Sermons

Summary: Worship God in the midst of your shipwreck, thank Him for the good He is doing in your life, and allow it to be an opportunity for great joy!

SHIPWRECK

Text: Acts 27:27-44

Introduction

1. Shipwreck

Flooded by the wind of doubt

Shipwreck

It seems there will be no way out

Stranded in a wretched place

Where is the grace that once could be found? (Shipwreck, Paul Clark).

2. So far, we have talked about God being with us in the storm. But is He with us in the shipwreck? When things don’t go the way we want them to, is God still there?

3. Read Acts 27:27-44

Transition: Let’s ride along with Paul and the others in the shipwreck

I. Gave Thanks to God

A. In the past couple of sections, we have seen Paul begin his voyage to Rome. We have seen bad weather go from bad to worse. In today’s text we see matters deteriorate. Yet Paul remained steadfast in his belief that God would save him and all of those on board with him, and that he would go to Rome and stand before Caesar.

B. In vv. 27-29 it says, “About midnight on the fourteenth night of the storm, as we were being driven across the Sea of Adria, the sailors sensed land was near. 28 They dropped a weighted line and found that the water was 120 feet deep. But a little later they measured again and found it was only 90 feet deep. 29 At this rate they were afraid we would soon be driven against the rocks along the shore, so they threw out four anchors from the back of the ship and prayed for daylight.”

1. Luke begins by telling us that they had been through this terrible storm, and so far, it had lasted fourteen days! Can you imagine being out at sea in a terrible storm for two straight weeks?

2. Furthermore, they were totally at the mercy of the elements. The ship was literally “being driven” across the sea.

3. Then the sailors sensed that they were near land. They dropped a weighted, marked line into the water. At first it told them the water was 120 feet deep and then later it was 90 feet deep.

4. Based on the calculations cited by Luke and proven by modern science, within two weeks they we be at what is known today as St. Paul’s Bay.

5. Then the sailors let down four anchors from the stern of the ship and prayed for daylight. Now, you might think this is a good thing that they were praying. Unfortunately, they were not praying to the same God as Paul.

C. You might think that at this point they were all in this together. Well, not everyone! In vv. 30-32, Luke tells us, “Then the sailors tried to abandon the ship; they lowered the lifeboat as though they were going to put out anchors from the front of the ship. 31 But Paul said to the commanding officer and the soldiers, “You will all die unless the sailors stay aboard.” 32 So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away.”

1. The sailors wanted to abandon everyone else. They lowered the lifeboat, pretending that they were going to lower more anchors, but they were really planning to make a run for it.

2. Somehow, Paul knew about their plan, whether he heard them talking about it, or the Holy Spirit told Paul, he knew they were up to no good.

3. So, Paul went to Julius and told him what they planned to do.

4. He said that they would need their ability and experience to survive the shipwreck.

5. So, the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away.

D. Now look at what Paul does next. In vv. 33-37 it says, “Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat. “You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for two weeks,” he said. 34 “Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish.” 35 Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it. 36 Then everyone was encouraged and began to eat—37 all 276 of us who were on board.”

1. As the morning was approaching, Paul encouraged everyone to eat.

2. They no longer had a lifeboat, so they were going to need the strength to swim to shore.

3. They hadn’t eaten in two weeks, and they were probably all weak. So, Paul said, “eat something!”

4. Now, notice how Luke phrases what Paul did next. He says, “Paul took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke a piece off and ate it.” Remind you of anything?

5. He was celebrating communion. This sounds exactly like the kind of thing Jesus would do.

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