be our own master’s since birth
- EX: Think good things – attempt good deeds – be good to others – etc.
-- These are all “ok” things – but they will never rescue us from our sins!
-- The only rescue that brings hope is what has been promised/provided by God
-- John 3:16, “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
- So the commanders agreed to trust in Paul’s hope, and waited for daylight
-- They even released their way of escape (the lifeboat) and trusted in Paul’s faith
- TR/APP: We must never miss the application for us right now …
-- Today, we will celebrate the baptism of someone who has trusted in the Lord
-- That trust BEGAN with God’s promise to rescue, but we have to accept it
-- This is where the tie into the story must be focused … it is all God’s work!
Point 2 – A picture of fear (or hunger) vs. Godly trust
- The enslavement that fear can have on people can be ruthless and unrelenting
-- For 14 days they have been lost at sea, battered by a storm that will not let up
-- But, despite these terrible conditions – do you see who is not phased?
-- Paul! Why? Because He has the promise of God – his trust is unwavering
- Let’s chat … What does this look like?
-- When the storms of life are raging, we must hold to the promises of God
-- Personal: Been without a job for going on 2 months … God is still able!
-- Why? Because He promised to finish what He started … despite my efforts!
-- Is it frustrating? ABSOLUTELY! Scary? 100%! But … where is my trust?
- Here, Paul extends an invitation to these men to eat – to physically trust God
-- See this: Paul invites them to enjoy (read: use supplies) a basic necessity of life
-- Paul’s confidence is in God delivering, and even blesses them specifically
-- Note even the blessing (v35) – it is the preparation of the Lord’s Supper!
- BIG: Everything Paul did was focused on knowing and trusting God
-- Here is our challenge … do we act the same way? Do we believe & trust fully?
-- LOOK: It is not blind faith … but an intentional focus on God’s promises!
-- APP: Being intentional means that once you choose it, you stand on it always
- TR: But understand this: We are not capable of saving ourselves!
-- Our good works will never measure up to God’s standard of living
-- Isaiah 64:6, “We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind.” So, lastly we see …
Point 3 – A picture of life’s trials and God’s providence
- Might be thinking: why did God not just bring the ship in safely? (v41) (APP)
• Trials are used by God to cause men to turn to Him
• Trials prove (to all involved) where our trust lies (testimony)
• Trials strengthen our resolve to trust in the One who made the promise!
- SEE: The soldiers wanted to kill prisoners so they couldn’t escape (v42)
-- This was due to a law they lived by to face the same fate if prisoners escaped
- IMP: God intervened by changing the heart of the commander to spare them
-- In the midst of a horrible shipwreck, all 276 (v37) jumped into the water
BIG IDEA
- Do not miss this: God did exactly what He told Paul He would do!
• He saved everyone aboard AND vindicated His messenger
• But, not before going through the storm to show His faithfulness
• KEY: God is not playing let’s make a deal – but offering life in His ways!
- Why? Because to not trust Him is to depend on our ability for success (CH ?)
-- We have been trying to figure out how to be master’s at life since our own birth
-- However, we must see that true shelter only comes from God – He is our hope!
- Do you know / trust Him for everything you need? Do you trust like this?
- Pray
