Let’s Put Away Our Loss And take Courage in Christ
The Prussian king Frederick the Great was widely known as an agnostic. By contrast, General Von Zealand, one of his most trusted officers, was a devout Christian. Thus it was that during a festive gathering the king began making crude jokes about Christ until everyone was rocking with laughter--all but Von Zealand, that is. Finally, he arose and addressed the king: "Sire, you know I have not feared death. I have fought and won 38 battles for you. I am an old man; I shall soon have to go into the presence of One greater than you, the mighty God who saved me from my sin, the Lord Jesus Christ whom you are blaspheming. I salute you, sire, as an old man who loves his Savior, on the edge of eternity." The place went silent, and with a trembling voice the king replied, "General Von Zealand--I beg your pardon! I beg your pardon!" And with that the party quietly ended. Today In The Word, August, 1989, p. 7.
Acts 27:13-26
And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete. [14] But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. [15] And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. [16] And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: [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. [18] And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; [19] And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. [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. [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. [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. [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. [25] Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. [26] Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.
What storm of loss is Satan shaking you with today?
The storm of:
a lost loved one,
loss of a wife,
husband,
friend,
relative,
friendship,
job…
God alone is our refuge and strength.
The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them. Deut. 33:27
The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Psalm 9:9
Ye have shamed the counsel of the poor, because the Lord is his refuge. Psalm 14:6
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1
Within our scripture today is a picture of deceptive calm and great courage.
The ship’s officers hoped to reach Phoenix which was the major port on the west side of Crete some 60 miles from Fair Haven but…
What safe port are you looking for today in the world???
The deceptive calm. Suddenly, nature seemed to favor the decision of the worldly men. A soft, calm breeze began to blow out of the south. The crew quickly loosed anchor and set sail, sailing as close to the shoreline as possible—just in case.
The course changes. Just when nature seemed to be blessing them, the old enemy, the violent Euroclydon, the violent northeasterly storm, blew in. It came unexpectedly, so suddenly that the ship could not be turned to face the wind. It was a typhoon-like storm with engulfing, swallowing power; and it drove the ship out into the sea, making control utterly impossible. Note the words, “We let her drive,” that is, let the storm drive the ship at will. They could do nothing else.
Likewise what in life do we truly control apart from our hope in Christ?
We strive to save our ship. The storm drove them under (south of) a small island, Clauda, and the island broke the wind so that they were able to take some measures in an attempt to save the boat and their lives. Working at a feverish pitch before the temptest drove them beyond the shelter of the island...
· they struggled with great difficulty, hoisting the lifeboat up on deck.
· they struggled, using strong ropes or chains to wrap around the boat to hold it together against the force of the slapping waves.
· they struggled to keep the boat out of the quicksand off the north African coast.
· they struggled to lighten the ship, throwing overboard everything they could do without.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. [6] But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. [7] For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. [8] A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. James 1:5-8
It was natural for a hopeless depression to set in upon the sailors and the passengers. They had been caught in the storm so long that it had been many days since they had seen the sun and stars. All hope of being saved had passed.
In the midst of peril, God’s man stepped forth with a commanding courage. And his courage in the midst of a fierce storm is a picture of the courage every believer can have through the trials of this life.
Paul:
a. Proclaimed the failure of the worldly to heed the warning of the godly. Paul had warned that if they proceeded to follow the course of pleasure and greed, they would run the risk of... · hurt ·damage ·loss ·doom
b. He proclaimed God’s promise: God promised that all on board the ship would be saved. But to be saved, the worldly crew and passengers would have to obey God and His messenger.
· the angel of God assured Paul.
· Paul stressed his God, the only true God, in contrast to the heathen gods of the worldly on board.
c. Paul proclaimed his faith in God’s promise. There was no way that Paul could have known that no one would lose his life except by a revelation from God. The point is this: Paul’s great faith is in his God, the only living and true God. God spoke and Paul believed. The lesson to us is clear: we can trust the promises of God. God will save us if we will trust and believe.
d. Paul proclaimed the necessity of trial first. The trial of shipwreck would force everyone to prove their trust in the promise of God. Hereafter, every man would have to listen to God’s Word, would have to go through the trial of being shipwrecked if he was to be saved.
The proof of true faith in God is enduring to the end, through all trials, no matter how severe.
“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (Matthew 24:13).
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58).
The promise we are called to bring to others, calls them through your faithfulness through the sure storms of life.
Where is your trust today?
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. Psalm 2:12
Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord. Psalm 4:5
But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. Psalm 5:11
O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me: Psalm 7:1
And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. Psalm 9:10
In the Lord put I my trust: How say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain? Ps 11:1
Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust. Psalm 16:1
Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them. Psalm 17:7
The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. Psalm 18:2
As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. Psalm 18:30
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God. Psalm 20:7
O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. Psalm 25:2
O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee. Ps 25:20
In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. Psalm 31:1
I have hated them that regard lying vanities: but I trust in the Lord. Psalm 31:6
Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! Psalm 31:19
The Lord redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate. Psalm 34:22
How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. Psalm 36:7
Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Psalm 37:3
Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Ps 37:5
I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.Ps 91:2
O Israel, trust thou in the Lord: he is their help and their shield. [10] O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield. [11] Ye that fear the Lord, trust in the Lord: he is their help and their shield. Psalm 115:9-11
It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. [9] It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes. Psalm 118:8-9
So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word. Ps 119:42
They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. Psalm 125:1
But mine eyes are unto thee, O God the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute. Psalm 141:8
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. Pro 3:5
That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. Pro 22:19
He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat. Proverbs 28:25
The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe. Pro 29:25
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Proverbs 30:5
Remember that when we place our faith in Christ through the storms of life, HE is the one that takes us through them. Have faith and show that faith to others so that they may indeed be drawn to Christ as we “Go ye therefore…”
