It Will Happen

Hebrews 10:36 (ESV)
36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. Those who pay the price in perseverance

Acts 27:9-44 (ESV)
Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast] was already over, Paul advised them, 10 saying, “Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” 11 But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said. 12 And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.

1.  Listen to the Holy Spirit
Who would you listen to the captain of the ship or a preacher?
Because he didn’t listen to the preacher (the purpose of God) God is trying to warn them but they do not listen. We listen to everyone else’s assessment of the situation instead of listening to what God says we listen to our senses.

The Storm at Sea
13 Now when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to the shore. 14 But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land.

Sometimes when you have the wind against your back it feels like you are making progress. But even the progress you think you’re making it is leading to destruction.

It didn’t last long though. But soon. You might be going against the will of God for your life but soon it will come to devastation. You may try to block out the voice of the Holy Spirit but soon it will catch up to you.  Anytime you ignore God’s warnings the winds will be against you.

15 And when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along. 16 Running under the lee of a small island called Cauda,[b] we managed with difficulty to secure the ship's boat. 17 After hoisting it up, they used supports to undergird the ship. Then, fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the gear,[c] and thus they were driven along. 18 Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo. 19 And on the third day they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.

For so many people they have not listened to the voice of God and it has brought them to dangerous place. Now they find themselves battling against the waves and winds of life.
What happens so often, is that people give up and let the waves drive them along they go with the flow. Let the world influence them.

They stop.

They stop hoping.

They stop believing

They have accepted for their lives this is how it will be for now on.

21 Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. 22 Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, 24 and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ 25 So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. 26 But we must run aground on some island.”

2.  Persevere
Paul headed to Rome as a prisoner experiences an unexpected difficulty. Because of their bad decision Paul’s life is also in jeopardy.

It is amazing to me that Paul stands up again. They did not listen the first time, but another opportunity to get it right this time. God loves us so much that He gives us warning after warning.  In vs 22 it says “Yet now” you did not listen to me then and you should have, but I am giving you another chance to save yourself from this path of destruction.  “I urge you to Take Heart” I urge you to persevere.

What does it mean to persevere?  Persevere-To persist steadily in an action or a belief usually over a long period and especially despite problems or difficulties.

In other words “Don’t Stop” don’t stop believing, don’t stop hoping, and don’t stop dreaming! Persevere!  You have lost your passion, your drive, your ability to hear God’s voice. You need to put your heart back into it.  How was Paul able to rise up and motivate others to persevere?
He heard a voice! That voice was the voice of God. Saying “don’t be afraid Paul you and the crew will be saved.”

How can you rise up and persevere? You must also hear the voice of God. When you hear it you must know as Paul knew (vs 25) “that it will be exactly as I have been told.”  Your conditions are not in your control. But your courage is in your control.

33 As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing. 34 Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength,[f] for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.” 35 And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. 36 Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37 (We were in all 276[g] persons in the ship.) 38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.

3.  Obey
An interesting thing happens, they begin to obey and are encouraged.  They did not obey at the beginning because it did not make sense to them to follow the instruction of a preacher versus their captain.

It did not make sense for Joshua to walk around the walls. It didn’t make sense for Abraham to offer his son as a sacrifice when he had been told He would be the father of many nations. It didn’t make sense for David to fight Goliath with a rag and a rock!

It may not make sense for us to pursue a larger building when we have a slimmer crowd.
It may not make sense for you to obey what God is asking you to do! But will you do it? Will you step out in faith?

If you live your life by what makes sense you will never become a person of faith.  If it always has to make sense before you obey God you never sail across deep waters and trust him.  If you are living your life by what makes sense you will never walk in faith.  Are you living to what you can calculate or by God’s promises?

Outcome Is God’s Responsibility Obedience Is Ours.

The Shipwreck
39 Now when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to run the ship ashore. 40 So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach. 41 But striking a reef,[h] they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the surf. 42 The soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape. 43 But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, 44 and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.

God was faithful to what He had told Paul. Yes the boat was demolished, and it was not the way the sailors thought they would get there. But they did arrive to their destination.  You might not understand His ways, but you must listen to His spirit, you must persevere, and you must obey!

Personal Reflection
Is God whispering any warnings to you that could keep you out of a storm?
Is God asking you to abandon something that is sinking you?
Are you trusting more in the way you want God to do it, or in the God who said He will do it?