Help for the Hard Storms of Life - Part 1

The Book of Acts - Part 89

Acts 27:4-26

Sermon by Rick Crandall

Grayson Baptist Church - July 5, 2015

BACKGROUND:

*How can we make it through the storms in life? Tonight's Scripture can help us, because here Paul and his missionary partners went through a terrible storm.

*By this time, Paul has been falsely accused, put on trial, and held prisoner by Rome for over two years. Now, to avoid being murdered by the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, Paul has appealed his case to Caesar, so the journey to Rome began. Let's start reading about it in vs. 1-14.

MESSAGE:

*Storms: Your loved one lets you down in a devastating way. The drunk driver swerves at you. Your great job gets cut. The bad test results belong to you or someone you love. Someday, we will find ourselves in a storm just as serious as Paul faced here, but we can look into the Word of God and find out what to do.

1. First: Try to miss the storms.

*We should try to miss every storm we possibly can, because a lot of storms in life can be avoided. And this was one of those storms. The men in charge of that ship made some big mistakes, and that's what put them in this awful storm.

[1] Their first big mistake had to do with leaving.

*In vs. 8, the ship was in a safe place called "The Fair Havens," and that's where they should have stayed. But look again at what happened in vs. 9-13:

9. Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them,

10. saying, "Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.''

11. Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul.

12. And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there.

*The Fair Havens and Phenice or Phoenix were both on the southern side of the island of Crete, so they were only trying to go about 50 miles farther. That's another reason why it was so tempting for them to leave. All they had to do was sail a little to the southwest, then turn toward the northwest, and they had it made.

*So in vs. 13-14:

13. When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete.

14. But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon.

*That word "tempestuous" is where we get our word "typhoon," so the Euroclydon was a terrible, violent storm. And then it comes to storms, there is a time to leave and a time to stay. Those men left when they should have stayed.

*And many people are in terrible storms today for the same reason. They made a mistake about leaving. This is true of husbands and wives, true of people who left school, and true of people who left jobs when they should have stayed.

*It's also sometimes true about people who leave their church. We should never leave our church unless we are sure the Lord is leading us to do it.

[2] But why do people make mistakes about leaving? Often, it's because they make mistakes about listening, and that's what happened here.

*Back up in vs. 9-10. Paul tried to warn them not to leave:

9. Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them,

10. saying, "Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.''

*But in vs. 11, the centurion listened to the wrong people: "Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul."

*We've got to be careful who we listen to. In vs. 11, we see that the experts can be wrong. Then in vs. 12 we see that the majority can be wrong too: "And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also. . ." We've got to be careful who we listen to.

[3] So the second mistake was about listening. -- And the sailors' third mistake was about how things looked.

*We see this truth in vs. 12-13, where Luke said:

12. . . Because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there.

13. When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete.

*Appearances can be deceiving. Sometimes the devil tries to make the grass look greener on the other side of the hill, and that's what happened here. The little harbor in vs. 12 was safe for the ship, but it didn't seem good enough for most of the crew. Then in vs. 13, the weather seemed better that it actually was.

*Those men did not see what was right around the corner, so they sailed out of that harbor, right into harm's way. They sailed right into a storm that could have been missed.

*The Titanic did the same thing on her maiden voyage in April of 1912. It was the classic case of a tragedy that could have been avoided. The ship was originally designed to carry 60 lifeboats, but they were so sure it couldn't sink, they cut that number to 40, then 32 and finally to only 20 lifeboats.

*Then they sailed full-speed ahead into an area known to have ice. The Ship California tried to warn them, but the Titanic cut-off their warning message, because it interfered with regular communications from Newfoundland. Then, after the Titanic hit the iceberg, many life boats pulled away only half full. But the biggest error was their arrogant attitude: "Not even God could sink this ship!" Of the 2,200 people on board, only 700 survived and 1,500 people died. But all of that death and destruction could have been easily avoided. (1)

2. So we must try our best to miss the storms. We also must try to manage the storms.

*Some storms can't be avoided, no matter what we do. And sometimes we find ourselves in unavoidable trouble because of somebody else's mistake. That's what happened here to the Apostle Paul and his mission team. But God's Word shows us how to manage the storms of life. And this story gives us 5 steps we can take.

[1] First, take stock of the situation.

*We need to explore our options. Find out what we can do, and see what we can't do. That's what they did in vs. 15: "So when the ship was caught, and could not head into the wind, we let her drive."

*Take stock in the storm. It may not be as bad as we think it is. Have you ever worried about something that you didn't need to worry about? All of us have been there. And things may not be as bad as we think they are. That's why we need to take stock in the storms.

[2] We also need to sort our priorities.

*We must take action to do every good thing we possibly can. But first we have to sort our priorities. And we see our travelers doing that in vs. 16-19:

16. Running under the shelter of an island called Clauda, we secured the skiff with difficulty.

17. When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrtis Sands, they struck sail and so were driven.

18. And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship.

19. On the third day we threw the ship's tackle overboard with our own hands.

*Notice that in the storm the things that seemed important suddenly lost their value. That makes it easier to sort our priorities.

*Pastor and author Paul Powell gave this testimony: "A cousin of mine, Bev Hudgins, had been confined to bed with cancer for more than six months. However, she made an ardent and painful attempt to attend a concert she had long anticipated.

*I was lucky enough to be seated next to her. I asked, 'What have you learned from your experiences with cancer?' She said, 'I've learned it's easy to say good-bye to all the material things. I am having a difficult time saying good-bye to those people who are closest to me. And I am grateful that there is one relationship, my relationship with God in eternity, that I won't ever have to say good-bye to.'" (2)

*Bev Hudgins had her priorities sorted just right. And that's what we need to do when we are in the storms. Then we will be able to take the right action.

[3] But also start listening to godly guidance.

*We may have been too stubborn to listen in the past, but don't let that keep you from listening to God now. That's what Paul told those sailors in vs. 20-22:

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.

*The centurion started listening to godly wisdom, and because he did, all 276 of those men were saved alive! Whenever you are in a storm, be sure to listen to godly guidance.

[4] And keep serving God.

*When the Apostle Paul got caught in this storm, he did not quit serving the Lord! As Paul said in vs. 23-24:

23. . . "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.'"

*Paul said: "I serve God." And that's what we should do! Keep serving God, even when you are in the worst storms of your life.

[5] Also show concern for other people.

*Paul showed his concern in vs. 21-25:

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."

*Paul clearly showed his concern for the other people on that ship. People want other people to care about them. And many people will respond to the evidence of our Christian concern. Remember the old saying: "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."

*I read about a lady named Mamie Adams. She always went to a certain post office in her town because the workers there were friendly to her. One time, Mamie went in to buy some stamps. The lines were extra long, that day, because it was just before Christmas. Someone pointed out that there was no need to wait in line because there was a stamp machine in the lobby. "I know," said Mamie, "but the machine won't ask me about my arthritis." (3)

*People want us to show concern for them -- real concern. Paul showed concern for other people, because he was concerned about them! He loved them with the love of Jesus Christ. Paul was concerned about people he barely knew, concerned about people who were not concerned about him, concerned about people who had mistreated him, concerned enough to pray.

*Look at vs. 24 again. There the angel told Paul, "God has granted you all those who sail with you." That sounds like answered prayer to me. And remember what Paul had said back up in vs. 10, "Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives."

*In the beginning, that storm was going to kill everybody on that ship. Death was their destiny. But in vs. 24, the angel told Paul: "God has granted you all those who sail with you." God gave, because Paul prayed. And God will help us manage every storm we face.

3. So we must try our best to manage the storms. And we must trust God to take us through the storms.

*This is the most important lesson for us tonight: Trust God to take you through the storms in your life. We see Paul's great faith in vs. 25, where he simply said, "Take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me."

*"I believe God." That's the way to make it through. That's the only way to make it through the storms of life.

*Robert Morgan told the story of something that happened on the Sunday after the Titanic sank. It happened in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where the giant ship was built. Naturally, the townspeople were devastated. Men met on the city's streets, grasped each other's hands, burst into tears and parted without speaking a word.

*Morgan told about one church that lost 16 men to the icy waters. All of them were mechanics on the Titanic. On that dark Sunday, the pastor read this Scripture from Mark 4:35-41:

35. On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, "Let us cross over to the other side.''

36. Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him.

37. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.

38. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?''

39. Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!'' And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

40. But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?''

41. And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!''

*On that Sunday, the preacher read that Scripture. Then he told his troubled church that only one vessel in all of history had been truly unsinkable: That little boat occupied by our sleeping Savior. And, the preacher added this: "The only hearts that can weather the storms are hearts with Jesus inside." (4)

CONCLUSION:

*Is He living in your heart? Jesus Christ died on the cross to take the punishment for our sins. Thank God He rose again from the dead to conquer death for all who trust in Him. Put your trust in Jesus. And keep trusting in Jesus, even when you go through the worst storms of your life. He is the only one who can get us through.

(1) Sources:

THE WORLD'S WORST PREDICTIONS - SermonCentral sermon "The Promise" by Guy Caley - 2 Peter 1:19-21)

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/american_originals/titanic.html

(2) JOY COMES IN THE MORNING by Paul W. Powell - p. 13

(3) Bits & Pieces, December 1989, p. 2. (Found at Sermonillustrations.com)

(4) THE UNSINKABLE SHIP - JULY 24 (Morgan, Robert J., From This Verse, Thomas Nelson Publishers