People Are The Purpose

There is one common cause of all of these homes falling into disrepair. The absence of people. Why? Because the whole point of having a house is people!

When a house ceases to fulfill it’s purpose, being filled with people, it begins to fall apart.

In the same way, When we as Christian’s cease serving people, things begin to fall apart.

People are the purpose.

We started looking at Paul’s journey to Rome back in August. This whole process started back in chapter 21!

As we have looked at everything that Paul has endured we have talked often about the sovereignty of God and the necessity of faith in Him.

We cannot live the Christian life without trusting that God is in control!

Throughout this conversation we have been having about suffering and God’s purpose, we have noted three primary purposes of God in all things.

1 - The glory of God.

This is always primary. God does all things to the praise of the glory of His grace.

2 - The growth of the believer.

Everything we endure, everything God allows into our lives, is designed to mature us in our faith.

3 - The spread of the gospel.

When we respond correctly to trials, difficulties, and suffering, God is glorified and people want to know what is different about us.

It is this third area that our passage today highlights.

Last week in the offertory Ginna played “People Need The Lord.”

As we look at Paul’s shipwreck and subsequent time on the island, we learn that People Are The Purpose.

Because people are the purpose, we have a two-fold responsibility.

Knowing our responsibility transforms our perspective of trials and social engagement.

Responsibility #1…

1. Reach The Immediate 27:39-44

As we have looked at the book of Acts we have noted that it begins with the disciples of Jesus reaching their neighbors.

The outline of the book is the disciples reaching Jerusalem, Judea & Samaria, then the world.

The pattern of gospel advancement is to begin with those nearest you.

This is not an either or situation. We are supposed to begin with those nearest us and then after we have witnessed to them, consider how we can reach those in the next city and around the world.

One of the ways we do this today is through support of missionaries.

However, we are not supposed to stop there. Supporting missionaries is good and necessary, but we are also to share the gospel personally and individually.

Throughout the book of Acts we have seen Paul sharing the gospel with anyone and everyone.

That practice has landed Paul in prison on multiple occasions. Now he has been arrested and appealed to Caesar.

Even in the midst of a trial, Paul is preaching the gospel.

As he is traveling toward Rome he teaches us two valuable lessons about trials and reaching those around you.

Lesson #1…

a. The advantage of trials vv. 39-41

Remember, they have thrown all the cargo, ships tackle, and food overboard. They even cut loose the lifeboat!

They have abandoned all hope of rescue.

The only thing they are clinging to is God’s promise to Paul that they would be saved and no lives would be lost.

READ v. 39

They have thrown out the anchors, waited until day, and eaten food.

Now they are facing an island no one recognizes.

The plan is to run the ship aground on the beach.

Why? Because that is the best chance for survival.

READ v. 40

The storm is still all around them.

Everything they do here highlights that they have given up all hope of saving the ship.

Their goal now is to get to land as quickly as possible.

READ v. 41

This tells us how bad the storm still was.

Though they acheived their goal of running the ship aground, they hit a reef or sand bar instead of the beach.

They are still far enough out in the ocean that the powerful waves begin to shatter the back of the ship.

None of these events seem like good things.

They don’t recognize the island, they have to cut the anchors loose, they don’t get to the beach, now the ship is being broken apart!

I want us to think through a couple of things here.

1 - Who sends the wind? 2 - Who controls the waves? 3 - Who is in charge of storms?

2 - Who controls the waves?

3 - Who is in charge of storms?

Rather than just give the expected answer to this question, let’s turn to Scripture. (p. 697).

(p. 697).

(p. 697)

Psalm 107:23–32 NKJV

23 Those who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business on great waters, 24 They see the works of the Lord, And His wonders in the deep. 25 For He commands and raises the stormy wind, Which lifts up the waves of the sea. 26 They mount up to the heavens, They go down again to the depths; Their soul melts because of trouble. 27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, And are at their wits’ end. 28 Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble, And He brings them out of their distresses. 29 He calms the storm, So that its waves are still. 30 Then they are glad because they are quiet; So He guides them to their desired haven. 31 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! 32 Let them exalt Him also in the assembly of the people, And praise Him in the company of the elders.

God commands the wind! He lifts the waves and makes them go back down.

He delivers those who cry out! He calms the storm and guides the ship.

This is dramatically confirmed in the NT.

Turn to (p. 1119).

(p. 1119)

Matthew 8:23–27 NKJV

23 Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. 24 And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. 25 Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” 26 But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

This is yet another evidence that Jesus is God.

Here’s the point.

If God is in charge of the weather, then He is responsible for bringing them to this island!

Why?

Because this island has people on it who need to know about Jesus!

This is what trials do.

Trials give us access to people we wouldn’t normally meet.

Think through the trials you have had.

Sickness - gives access to Dr’s and nurses.

Car trouble - gives access to mechanics, tow truck drivers.

Surgery - gives access to hospital staff.

Detention - gives you access to your principle.

Let me give you a simple example of this idea of access through trials.

Let me give you a simple example.

I know someone whose mailbox was vandalized. As they are out their cleaning the mailbox, they meet their neighbor.

A casual friendship begins. They exchange greetings, wave, and visit each others yard sales.

Years later, when that neighbor gets cancer who do they call?

The end result was that the neighbor trusted in Christ before cancer claimed their life.

All from a vandalized mail box.

As we look at Paul in this situation we need to keep in mind that We serve the God of the storm!

This means that Wherever the wind and waves drive us, they do so at His direction.

The trial you are going through may give you access to someone who needs Jesus.

Don’t waste the opportunity.

Trials give access to people.

Access to people you wouldn’t have otherwise.

That is what we see here in this passage.

That is lesson #1. The advantage of trials in reaching the immediate. Those around you.

Lesson #2…

b. The provision of trials vv. 42-44

READ v. 42

From a human perspective, this is a very sound plan.

If you were a Roman soldier and a prisoner escaped from your guard, you were subjected to whatever punishment that prisoner was to face.

We have no idea what the other prisoners on board the ship were guilty of.

The desire of the soldiers to just kill the prisoners makes sense when we understand what they could be facing.

This is a real concern!

Or at least, it would be. Had God not already promised to preserve and protect.

READ v. 43

This is the hand of God!

From a purely practical standpoint, killing the prisoners makes sense!

Yet God has given this centurion a desire to deliver Paul from death.

He wants to bring Paul safely to Rome.

He is more concerned about Paul’s preservation than his own!

Why do I say that? Because the best way for this man to protect himself would be to kill Paul and the rest of the prisoners. Yet the centurion is not willing to do that.

Instead he commands people to swim to shore.

Remember, he is running the risk of some escaping.

Why is he so concerned for Paul?

From what Luke has revealed in this narrative, we can only assume that Paul’s character throughout this ordeal has impressed the man.

Also we have God’s promise through Paul that no one would die.

God’s protection and preservation of Paul have given him an opportunity here.

READ v. 44

Everyone makes it to shore.

Some swim, some float, but everyone makes it.

This is the miraculous preservation of God! This is what our God does. Not every time, but sometimes.

This is what our God does.

Not every time, but sometimes.

What we have seen in Acts is that sometimes God miraculously delivers and preserves, and sometimes He doesn’t.

Peter was delivered from prison, James was beheaded.

Paul was stoned but got back up and continued planting churches. Stephen was stoned to death.

Here’s the point. (S).

Psalm 139:16 NKJV

16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.

God knows exactly how long He has you on this earth.

He has a plan and purpose for your life. He knows what He wants you to accomplish. He will not call you home until you are finished.

Look at (S).

2 Timothy 4:7 NKJV

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

God protects and preserves in trials, because we are not finished yet.

When God provides and protects in trials, others are attracted to Him.

That is what is taking place here.

Now, God did not have to preserve everyone. Only Paul was promised to go to Rome!

Yet in His grace, God delivers everyone on the ship.

That is the God we serve! He even saves the other prisoners!

In trials God provides us with grace and strength.

That provision is then seen by others.

The grace and strength we receive in difficulty attracts others to Christ!

Enduring trials draws people.

When the goodness of God is on display in the lives of his people, others want some of that!

This means, your trial is not only about you!

Yes God wants to grow and mature you. He also wants to bring people to Himself.

Why? Because People are the purpose.

We need to reach the immediate. That’s our first responsibility.

This is done through the advantage and provision of trials.

Responsibility #2…

2. Reach The Distant 28:1-10

As we have journeyed through Acts we have seen the gospel continually spread outward.

Paul and Barnabas went on a missionary journey. Then Paul went on a second, and a third.

Why? Because there were people who needed to hear about Jesus.

The need hasn’t changed.

There are over 7 and a half billion people in the world.

Those people speak around 6.5K languages.

Those 7 billion people in 6 thousand languages all need to hear the same message.

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to Father except through Him.

We have a responsibility to do all we can to reach the lost on a global scale.

In order for lost people to be reached, a connection must be made.

These verses reveal to us three realities about connection.

Reality #1…

a. The occasion for connection vv. 1-2

READ v. 1

Though it is hard to see in English, there is a Greek word that is repeated throughout this part of the story.

The word is διασῴζω (diasōzō) bring safely through; save. to bring safely v. — to transport someone somewhere in safety. Verb, aorist, passive, antecedent participle, plural, nominative, masculine.

διασῴζω (diasōzō)

In 27:43 it is translated save. In v. 44 “escaped.” And here in v. 1 it is also translated “escaped.”

The main point of the word is that of safety.

According to , the Lord is in control of our safety (S).

Psalm 4:8 NKJV

8 I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

That reality is reflected in this verse.

The word “escaped” here is passive. That means they did not deliver themselves. An outside force acted on their behalf to bring them safely to shore.

What outside force was it? God!

God’s purpose, throughout this whole journey, has been giving Paul access to people he wouldn’t normally be able to reach.

God wants the gospel to go to this island. So He shipwrecks Paul on it!

What we view as a shipwreck, may be a divine appointment.

They arrive safely on the island and find out it is called Malta.

How did they find out?

READ v. 2

They met the natives of the island.

Why did God shipwreck them on the island? How else were they supposed to meet the natives?!

The people of this island take in a group of soldiers, sailors, and prisoners.

Why?

Because they saw a need!

It was raining and cold, so they built a fire and made them all welcome.

Here’s the point.

To reach people you must meet people.

You cannot make a connection with people you never meet.

Make sense?

God has miraculously made an occasion for Paul to connect with these people.

That is our first reality. If we are going to reach the distant, we have to connect with them. God provides the occasion.

Reality #2…

b. The obstacle to connection vv. 3-6

READ v. 3

Once again, when God clearly leads we tend to expect everything go smoothly.

There are times we forget that we have an enemy.

We have someone who actively opposes us.

Now, as Sean mentioned last week, we have no cause for fear because Satan is a defeated foe! One little word shall fell him!

But that doesn’t mean he will not stand against us.

tells us that Satan seeks people to devour. We must resist him (S).

1 Peter 5:8–9 NKJV

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

Paul is trying to help out here, when he gets bitten by a snake.

READ v. 4

I don’t see how we can see this as anything other than an attack by the enemy.

Yet God redeems it as we will see.

Superstition is a tool used by Satan to keep people in bondage.

That is essentially what we see here. Superstition.

Satan is attempting to sabotage any opportunity before it even really starts.

The assumption they make is one that many of us might be tempted to make in the same circumstances.

Here is a prisoner who just escaped a shipwreck, only to be bitten by a poisonous snake.

The conclusion is that he must be a terrible person.

Until…

READ v. 5

Before we go any further we need to note that this is not normative.

Usually, when you get bit by a poisonous snake, you get sick.

This verse cannot be used as a justification for the practice of snake handling.

I vividly remember a news story from almost exactly 6 years ago where a famous snake handling pastor died from a snake bite.

That is what usually happens.

This is a unique situation in which God miraculously preserves Paul for a gospel purpose.

READ v. 6

This is the opposite of what happened to Paul and Barnabas in Lystra. In ch. 14 they were thought to be god’s then later run out of town. Here Paul is thought to be a murderer, now they think he is a god.

God miraculously brought Paul to this island. Now He is giving him a platform from which to preach Christ.

God works in our lives to build connections with those who need the gospel.

Satan will provide obstacles.

Satan will provide obstacles. God can turn them into opportunities.

God can turn them into opportunities.

There is something important to remember here.

This opportunity was not painless for Paul.

He has suffered 14 days without food. After finally eating they have to swim or float to shore. After gathering wood he is bitten by a snake.

All of that suffering was necessary before the opportunity arrived.

God prepares us to witness.

As Paul is giving Timothy some final exhortations in his second letter, Paul writes these words. (S).

v. 6 – God uses these superstitions to give opportunity for the gospel.

2 Timothy 4:5 NKJV

5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Immediately after telling Timothy to endure afflictions, Paul tells him to be an evangelist.

Why?

Because people are the purpose. Comfort is not.

Paul’s experience has taught him that afflictions often give opportunities to evangelize.

Obstacles become opportunities at God’s direction.

That is clearly seen in the final verses we will examine this morning.

As we seek to reach people with the gospel message there are three realities. First, we need an occasion for connection, then we must overcome the obstacles to connection.

Reality #3…

c. The opportunity of connection vv. 7-10

READ v. 7

We are not told if this happens because of Paul’s survival or if it is simply a courtesy extended to them as shipwrecked people. Or if it has something to do with the Roman soldiers accompanying them.

Regardless, they are well treated for three days.

The leading person of the island welcomed them into his home.

READ v. 8

This is where we see the heart of Paul.

He did not have to heal this man. He could have enjoyed the hospitality of Publius and gone on his way.

Instead, Paul cared. Why? Because People are the purpose.

If untreated, this man would have died.

I want to note four important points here.

1 - Paul went to the sick man.

We cannot reach people if we do not go where they are.

God provides opportunities to connect, we must take advantage of them.

2 - Paul prayed.

Jesus said it very clearly in (S).

John 15:5 NKJV

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

We can do nothing apart from Christ!

Paul recognized that the ability to heal was not his. Only God can do that! Healing is divine.

While Paul may be the agent of that healing. God is the one doing it.

Last week Sean talked about praying always. This is why.

We pray always because we can do nothing apart from the power of God.

The sooner we realize this, the better off we will be.

3 - Paul laid hands on him.

Connection with people is about contact.

Could God have healed this man without Paul touching him? Of course!

In Peter’s shadow healed people. In ch. 19 clothes that Paul touched healed people.

This emphasizes that physical contact was not necessary.

So why does Paul touch him?

To answer that I want us to look at a story in the gospels. (S).

Matthew 8:2–3 NKJV

2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” 3 Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Why would you put your hands on a leper?

Because they were never touched. It had probably been years.

While not necessary for healing, physical contact brings comfort.

I believe this is why Jesus touched the leper.

Paul touched him because he cared.

Do we care enough to touch sick people?

Right now the corona virus is a big deal. As believers in Jesus Christ, would we care for the sick if called to?

4 - Paul healed him.

While we know that healing comes from God, the verse states that Paul healed him.

Paul was the agent of God’s healing power.

All of this is done to make a connection with the people.

READ v. 9

This is what I think we see here.

Paul shows sympathy and kindness in response to the kindness of the natives.

Paul didn’t have to heal anyone. Nor did he have to heal everyone.

The implication here is that all the sick people on the island came to Paul and were healed.

What impact do you think this had on the soldiers, sailors, and other prisoners?

God delivered them just as He promised. They saw Paul’s courage and heard his words about God. Now they are seeing the power of God on display!

This is a Jon-ism. But I think you had a floating church by the time these people got to Rome.

That’s just an opinion. But Paul’s privilege on the rest of the trip and once they arrive in Rome seems to support it. We’ll get to that in the next few weeks.

What’s interesting here is that we have no record of Paul preaching the gospel.

With what we know of Paul and have seen in him up to this point, there is little question that he preached Christ.

However, it is not recorded.

The point is that Paul served people and ministered to them whenever he had opportunity.

Why? Because people are the purpose.

READ v. 10

This just makes me smile.

What a God thing!

They get shipwrecked on an island, the inhabitants are healed, now the people of the island provide their necessities as they prepare to leave.

From some perspectives, we might as what they point of this detour was.

Why did God allow the journey to Rome to turn into such an ordeal?

Because people are the purpose.

This is something I want us to get this morning.

All who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ have the same destination, heaven.

This means that our purpose here is not to try and arrive at our destination.

We don’t work for salvation. Salvation is assured to all who place their faith in Christ!

Why then do we work? Because people are the purpose!

We work to see others come to Christ! We work to see believers grow and mature in their faith!

We work to see believers grow and mature in their faith!

The purpose of the Christian life is not to arrive at our destination.

The purpose of the Christian life is the salvation and growth of people.

That is why God provided this opportunity for Paul.

Opportunities can be used only as they are recognized.

Paul could easily have missed this.

For opportunities to be

He could have said, “I just got shipwrecked! I deserve a little R & R.”

Instead, Paul recognized the opportunity God provided and he took advantage of it.

Conclusion

God’s whole purpose in all of this has been to reach people with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

People Are The Purpose. (S)

We are getting close to the end of Acts. As we begin to wrap things up over the next month or so, this is something I want us to understand.

The whole point of everything in Acts is reaching people with the gospel.

Why do the disciples suffer?

Why is there persecution, and opposition, and trials?

Because these things give us access to people.

The advantage of trials is the access they provide.

Also, as God supplies our needs in the midst of trials, people are attracted to Him.

The trials we face and the provision of God within those trials help us to reach the lost around us.

God will provide occasions to connect with people who need Him.

In those connections we will often face obstacles.

Never forget that we have an enemy who does not want us to speak of Christ!

As we are faithful, God turns obstacles into opportunities.

Our responsibility is to recognize opportunities and faithfully preach Christ.

From this passage I want to give us a three-fold challenge.

Take advantage of trials.

This is hard. We need to do it anyway.

Make connections.

When God puts people in our path, we need to connect with them.

Preach Christ.

May we never miss an opportunity to speak of our Savior.

Acts 27:39–28:10 NKJV

39 When it was day, they did not recognize the land; but they observed a bay with a beach, onto which they planned to run the ship if possible. 40 And they let go the anchors and left them in the sea, meanwhile loosing the rudder ropes; and they hoisted the mainsail to the wind and made for shore. 41 But striking a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves. 42 And the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape. 43 But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land, 44 and the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land. 1 Now when they had escaped, they then found out that the island was called Malta. 2 And the natives showed us unusual kindness; for they kindled a fire and made us all welcome, because of the rain that was falling and because of the cold. 3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 4 So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.” 5 But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. 6 However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god. 7 In that region there was an estate of the leading citizen of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us and entertained us courteously for three days. 8 And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him. 9 So when this was done, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. 10 They also honored us in many ways; and when we departed, they provided such things as were necessary.