Transcript

Pamela Pettler in her book “The Joy of Stress,” wrote the following called “The Stress Diet.”

Breakfast: Half of a grapefruit, 1 piece whole-wheat toast, 8 ounces of skim milk.

Lunch: 4 ounce lean broiled chicken breast, 1 cup steamed zucchini, 1 Oreo cookie, Herb tea.

Mid-afternoon snack: Rest of the package of Oreo cookies, 1 quart of rocky road ice cream, 1 jar of hot fudge.

Dinner: 2 loaves garlic bread, large mushroom and pepperoni pizza, large pitcher root beer, 3 Milky ways, and entire frozen cheesecake eaten directly from the freezer.

Now that’s an example of someone who isn’t dealing with stress well. Paul and those on the stormy voyage to Rome found themselves in a very stressful situation.

But it was Paul who stood up in the middle of the storm to give strength, encouragement and comfort to those on that ship. The stormy voyage is a picture of this present evil age. That ship is a picture of the Body of Christ.

God is teaching the Church that we need to look to Paul and his example, and the truth that Christ revealed to Paul to find the strength and peace we need for this dispensation.

Acts 27:18-20: “And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. 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.”

On Paul’s journey to Rome, they decided to set off from Fair Havens in Crete to travel 40 miles up the coast to Phenice. Paul advised against it because it was a dangerous time of the year to sail on the Mediterranean. But because Phenice was a more comfortable place to spend the winter, they decided to set out.

At first, a soft wind blew and it seemed like the right decision, but then a northeasterner hit suddenly and the ship was caught in that storm. The storm nearly drove the ship into an island called Clauda.

After missing that island, they then panicked fearing that the ship might drive them onto the sandbars of the north African coast. So they set storm sails to help steady the ship and to keep them away from the sandbars.

This is where we pick up the voyage. On the second day of the storm, it became necessary to lighten the ship and they started throwing some of the cargo, the wheat, overboard.

On the third day, they threw “the tackling of the ship” overboard. Evidently the ship was taking water. So all that wasn’t necessary for survival and wasn’t nailed down needed to go: beds, cables, lines, baggage, chests, chairs, tables, any extra gear went overboard.

Luke wrote that they cast out the tackling “with our own hands,” meaning that Paul, Luke, and Aristarchus took part. Every man was pressed into service.

That’s a reminder that during the storm of this dispensation, the church needs every person’s service. Every member is vitally important and your gifts, talents, and labor is needed in the church.

Verse 18 says that the ship was “exceedingly TOSSED with a tempest.” This reminds us of Ephesians 4:14: “That we henceforth be no more children, TOSSED to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.”

Because of not following Paul and sound doctrine in this dispensation, “the wind” of bad doctrine and doctrines of devils tosses the church to and fro and carries people away from the truth. People are being tossed around by bad teaching, tossed back and forth, up and down, to and fro, “carried about with every wind of doctrine.”

The answer is to look to Paul’s message for this dispensation. This truth establishes the believer, brings stability, causes us to be “rooted and built up in [Christ], and stablished in the faith” as Colossians 2:7 says.

After many days of not seeing the sun or stars, not being able to navigate, the men started losing hope of ever making it out of the situation alive (v. 20).

Sailors need to see the sun and the stars. They need to see the truth in the heavens, to properly navigate the ship.

And the church cannot properly navigate this dispensation of grace without looking to the heavens and Christ’s heavenly message revealed to Paul in God’s Word. The truth in the heavens given to Paul by Christ is what is to guide the Church today.

This message reveals our heavenly hope, heavenly calling, and heavenly citizenship. If we do not follow this truth for today, we are not setting our course properly and we are not being navigated according to God’s will for us in this dispensation of grace.

There was no relief from the fierce storm. The ship was now a leaky, battered, cleaned-out hulk.

In verse 20, when Luke says, “and no small tempest lay on us,” the word “lay” means “beat.” The storm was beating on them, the sea pounded them, and it all beat them down physically and mentally.

As the situation got more dire, more perilous, and worse and worse, this reminds us how things in this dispensation will get worse and worse as this age draws to a close.

1 Timothy 3:1,13 reads, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come…But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse.”

Waves were crashing, the ship was tossing and turning, up one side of the waves, down the other. The picture is of the unrest and chaos of the world through the strong influence of the powers of darkness.

As a result, the Church in this world, like that ship, is tossed all over the place by this constantly changing, chaotic, and dangerous world. And we can be beat down by it all.

There was a constant drenching rain and spray, no fire could be lit, no cooking could be done, no one could rest, and then they began to give up hope.

Verse 20 says, “all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.” This is what happens if you don’t keep the faith, the message committed to Paul and hyou don’t listen to what Christ teaches us in it. You start wondering and worrying, and doubting, and thinking: “all hope that we should be saved” is “taken away.”

The assurance of salvation can be taken away when you don’t follow Paul. In other places in Scripture, we learn about the need to endure to the end, to abide in Christ, to overcome. That’s instruction for Israel under a different program.

In Paul’s gospel we learn that when you trust Christ, you’re in Christ and you are sealed in Him forever, and nothing will ever separate you from the love of God.

As Paul told the Thessalonians, “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in MUCH ASSURANCE” (1:5).

Acts 27:21-26: “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.

“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. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,

“Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.”

In the midst of the storm amid the despair and hopelessness of the crew, Paul stood up. And Paul took over. It’s been said that “Paul began as a prisoner, he ended as the captain.” And this pictures his authority in the Church, as the Apostle of the Gentiles.

As Paul stood up in that storm, he began by gently rebuking the centurion, captain and owner of the ship for ignoring his warning about sailing at this time of the year.

Paul does this though, so that by seeing that he was right back then, all the people might carefully listen and heed his important words to them right now.

He says, “Sirs you should have hearkened unto me.” This is what the church needs to do, this what its spiritual leaders need to be told in this age of grace. “Sirs you should have hearkened unto Paul!”

The Church needs to hearken unto Paul and to acknowledge his apostleship and listen to his words from Chriost. Otherwise the church ends up with “harm and loss.” The Body of Christ needs to hearken to his words, his instruction, for us the church.

Paul told his hearers to be of good cheer, and assured them that there would be no loss of life among them, but that only the ship would perish (v. 22).

He further told them that an “angel of [literally, the] God, whose I am, and whom I serve” had visited Paul and told him these things and that Paul need not fear, because he would “be brought before Caesar” in Rome.

Then standing on that battered ship before those over 250 beat down and weary men, Paul cried out above the roar of a raging sea: “I believe God!” Paul knew that God was faithful to His Word. He could say this with conviction, and so can we.

With conviction we know we are saved by the blood of Christ and are heaven-bound, and we can say, “I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me” right here in God’s Word. Even in the most dire circumstances, we know our hope in Christ is real and true and can be trusted in every way.

Paul told them to “Cheer up, it’s going to happen, we’re going to be saved because God said it, and I believe it. I believe God.”

Paul and his words gave those on this boat assurance of salvation, and Paul and his words in his letters given the church the assurance of salvation, that by faith alone in Christ, we will arrive safely on the shores of heaven one day.

Paul’s faith here is evident in His God. As we follow Paul as he followed Christ, we are called to a life of faith and firm conviction in God.

And verse 26 is humorous to me, because just in case some would ever doubt and think that it was by chance that they survived, Paul also states that, Oh! By the way, we will be cast upon a certain island.

Acts 27:27-38: “But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;

“And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms. Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.

“And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,

“Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.

“And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.

“Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.

“And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat. Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.

“And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls. And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.”

During the two weeks they’d been at sea since leaving Fair Havens, the ship had been driven 500 miles off course and was adrift in the Adrian Sea.

At this time the seasoned mariners sensed that “they drew near to some country” that land was approaching, perhaps by the sound of breakers on the shore.

So the crew took depth soundings, which was simply throwing a line into the water with lead on it to judge how deep the water was (v. 28).

They discovered that the water was getting shallower. The first time they did it, the water was 120 feet, then a little farther on, it was 90 feet.

This meant that immediate action needed to be taken lest they be driven on the rocks. Right away they dropped four anchors off the stern, the back of the ship, to try to stop and hold the ship and keep it off the rocks.

Then they “wished for the day” so they could more accurately discern their situation and danger. Being held by their anchors their situation was perilous with the waves beating against the weakened boat and they needed the light to know what to do.

The sailors did not think the vessel or they would survive their dire situation, so they formed a desperate plot to escape.

They let down the lifeboat they’d hauled up into the boat earlier in the trip, and acted as though it was necessary to put out anchors from the bow and carry the anchors out away from the ship to make the ship secure fore as well as aft.

Their real intention was to make for shore. It was an act unbecoming a sailor, and was an act of selfishness, revolt, and unbelief in Paul’s words.

Paul saw what was happening and told Julius and the other Roman soldiers. And he explained that the sailors needed to stay with the ship for the rest of them to be saved.
They needed the sailors and their seamanship and experience in managing the ship in such a critical situation.

The soldiers act quickly, as soldiers are trained to do, and they cut the ropes to the skiff and let it fall into the water (v. 32).

The application is truthful. Many, as the storm rages in this dispensation, they cut and run. For many it’s easier to try to escape and leave, rather than work through the difficulties in the Church and deal with the challenges and dangers of ministry.

Following this episode, as daybreak was nearing, Paul again stood before all onboard and wisely instructed them to eat, because they would need strength for this day.

Verse 33 states that they had eaten “nothing,” regularly that is. They’d all not eaten well for 2 weeks, and it’s not difficult to understand why, being on stormy seas for that long.

Paul tells them to eat for their “health,” or survival is the idea, so they would have the strength for the ordeal ahead. Paul then encourages them again and assures them that they would all be preserved safe and none would be lost as God had told him.

Then in the middle of that stormy sea, in what’s been called “The Meal in the Storm,” Paul lifted his voice and gave thanks for that bread in the presence of them all.

This was an unashamed testimony by Paul of faith, dependence, and gratitude to God and for His goodness. In the most dire of circumstances, he still thanked Him.

Paul lived what he instructed the Church, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thes. 5:18).

We see a calm here by Paul, as he provided leadership for those who weren’t calm. It’s been said well that “In the storms of life, sometimes God calms the storm, and sometimes God lets the storm rage and calms His child.”

Verse 37 tells that there were 276 people on board the ship, and according to verse 36, ALL those people were encouraged and in good spirits because of Paul. And all 276 people ate as Paul had instructed them to do too.

They had been hungry and had not eaten well. And because the church hasn’t followed Paul in this dispensation or lived by God’s instructions for us today, it is lacking the spiritual food and meat that it needs for its spiritual strength and faith.

But you see here how getting fed by Paul leads to “good cheer” and strength and encouragement in the storm of this dispensation.

Paul’s message gives good cheer as we learn about all we have in Christ and all we are in Christ. In Paul’s letters we learn about our spiritual blessings, the hope of glory we have, our freedom in Christ, the peace that passes all understanding, the love of Christ that passes knowledge, and the confidence and boldness of our access to God.

Warren Wiersbe said: “There are times when one dedicated believer can change the whole atmosphere of a situation simply by trusting God and making that faith visible.”

Paul’s faith and courage was contagious to those on the ship. And Paul’s faith and courage can be contagious to us. The Church needs to follow his example of faith and courage in taking the gospel of grace to the world.

In Philippians 4:9, Paul wrote, “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”

Verse 38 says that after everyone had eaten enough, they once again lightened the ship casting the remaining wheat into the sea.

They needed to get the ship floating as high as possible so she could be run farther ashore, should it be possible and/or necessary to beach her.

Acts 27:39-44: “And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.

“And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.

“And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves. And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.

“But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:

“And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.”

In verse 39, when it was day, it says that they didn’t recognize the land, but they soon saw a “creek” or literally “bay,” with a sandy beach.

Here they decided to try and run the ship aground. The anchors were then “taken up” or literally “cut or cast off” into the sea. They didn’t need four heavy anchors when the ship was to be run aground and needed to be as light as possible.

They then loosed two large steering oars on either side of the ship to help them guide the ship. And they hoisted up the “mainsail” to give them the force to run the ship as far aground as possible. They then made toward the shore.

They did everything right. Unfortunately, however, they did not make it, because as they headed toward the shore they ran aground, “striking” an unseen sandbar which was formed by two opposing currents, “where two seas met.”

The bow now was “stuck fast” in the mud, and the waves immediately began to beat the battered boat’s stern to pieces.

I believe this is teaching how at the end of this dispensation, those violent waves, which picture the nations of the world, will beat against the church and persecute it.

Now quick decisions had to be made, especially with the prisoners. Roman soldiers were accountable with their own lives for any prisoners who escaped.

So the soldiers decided to kill all the prisoners to prevent them from swimming ashore and escaping. But Paul’s presence saved their lives.

Julius thought too much of Paul to permit his execution and was determined to save him, so he stopped the soldiers from carrying out their plan.

The centurion then issued orders for all who could swim to dive overboard and make for land. These would then be in a position to help the rest get to shore.

The rest were instructed to get to shore the best way they could and they used boards and clung to debris from the ship to float on and get there.

Then verse 44 says, “they escaped all safe to land,” which was the island of Malta.

Now let’s pause to do the math. How many were on the ship for this voyage? Answer: 276. How many were promised by God that they’d make it? Answer: 276. How many made it safely to shore? Answer: 276. God is faithful!

And everyone who sails with Paul in this dispensation will find spiritual safety for their Christian lives both doctrinally and practically. And all who heed what he says to trust the gospel of grace that Christ died for our sins and rose again will arrive safely in glory one day.

As 2 Timothy 4:18 says, “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom: to Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”