"'Men,' he said, 'I believe there is trouble ahead if we go on-- shipwreck, loss of cargo, and danger to our lives as well.'" (Later) "Since neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was assailing us, from then on all hope of our being saved was gradually abandoned." (Later) "Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island." (Acts 27)
Now wait, Paul. Do you know that you could have just rebuked that storm, "declared" the favor of the Lord and smooth sailing? What's the matter with you?
If you listen so some Christian "pundits," you would get the idea that if you just do what they tell you to do, you will have no problems, always healthy, always plenty of money, favor with everyone, every time you pray, a parking spot appears, just for you. For so many religious people, if they would have been traveling with Paul, they just would not have allowed all that "trouble" to happen. You can bind and loose your way out of anything. But this is not the reality of life, yes, life in Jesus, life in His Kingdom, and the life of the Church. If you do not read all of the Bible regularly, you will fall for the hyped religion------------ sooner or later.
Notice in our text that Paul could still "hear from" Jesus all during the violence of the wind, large wave swells coming over the ship, desperate measures taken by the crew to save themselves. At one point, perhaps when the storm was the most violent, Paul had an encounter. "For this very night an angel of the God to Whom I belong and Whom I serve stood before me, saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar.'" And with this assurance Paul said, "....I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told." Okay, so far, so good, right? But wait.
"Nevertheless...." Ah, yes, that old, "Nevertheless," in life. But it is many times in the, "Nevertheless," where we see the full extent of the power, faithfulness, glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who does not like to hear the prophecy, "I am going to use you mightily. There is coming a season of great favor and anointing. You will have more than enough money to do all that He has called you to do." Like a telegram, "Stop." But life does not have a, "Stop." Life goes on, and many times what too many "prophets" don't tell you is, "Nevertheless." I have had many of them.
What really gave me a renewed encouragement today was what Jesus told Paul, "Don't be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar." Paul's life was totally committed to Jesus Christ. We have no record, during that violent storm and subsequent shipwreck, that Paul said to Jesus, "Why is this happening to me? I remind You of all the prophecies which I have received, and they certainly didn't include this!" No, nothing of the kind came from this lover of Jesus, and one absolutely surrendered to Jesus. Paul was in the same storm as the rest. Paul was getting tossed about, wet and cold. But Paul could hear, "The Word of God." He was abiding in Christ and Christ was abiding in Paul. This, my friend, is life's Sustenance, true "Life Preserver."
I can say to you today what Paul said on that ship, in the middle of perhaps the most frightening experience of his life, "Therefore, keep up your courage,...for I believe God that it (life) will turn out exactly as I have been told," viz., by my source, "The Word of God," in His, "God-Breathed," Words, the Bible.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that my only expectation in life is, "....that it will turn out exactly as I have been told...." Amen
**************************
Please pray for my participation in prayer gatherings, two on May 4, and one with many business and political leaders here in Johnstown, May 10.
Now wait, Paul. Do you know that you could have just rebuked that storm, "declared" the favor of the Lord and smooth sailing? What's the matter with you?
If you listen so some Christian "pundits," you would get the idea that if you just do what they tell you to do, you will have no problems, always healthy, always plenty of money, favor with everyone, every time you pray, a parking spot appears, just for you. For so many religious people, if they would have been traveling with Paul, they just would not have allowed all that "trouble" to happen. You can bind and loose your way out of anything. But this is not the reality of life, yes, life in Jesus, life in His Kingdom, and the life of the Church. If you do not read all of the Bible regularly, you will fall for the hyped religion------------ sooner or later.
Notice in our text that Paul could still "hear from" Jesus all during the violence of the wind, large wave swells coming over the ship, desperate measures taken by the crew to save themselves. At one point, perhaps when the storm was the most violent, Paul had an encounter. "For this very night an angel of the God to Whom I belong and Whom I serve stood before me, saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar.'" And with this assurance Paul said, "....I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told." Okay, so far, so good, right? But wait.
"Nevertheless...." Ah, yes, that old, "Nevertheless," in life. But it is many times in the, "Nevertheless," where we see the full extent of the power, faithfulness, glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who does not like to hear the prophecy, "I am going to use you mightily. There is coming a season of great favor and anointing. You will have more than enough money to do all that He has called you to do." Like a telegram, "Stop." But life does not have a, "Stop." Life goes on, and many times what too many "prophets" don't tell you is, "Nevertheless." I have had many of them.
What really gave me a renewed encouragement today was what Jesus told Paul, "Don't be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar." Paul's life was totally committed to Jesus Christ. We have no record, during that violent storm and subsequent shipwreck, that Paul said to Jesus, "Why is this happening to me? I remind You of all the prophecies which I have received, and they certainly didn't include this!" No, nothing of the kind came from this lover of Jesus, and one absolutely surrendered to Jesus. Paul was in the same storm as the rest. Paul was getting tossed about, wet and cold. But Paul could hear, "The Word of God." He was abiding in Christ and Christ was abiding in Paul. This, my friend, is life's Sustenance, true "Life Preserver."
I can say to you today what Paul said on that ship, in the middle of perhaps the most frightening experience of his life, "Therefore, keep up your courage,...for I believe God that it (life) will turn out exactly as I have been told," viz., by my source, "The Word of God," in His, "God-Breathed," Words, the Bible.
Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You that my only expectation in life is, "....that it will turn out exactly as I have been told...." Amen
**************************
Please pray for my participation in prayer gatherings, two on May 4, and one with many business and political leaders here in Johnstown, May 10.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
