Stay in the Boat
STAY IN THE BOAT
Week Three – When the Boat BREAKS
Acts 27: 1, 13-15, 39-44 NKJV
1When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Imperial Regiment.
13 When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. 14 Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. 15 The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along.
39 When 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. 40 Cutting 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. 41 But 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.
42 The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. 43 But 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. 44 The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely.
PRAY
For context of this scripture and story,
1. Appearing Before Governor Felix: (Acts 24:1-26)
This first court appearance occurred five days after Paul arrived in Caesarea. The High Priest, Ananias, and a lawyer, Tertullus, came from Jerusalem to make their accusations before Felix. However, after hearing from both sides, Felix was not convinced of the accusations. He dismissed Ananias and the other accusers and said he would decide the case when the original commander from Jerusalem came to the court in Caesarea. This seems to be a move by Felix to stall the proceedings. Although he allowed Paul some freedom and let his friends tend to him, Felix kept Paul in prison for two years, hoping in vain that Paul would give him a bribe to secure his freedom. Paul was able to talk about Jesus often. Although Felix and his wife, Drusilla, often called Paul out of the prison to hear him talk about faith in Jesus, they never committed and became followers of Jesus themselves.
2. Appearing Before Governor Porcius Festus: (Acts 24:27-25:12)
After the two years had passed, a new governor, Porcius Festus, replaced Felix. As the new ruler of Judaea, Festus wanted to keep the Jews on his side. Just three days after being installed, Festus travelled to Jerusalem, where the Jewish leaders unsuccessfully tried to persuade him to transfer Paul there. Festus did not comply with their wishes, so the Jewish leaders had to travel down to Caesarea and appear before Festus’ official court. Even so, they were still unable to make a case. Paul defended himself. Still trying to appease the Jews, Festus asked Paul if he would travel to Jerusalem to stand trial. Paul refused and used his right as a Roman citizen to appeal to Caesar. Festus was now obligated to send Paul to Rome to the highest courts.
3. Appearing Before King Agrippa, High Officials and Men of the City: (Acts 25:13-26:32)
While Festus was still contemplating this turn of events, the Roman-appointed king of the Jews, King Agrippa, and his wife, Bernice, came to Caesarea Maritima to pay their respects to the new governor. King Agrippa was the Jewish leader approved by Rome, so, again, Festus needed to impress him. Festus told them about the prisoner (Paul) and how the former governor, Felix, had left him with this dilemma. Agrippa found this very interesting and wanted to meet Paul. Felix planned a large and grandiose gathering with Agrippa, high-ranking officials and the important men of the city. During the gathering, Paul was brought before the group. Paul did not waste this opportunity to share his testimony with these important people. He told about his formal education, strict adherence to Jewish law and his fanatical campaign against Christians before he eventually encountered Jesus. He described, in detail, what Jesus had told him to do. (Agrippa and the others were impressed with what Paul had to say.
“King Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian in such a short time?”
Paul said, “Whether it is a short or a long time, I pray to God that not only you but every person listening to me today would be saved and be like me—except for these chains I have!””
Acts 26:28-29, ICB
So we pick up in the story where Paul is being delivered as a prisoner to Rome to be publicly executed. The title of this message as we jump in is, “WHEN THE BOAT BREAKS.”
What do you do when the boat breaks?
What do you do when the plans are ruined?
What do you do when the schedule has been destroyed?
What do you do when you can't find routine?
I don’t know about you, but I like to find a rhythm in life, a routine so to speak. We know what is going to happen every day. It may not be exciting but at least I know.
Have you ever been in a time where you dreamed of a routine…
Anybody remember the COVID shutdowns? Scary right?
Have you looked up to the sky lately and said, “hey, we can only take so much down here.”
Or have you had those sighs and those groans where you're like, really?
“God, this is a lot.”
This is a lot. It's a lot to stay married right now. It's a lot to raise kids right now. It's a lot to be single looking to be married right now. It's a lot to just have a solid day. Do you know what I'm talking about? Like solid is the new great, you know, like, like normal. Well, it seems like we lost that a few years ago.
Predictable is the new win. It's like, wait, you, wait, you had a schedule and you, you kept it today?
Sickness, Finances, Fragile relationships…the future?
What do you do when the boat breaks?
As Christians, what should we do? What should be our response?
It seems like everyone's response is their OPINION, their opinions have gotten enormously big. It's funny because our exposure right now seems to get even getting smaller, but our opinions seem to get bigger.
By the way, that's a really bad combo. That mentality is dangerous.
Oh, you haven't talked to people that have never one time experienced something, but they have the biggest opinions about it.
Some of you want to tell Coach Kirby Smart and Carson Beck what to do. Did you ever play football? Who's been an elite quarterback in the SEC? Do you mind raising your hand really quick?
Oh, so our culture's all set up that sometimes the people that can be loudest have never one time experienced what they're speaking to or about.
So I wanted to see a story in the Bible of someone who has EXPERIENCED an unpredictable catastrophe and trauma…
That brings us to PAUL.
So we read earlier that Paul is on his way to be tried and eventually executed. Now I got to be honest with you if my boat broke apart while I'm on my way to be executed, I would take that as a sign from God to run for the hills, if you will. I'd be like, you're going to save me, God.
And yet as the story goes, you'll be shocked. Let me just jump in
Acts 28:1- The Message
1-2 Once everyone was accounted for and we realized we had all made it, we learned that we were on the island of Malta. The natives went out of their way to be friendly to us. The day was rainy and cold and we were already soaked to the bone, but they built a huge bonfire and gathered us around it.
3-6 Paul pitched in and helped.
WHEN YOUR BOAT BREAKS…you serve.
Paul can't control the sea. Paul can't control the winds. Paul can't control the wood that is breaking apart.
They each grab pieces. They float onto shore. It's a cold, rainy night. It's difficult. It's painful. It's challenging but we find Paul…picking up sticks. He is serving.
Listen to Jesus…
Mark 10:42-45 New Living Translation
42 So Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them.43 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Is that the first thing you think about doing during a storm? During a crisis? I mean, yeah, when someone else is going through it. But Paul is the one going through it and here we find him serving…
He had gathered up a bundle of sticks, but when he put it on the fire, a venomous snake, roused from its sleepiness by the heat, struck his hand and held on.
Seeing the snake hanging from Paul’s hand like that, the natives jumped to the conclusion that he was a murderer getting what he deserved. Paul shook the snake off into the fire like it was nothing. They kept expecting him to drop dead, but when it was obvious he wasn’t going to, they jumped to the conclusion that he was a god!
AND THEN…..comes this snake and it bites his hand!
Now it's like really Lord? I floated in on what’s left of the ship. We're freezing cold. I'm trying to make a fire I'm putting out sticks.
BUT Paul still doesn't freak out!!
SHAKE IT OFF!!
Shake off the Viper of DISCOURAGEMENT
Paul was attacked while helping…doing good
Shake off the Viper of CRITCISM
People like to label you. They are always watching…expecting the worst but God has a way of changing your identity despite what you have done, despite what you may have labeled.
2 Corinthians 5:16-17 New King James Version
16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Mule in the hole…farmer trying to bury him story…
7-9 The head man in that part of the island was Publius. He took us into his home as his guests, drying us out and putting us up in fine style for the next three days. Publius’s father was sick at the time, down with a high fever and dysentery. Paul went to the old man’s room, and when he laid hands on him and prayed, the man was healed. Word of the healing got around fast, and soon everyone on the island who was sick came and got healed.
And we just move on like, oh, that must have been amazing. Yeah, word of the healing got around fast. And soon everyone on the island who was sick came and got healed.
So that was good. All right. Cool.
That's amazing. Wish that would happen at the Hill.
BUT LOOK at the next sentence…
10-11 We spent a wonderful three months on Malta. They treated us like royalty, took care of all of our needs, outfitted us for the rest of the journey.
That's a sentence, isn't it? This is a real event. I mean, is anyone here, can we be like, we have spent, like, everything's been changed, plans have been changed, but we have had a wonderful detour. We've had wonderful three months on the island of Malta.
It seems to me that Paul has learned something that I want to know.
I'm like, what did you do on Malta?
Are there sand dunes with side-by-sides? Is there jet skiing and stuff? Is there a Chick-fil-A? I mean, what did you?
We had a great time.
Is this how it works when you run into perfect strangers in a life and death situation? Like, does it turn into three months where they take care of you like royalty, you have this amazing connection, and they give you all the supplies you're going to need now to get on with your journey? These are deep connections these people are making.
All he said was “we had a wonderful three months on Malta.”
I'm thinking would I have had a Wonderful three months on Malta?
I doubt it! I might not even have a wonderful three hours on Malta because of my attitude. My attitude would be so bent out of shape.
If I’m not careful, my attitude will be just as wrecked as my situation.
1 Peter 5:6-7 New Living Translation
6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
What happens when your boat breaks?
Nowhere in the text does it say God caused the storm. Nowhere in the text does it say, and lastly, here's how you determine where the storm came from. Apparently, it's not important.
Don't build your life now for the rest of your days on things you don't know or can control.
You build your life on what you do know. And I can't guarantee you that your career path is going to be the rest of your life, but I can guarantee you this.
Matthew 7:24-27 English Standard Version
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
Paul is so convinced
Romans 8:38-39 New Living Translation
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.