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World Wide Witness: Faith Mission

December 9, 2012 Carrigaline Baptist Church - Sermons

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Follow along in your Bibles.
When it was decided that we would sail for Italy,
Paul and some of the other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius,
who belonged to the Imperial Regiment.
We boarded a ship from Adramitim,
about to sail for ports along the coast of the province of Asia,
and we put out to sea.
A Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica, was with us.
The next day we landed at Sidon,
and Julius, in kindness to Paul, allowed him to go to his friends
so they might provide for his needs.
From there we put out to sea again,
and passed to the lee of Cyprus,
because the winds were against us.
When we'd sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia,
we landed at Myra in Lycia.
There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy,
and put us on board.
We made slow headway for many days,
and had difficulty arriving off Cindus.
When the wind did not allow us to hold our course,
we sailed to the lee of Crete opposite Salmon.
We moved along the coast with difficulty,
and came to a place called Fair Havens,
near the town of Lycia.
Much time had been lost,
and sailing had already become dangerous,
because by now it was after the fast.
So Paul warned them,
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.
But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said,
followed the advice of the pilot and the owner of the ship.
Since the harbour was unsuitable to winter in,
the majority decided that we should sail on,
hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there.
This was a harbour in Crete,
facing both southwest and northwest.
When 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.
Before very long,
a wind of hurricane force called a northeaster,
swept down from the island.
The ship was caught by the storm,
and we could not head into the wind,
so we gave way to it,
and were driven along.
As we passed to the lee of a small island,
called Cowda,
we were hardly able to make the lifeboat secure.
When 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 Cyrus,
they lowered the sea anchor,
and let the ship be driven along.
We took such a violent battering from the storm,
that the next day,
they began to throw the cargo overboard.
On the third day,
they threw the ship's tackle overboard
with their own hands.
When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days,
and the storm continued raging,
we finally gave up all hope of being saved.
After 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.
But now I urge you to keep up your courage,
because not one of you will be lost,
only the ship will be destroyed.
Last night, an angel of the God
whose I am and whom I serve
stood beside me and 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.
So keep up your courage, men,
for I have faith in God
that it will happen just as he told me.
Nevertheless, we must run aground
on some island.
On the 14th night,
we were still being driven
across the Adriatic Sea,
when about midnight,
the sailors sensed
they were approaching land.
They took soundings
and found that the water
was 120 feet deep.
A short time later,
they took soundings again
and found it was 90 feet deep.
Feeling that we would be
dashed against the rocks,
they dropped four anchors
from the stern
and prayed for daylight.
In an attempt to escape
from the ship,
the sailors left the lifeboat
down into the sea,
pretending they were going
to lower some anchors
from the bow.
Then Paul said to the centurion
and the soldiers,
Unless these men stay with the ship,
you cannot be saved.
So the soldiers cut the ropes
that held the lifeboat
and let it fall away.
Just before dawn,
Paul urged them all to eat.
For the last 14 days,
he says,
you have been in constant suspense
and have gone without food.
You haven't eaten anything.
Now I urge you to take some food.
You need it to survive.
Not one of you will lose
a single hair from his head.
After 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.
They were all encouraged
and ate some food themselves.
All together,
there were 276 of us on board.
When they had eaten
as much as they wanted,
they lightened the ship
by throwing the grain
into the sea.
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.
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,
but the ship struck a sandbar
and ran aground.
The bow struck fast
and would not move.
And the stern was broken
to pieces
by the pounding of the surf.
The soldiers planned
to kill the prisoners
to prevent any of them
from swimming away
and escaping,
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.
The rest were to get there
on planks
or on pieces of the ship.
In this way,
everyone reached land.
In safety.
What an incredible journey.
But why has Luke,
who was on board the boat,
we see that from verse 1
when he says,
it was decided that we
should set sail.
So this is an eyewitness account.
He was present with them.
Why does he give
such a detailed account?
Why does he go through
giving us every port
and harbour?
Why does he go into
all the details
of the conditions
of the seas
and the wind patterns
and the northeaster
coming down off the island?
Why all the detail
of throwing cargo
and tackle overboard?
Why could he not
simply write,
and we sailed from Caesarea
and arrived in Rome?
We'd still get the same point.
What's the big deal?
Well, as we partner God
in his mission,
it's never going to be
plain sailing.
As we venture out with God,
we will face
many difficulties
and disappointments
in life.
And the big question
that we want to ask
as we come to the text
is what's going to keep
our heads above water
when everything seems
out of control
and we are surrounded
by chaos?
What's going to keep us
and what's going to sustain us
as God's people
who are committed
to his mission
in his world?
Well, Luke writes
in such detail
to show us
that when storms come,
it is faith in God's word
that will keep his servants.
That's what I want us
to remember.
When storms come in life,
it is faith in God's word
that is going to keep
his servants.
the anchor
that we need
in our lives
when all else
is being tossed about
and thrown about,
the anchor
that we need
is the rock-solid
certainty
of God's word.
This is where
our faith
should rest
and this is where
our focus
should be.
Now, I think
there are three
big themes
that splash out
from this text
to us.
First,
the assuring comfort
of God's word.
These are our,
if you like,
three anchors
that we need
in our life.
First,
the assuring comfort
of God's word.
Look back
quickly
to what God
had said to Paul
in chapter 23
verse 11.
23 verse 11.
This is following
Paul's time
in Jerusalem.
He's already
faced three
threats to his
life
and in the
midst of it all
we read this
23 verse 11.
The following night
the Lord stood
near Paul
and said,
spoke his word
to Paul,
take courage
as you have
testified about
me in Jerusalem
so you must
also testify
in Rome.
So God
has spoken
so clearly
to Paul
you are going
to get to Rome.
But once
they start
the journey
on the sea
chapter 27
verse 9
we read
that much
time had been
lost
and sailing
had already
become dangerous
because by now
it was after
the fast.
Sailing
was usually
abandoned
between the
months of
November
and March
because of
winter storms
people didn't
sail.
It's now
at the end
of October
we know that
because it was
after the fast
that was the
fast of the
atonement
Yom Kippur
and Paul
being an
experienced
traveller
could tell
what was
ahead.
Look at the
rest of
verse 9
so Paul
warned them
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.
Now I
don't think
it's speculation
to say that
Paul along
with all the
rest of the
crew are
fearing for
their lives.
God may
have said
to him
you will
go to
Rome
but the
sea has
become so
dangerous
that he
is now
fearing
for his
life.
In fact
Paul's
assessment
of the
weather
proves to
be right
verse 14
before very
long a
wind of
hurricane
force
called
the
northeaster
swept down
from the
island.
So strong
was this
wind that
they were
caught up
they couldn't
go against
it they
were just
taken along
by the
wind way
out into
the sea
just off
the coast
of north
africa.
They
passed
verse 16
an island
called
Kauda
we were
hardly able
to make
the lifeboat
secure
and when
the men
had hoisted
aboard
they had
to pass
ropes
underneath
the ship
itself
to hold
it together.
Yes
Paul knew
what God
had said
but the
frightening
and terrifying
conditions
around him
are telling
a completely
different
story.
fear
has
swamped
him
and it's
taken over
his thinking
verse 20
when neither
sun nor
stars appeared
for many
days
and the
storm
continued
raging
we finally
gave up
all hope
of being
saved.
They think
they are going
to die
it seems
God's
word
counts
for
absolutely
nothing.
Now
thankfully
none of
us
I hope
will never
have to
endure a
hurricane
on the
sea
but life
can sometimes
feel like
a hurricane.
As we go
through life
we find it
delivers all
kinds of
disappointments
and difficulty
we feel
battered and
bruised
and we
begin to
doubt
what God's
word has
actually said
and rather
than God
being with
us
maybe we
feel God
has abandoned
us completely
and we
give up
all hope.
God knows
the situation
and he
brings
comfort
to Paul's
life and he
speaks comfort
into our
life by
confirming his
word.
Verse 23
Last night
an angel
of the God
whose I am
and whom I
serve stood
beside me
and 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.
You see
as the boat
rocks and
as the wind
blows and
the waves
begin to
come over
how comforting
and reassuring
is God's
word in the
midst of
this storm.
Do not
be afraid
you must
stand trial
before Caesar.
You will
get through
this and
you will
get to
Rome.
There's no
doubts
no questions
no ifs
no buts
just the
clear
calm
and comforting
truth that
God will
do what
he said
he would
do and
nothing is
going to
interfere with
it.
And so
as we go
on our
mission
with God
as we've
taken up
the call
to follow
him
as we
journey
through life
as God's
people
we need
to know
that God
is completely
in sovereign
control over
our individual
lives
over the
church that
we are in
and in the
world in
which we
live
and what
God wills
for us
he will
do and
nothing
and no
one will
be able
to stand
in its
way
not even
the greatest
hurricane
force
winds
don't be
afraid
you will
get to
Rome
God will
preserve
and God
will keep
his servants
for the
task
that he
has called
them to
and he
will preserve
this church
and he
will keep
this church
and nothing
and no one
will stand
in the way
of the
mission
that God
has called
us to
so we
need the
assuring
comfort
of God's
words
speaking
into our
lives
the second
anchor
that we
need is
the sustaining
reminder
of God's
word
to prove
God's
control
and sovereignty
over his
creation
God
steps in
and he
stops the
storm
look at
verse 26
and God
spoke
and the
seas
calmed
and he
stirred up
a wind
from the
east
and they
sailed
safely
onto
Rome
is that
what your
Bible says
it doesn't
say that
in mine
either
don't worry
let's read
what verse
26 says
nevertheless
we must
run aground
on some
island
don't worry
guys
we're going
to get
shipwrecked
in fact
the storm
is only
going to
get worse
the threat
of sand
banks
and rocks
is going
to become
a reality
the force
of this
storm
is going
to smash
the boats
to pieces
and we're
going to
be thrown
up onto
the beach
like a
drowned
rat
God
doesn't
always
calm
the storm
but he's
always
our
comfort
in the
storm
he could
have stopped
the waves
at any
moment
he did
it before
we've read
it in the
gospels
he could
have proved
his authority
over the
wind
but through
his word
he reminds
us that he
will sustain
us on
our mission
on our
journey with
God
when everything
else is
chaos all
around us
he will
sustain his
people
you know
five times
in Acts
Paul
receives a
direct
word
from God
and by
that I
mean he
hears an
audible
voice
from God
but it's
never about
who he's
going to
marry
and it's
not about
what church
he should
join
the five
things he
hears
the first
two
voices
that from
God
comes
are clear
directions
about his
mission
his call
to be a
witness
for Jesus
and the
last three
times he
hears a
voice from
God
are words
that will
sustain him
in his
mission
so back
in chapter
18 I
think it
is
verse 9
where Paul
has just
faced
difficulty
after
difficulty
prison
and beating
God
comes to
him and
speaks to
him in
an audible
voice and
he says
do not
be afraid
I have
many people
in this
city
then when
he is being
threatened with
his own
life in
Jerusalem
which we
read just
now
God
comes to
him and
he speaks
to him
in an
audible
voice
take
courage
you will
testify
about me
in Rome
and then
the third
occasion
when he's
in the
middle
of the
storm
God
says
do not
be afraid
you must
stand
trial
before
Caesar
you see
as we
partner
God
in his
mission
as we
go through
our life
with him
there are
times we
just think
it's all
doomed to
failure
what's the
point
I've
witnessed
I've
taught
I've
spoken
I've
tried
and
nothing's
happened
there's
nothing to
show for
it
and we
need to
be reminded
of God's
sustaining
word
don't be
afraid
take
courage
I
will
accomplish
my
mission
the
church
will
grow
I
will
save
my
people
keep
witnessing
keep
being
faithful
and I
will
sustain
you
in your
lives
so that's
the second
anchor
the sustaining
reminder
of God's
word
the third
anchor
is the
saving
hope
of God's
word
you see
God's
word is
not just
spoken to
Paul
here
it's a
word
spoken to
Paul
which is
to be
spoken
to
everybody
on board
the boat
God speaks
comfort to
Paul
he sustains
Paul
but now
Paul speaks
this saving
hope
to everybody
else who's
with him
verse 22
he says
now I
urge you
to keep
up your
courage
because
not one
of you
will be
lost
not one
of you
will be
lost
only the
ship
will be
destroyed
well how
could he
give such
a promise
as that
because of
what God
had said
verse 24
you must
stand trial
before Caesar
and God
has graciously
given you
the lives
of all
who sail
with you
this is
the saving
hope
of God's
word
rescue
and safety
is what
they're all
wanting
and God
through his
word
promises
to do
just that
in fact
when they're
all tempted
to doubt
God's
word
Paul
reminds
them
of what
God
had
already
said
in
verse
34
he says
I urge
you to
take some
food
you need
it to
survive
not one
of you
will lose
a single
hair
from his
head
in other
words
you're all
going to
be preserved
and even
when people
began to
choose to
ignore what
God's
word
had said
God
still
delivers
on his
promise
nothing
will stop
his word
taking
effect
so verse
42
the soldiers
planned to
kill the
prisoners
and to
prevent any
of them
from swimming
away and
escaping
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
the rest
were to
get there
on planks
or on
pieces of
the ship
in this
way
everyone
everyone
reached land
in safety
life belts
and life
boats
were of
little use
in this
situation
they needed
something
or someone
that would
rescue
them
someone
who
would
save
them
and God
in his
grace
enables
everyone
on board
that ship
276 of
them
to be
saved
everything
else in
the story
suggests
that they're
going to
die
to be
saved
but God's
word
is their
saving
hope
now I
understand
that this
salvation
was primarily
physical
and temporal
it saved
their physical
lives from
the storm
and it
saved them
in that
particular
storm
there's no
suggestion
or evidence
that any
of the
people
on board
became
followers
of
Christ
I don't
think
revival
broke
out
maybe
they
did
we
don't
know
well what
I do
think we
can say
is that
the
application
here is
this
that God's
word
is a
saving
and a
redemptive
word
his word
is always
a saving
word
because
that's
the kind
of God
that he
is
as he
speaks
he speaks
to save
people
to rescue
people
in fact
we know
as we
follow
through
acts
that as
people
spoke
God's
word
people
came to
experience
salvation
in a
deeper
and in
a greater
way
his word
saves us
spiritually
and eternally
yes he
saved them
through the
storm
here
and he
brought them
through the
hurricane
but ultimately
it is God's
word that is
going to
save us
from the
storm
of God's
wrath
and it's
his word
that is
going to
save us
through life
and bring
us
to our
eternal
home
God will
do that
he speaks
to give
people hope
and that's
what we
have in
the midst
of the
storm
God
speaking
his
saving
hope
to the
people
helpless
and hopeless
as we
may be
that's the
power
of God's
word
so there
we have
three
anchors
to hold
on to
in the
midst of
the storm
in which
we're in
but the
question I
come to
here
and what
we can
ask ourselves
now is
how does
this
become a
reality
for me
how do
we
experience
what Paul
experienced
not in the
sense of
how do I
manage to
get into
a storm
but how
can God's
word affect
me and
change me
as it
did to
Paul and
those who
were with
him
well it
comes
simply
through
faith
in what
God
says
faith
in what
God
says
look at
verse 25
he says
keep up
your courage
men
for I
have
faith
in God
that it
will happen
just as
he told
me
it will
happen
just
as he
told me
this isn't
wishful
thinking
this is
based on
the sure
and certain
truth that
God
will do
what he
said
he will
do
God
is always
faithful to
his word
he cannot
contradict
his word
he cannot
forget
his word
he will
always
deliver
on the
things
that he
says
what he
says
he will
do
and
therefore
we can
trust
him
with our
lives
but how
do we
do that
well I
think this
is a
wonderful
little
parable
it's
true
to the
story
but I
think it's
also like
a parable
showing us
how we
can
experience
this same
things
we've got
to act
on his
word
look at
verse 30
in 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
then Paul
said to
the centurion
and the
soldiers
unless
these men
stay with
the ship
you cannot
be saved
you see
God had
spoken his
word of
promise
hadn't he
he had
spoken it
that God
had graciously
given to
Paul
everybody who
was with
them and
that they
would all
be kept
safe
but the
only way
that they
could experience
that safety
the only way
to make that
a reality
in their
lives was
to put
God's
word to
the test
it was
only by
having
faith
in what
God said
he would
do
so you
put
yourselves
in that
situation
the storm
going
lifeboat
God's
word on
the other
side
saying
stay in
the boat
you'll be
kept
safe
lifeboat
what am
I going
to do
verse
20
verse
32
so the
soldiers
cut
the ropes
that held
the lifeboat
and let
it drift
away
you see
true faith
holds on
to what
God
says
it acts
on what
God has
promised
it steps
out
when everything
else is
saying no
it allows
us to take
these massive
steps of
so called
risk
but it's
not risk
it's trust
in what
God has
said
letting go
of all
of our
securities
and all
the things
that we
want to
hold on
to
and trusting
in the
very word
of God
that's
how we
experience
his
assuring
comfort
and his
sustaining
reminder
and saving
hope
in faith
we act
on what
God
has said
you see
Luke could
have easily
have written
and we
sailed from
Caesarea to
Rome and we
travelled up
to meet
Caesar
but he
didn't
he wrote
this
an amazing
account
this detailed
account
an adventure
but it's
there to
remind us
that when
the storms
come
as threats
come to
the mission
of God
when obstacles
are thrown
in front of
us in our
life
it is faith
in God's
word
that will
keep and
sustain
his
servants
the anchor
that we
need in
our lives
when all
else is
being tossed
and thrown
about
is the
rock solid
certainty
of God's
word
this is
where
our
face
should rest
and this
is where
our eyes
should be
focused
let's pray
together
our
father
God
in a
time
when
so many
words
fail
us
when
the
words
of others
whether it
be the
government
and promises
that they
make
words
that just
fail
and do
not stand
up
even our
own words
fail
we thank
you for
the reminder
this morning
that your
word
is the
anchor
it's what
we hold
on to
because it
is sure
and it
is certain
it will
always
accomplish
what you
say it
to do
so father
this morning
we
come to
you
afresh
forgive
us
for not
trusting
you
forgive
us for
holding on
to our
own
little
securities
help us
even in
that picture
there
to cut
those
securities
to cut
the ropes
that tie
us to
other
things
and to
other
people
and to
trust
completely
in the
word of
God
help us
to do
that
sustain us
and keep
us
as we
journey
through
life
whatever
storm
may come
and thank
you that
you will
do that
as you
have promised
in jesus
name
amen
we're going
to