The World is riding with the CHURCH
TEXT: Acts 27 – Read All
Expound on the text – Historical
Acts 27:19-25
19 On the third day we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands.
20 Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.
21 But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, "Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss.
22 And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.
23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve,
24 saying, ’Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’
25 "Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.
The Warning –
Acts 27:30-32
30 And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, when they had let down the skiff into the sea, under pretense of putting out anchors from the prow,
31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved."
The Results -
Acts 27:44
4 and the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land.
Introduction:
Through the years in the world, the church has suffered the loss of it’s dignity, due to mis-representations, such as scandals, televised court proceedings of accused child molestations. All these have put a bitter taste in the mouth of the public. Many have said “My family is better off out of the church than in the church. We sometimes have caught ourselves ashamed of saying we were at church on the weekend, because we don’t want to bring up any subjects such as pass scandals.
Even one running for office (Jesse Ventura) said that the church has done the community or modern
laws no good. DUH – A lot of things we enjoy today are from Christian Activist that have voted to pass laws bettered the social community, because we are governed by the best interest of society not government funding.
These pressures have given the church a sense of loss of self dignity. We sometimes can feel ashamed of being apart of the church. But I want to make it clear this morning that the church does not revolve around the world and it’s endeavors, but the world revolves around the CHURCH. All that is happening in the world today either in America or the middle east is because of God’s fulfillment of His holy scriptures.
The World is riding with the Church! Not the church riding with the world.
Point One: You should have dignity
Let us be aware that the GOD that we serve is in control. Nothing gets pass him in any way, there are no surprises that are taking place in the eyes of God.
Job 12:10-24
10 In whose hand is the life of every living thing, And the breath of all mankind?
11 Does not the ear test words And the mouth taste its food?
12 Wisdom is with aged men, And with length of days, understanding.
13 "With Him are wisdom and strength, He has counsel and understanding.
14 If He breaks a thing down, it cannot be rebuilt; If He imprisons a man, there can be no release.
15 If He withholds the waters, they dry up; If He sends them out, they overwhelm the earth.
16 With Him are strength and prudence. The deceived and the deceiver are His.
17 He leads counselors away plundered, And makes fools of the judges.
18 He loosens the bonds of kings, And binds their waist with a belt.
19 He leads princes away plundered, And overthrows the mighty.
20 He deprives the trusted ones of speech, And takes away the discernment of the elders.
21 He pours contempt on princes, And disarms the mighty.
22 He uncovers deep things out of darkness, And brings the shadow of death to light.
23 He makes nations great, and destroys them; He enlarges nations, and guides them.
24 He takes away the understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth, And makes them wander in a pathless wilderness.
Matt 28:18
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
God sets up kingdoms and tears them down.
Prov 8:15
15 By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice.
Dan 2:21
And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings;
He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding.
Rom 13:1
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
We serve the one in the control center. The World is taking a ride with the Church!
Point Two: The existence of the church is the hope of the world
According to our text of Paul sailing to stand before Ceasar, we must consider it was the will of God for Paul to stand before Kings. The other prisoners were facing the reaping of their own sowing, but because they were in the Boat, in the middle of God’s will with Paul they were spared from drowning.
Acts 27:31
Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved."
The existence of the church is the hope of the world!
Any other boat would have sunk, but it didn’t because it was not God’s will. The worldly boat stayed afloat for the reason of God’s will. The World was taking a ride with the church.
The Church is the reason that the devil can’t have his way…
2 Thess 2:3-8
4 who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?
6 And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time.
7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way.
That’s why he sent saul to make havoc of the church.
In our marriages and family life we are encouraged…
1 Cor 7:13-14
13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.
14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
Your family, your place of employment will be blessed because of God’s will to sustain you. The Life of Joseph and Israel.
This nation will be blessed because of the honor God has on his people
I have been all over the world and I have seen the difference of A Christian influenced society and a Muslum influenced society.
“Happy is the nation, whose God is the Lord”
Ps 144:15
15 Happy are the people who are in such a state;
Happy are the people whose God is the LORD!
Prov 29:14
14 The king who judges the poor with truth,
His throne will be established forever.
Prov 16:12
12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness,
For a throne is established by righteousness.
So let us pray…
1 Tim 2:1-3
2:1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,
2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
Thoughts –
Paul was in an unwanted situation. God has his reasons
Paul in that situation – reached out for their souls
As Paul you might be in someones predicamant to expose them to the life preserever.
Point Three: Godly People may often be thrown into bad situations for the good of others
Paul was on this boat in the midst of the Storm, We might question God, of our place and reason for things that seem to be happening to us! You might think that your lot was with sinners, but be of good cheer that your death will bring life in others!
Conclusion: So what are we to do in the midst of hardship?
First, Stop thinking about yourselves and think of others…Notice
Paul prayed for all the souls of these men, even the ones that rejected his wisdom. God Granted and Answered prayer.
Acts 27:22-25
22 And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.
23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve,
24 saying, ’Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’
25 "Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.
These 276 men prayed, their hearts were turned to the Lord!
Acts 27:28-29
29 Then, fearing lest we should run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern, and prayed for day to come.
God Answered their prayer and proved his will overrides the will of the World!
Acts 27:44
44 and the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land.
II. A second lesson suggested to us is this. WHEREVER WE ARE CAST, WE SHOULD ANXIOUSLY ASK OF GOD ALL THE SOULS THAT SAIL WITH US.
Ezra 6:10
10 that they may offer sacrifices of sweet aroma to the God of heaven, and pray for the life of the king and his sons.
NKJV
At a missionary meeting on the island of Raratonga, in the Pacific Ocean, an old man, who wished to join the Church, rose and said, "I have lived during the reign of four kings. In the first we were continually at war, and a fearful season it was watching and hiding with fear.
"During the reign of the second we were overtaken with a severe famine, and all expected to perish; then we ate rats and grass and this wood and that wood.
"During the third we were conquered, and became the peck and prey of the two other settlements of the island; then if a man went to fish he rarely ever returned, or if a woman went far away to fetch food she was rarely ever seen again.
"But during the reign of this third king we were visited by another King, a great King, a good King, a peaceful King, a King of love, Jesus, the Lord from Heaven. He has gained the victory. He has conquered our hearts; therefore we now have peace and plenty in this world, and hope soon to dwell with Him in Heaven."
-- R. Brewin
See: Matt 21:5; John 18:37; Rev 19:16
