A Wild Ride to Rome
A Wild Ride to Rome
Paul is now heading to Rome since he appealed to Caesar. It would be a very difficult journey involving ship wreck and almost loss of lives. But God has promised to get Paul to Rome. Are you in a storm or about to enter one or have come out of one? Please read on.
Acts 27 (Please read the entire chapter)
9Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Fast.[a] 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." 11But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship. 12Since 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.
13When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had obtained what they wanted; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. 14Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the "northeaster," swept down from the island. 15The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. 16As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure. 17When the men had hoisted it aboard, they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along. 18We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. 19On the third day, they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands. 20When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.
21After the men 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. 22But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me 24and 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.' 25So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island."
27On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic[b] Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. 28They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet[c] deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet[d] deep. 29Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. 30In 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. 31Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved." 32So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it fall away.
33Just 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. 34Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head." 35After 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. 36They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37Altogether there were 276 of us on board. 38When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.
39When 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. 40Cutting 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. 41But 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. 42The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. 43But 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. 44The rest were to get there on planks or on pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land in safety.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. We notice the “we” language again in Acts 27. Dr. Luke, the writer is actually part of the company traveling with Paul. Sometimes we focus only on the “main actors” and forget those in the “supporting roles”. Dr. Luke almost lost his life to bring us account of the book of Acts. Are you playing a “supporting role” this time and not the “main role”? All are important and please do not see yourself less in God’s sight and purposes. I can see the “stay- at- home “ moms and many others who are in these supporting roles. The purposes of God would not be accomplished in most families (including) mine without their dedication.
2. You ask yourself, why these much detail of the voyage to Rome? Well, it becomes apparent everything is for the glory of God and to make God known.. Listen to Paul. 23Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me 24and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. We must first know God and know that we are his. Everything comes to identity. Whose are you? The answer will determine your reactions to dangerous situations as Paul was facing.
3. Notice that throughout the trip, Apostle Paul became the defector leader. We can be at the bottom and still lead and have people following. Paul the prisoner is now encouraging and telling the crew what to do. I believe Paul’s leadership was established by his caring for the people and stepping in when no one else did. You may not be the elected and appointed figure head but we can lead a world that is looking for answers and about to perish.
4. What the world need is encouragement not bashing. It is much easier (natural) to bash and pick on people than to encourage them. See Paul’s encouragement in vs33- 36. “36They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves.” He did not stand there to say, “You should have sailed south instead of west”.
5. Paul lived out what he believed among the other 275 passengers in the ship. He had a communion service in essence. ”He took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all” vs. 35. There is no ideal place or circumstances to serve God. Every day, every time, every place is the ideal place to give thanks to God. We must get rid of the mindset of the four walls of the “Church building” in order to worship God. We are the Church and where ever we go we bring God to it and be the Church.
6. Many pastors would love to have instant congregation of 275 members vs. 37. Paul had to risk his life to have this audience. Often, we expect people to come to us and hear the gospels. We should pray and allow God to take us to people under any circumstances so that His purpose will be accomplished. Your present “storm” may be your platform to reach many for God. Let’s not waste our circumstances.
7. Notice twice that the main cargo of the ship had to be thrown out to keep everyone alive vs. 18 and 38. When the rubber hits the road and our life is about to end, our wealth and accumulations does not matter. Some of us need to throw off board some of our precious cargo to stay alive. Holy Spirit guided giving is the best way to accomplish this. Let’s not wait before it is too late to give because if we don’t, we are going nowhere it anyway. We are challenged by the recent earthquake in Haiti. It is a lesson in itself on what matters. Let’s continue to pray and give to the people of Haiti and others suffering out there.
8. God’s call and our obedience and His protection and provision for us as His children affect many other lives. I believe that most of the lives would have been lost in the ship wreck if not that Paul was on board. Listen to the angel speaking to Paul. “God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you vs. 24. In addition, the lives of the other prisoners were spared because of the favor of God on Paul. In His sovereignty, God will make things happen. The centurion commanded the soldiers not to kill the prisoners because of Paul, vs. 42-43.
God will do everything to get you and me to His appointed destination for His purpose and for His glory. Paul must get to Rome regardless of shipwreck to preach the gospel. The journey was death threatening but the purpose was clear. Are you going through your storm right now, stay on board, God is with you. Has your storm passed or not yet arrived, trust God and encourage those who are in their storm. Be the church in your storm and point all to see God and not you; before, during and after your storm. Be encouraged and may God help us. Amen.
Paul is now heading to Rome since he appealed to Caesar. It would be a very difficult journey involving ship wreck and almost loss of lives. But God has promised to get Paul to Rome. Are you in a storm or about to enter one or have come out of one? Please read on.
Acts 27 (Please read the entire chapter)
9Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Fast.[a] 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." 11But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship. 12Since 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.
13When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had obtained what they wanted; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. 14Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the "northeaster," swept down from the island. 15The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. 16As we passed to the lee of a small island called Cauda, we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure. 17When the men had hoisted it aboard, they passed ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. Fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along. 18We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. 19On the third day, they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands. 20When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.
21After the men 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. 22But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me 24and 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.' 25So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island."
27On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic[b] Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. 28They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet[c] deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet[d] deep. 29Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. 30In 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. 31Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved." 32So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it fall away.
33Just 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. 34Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head." 35After 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. 36They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37Altogether there were 276 of us on board. 38When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea.
39When 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. 40Cutting 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. 41But 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. 42The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. 43But 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. 44The rest were to get there on planks or on pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land in safety.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. We notice the “we” language again in Acts 27. Dr. Luke, the writer is actually part of the company traveling with Paul. Sometimes we focus only on the “main actors” and forget those in the “supporting roles”. Dr. Luke almost lost his life to bring us account of the book of Acts. Are you playing a “supporting role” this time and not the “main role”? All are important and please do not see yourself less in God’s sight and purposes. I can see the “stay- at- home “ moms and many others who are in these supporting roles. The purposes of God would not be accomplished in most families (including) mine without their dedication.
2. You ask yourself, why these much detail of the voyage to Rome? Well, it becomes apparent everything is for the glory of God and to make God known.. Listen to Paul. 23Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me 24and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. We must first know God and know that we are his. Everything comes to identity. Whose are you? The answer will determine your reactions to dangerous situations as Paul was facing.
3. Notice that throughout the trip, Apostle Paul became the defector leader. We can be at the bottom and still lead and have people following. Paul the prisoner is now encouraging and telling the crew what to do. I believe Paul’s leadership was established by his caring for the people and stepping in when no one else did. You may not be the elected and appointed figure head but we can lead a world that is looking for answers and about to perish.
4. What the world need is encouragement not bashing. It is much easier (natural) to bash and pick on people than to encourage them. See Paul’s encouragement in vs33- 36. “36They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves.” He did not stand there to say, “You should have sailed south instead of west”.
5. Paul lived out what he believed among the other 275 passengers in the ship. He had a communion service in essence. ”He took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all” vs. 35. There is no ideal place or circumstances to serve God. Every day, every time, every place is the ideal place to give thanks to God. We must get rid of the mindset of the four walls of the “Church building” in order to worship God. We are the Church and where ever we go we bring God to it and be the Church.
6. Many pastors would love to have instant congregation of 275 members vs. 37. Paul had to risk his life to have this audience. Often, we expect people to come to us and hear the gospels. We should pray and allow God to take us to people under any circumstances so that His purpose will be accomplished. Your present “storm” may be your platform to reach many for God. Let’s not waste our circumstances.
7. Notice twice that the main cargo of the ship had to be thrown out to keep everyone alive vs. 18 and 38. When the rubber hits the road and our life is about to end, our wealth and accumulations does not matter. Some of us need to throw off board some of our precious cargo to stay alive. Holy Spirit guided giving is the best way to accomplish this. Let’s not wait before it is too late to give because if we don’t, we are going nowhere it anyway. We are challenged by the recent earthquake in Haiti. It is a lesson in itself on what matters. Let’s continue to pray and give to the people of Haiti and others suffering out there.
8. God’s call and our obedience and His protection and provision for us as His children affect many other lives. I believe that most of the lives would have been lost in the ship wreck if not that Paul was on board. Listen to the angel speaking to Paul. “God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you vs. 24. In addition, the lives of the other prisoners were spared because of the favor of God on Paul. In His sovereignty, God will make things happen. The centurion commanded the soldiers not to kill the prisoners because of Paul, vs. 42-43.
God will do everything to get you and me to His appointed destination for His purpose and for His glory. Paul must get to Rome regardless of shipwreck to preach the gospel. The journey was death threatening but the purpose was clear. Are you going through your storm right now, stay on board, God is with you. Has your storm passed or not yet arrived, trust God and encourage those who are in their storm. Be the church in your storm and point all to see God and not you; before, during and after your storm. Be encouraged and may God help us. Amen.
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