God’s Providence
The Book of Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 1 viewIn today’s message, we will see Paul being on a sea voyage on his way to be put on trial before Cesare. We will also see how God protects Paul because Paul has not accomplished all God set out for him.
Notes
Transcript
Handout
March 10th 2024
Series: Courageous Faith
Sermon Title: God’s Providence
Topic: Journey through the book of Acts.
Key Passages: Acts 27
Sermon Blurb: In today’s message, we will see Paul being on a sea voyage on his way to be put on trial before Cesare. We will also see how God protects Paul because Paul has not accomplished all God set out for him.
Sermon:
Hello Family Church!
Family Moment –
Start with something personal from your family life recently to help people get to know you.
PAUSE
Those of you who are new, or newer, to Family Church we are SUPER happy you are with us today!
We are just two chapters away from being done with our two year journey through the book of Acts….
Walking through it line by line and verse by verse….
PAUSE
Last week we read through Acts 25 & 26….
Today, we will walk through Acts 27.
Next week, we will walk through Acts 28.
Then, on the 24th, we will recap the entire book of Acts and what we should have learned on this journey….
Then on the 31st, it is EASTER SUNDAY!!!! We will celebrate Jesus who launched this thing we call the church the book of Acts was all about how they launched the church and reached people for Jesus!
PAUSE
Let me catch up anyone who is new to Family Church just a little today.
The Book of Acts is all our the early church that launched right after Jesus rose from the dead and returned to heaven.
The end of the book, which we are in now, is about one of the most prolific church planters named Paul.
Paul at one point hated Jesus and the church he started.
Then one day Jesus appeared to him in a vision and his life changed completely and he started planting churches for Jesus.
We are now getting close to the end of Paul’s life because Paul has been arrested for planting church’s for Jesus.
Last week we saw Jesus on trial before a king, his wife, and a governor.
They all found Paul innocent but Paul asked to be able to stand on trail before the Roman Emperor….
And since he was a Roman citizen they granted his request…
PAUSE
With that background let’s jump into Acts 27 and see what we will learn today!
Grab your Bibles….
I hope you all brought your Bible to church!
Either paper version or electronic!
Open it up to Acts 27
New Person Bible Connection:
And if you do not have a Bible, that is ok!
After service, we will give you an AMAZING leather-bound study Bible!
Just go to ADD YOUR CAMPUS PLACE and get one for FREE!!!
PAUSE
Grab your Bibles and let’s start reading….verse 1 of Acts 27….
Acts 27 Paul Sails for Rome
When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment.
2 We boarded a ship from Adramyttium (Ah-draw-me-tee-um) about to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia, and we put out to sea.
Aristarchus (Air-is-Stark-us), a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us.
3 The next day we landed at Sidon (Sigh-dun); and Julius, in kindness to Paul, allowed him to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs.
4 From there we put out to sea again and passed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us.
Let me pause here to put some context in here….
In Acts 11 we know Paul preached around this area….
So now years later the people that Paul once cared for enough to go and share the Good News of Jesus with are returning the favor to Paul!
See in the Roman world if you were a prisioner it was NOT like it is in America….
They only had to keep you slightly alive….
They did NOT give you 3 good meals, TV, education, a clean place to sleep and so forth.
You got the lowest basic needs and that was it.
If you got ANYTHING more it was because others brought it to you or others came WITH you to care for you while in prison…..
PAUSE
Which also brings me back to verse 1….
Look in your Bibles do you see the word “WE?”
Look at verse 2,3,4,5 do you see the word “WE?”
Who is the “we” with Paul?
Great questions you scholars!!!!!
Who remembers….
Who wrote the book of Acts?
Come on….anyone?
Yes!!!!
Dr. Luke wrote the book of Acts!
Which leads most scholars to believe that Luke actually joined Paul over two years ago and had been staying with, and caring for, Paul!
Pretty cool side note!
And also makes sense when you remember Dr. Luke said he wrote his books based on EYEWINTESS testimonies!
PAUSE
Let’s read a little more about this boat trip Paul is on and then I will show you a map to help you see where in the REAL world this is….
5 When we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia.
6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board.
7 We made slow headway for many days and had difficulty arriving off Cnidus.
When the wind did not allow us to hold our course, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone.
8 We moved along the coast with difficulty and came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.
9 Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement.
Let’s pause here….
Look at this map…
Here you can see all these places where they were landing in port.
On the far right of the map you see Jerusalem where Paul was arrested….
Then if you follow the arrows you will see the places they landed on this voyage to Rome on the far left of the map….
We won’t get to Rome in our talk today….
So this map will come back next week!
BUT….
I show you this map to remind you that the Bible is REAL history!
This is not made up stories in a book!
This is REAL life!
REAL stories!
In fact Pastor Adam & Pastor Bob are leading a teaching trip to his part of the world in a few months!
They will be landing in Islands like Crete and reading these stories with those who go where it all happened!
NEVER forget the Bible is REAL stories about REAL people transformed by God!
Why do you write that down to remind you….
The Bible is REAL stories about REAL people transformed by God!
Repeat
And this whole story today is about God providing for Paul…
Caring for Paul…
Yes, Paul is on trial…
Yes, is on a traveling prison…
But it all part of God’s plan for Paul and as you will see today….
God will protect Paul to make sure that plans come to fruition.
PAUSE
And one last side note here….
If you see that last word, we ended on Day of Atonement.
That is just the name for one of the many Jewish festivals.
But that also tells us that this was happening in late September or early October because that is when that festival was celebrated.
And still to this day if you go to Greece to cruise the Mediterranean….
Anyone want to guess when they STOP doing cruises because it is dangerous?
SAME time of the year!
Because again….
The Bible is real!
PAUSE
Let’s keep reading….
So Paul warned them, 10 “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.”
11 But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship.
Just a quick note here….
Note in the margins of your Bible they did NOT listen to Paul….
You will see that changes over the course of this trip.
Here Paul hears from God and shares what he hears…
They do NOT listen to Paul….
File that in your mind for a few minutes because that will change.
Verse 12….
12 Since the harbor was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there.
This was a harbor in Crete, facing both southwest and northwest.
13 When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete.
14 Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island.
Stop there…
That is why you do NOT sail around there during this time of the year!
In fact, last time Pastor Adam & Pastor Bob were sailing in this area it was at the END of the safe season and guess what?
They NEVER made it to Crete because a storm blew in!!!
100% TRUE story!!!
Which is also why we are going in Spring vs Winter!
Verse 15….
15 The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along.
16 As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure,
17 so the men hoisted it aboard. Then they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together.
Because they were afraid they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along.
18 We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard.
19 On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands.
WOW….
THREE days of endless BAD storms!!!
NOT LOOKING GOOD!!!
Verse 20….
20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.
Stop there…
Did you hear that???
After MANY days….
The sailors….
The soldiers…
The people….
The prisoners…
ALL gave up hope of being saved….
PAUSE
But what about Paul?
Paul who KNOWS God said he would one day preach in Rome?
Who KNOWS one day he would preach to kings and queens?
Who KNOWS God has him here for a reason…
What does Paul do when crisis hits?
Let’s see…And see what we can learn from Paul when crisis hits our lives…
Verse 21…
21 After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said:
“Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss.
Ok, Paul….no need to tell us your right….
Anyone have someone like that in their life?
Whenever they are right and you are wrong the LOVE to point it out to you?
You want to raise their hand for them right now to call them out in church!!!
LOL!!!!
We all can be that way from time to time….
But thankfully Paul continues on….Verse 22…
22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.
23 Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me
24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’
25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.
26 Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”
Stop there…
So when ALL hope is lost…
Paul stands up and says, “TAKE COURAGE MEN!
You do NOT need to worry because God spoke to me AGAIN….
Like he did earlier and you did NOT listen to me….
And God said….
That because I am with you….
He will save EVERY person on this ship!
But heads up……
That does mean we are going to be run aground on an island….
PAUSE
AKA good news….
And bad news….
Especially bad news if this was your boat that was going to be destroyed….
PAUSE
Here is the point church…
And we have said this before many times…
When I am following God’s plan for my life, I have NOTHING to fear!
Repeat…
We have seen this truth come to life in Paul’s life SO many times!
And I want to encourage you church….
That no matter what you are going through today…
No matter how bad your grades are…
No matter how bad your marriage is…
No matter how bad your company seems to be…
No matter how bad you finacials look…
There is ALWAYS hope IF…
And the KEY WORD is IF!!!
IF you are following God’s plan for your life…
You have NOTHING to fear!
Because God’s will…
Will ALWAYS be done!
And you are about to see that come true with Paul AND all the others on this ship!
PAUSE
Verse 27…
27 On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land.
28 They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet deep.
A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet deep.
29 Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight.
30 In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow.
31 Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved.”
And again…
Look at what comes next….
Remember earlier they did NOT listen to Paul…
Now Paul says God spoke to him….
And now we see if they choose to listen to Paul or not again!
32 So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it drift away.
Wow!
Soldiers CHOOSE to listen to Paul now and NOT the professional sailors!
And now look….
Everyone else will as well!
Verse 33….
33 Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat.
“For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything.
34 Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.”
WOW…
Can you imagine being on the verge of death for 14 days!
Being in a storm for 14 days straight!
PAUSE
I am sure some of you can….
Because your storm started when you heard the words divorce…
Your storm started when you heard the words your cut…
Your fired…
Your bankrupt…
Maybe your storm started when you heard he or she was breaking up with you….
I remember a storm one time when I heard (ADD FOR YOU!) the words your son has cancer….
I remember not leaving the hospital for 2 weeks not knowing if my son would live or not….
PAUSE
We all go through storms in life..
The only question is how do we get through those storms?
How do we not BAIL ship?
How do we trust that there is a God and He is in control?
PAUSE
And the answer is by having a REAL relationship with God!
Because when you have a relationship with God you KNOW God!
And when you know God, you know you have nothing to fear!
And let’s see that come true…verse 35…
35 After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat.
36 They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves.
37 Altogether there were 276 of us on board.
38 When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.
They trust Paul enough to eat up when he says…
They trust Paul enough to throw the rest of their food into the sea…
Quite a shift…
39 When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could.
40 Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders.
Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach.
41 But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.
42 The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping.
43 But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan.
He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land.
44 The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely.
Read that again church….
EVERYONE reached land SAFELY!!!!
EVERYONE!
Exactly what Paul said came true!
PAUSE
I wonder what it was like to be on that ship and see God work through Paul?
I wonder what it was like to see God move in a way you cannot explain?
I am sure a lot of you wonder that….
Because you have never seen God move like that in your life…
But church can I promise you that if you CHOOSE to look around yourself you can see God doing amazing things!
PAUSE
I mean look at what God is doing in our church….
The only reason we have 4 locations is because God is moving!
The only reason we have a ministry in Kenya that has started over 12 churches, built schools educating thousands of kids, built medical clinics and so much more is because God is MOVING!
The only reason we have a campus in El Salvador is because GOD IS MOVING!
The only reason we have a ministry in South America bringing clean water and the Good News of Jesus to people who have NEVER seen a missionary in their LIFE is because GOD IS MOVING!
The question isn’t is God real and moving….
The question is simply this…
Will I CHOOSE to see God moving?
Repeat…
And I want to encourage everyone of you to say yes to that today!!!!!
Let me share your life application with you today….
For those of you who are new, or newer, to Family Church.
We end our messages with a Life Application.
It is simply something to help you go home and process this message with someone else.
Something to help you continue to ponder how you can applies todays message into your life.
So here is what I want you all to spend some time processing and talking with someone about.
Life Application: Look around you and try to see how God could be moving. Share what you see with someone else.
As a result of today’s message, I will ______________________________.
Prayer:
Make sure to do salvation call!
Offering:
Thank you all for being here today!
If you would like to continue your worship through giving, there are offering boxes by the doors as you exit or behind me on the screens you can see other ways to give here at Family Church.
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Week #1 –
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Have a great week!!!
Week #5 -
Did you know you can add Family Church into your end-of-life planning?
We have lots of people who have added Family Church to their will to leave 10% to their church.
It is a great way to show your family that leaving a Godly legacy was important to you.
Have a great week!!!