WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.360 Please take out your copy of God's Word, which I pray is well read and treasured in your hearts. 00:00:05.560 --> 00:00:08.839 And turn with me to the book of Acts chapter 27. 00:00:12.280 --> 00:00:22.000 Yes, we are still working our way through the book of Acts, which is our habit to do verse by verse exposition, but we are nearing the end. 00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:29.400 We have this Sunday and two more if things go to plan and we'll complete our study of the book of Acts. 00:00:29.399 --> 00:00:42.820 But before we get into today's text, I'll summarize where we are in Luke's narrative of the ascended Christ working by the agency of the Spirit in the life of the Apostle Paul. 00:00:43.579 --> 00:00:52.140 At the beginning of chapter 21, Paul returns to Jerusalem where he is attacked at the temple and subsequently arrested by a Roman cohort. 00:00:52.140 --> 00:01:07.280 Because of the uproar of the crowd, the confusion concerning their accusations against Paul and a plot to kill him, he is detained and stands trial a number of times across the following chapters. 00:01:07.280 --> 00:01:15.379 In chapter 25, Paul exercises his right as a Roman citizen and makes an appeal to Caesar. 00:01:15.480 --> 00:01:21.359 That is to be sent to Rome to stand trial before Caesar, which is granted to him. 00:01:21.920 --> 00:01:27.359 And that brings us to the decision to sail for Rome in today's text. 00:01:27.500 --> 00:01:31.099 And wasn't that the most sweeping summary ever of those chapters? 00:01:31.099 --> 00:01:38.699 So before I begin reading in Acts 27, let me remind you, beloved, that this is God's word to us. 00:01:39.560 --> 00:01:42.359 It was written for his glory and our good. 00:01:43.019 --> 00:01:48.699 We would all do well to listen to it in order to believe its promises and obey its commands. 00:01:48.700 --> 00:02:02.020 Now, as we read across the following chapter, I'm going to stop at some periodic places and give some brief explanation just so we know, fully wrap our minds around what's happening in this episode in Paul's life. 00:02:02.060 --> 00:02:04.219 And then we'll give some application following it. 00:02:04.780 --> 00:02:06.400 So Acts 27, verse 1. 00:02:06.400 --> 00:02:33.740 So note first the phrase, we should sail. 00:02:33.740 --> 00:02:41.100 I just think it's good for us to recognize that Luke is using first person plural pronouns again. 00:02:41.219 --> 00:02:43.620 So he is back on the scene, right? 00:02:43.680 --> 00:02:47.180 That means he joined Paul as he is sent to Rome. 00:02:47.280 --> 00:02:53.140 He was likely nearby during all of those trials, but he's observing from a distance what is happening. 00:02:54.020 --> 00:03:01.620 Many have supposed that Luke served as Paul's physician for his general health as he went on all of these hazardous journeys, 00:03:01.620 --> 00:03:06.319 as well as the thorn in his flesh mentioned in 2 Corinthians. 00:03:06.319 --> 00:03:12.480 We don't know exactly what that was, but many have supposed it was some kind of ailment that Paul carried with him. 00:03:13.520 --> 00:03:24.719 Luke serves us as a beautiful example of friendship and service as he returns and joins him on his trip to trial and imprisonment in Rome. 00:03:24.719 --> 00:03:28.919 Note also that they get on a ship of Adramidium. 00:03:29.340 --> 00:03:33.659 And it's only substantial because I think sometimes words like this become distracting to us. 00:03:33.699 --> 00:03:36.419 Like what in the world is a ship of Adramidium? 00:03:37.180 --> 00:03:38.900 Adramidium was a place. 00:03:39.000 --> 00:03:40.819 It was the ship's home port. 00:03:40.819 --> 00:03:49.299 And the ship is likely a merchant ship carrying wheat westward, as we see in verse 38. 00:03:49.620 --> 00:03:53.919 We find out later in the chapter that there's a massive number of people on this ship. 00:03:54.780 --> 00:04:00.939 Ships of this size in that day would have been the largest seagoing vessel. 00:04:01.060 --> 00:04:05.659 So it was a large ship of Adramidium carrying most likely wheat. 00:04:05.659 --> 00:04:11.680 Verse 38 says, when they'd eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea. 00:04:12.300 --> 00:04:15.439 And we also see that he's accompanied by Aristarchus. 00:04:15.579 --> 00:04:20.540 And Aristarchus has served as one of Paul's travel companions for quite some time. 00:04:21.300 --> 00:04:26.300 In fact, he is one of the men seized in the Ephesian riot that we learned about back in chapter 19. 00:04:26.560 --> 00:04:31.240 So another picture, a beautiful friendship and service to Paul as he goes with him. 00:04:31.959 --> 00:04:32.639 Verse 3. 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:41.719 The next day we put in at Sidon, and Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for. 00:04:42.339 --> 00:04:48.699 And putting out to sea from there, we sailed under the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us. 00:04:48.860 --> 00:04:55.240 Now, if you would like, in the back of your Bible, probably there's a map of Paul's missionary journeys. 00:04:55.500 --> 00:04:59.439 If you have an ESV like I do, a thin line, it's the last one. 00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:04.279 So you can just very quickly turn to it and see the path that he takes. 00:05:04.339 --> 00:05:07.300 If that helps you, you can flip back and forth between the two. 00:05:08.100 --> 00:05:13.339 Sidon from Caesarea would have just been a bit north on the coast of Israel. 00:05:14.300 --> 00:05:16.159 So they've sailed just a bit of a way. 00:05:16.160 --> 00:05:29.420 And Julius, this soldier of the Augustan cohort, allows him to go to who's likely his friends being the church there in Sidon and be cared for. 00:05:30.060 --> 00:05:35.080 We see also in these two verses that they sail under the lee of Cyprus. 00:05:35.240 --> 00:05:38.160 Now, Luke uses the word lee twice more in this narrative. 00:05:38.280 --> 00:05:40.480 So it's important that you understand what he's referring to. 00:05:40.480 --> 00:05:45.319 And the lee is the protection of a landmass from the wind. 00:05:45.420 --> 00:05:49.240 That is to say, they sailed on the downwind side of Cyprus. 00:05:49.340 --> 00:05:58.160 They were protected from the strong winds by sailing in the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against them, Luke records. 00:05:58.900 --> 00:06:05.100 Now, a sailing ship is most easily sailed with the wind at its stern, its backside. 00:06:05.420 --> 00:06:06.980 That's the way we think of sailing ships, right? 00:06:07.000 --> 00:06:09.020 The wind blowing it along. 00:06:09.019 --> 00:06:14.019 But did you know that when the wind is at the bow of a ship, it can still be sailed? 00:06:14.959 --> 00:06:19.839 I had never given this any thought until the year was 1996. 00:06:20.779 --> 00:06:26.319 And my dad and I went up to Maine, and we got to take a sailing ship out, and we took it up the coast. 00:06:26.399 --> 00:06:27.859 And I didn't think, how do we get back? 00:06:28.319 --> 00:06:30.659 We had to turn around and sail against the wind. 00:06:30.740 --> 00:06:32.339 And you do a process called tacking. 00:06:32.439 --> 00:06:36.699 You cut across the wind, back and forth, and you make progress in that way. 00:06:36.699 --> 00:06:39.479 But it's not an easy thing to do. 00:06:39.639 --> 00:06:46.599 And so, with the wind at the bow against them, right, they can still sail, but with this difficulty. 00:06:46.819 --> 00:06:50.939 And in especially high winds, it can become quite impossible. 00:06:51.199 --> 00:06:54.579 And it became a continued problem on this voyage they're taking. 00:06:54.579 --> 00:06:55.879 Verse 5. 00:06:56.519 --> 00:07:05.139 And when we had sailed across the open sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia. 00:07:06.000 --> 00:07:10.560 There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy and put us on board. 00:07:10.560 --> 00:07:16.519 We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Nidus. 00:07:16.980 --> 00:07:22.180 And as the wind did not allow us to go farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. 00:07:23.060 --> 00:07:30.139 Coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fairhavens, near which was the city of Lycia. 00:07:30.579 --> 00:07:32.500 So they were working against the wind. 00:07:32.579 --> 00:07:35.800 All this language of difficulty is what that means. 00:07:35.800 --> 00:07:39.480 So they put into a port called Fairhavens. 00:07:40.220 --> 00:07:41.720 Fairhavens still exists as a place. 00:07:41.780 --> 00:07:42.819 It's still called Fairhavens. 00:07:43.100 --> 00:07:45.300 And it now has a small city. 00:07:45.460 --> 00:07:47.319 About 200 people live there. 00:07:47.740 --> 00:07:53.960 But it likely did not have a city in that day as Luke records that it's near this city of Lycia. 00:07:54.620 --> 00:07:58.720 But even if it did, it's a pretty poor port. 00:07:58.879 --> 00:08:04.259 It's open to the southeast, which means that it's exposed to the winter winds. 00:08:04.280 --> 00:08:05.019 And that's a problem. 00:08:05.019 --> 00:08:10.099 So they finally make their way into this port, which gives them some temporary shelter. 00:08:10.319 --> 00:08:13.379 But it's not going to give them long-term shelter from the wind. 00:08:13.419 --> 00:08:16.359 And this sets up this issue that's before them. 00:08:16.719 --> 00:08:17.859 We'll see in verse 9. 00:08:19.439 --> 00:08:25.019 Since much time had passed and the voyage was now dangerous because even the fast was already over, 00:08:25.740 --> 00:08:27.240 Paul advised them, saying, 00:08:27.240 --> 00:08:32.240 Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, 00:08:32.539 --> 00:08:37.860 not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives. 00:08:37.860 --> 00:08:42.919 Now, when Luke uses the phrase, even the fast was already over, 00:08:43.019 --> 00:08:45.919 he's doing so simply to mark the date. 00:08:46.259 --> 00:08:53.940 He's referring to the last, the fast of the day of atonement, which fell in late September. 00:08:54.340 --> 00:08:57.820 You can see why I'm filling in these details because we have no concept of much of this. 00:08:57.820 --> 00:09:04.720 For ancient vessels, any travel on the Mediterranean past mid-September was dangerous. 00:09:05.080 --> 00:09:07.620 It was dangerous to venture out past mid-September. 00:09:08.280 --> 00:09:13.760 And all travel ceased from mid-November until past February, at least until February. 00:09:13.900 --> 00:09:15.820 All travel ceased altogether. 00:09:15.820 --> 00:09:21.280 So, they were trying to sneak this trip in. 00:09:21.379 --> 00:09:24.220 So, back at the beginning of the chapter, when it was decided for them to go, 00:09:24.700 --> 00:09:28.180 the decision was either we try to slip this trip in and get Paul to Rome now, 00:09:28.280 --> 00:09:31.200 or we wait until the spring. 00:09:32.060 --> 00:09:33.160 So, they're sneaking it in. 00:09:33.900 --> 00:09:36.940 And with the difficulty they had experienced thus far, 00:09:37.420 --> 00:09:41.580 they're entering an even more treacherous time to continue westward. 00:09:41.580 --> 00:09:46.720 So, Paul says, and it doesn't really seem to be phrased as a prophecy in this way, 00:09:46.860 --> 00:09:50.100 but he just says, I perceive this is going to go bad for us. 00:09:50.600 --> 00:09:53.300 Look at how difficult it's been so far. 00:09:53.879 --> 00:09:54.639 Verse 11, 00:09:54.720 --> 00:10:01.620 But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said. 00:10:02.280 --> 00:10:06.980 And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, that's fair havens, 00:10:06.980 --> 00:10:13.220 the majority decided to put out to sea from there on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, 00:10:13.659 --> 00:10:19.519 a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there. 00:10:20.480 --> 00:10:25.360 Now, when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, 00:10:25.840 --> 00:10:28.600 they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete close to the shore. 00:10:29.060 --> 00:10:34.500 But soon, a tempestuous wind called the Northeaster struck down from the land. 00:10:34.500 --> 00:10:40.240 And when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along. 00:10:41.100 --> 00:10:44.200 Running under the lee of a small island called Kauda, 00:10:44.500 --> 00:10:47.320 we managed with difficulty to secure the ship's boat. 00:10:47.879 --> 00:10:50.940 After hoisting it up, they used supports to undergird the ship. 00:10:51.340 --> 00:10:54.460 Then, fearing they would run aground on the Sirtis, 00:10:54.679 --> 00:10:58.159 they lowered the gear, and thus they were driven along. 00:10:58.159 --> 00:11:04.799 So they decide to make a run for it, right, in the hopes of wintering at Phoenix. 00:11:05.159 --> 00:11:06.319 But the winds shift. 00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:09.059 So they get this nice wind, they say, now's our chance, and they go, 00:11:09.159 --> 00:11:10.159 but the winds shift. 00:11:10.939 --> 00:11:17.019 And a particular wind comes called the Northeaster, right, a tempestuous one, right, 00:11:17.079 --> 00:11:19.139 coming from the Northeast. 00:11:19.139 --> 00:11:21.699 If you're looking at your little map in the back of your Bible, 00:11:21.819 --> 00:11:24.980 you can see that on the south side of the island of Crete. 00:11:24.980 --> 00:11:29.659 And so as this wind comes across the island of Crete, 00:11:29.800 --> 00:11:33.800 not only is it a strong wind, but it becomes a turbulent wind as well. 00:11:34.259 --> 00:11:38.360 The island itself begins to break the wind up, so it's not steady any longer. 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:43.620 And this wind is turbulent enough, strong enough, 00:11:43.759 --> 00:11:47.180 that as they turn, it would seem they turn and try to go back 00:11:47.180 --> 00:11:49.840 and make their way back into Fairhavens again. 00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:55.560 And they're unable to sail against it, so they have to give in to its power. 00:11:56.720 --> 00:12:00.740 Luke says that we manage with difficulty to secure the ship's boat. 00:12:00.820 --> 00:12:03.080 So this would have been a boat used to go into shore. 00:12:03.180 --> 00:12:05.240 This was a large sailing vessel, 00:12:05.720 --> 00:12:08.879 so a boat that they could have landed on the beaches with. 00:12:09.160 --> 00:12:10.240 And they had pulled it. 00:12:10.360 --> 00:12:12.420 It would have been pulled along beside, behind the ship, 00:12:12.500 --> 00:12:15.700 so they pulled it in and secured it on board the ship. 00:12:15.700 --> 00:12:19.940 And then he says that they used supports to undergird the ship. 00:12:20.020 --> 00:12:21.980 Some of your translations may say cables. 00:12:22.680 --> 00:12:26.940 The wind was so strong and the sea so violent at this point 00:12:26.940 --> 00:12:31.180 that they looped cables underneath the ship to help hold it together. 00:12:31.320 --> 00:12:32.200 That's what they're doing, right? 00:12:32.220 --> 00:12:36.100 It's already that kind of wind that they're looping rope, 00:12:36.620 --> 00:12:39.940 tying it tight up underneath the ship to hold it together, 00:12:39.940 --> 00:12:43.400 which was a common practice in such situations. 00:12:43.399 --> 00:12:49.459 Then he says that they're concerned that they're going to run aground on the Sirdis. 00:12:50.079 --> 00:12:54.000 The Sirdis Shallows or the Sirdis Sands 00:12:54.000 --> 00:12:57.759 is an area off the coast of North Africa with many sandbars. 00:12:57.879 --> 00:13:00.600 It's deep water, but it has a lot of sandbars in it. 00:13:00.980 --> 00:13:03.980 And it's well known as a ship graveyard. 00:13:04.299 --> 00:13:06.959 Lots of ships would run aground on these sandbars, 00:13:07.159 --> 00:13:10.019 especially these large ships that would have carried heavy loads 00:13:10.019 --> 00:13:15.399 and sat deep in the water, would get stuck and then get beat to death by the waves. 00:13:15.460 --> 00:13:18.419 So it's a common place that people would run aground. 00:13:19.079 --> 00:13:22.539 They are quite some distance from the Sirdis at this point, 00:13:23.179 --> 00:13:25.840 but it would seem that they do not know their exact location. 00:13:26.199 --> 00:13:30.000 They're just not quite aware where they are exactly in the Mediterranean Sea. 00:13:30.500 --> 00:13:32.679 And so wishing to avoid the Sirdis altogether, 00:13:32.679 --> 00:13:35.399 they lowered the gear, 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:39.899 which can mean either they lowered the sails 00:13:39.899 --> 00:13:43.620 or they lowered the sea anchor. 00:13:44.379 --> 00:13:46.000 Some of your translations may say that. 00:13:47.179 --> 00:13:48.059 Or both. 00:13:48.239 --> 00:13:49.479 It's possible that both things happen, 00:13:49.579 --> 00:13:53.459 which is what I propose with my very limited knowledge of sailing. 00:13:53.460 --> 00:13:56.360 As the winds coming from the northeast, 00:13:57.040 --> 00:13:59.280 and they desire not to be driven to the southwest, 00:13:59.580 --> 00:14:01.740 where this region, the Sirdis, was at, 00:14:02.200 --> 00:14:03.259 they drop sails, 00:14:03.460 --> 00:14:05.019 and they employ a sea anchor, 00:14:05.139 --> 00:14:07.080 which was a large bag. 00:14:07.180 --> 00:14:09.639 It's kind of like a parachute that floats under the water 00:14:09.639 --> 00:14:11.360 that acts as a brake, 00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:13.600 orients them with the wind, 00:14:13.759 --> 00:14:15.440 and it's in this way 00:14:15.440 --> 00:14:17.700 that they're driven along. 00:14:17.800 --> 00:14:19.220 They're driven westward, 00:14:19.280 --> 00:14:21.780 if you're looking at that little line on your map. 00:14:22.280 --> 00:14:23.040 Verse 18. 00:14:24.460 --> 00:14:27.180 Since we were violently storm-tossed, 00:14:27.440 --> 00:14:30.560 they began the next day to jettison the cargo. 00:14:31.280 --> 00:14:32.379 And on the third day, 00:14:32.460 --> 00:14:34.400 they threw the ship's tackle overboard 00:14:34.400 --> 00:14:36.080 with their own hands. 00:14:36.759 --> 00:14:39.940 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, 00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:42.540 and no small tempest lay on us, 00:14:43.040 --> 00:14:46.019 all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. 00:14:47.060 --> 00:14:49.160 Since they had been without food for a long time, 00:14:49.580 --> 00:14:51.019 Paul stood up among them and said, 00:14:51.019 --> 00:14:51.899 Men, 00:14:52.240 --> 00:14:53.899 you should have listened to me 00:14:53.899 --> 00:14:55.600 and not have set sail from Crete 00:14:55.600 --> 00:14:58.179 and incurred this injury and loss. 00:14:58.799 --> 00:15:00.360 Yet now I urge you to take heart, 00:15:00.519 --> 00:15:02.439 for there will be no loss of life among you, 00:15:02.639 --> 00:15:03.899 but only of the ship. 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:06.819 For this very night there stood before me 00:15:06.819 --> 00:15:08.919 an angel of the God to whom I belong 00:15:08.919 --> 00:15:09.919 and whom I worship. 00:15:10.360 --> 00:15:11.120 And he said, 00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:12.940 Do not be afraid, Paul. 00:15:13.200 --> 00:15:14.960 You must stand before Caesar. 00:15:15.379 --> 00:15:16.120 And behold, 00:15:16.279 --> 00:15:19.080 God has granted you all those who sail with you. 00:15:19.779 --> 00:15:20.759 So take heart, men, 00:15:20.840 --> 00:15:22.080 for I have faith in God 00:15:22.080 --> 00:15:23.980 that it will be exactly as I have been told. 00:15:24.460 --> 00:15:26.940 But we must run aground on some island. 00:15:26.940 --> 00:15:30.500 When the fourteenth night had come, 00:15:31.020 --> 00:15:33.440 as we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, 00:15:33.600 --> 00:15:34.340 about midnight, 00:15:34.820 --> 00:15:36.960 the sailors suspected that they were nearing land. 00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:40.040 So they took a sounding and found twenty fathoms. 00:15:40.660 --> 00:15:41.600 A little farther on, 00:15:41.620 --> 00:15:44.400 they took a sounding again and found fifteen fathoms. 00:15:44.940 --> 00:15:47.120 And fearing that we might run on the rocks, 00:15:47.220 --> 00:15:49.580 they let down four anchors from the stern 00:15:49.580 --> 00:15:51.900 and prayed for day to come. 00:15:52.400 --> 00:15:53.720 It gets intense, doesn't it? 00:15:53.720 --> 00:15:54.240 I love it. 00:15:54.240 --> 00:15:54.899 This is the Bible. 00:15:55.899 --> 00:15:58.519 So Paul sees a vision. 00:15:58.879 --> 00:15:59.419 He says, 00:15:59.779 --> 00:16:00.419 We're going to be okay, 00:16:00.500 --> 00:16:02.340 but we need to run aground. 00:16:03.019 --> 00:16:06.279 And then these sailors perceive, 00:16:07.060 --> 00:16:08.180 they think, 00:16:08.259 --> 00:16:10.700 they suspect that they're nearing land. 00:16:10.759 --> 00:16:11.840 And the only thing I can figure, 00:16:12.060 --> 00:16:14.720 again with my very limited seafaring knowledge, 00:16:15.279 --> 00:16:16.480 is that as experienced sailors, 00:16:16.759 --> 00:16:18.320 maybe the waves begin to change 00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:20.120 the way they're interacting with the bottom of the ocean 00:16:20.120 --> 00:16:21.139 as it shallows out. 00:16:21.139 --> 00:16:22.960 Maybe they have the kind of experience to know that. 00:16:22.960 --> 00:16:24.420 That's the only thing I could guess. 00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:25.240 It's nighttime. 00:16:25.460 --> 00:16:28.000 They can't see that there's land coming up. 00:16:28.400 --> 00:16:29.060 But maybe. 00:16:29.180 --> 00:16:31.620 They think that they're approaching land. 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:34.100 And so they take a sounding. 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:36.820 They let down a rope that was intended for this very thing 00:16:36.820 --> 00:16:39.139 with a weight tied to the end of it 00:16:39.139 --> 00:16:41.660 and used for measuring depth. 00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:43.240 And they found twenty fathoms, 00:16:43.379 --> 00:16:45.000 which is 120 feet. 00:16:45.440 --> 00:16:46.540 And then going a bit farther, 00:16:46.780 --> 00:16:48.280 they measured 15 fathoms, 00:16:48.400 --> 00:16:49.920 which is 90 feet. 00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:52.839 So the ocean floor is approaching sea level, 00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:56.159 which means that the sea is shallowing. 00:16:56.259 --> 00:16:58.479 They're approaching land of some kind. 00:16:59.099 --> 00:17:01.860 And so they don't want to run around a ground on rocks. 00:17:01.959 --> 00:17:05.220 So they let down four anchors from the back of the boat, 00:17:05.379 --> 00:17:05.559 right, 00:17:05.599 --> 00:17:07.339 as the boat's being driven forward 00:17:07.339 --> 00:17:10.579 to slow them down and prevent this type of accident. 00:17:11.259 --> 00:17:11.899 Verse 30. 00:17:11.900 --> 00:17:16.080 And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship 00:17:16.080 --> 00:17:19.080 and had lowered the ship's boat into the sea 00:17:19.080 --> 00:17:22.160 under pretense of laying out anchors from the bow, 00:17:22.860 --> 00:17:24.440 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, 00:17:24.600 --> 00:17:26.519 unless these men stay in the ship, 00:17:27.080 --> 00:17:28.340 you cannot be saved. 00:17:28.620 --> 00:17:28.720 Right? 00:17:28.740 --> 00:17:29.780 So God made this promise 00:17:29.780 --> 00:17:32.600 that he would maintain the crew. 00:17:32.780 --> 00:17:34.120 And Paul adds to that, 00:17:34.180 --> 00:17:35.940 we've got to stay together in this. 00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:37.440 Under pretense, 00:17:37.500 --> 00:17:38.180 basically they say, 00:17:38.259 --> 00:17:38.380 hey, 00:17:38.380 --> 00:17:39.660 we're going to get out in the boat 00:17:39.660 --> 00:17:41.920 and we're going to put some more anchors out 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:44.320 from the bow of the boat, 00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:45.759 the front of the boat. 00:17:45.880 --> 00:17:47.040 But they were lying about it. 00:17:47.100 --> 00:17:49.080 And Paul says they must stay on board. 00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:49.360 So, 00:17:49.500 --> 00:17:50.019 verse 32. 00:17:50.560 --> 00:17:52.820 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship's boat 00:17:52.820 --> 00:17:53.440 and let it go. 00:17:53.640 --> 00:17:54.480 They didn't let them get in it. 00:17:54.500 --> 00:17:55.140 They cut the ropes. 00:17:56.040 --> 00:17:57.120 As day was about to dawn, 00:17:57.660 --> 00:17:59.460 Paul urged them all to take some food, 00:17:59.600 --> 00:17:59.920 saying, 00:18:00.440 --> 00:18:01.580 today is the 14th day 00:18:01.580 --> 00:18:03.180 that you have continued in suspense 00:18:03.180 --> 00:18:04.140 and without food, 00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:05.540 having taken nothing. 00:18:06.140 --> 00:18:06.360 Therefore, 00:18:06.360 --> 00:18:07.779 I urge you to take some food, 00:18:08.019 --> 00:18:09.240 for it will give you strength, 00:18:09.240 --> 00:18:11.640 for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you. 00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:13.400 And when he had said these things, 00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:14.120 he took bread, 00:18:14.200 --> 00:18:16.000 and giving thanks to God in the presence of all, 00:18:16.220 --> 00:18:17.880 he broke it and began to eat. 00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:19.740 Then they all were encouraged 00:18:19.740 --> 00:18:21.339 and ate some food themselves. 00:18:21.720 --> 00:18:25.160 We were in all 276 persons in the ship. 00:18:25.880 --> 00:18:27.059 When they had eaten enough, 00:18:27.220 --> 00:18:28.319 they lightened the ship, 00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:30.839 throwing out the wheat into the sea. 00:18:31.740 --> 00:18:32.539 Now when it was day, 00:18:32.599 --> 00:18:34.079 they did not recognize the land, 00:18:34.079 --> 00:18:36.079 but they noticed a bay with a beach 00:18:36.079 --> 00:18:37.359 on which they planned, 00:18:37.439 --> 00:18:38.079 if possible, 00:18:38.259 --> 00:18:39.460 to run the ship ashore. 00:18:39.960 --> 00:18:41.399 So they cast off the anchors 00:18:41.399 --> 00:18:42.500 and left them in the sea, 00:18:42.879 --> 00:18:44.480 at the same time loosening the ropes 00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:45.579 that tied the rudders, 00:18:46.139 --> 00:18:47.759 then hoisting the foresail to the wind 00:18:47.759 --> 00:18:48.980 they made for the beach. 00:18:49.379 --> 00:18:50.699 But striking a reef, 00:18:50.899 --> 00:18:52.359 they ran the vessel aground. 00:18:52.919 --> 00:18:55.039 The bow stuck and remained immovable, 00:18:55.279 --> 00:18:57.859 and the stern was being broken up by the surf. 00:18:58.519 --> 00:19:00.279 The soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, 00:19:00.359 --> 00:19:02.139 lest any should swim away and escape. 00:19:02.140 --> 00:19:03.320 But the centurion, 00:19:03.460 --> 00:19:04.259 wishing to save Paul, 00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:06.000 kept them from carrying out their plan. 00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:07.720 He ordered those who could swim 00:19:07.720 --> 00:19:08.980 to jump overboard first 00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:10.020 and make for the land, 00:19:10.420 --> 00:19:11.800 and the rest on planks 00:19:11.800 --> 00:19:13.080 or on pieces of the ship. 00:19:13.560 --> 00:19:14.460 And so it was 00:19:14.460 --> 00:19:16.960 that all were safely brought to land. 00:19:17.640 --> 00:19:19.660 So they see on this morning, 00:19:19.880 --> 00:19:21.560 right after the 14th night, 00:19:22.040 --> 00:19:23.840 they see an inlet with a beach, 00:19:24.160 --> 00:19:25.860 and in order to run the ship aground, 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:28.000 they make it as light as they possibly can. 00:19:28.140 --> 00:19:29.259 They cut away the anchors. 00:19:30.060 --> 00:19:31.000 Loosening the ropes 00:19:31.000 --> 00:19:32.779 doesn't mean they let the rudder flop. 00:19:32.880 --> 00:19:34.700 It means that they actually cut the rudders away. 00:19:34.880 --> 00:19:36.599 So there's not no rudder on the bottom of it. 00:19:36.619 --> 00:19:38.440 It's as smooth as it can possibly be 00:19:38.440 --> 00:19:39.740 on the bottom of this thing. 00:19:40.019 --> 00:19:41.380 They hoist the mainsail, 00:19:41.460 --> 00:19:42.480 but the wind would drive them 00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:44.400 all the way in to land. 00:19:44.400 --> 00:19:45.160 But as we see, 00:19:45.539 --> 00:19:47.779 there's a reef that they get caught on, 00:19:47.940 --> 00:19:49.980 and the boat gets beat to pieces 00:19:49.980 --> 00:19:51.759 as they all abandon ship 00:19:51.759 --> 00:19:54.200 and are brought safely to the shore. 00:19:54.839 --> 00:19:56.980 So there's our text for today. 00:19:56.980 --> 00:20:01.099 So let's make three valuable observations 00:20:01.099 --> 00:20:04.960 from, or we could say in some cases, 00:20:05.160 --> 00:20:07.799 about today's text. 00:20:08.440 --> 00:20:09.819 As I've said to you before, 00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:11.819 preaching from historical narrative 00:20:11.819 --> 00:20:13.660 is often very difficult 00:20:13.660 --> 00:20:16.680 because my first reading through this, 00:20:16.759 --> 00:20:17.400 I really wanted to say, 00:20:17.480 --> 00:20:18.960 and this morning there's one point. 00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:21.960 Wow, what a journey, right? 00:20:21.960 --> 00:20:25.559 What do we learn from such a text, right? 00:20:25.620 --> 00:20:28.900 Like what is there to be said to us from a text? 00:20:28.980 --> 00:20:30.900 And I do think there's some really important things 00:20:30.900 --> 00:20:33.039 after further consideration. 00:20:33.340 --> 00:20:37.779 So observations from or about today's text 00:20:37.779 --> 00:20:38.700 as we read it together. 00:20:38.840 --> 00:20:39.319 And here they are. 00:20:39.420 --> 00:20:40.640 These are the three observations, 00:20:40.840 --> 00:20:42.559 and then we'll go through them one by one. 00:20:43.059 --> 00:20:46.019 Number one, God's words are true. 00:20:48.539 --> 00:20:49.900 God's words are true. 00:20:49.900 --> 00:20:55.160 Number two, God is in control of all things. 00:20:56.980 --> 00:21:00.900 And number three, God uses suffering 00:21:00.900 --> 00:21:04.580 to work good in the hearts of his people. 00:21:07.460 --> 00:21:12.200 Okay, so first, God's words are true. 00:21:13.420 --> 00:21:15.000 I want to make this first point 00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:16.900 in a really general sense. 00:21:16.900 --> 00:21:20.860 This is an astoundingly accurate account 00:21:20.860 --> 00:21:23.440 of what a journey of this magnitude 00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:25.220 would have been like. 00:21:25.380 --> 00:21:27.000 Like that's lost on us, isn't it? 00:21:27.120 --> 00:21:28.640 It was really lost on me 00:21:28.640 --> 00:21:30.900 on my first reading of it. 00:21:31.780 --> 00:21:35.420 Luke's account here has historical veracity 00:21:35.420 --> 00:21:39.120 as a record of a treacherous first century crossing 00:21:39.120 --> 00:21:40.640 of the Mediterranean Sea. 00:21:40.780 --> 00:21:42.040 In fact, Acts chapter 27 00:21:42.040 --> 00:21:44.540 is used in lots of secular literature 00:21:44.539 --> 00:21:46.319 as a historical account 00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:47.500 of what it would have taken 00:21:47.500 --> 00:21:49.920 and what sailing looked like in this day. 00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:52.139 What would first century sailors do 00:21:52.139 --> 00:21:55.299 in the case of a tempestuous wind? 00:21:55.659 --> 00:21:57.839 What would happen in that way? 00:21:58.220 --> 00:22:01.980 So it's a very historically voracious account. 00:22:03.079 --> 00:22:03.859 F.F. Bruce, 00:22:04.059 --> 00:22:06.039 who was a 20th century New Testament scholar, 00:22:06.480 --> 00:22:08.500 wrote a work on Acts, 00:22:08.500 --> 00:22:10.839 and he quotes in that work 00:22:10.839 --> 00:22:13.980 the 19th century British yachtsman James Smith. 00:22:14.079 --> 00:22:14.779 You're tracking that? 00:22:15.700 --> 00:22:16.660 A book within a book. 00:22:17.339 --> 00:22:19.000 James Smith wrote this book 00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:22.140 entitled The Voyage and Shipwreck of St. Paul, 00:22:22.700 --> 00:22:23.640 which is an exploration 00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:26.119 of the accuracy of Luke's account. 00:22:26.440 --> 00:22:28.299 So James Smith, as a yachtsman, 00:22:28.460 --> 00:22:31.079 sets out to figure out 00:22:31.079 --> 00:22:33.420 how historically accurate it is. 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:35.579 And where I found this 00:22:35.579 --> 00:22:38.039 was F.F. Bruce talking about this book. 00:22:38.579 --> 00:22:38.819 Okay? 00:22:39.439 --> 00:22:40.539 I'm going to read this quote to you 00:22:40.539 --> 00:22:41.279 as best I can 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:42.299 to let you track me. 00:22:43.939 --> 00:22:45.159 Smith relates 00:22:45.159 --> 00:22:47.699 how he made careful inquiries 00:22:47.699 --> 00:22:50.220 of experienced Mediterranean navigators 00:22:50.220 --> 00:22:51.819 in order to ascertain 00:22:51.819 --> 00:22:53.879 the mean rate of drift 00:22:53.879 --> 00:22:55.039 of a ship of this kind 00:22:55.039 --> 00:22:57.159 laid to in such a gale. 00:22:57.240 --> 00:22:59.339 So he asked around navigators, right? 00:22:59.539 --> 00:23:01.259 How fast would a ship like this 00:23:01.259 --> 00:23:03.159 drift under these conditions? 00:23:03.759 --> 00:23:05.199 The conclusion which he reached 00:23:05.200 --> 00:23:06.160 was a mean drift 00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:09.680 of about 36 miles in 24 hours. 00:23:10.640 --> 00:23:12.680 The soundings recorded in verse 28 00:23:12.680 --> 00:23:13.620 indicate that the ship 00:23:13.620 --> 00:23:14.860 was passing Korah, 00:23:15.420 --> 00:23:17.740 a point on the west coast of Malta, 00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:20.240 on her way into what's now called 00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:21.220 St. Paul's Bay. 00:23:21.700 --> 00:23:21.880 Okay? 00:23:21.880 --> 00:23:22.819 On the island of Malta. 00:23:22.980 --> 00:23:24.940 It's now called St. Paul's Bay. 00:23:25.940 --> 00:23:27.700 But the distance from Klaudah 00:23:27.700 --> 00:23:28.700 to the point of Korah 00:23:28.700 --> 00:23:31.240 is 476.6 miles, 00:23:31.400 --> 00:23:33.200 which, at the rate deduced 00:23:33.840 --> 00:23:34.740 from the information, 00:23:35.080 --> 00:23:37.840 would take exactly 13 days, 00:23:38.240 --> 00:23:40.160 one hour, and 21 minutes. 00:23:40.740 --> 00:23:41.920 And not only so, 00:23:42.180 --> 00:23:43.860 the coincidence of the actual 00:23:43.860 --> 00:23:44.940 bearing of St. Paul's Bay 00:23:44.940 --> 00:23:45.580 from Klaudah 00:23:45.580 --> 00:23:46.660 and the direction in which 00:23:46.660 --> 00:23:47.860 a ship must have driven 00:23:47.860 --> 00:23:49.779 in order to avoid the Cirtus 00:23:49.779 --> 00:23:51.500 is, if possible, 00:23:51.640 --> 00:23:52.640 still more striking 00:23:52.640 --> 00:23:53.779 than that of the time 00:23:53.779 --> 00:23:55.000 actually consumed 00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:56.660 and the calculated time. 00:23:56.660 --> 00:23:59.340 Then, after carefully reckoning 00:23:59.340 --> 00:24:00.740 the direction of the ship's course 00:24:00.740 --> 00:24:01.820 from the direction of the wind, 00:24:02.320 --> 00:24:03.820 from the angle of the ship's head 00:24:03.820 --> 00:24:04.500 with the wind, 00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:06.000 and from the leeway, 00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:07.300 he goes on. 00:24:07.360 --> 00:24:08.460 So Smith goes on to say, 00:24:09.040 --> 00:24:10.880 Hence, according to these calculations, 00:24:11.580 --> 00:24:13.100 a ship starting late in the evening 00:24:13.100 --> 00:24:14.100 from Klaudah would, 00:24:14.200 --> 00:24:16.140 by midnight on the 14th day, 00:24:16.740 --> 00:24:18.019 be less than three miles 00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:19.940 from the entrance of St. Paul's Bay. 00:24:20.600 --> 00:24:21.660 I admit that a coincidence 00:24:21.660 --> 00:24:22.820 so very close as this 00:24:22.820 --> 00:24:24.779 is to a certain extent accidental, 00:24:24.779 --> 00:24:26.579 but it is an accident 00:24:26.579 --> 00:24:28.539 which could not have happened 00:24:28.539 --> 00:24:30.779 had there been any inaccuracy 00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:32.460 on the part of the author 00:24:32.460 --> 00:24:33.559 of the narrative. 00:24:34.119 --> 00:24:36.899 So he just does this extensive study 00:24:36.899 --> 00:24:38.240 which is to say 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:42.379 that Luke made a very careful recording 00:24:42.379 --> 00:24:45.200 of this trip that took place. 00:24:45.579 --> 00:24:48.940 The scripture has historical veracity. 00:24:49.079 --> 00:24:50.819 This is one wonderful example 00:24:50.819 --> 00:24:53.180 of that in our text today. 00:24:53.180 --> 00:24:57.400 Secondly, God's words are true 00:24:57.400 --> 00:24:59.140 in the text itself. 00:24:59.279 --> 00:25:00.720 In verse 24, 00:25:01.580 --> 00:25:03.140 Paul recounts this visitation 00:25:03.140 --> 00:25:04.000 of an angel who said, 00:25:04.140 --> 00:25:05.000 Do not be afraid, Paul. 00:25:05.560 --> 00:25:07.279 You must stand before Caesar 00:25:07.279 --> 00:25:08.100 and behold, 00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:09.759 God has granted you 00:25:09.759 --> 00:25:13.060 all those who sail with you. 00:25:13.460 --> 00:25:17.140 Now, in light of this kind of storm, 00:25:17.380 --> 00:25:18.640 the odds were very clearly 00:25:18.640 --> 00:25:19.460 stacked against them. 00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:21.680 This was a miserable situation to be in. 00:25:21.680 --> 00:25:22.960 Don't read past 00:25:22.960 --> 00:25:25.160 how very horrible this trip was. 00:25:25.360 --> 00:25:27.180 They are two weeks 00:25:27.180 --> 00:25:28.480 being driven in a storm. 00:25:28.580 --> 00:25:29.759 They're not seeing the sun 00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:30.680 or the moon or the stars. 00:25:30.820 --> 00:25:32.400 They're being beaten down 00:25:32.400 --> 00:25:34.140 in this horrible winter storm 00:25:34.140 --> 00:25:36.140 for two weeks. 00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:37.900 And yet, 00:25:38.039 --> 00:25:39.980 God's word proves true. 00:25:40.120 --> 00:25:40.900 Verse 44, 00:25:41.080 --> 00:25:42.380 And so it was 00:25:42.380 --> 00:25:45.840 that all were brought safely to land. 00:25:45.839 --> 00:25:49.319 All 276 souls were spared. 00:25:50.379 --> 00:25:52.199 Beloved, God's words are true. 00:25:53.339 --> 00:25:54.740 And this is why we would all do well 00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:55.439 to listen to it 00:25:55.439 --> 00:25:56.419 in order to believe its promises 00:25:56.419 --> 00:25:58.899 and obey its commands. 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:01.839 Proverbs 30, verse 5, 00:26:01.939 --> 00:26:02.399 tells us that 00:26:02.399 --> 00:26:05.559 every word of God proves true. 00:26:06.220 --> 00:26:07.179 He's a shield to those 00:26:07.179 --> 00:26:08.699 who take refuge in Him. 00:26:09.240 --> 00:26:11.879 And Psalm 119, 89, says, 00:26:11.880 --> 00:26:13.140 Forever, O Lord, 00:26:13.220 --> 00:26:15.340 your word is firmly fixed 00:26:15.340 --> 00:26:16.880 in the heavens. 00:26:16.980 --> 00:26:18.500 If God has said something, 00:26:18.640 --> 00:26:21.200 it will come to pass. 00:26:22.180 --> 00:26:24.460 So God's words are true. 00:26:25.380 --> 00:26:26.700 Not only are God's words true, 00:26:26.800 --> 00:26:28.100 but God is in control 00:26:28.100 --> 00:26:29.480 of all things. 00:26:29.620 --> 00:26:30.040 So secondly, 00:26:30.160 --> 00:26:30.920 God is in control 00:26:30.920 --> 00:26:32.880 of all things. 00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:35.900 Now Luke does not express 00:26:35.900 --> 00:26:37.520 this reality directly 00:26:37.520 --> 00:26:38.320 in this passage. 00:26:38.319 --> 00:26:39.799 But as a good student 00:26:39.799 --> 00:26:40.259 of our Bibles, 00:26:40.359 --> 00:26:41.119 we can know that 00:26:41.119 --> 00:26:42.399 God sovereignly rules 00:26:42.399 --> 00:26:45.159 all things at all times. 00:26:45.259 --> 00:26:46.139 We call this 00:26:46.139 --> 00:26:48.099 God's omnipotence, right? 00:26:48.139 --> 00:26:50.519 He is all-powerful. 00:26:51.500 --> 00:26:52.559 Turn with me, if you will, 00:26:52.599 --> 00:26:54.559 to Job chapter 37. 00:27:08.319 --> 00:27:22.139 There's a lot of good 00:27:22.139 --> 00:27:22.740 flipping happening. 00:27:24.460 --> 00:27:25.419 I like to hear it. 00:27:26.259 --> 00:27:27.200 Job chapter 37. 00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:30.619 In the midst of Job's suffering, 00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:31.659 I'm going to assume that you know 00:27:31.659 --> 00:27:32.419 about Job's suffering. 00:27:32.599 --> 00:27:33.899 I'll tell you more about it 00:27:33.899 --> 00:27:34.919 if you would like to know. 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:35.799 But for the sake of time, 00:27:36.419 --> 00:27:37.519 in the midst of Job's suffering, 00:27:38.359 --> 00:27:40.440 the bad advice of Job's friends 00:27:40.440 --> 00:27:42.900 is corrected by a young man 00:27:42.900 --> 00:27:43.839 named Elihu. 00:27:43.940 --> 00:27:45.079 I love Elihu. 00:27:45.460 --> 00:27:46.460 He's a neat character 00:27:46.460 --> 00:27:47.200 in the scripture. 00:27:47.680 --> 00:27:49.039 I encourage you to study him. 00:27:49.700 --> 00:27:51.599 Listen to what he says to Job 00:27:51.599 --> 00:27:52.619 in Job 37, 00:27:52.700 --> 00:27:53.519 beginning in verse 1 00:27:53.519 --> 00:27:54.559 and following. 00:27:56.639 --> 00:27:57.420 Elihu says, 00:27:57.559 --> 00:27:59.160 At this also my heart 00:27:59.160 --> 00:28:00.680 trembles and leaps 00:28:00.680 --> 00:28:01.740 out of its place. 00:28:02.519 --> 00:28:04.139 Keep listening to the thunder 00:28:04.139 --> 00:28:04.859 of his voice 00:28:04.859 --> 00:28:05.779 and the rumbling 00:28:05.779 --> 00:28:07.200 that comes from his mouth. 00:28:07.519 --> 00:28:09.400 Under the whole heavens 00:28:09.400 --> 00:28:10.579 he lets it go 00:28:10.579 --> 00:28:11.480 and is lightning 00:28:11.480 --> 00:28:13.180 to the corners of the earth. 00:28:13.900 --> 00:28:14.559 After it, 00:28:14.599 --> 00:28:15.639 his voice roars. 00:28:15.740 --> 00:28:16.339 He thunders 00:28:16.339 --> 00:28:17.500 with his majestic voice 00:28:17.500 --> 00:28:19.019 and he does not restrain 00:28:19.019 --> 00:28:19.700 the lightnings 00:28:19.700 --> 00:28:20.879 when his voice is heard. 00:28:21.639 --> 00:28:22.980 God thunders wondrously 00:28:22.980 --> 00:28:23.839 with his voice. 00:28:24.259 --> 00:28:25.460 He does great things 00:28:25.460 --> 00:28:26.960 that we cannot comprehend. 00:28:27.900 --> 00:28:28.759 For to the snow, 00:28:28.839 --> 00:28:29.379 he says, 00:28:29.460 --> 00:28:30.279 fall on the earth. 00:28:30.759 --> 00:28:32.519 Likewise to the downpour, 00:28:32.619 --> 00:28:33.940 his mighty downpour. 00:28:33.940 --> 00:28:35.960 He seals up the hand 00:28:35.960 --> 00:28:36.660 of every man 00:28:36.660 --> 00:28:37.539 that all men 00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:38.380 whom he made 00:28:38.380 --> 00:28:39.120 may know it. 00:28:39.920 --> 00:28:40.680 Then the beasts 00:28:40.680 --> 00:28:41.559 go into their lairs 00:28:41.559 --> 00:28:42.720 and remain in their dens. 00:28:43.539 --> 00:28:44.519 From its chamber 00:28:44.519 --> 00:28:45.660 comes the whirlwind 00:28:45.660 --> 00:28:46.480 and cold 00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:47.920 from the scattering winds. 00:28:48.640 --> 00:28:49.900 By the breath of God, 00:28:50.059 --> 00:28:50.900 ice is given 00:28:50.900 --> 00:28:52.299 and the broad waters 00:28:52.299 --> 00:28:53.480 are frozen fast. 00:28:54.180 --> 00:28:56.000 He loads the thick cloud 00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:56.680 with moisture. 00:28:57.220 --> 00:28:59.019 The clouds scatter his lightning. 00:28:59.019 --> 00:29:01.000 They turn around 00:29:01.000 --> 00:29:01.599 and around 00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:02.980 by his guidance 00:29:02.980 --> 00:29:04.099 to accomplish 00:29:04.099 --> 00:29:05.619 all that he commands them 00:29:05.619 --> 00:29:06.379 on the face 00:29:06.379 --> 00:29:07.980 of the habitable world. 00:29:08.619 --> 00:29:09.779 Whether for correction 00:29:09.779 --> 00:29:11.500 or for his land 00:29:11.500 --> 00:29:13.039 or for love, 00:29:13.519 --> 00:29:14.980 he causes it 00:29:14.980 --> 00:29:16.079 to happen. 00:29:17.139 --> 00:29:18.240 And after further correction 00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:19.420 by God himself 00:29:19.420 --> 00:29:20.039 to Job, 00:29:20.119 --> 00:29:21.920 Job says in Job 42, 00:29:22.059 --> 00:29:22.660 verse 2, 00:29:23.259 --> 00:29:24.460 I know that you 00:29:24.460 --> 00:29:25.920 can do all things 00:29:25.920 --> 00:29:27.740 and that no purpose 00:29:27.740 --> 00:29:28.940 of yours 00:29:28.940 --> 00:29:30.759 can be thwarted. 00:29:31.539 --> 00:29:32.100 So, 00:29:32.380 --> 00:29:33.779 we learn from Job 00:29:33.779 --> 00:29:35.279 that God is in control 00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:36.500 of all things 00:29:36.500 --> 00:29:37.279 and certainly 00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:38.580 expressed so clearly 00:29:38.580 --> 00:29:39.779 in Job 37 00:29:39.779 --> 00:29:40.680 by Elihu 00:29:40.680 --> 00:29:41.539 that he is in control 00:29:41.539 --> 00:29:42.920 of the weather. 00:29:44.420 --> 00:29:45.840 In Jeremiah 32, 00:29:46.140 --> 00:29:47.700 verse 27, 00:29:47.960 --> 00:29:48.700 God says, 00:29:48.840 --> 00:29:49.300 Behold, 00:29:49.840 --> 00:29:50.620 I am the Lord, 00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:51.840 the God of all flesh. 00:29:52.300 --> 00:29:53.240 Is anything 00:29:53.240 --> 00:29:54.519 too hard 00:29:54.519 --> 00:29:55.700 for me? 00:29:55.920 --> 00:29:56.620 And we know, 00:29:56.759 --> 00:29:57.000 of course, 00:29:57.080 --> 00:29:58.240 that's a rhetorical question. 00:29:58.340 --> 00:29:59.259 The answer is clear. 00:29:59.440 --> 00:29:59.820 No, 00:30:00.060 --> 00:30:01.920 nothing is too hard 00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:03.320 for the Lord, 00:30:03.400 --> 00:30:05.960 the God of all flesh. 00:30:06.560 --> 00:30:07.039 So, 00:30:07.440 --> 00:30:08.680 God caused 00:30:08.680 --> 00:30:09.620 the shifting winds, 00:30:09.740 --> 00:30:09.960 right? 00:30:10.080 --> 00:30:10.640 When they made 00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:11.440 their run for it 00:30:11.440 --> 00:30:12.080 with the gentle 00:30:12.080 --> 00:30:13.580 south wind, 00:30:13.940 --> 00:30:14.840 he caused the wind 00:30:14.840 --> 00:30:15.220 to shift. 00:30:15.380 --> 00:30:16.440 That northeaster 00:30:16.440 --> 00:30:17.440 was sent 00:30:17.440 --> 00:30:19.000 by the Lord. 00:30:19.480 --> 00:30:20.240 That northeaster 00:30:20.240 --> 00:30:21.279 that drives the ship 00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:21.920 that Paul is on 00:30:21.920 --> 00:30:22.800 across the sea 00:30:22.800 --> 00:30:23.680 to be broken up 00:30:23.680 --> 00:30:24.800 on a reef. 00:30:24.799 --> 00:30:26.639 Why would God 00:30:26.639 --> 00:30:27.639 do such a thing? 00:30:28.740 --> 00:30:29.379 Doesn't it seem 00:30:29.379 --> 00:30:30.700 best in our minds 00:30:30.700 --> 00:30:31.240 that Paul would 00:30:31.240 --> 00:30:31.799 just be taken 00:30:31.799 --> 00:30:33.220 safely to Rome? 00:30:33.599 --> 00:30:34.220 Wasn't he already 00:30:34.220 --> 00:30:35.059 giving enough, 00:30:35.220 --> 00:30:36.720 sacrificing enough? 00:30:36.859 --> 00:30:37.639 Does Paul really 00:30:37.639 --> 00:30:38.599 have to go through 00:30:38.599 --> 00:30:39.720 another shipwreck? 00:30:39.799 --> 00:30:40.139 And yes, 00:30:40.379 --> 00:30:41.180 this is the fourth 00:30:41.180 --> 00:30:41.899 that we know about. 00:30:44.099 --> 00:30:44.619 Well, 00:30:44.799 --> 00:30:45.579 there's many reasons. 00:30:45.659 --> 00:30:46.079 I think there's 00:30:46.079 --> 00:30:46.619 a multitude 00:30:46.619 --> 00:30:47.519 of reasons 00:30:47.519 --> 00:30:48.940 why this may have 00:30:48.940 --> 00:30:49.940 happened to Paul 00:30:49.940 --> 00:30:51.079 and his companion. 00:30:51.079 --> 00:30:52.000 but one that we 00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:53.179 can be sure of. 00:30:54.019 --> 00:30:54.659 We find out 00:30:54.659 --> 00:30:55.339 in chapter 28 00:30:55.339 --> 00:30:56.779 that the island 00:30:56.779 --> 00:30:57.619 they are shipwrecked 00:30:57.619 --> 00:30:59.259 on is called Malta 00:30:59.259 --> 00:31:00.099 and they spend 00:31:00.099 --> 00:31:00.740 the winter there. 00:31:00.859 --> 00:31:01.519 They spend three 00:31:01.519 --> 00:31:02.899 months in that place. 00:31:04.119 --> 00:31:04.819 Church tradition 00:31:04.819 --> 00:31:06.079 holds that Paul 00:31:06.079 --> 00:31:06.859 established, 00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:08.179 by God's grace, 00:31:08.619 --> 00:31:09.799 a church on that 00:31:09.799 --> 00:31:10.659 island before he 00:31:10.659 --> 00:31:11.079 left. 00:31:11.500 --> 00:31:12.179 He's there. 00:31:12.500 --> 00:31:13.359 Chapter 28 tells us 00:31:13.359 --> 00:31:14.699 he's healing people. 00:31:15.319 --> 00:31:16.199 He is preaching 00:31:16.199 --> 00:31:16.759 the gospel 00:31:16.759 --> 00:31:17.899 as Paul does 00:31:17.899 --> 00:31:18.759 every time 00:31:18.759 --> 00:31:19.339 he's working 00:31:19.339 --> 00:31:20.119 miracles. 00:31:21.039 --> 00:31:21.680 And church history 00:31:21.680 --> 00:31:22.299 tells us 00:31:22.299 --> 00:31:22.960 that a church 00:31:22.960 --> 00:31:23.619 was established 00:31:23.619 --> 00:31:25.539 while he was there. 00:31:25.879 --> 00:31:26.099 So, 00:31:26.779 --> 00:31:27.339 God brought 00:31:27.339 --> 00:31:28.379 the saving message 00:31:28.379 --> 00:31:29.000 of the gospel 00:31:29.000 --> 00:31:29.859 of Jesus Christ 00:31:29.859 --> 00:31:30.619 to Malta 00:31:30.619 --> 00:31:32.079 with a storm. 00:31:33.720 --> 00:31:34.279 So, 00:31:34.339 --> 00:31:35.119 God is in control 00:31:35.119 --> 00:31:36.940 of all things. 00:31:37.240 --> 00:31:38.140 We would do well 00:31:38.140 --> 00:31:39.319 to remember that 00:31:39.319 --> 00:31:40.640 and to trust him 00:31:40.640 --> 00:31:42.680 in all things. 00:31:43.799 --> 00:31:44.299 And thirdly, 00:31:45.000 --> 00:31:46.000 God uses 00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:46.980 suffering 00:31:46.980 --> 00:31:48.519 to work good 00:31:48.519 --> 00:31:49.160 in the hearts 00:31:49.160 --> 00:31:50.160 of his people. 00:31:50.299 --> 00:31:50.460 So, 00:31:50.620 --> 00:31:51.079 God is in control 00:31:51.079 --> 00:31:51.579 of all things 00:31:51.579 --> 00:31:52.180 including 00:31:52.180 --> 00:31:53.559 our suffering. 00:31:54.079 --> 00:31:55.160 He brings about 00:31:55.160 --> 00:31:55.779 our suffering. 00:31:55.940 --> 00:31:56.860 He ordains 00:31:56.860 --> 00:31:58.380 our suffering. 00:31:58.960 --> 00:31:59.960 And he does so 00:31:59.960 --> 00:32:00.860 to work good 00:32:00.860 --> 00:32:02.299 in the hearts 00:32:02.299 --> 00:32:03.559 of his people. 00:32:05.299 --> 00:32:06.039 God's control 00:32:06.039 --> 00:32:06.680 of all things 00:32:06.680 --> 00:32:07.400 at all times 00:32:07.400 --> 00:32:07.779 for the good 00:32:07.779 --> 00:32:08.220 of his people 00:32:08.220 --> 00:32:08.799 is called 00:32:08.799 --> 00:32:10.700 his providence. 00:32:11.360 --> 00:32:11.900 It's a precious 00:32:11.900 --> 00:32:12.360 word. 00:32:13.480 --> 00:32:14.559 God's providence 00:32:14.559 --> 00:32:15.460 extends 00:32:15.460 --> 00:32:16.500 to the suffering 00:32:16.500 --> 00:32:18.019 of his people. 00:32:18.759 --> 00:32:19.559 If you suffer 00:32:19.559 --> 00:32:19.980 and you're not 00:32:19.980 --> 00:32:20.419 a Christian, 00:32:21.019 --> 00:32:21.500 you need to see 00:32:21.500 --> 00:32:21.919 your suffering 00:32:21.919 --> 00:32:22.559 as a judgment. 00:32:23.559 --> 00:32:24.599 Sin in the world 00:32:24.599 --> 00:32:25.819 working its effect, 00:32:26.599 --> 00:32:27.519 bringing about 00:32:27.519 --> 00:32:28.139 conviction. 00:32:28.379 --> 00:32:28.859 That's what needs 00:32:28.859 --> 00:32:29.379 to be happening 00:32:29.379 --> 00:32:30.039 in your hearts 00:32:30.039 --> 00:32:30.659 as you suffer 00:32:30.659 --> 00:32:31.500 as an unbeliever. 00:32:31.940 --> 00:32:32.359 But if you're 00:32:32.359 --> 00:32:33.419 in Christ, 00:32:34.359 --> 00:32:35.579 suffering is ordained 00:32:35.579 --> 00:32:36.759 for your good. 00:32:37.879 --> 00:32:39.000 Can you just imagine, 00:32:39.399 --> 00:32:39.500 right, 00:32:39.599 --> 00:32:40.859 then wrap your brains 00:32:40.859 --> 00:32:41.639 back around 00:32:41.640 --> 00:32:42.560 how miserable 00:32:42.560 --> 00:32:44.259 a two-week storm 00:32:44.259 --> 00:32:45.340 must have been. 00:32:46.380 --> 00:32:47.380 I can't ride 00:32:47.380 --> 00:32:48.440 a kid's roller coaster 00:32:48.440 --> 00:32:49.280 without feeling 00:32:49.280 --> 00:32:49.960 nauseous. 00:32:50.360 --> 00:32:51.360 When I drive 00:32:51.360 --> 00:32:52.120 in the mountains 00:32:52.120 --> 00:32:52.540 around here, 00:32:52.580 --> 00:32:53.280 I feel sick. 00:32:55.300 --> 00:32:56.100 Thinking about 00:32:56.100 --> 00:32:57.120 being tossed 00:32:57.120 --> 00:32:58.000 in a boat 00:32:58.000 --> 00:32:59.140 for two weeks 00:32:59.140 --> 00:33:00.340 is absolutely 00:33:00.340 --> 00:33:01.259 horrid 00:33:01.259 --> 00:33:02.080 to me. 00:33:02.540 --> 00:33:03.460 This is the biggest 00:33:03.460 --> 00:33:04.200 ship of the day, 00:33:04.340 --> 00:33:04.880 most likely, 00:33:04.980 --> 00:33:05.520 but it's not 00:33:05.520 --> 00:33:06.080 cutting through 00:33:06.080 --> 00:33:06.620 these waves. 00:33:06.680 --> 00:33:07.280 They are riding 00:33:07.280 --> 00:33:08.860 up and down, 00:33:09.000 --> 00:33:10.160 these massive 00:33:10.160 --> 00:33:11.320 wave trains. 00:33:12.400 --> 00:33:12.880 In fact, 00:33:12.960 --> 00:33:13.680 I think that 00:33:13.680 --> 00:33:14.180 the reason 00:33:14.180 --> 00:33:14.860 that they're 00:33:14.860 --> 00:33:15.540 not eating, 00:33:16.540 --> 00:33:17.460 they're tense, 00:33:17.620 --> 00:33:17.740 right? 00:33:17.800 --> 00:33:18.300 There's not a lot 00:33:18.300 --> 00:33:18.759 of time 00:33:18.759 --> 00:33:19.500 to take breaks 00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:20.360 as these waves 00:33:20.360 --> 00:33:20.920 are crashing 00:33:20.920 --> 00:33:21.340 and they're having 00:33:21.340 --> 00:33:22.400 to mend lines 00:33:22.400 --> 00:33:23.220 all the time. 00:33:23.800 --> 00:33:24.500 But I imagine 00:33:24.500 --> 00:33:25.300 they just didn't 00:33:25.300 --> 00:33:26.220 feel good enough 00:33:26.220 --> 00:33:26.780 to eat. 00:33:27.280 --> 00:33:27.759 Probably even 00:33:27.759 --> 00:33:28.600 the best of sailors 00:33:28.600 --> 00:33:29.340 feel sick 00:33:29.340 --> 00:33:29.900 after a certain 00:33:29.900 --> 00:33:30.740 amount of time 00:33:30.740 --> 00:33:31.520 being tossed 00:33:31.520 --> 00:33:33.620 up and down 00:33:33.620 --> 00:33:34.460 in that way. 00:33:34.920 --> 00:33:35.840 So Paul has 00:33:35.840 --> 00:33:36.640 to urge them 00:33:36.640 --> 00:33:37.720 to take food 00:33:37.720 --> 00:33:38.140 they haven't 00:33:38.140 --> 00:33:38.980 even eaten. 00:33:39.460 --> 00:33:40.160 You can just 00:33:40.160 --> 00:33:41.000 reduce the suffering 00:33:41.000 --> 00:33:41.580 to that. 00:33:41.640 --> 00:33:42.100 They just haven't 00:33:42.100 --> 00:33:43.400 eaten for two 00:33:43.400 --> 00:33:45.380 whole weeks. 00:33:45.580 --> 00:33:46.480 What a miserable 00:33:46.480 --> 00:33:47.759 time of suffering 00:33:47.759 --> 00:33:48.460 that Paul and his 00:33:48.460 --> 00:33:49.520 companions are 00:33:49.520 --> 00:33:50.220 part of along 00:33:50.220 --> 00:33:50.940 with the others 00:33:50.940 --> 00:33:52.400 on that ship. 00:33:53.060 --> 00:33:53.720 What does God 00:33:53.720 --> 00:33:54.700 intend to accomplish 00:33:54.700 --> 00:33:57.100 with such a thing? 00:33:58.100 --> 00:33:59.100 In 2 Corinthians 00:33:59.100 --> 00:34:00.180 chapter 11 00:34:00.180 --> 00:34:01.880 verses 24 00:34:01.880 --> 00:34:02.460 through 30, 00:34:02.500 --> 00:34:02.960 you may want 00:34:02.960 --> 00:34:03.540 to join me there. 00:34:03.740 --> 00:34:04.160 I'll give you a little 00:34:04.160 --> 00:34:04.800 time if you want 00:34:04.800 --> 00:34:05.000 to. 00:34:05.000 --> 00:34:08.719 Paul writes the 00:34:08.719 --> 00:34:09.039 following, 00:34:09.159 --> 00:34:10.099 but keep in mind 00:34:10.099 --> 00:34:11.079 that this is 00:34:11.079 --> 00:34:11.360 written, 00:34:11.460 --> 00:34:11.880 the book of 2 00:34:11.880 --> 00:34:12.480 Corinthians is 00:34:12.480 --> 00:34:13.539 written before 00:34:13.539 --> 00:34:14.860 the event that we 00:34:14.860 --> 00:34:15.400 read about this 00:34:15.400 --> 00:34:15.860 morning from 00:34:15.860 --> 00:34:16.880 Acts 27. 00:34:19.460 --> 00:34:20.360 So this is 00:34:20.360 --> 00:34:21.619 front loaded 00:34:21.619 --> 00:34:22.780 to this journey 00:34:22.780 --> 00:34:23.800 that Paul goes 00:34:23.800 --> 00:34:24.179 on. 00:34:24.780 --> 00:34:25.699 2 Corinthians 11 00:34:25.699 --> 00:34:26.420 beginning in 00:34:26.420 --> 00:34:27.380 verse 24. 00:34:27.380 --> 00:34:28.440 Paul says, 00:34:28.519 --> 00:34:30.980 five times I 00:34:30.980 --> 00:34:31.680 received at the 00:34:31.680 --> 00:34:32.160 hands of the 00:34:32.160 --> 00:34:33.059 Jews the 40 00:34:33.059 --> 00:34:34.019 lashes less 00:34:34.019 --> 00:34:34.500 one. 00:34:35.619 --> 00:34:36.619 Three times I 00:34:36.619 --> 00:34:37.240 was beaten with 00:34:37.240 --> 00:34:37.740 rods. 00:34:38.340 --> 00:34:39.220 Once I was 00:34:39.220 --> 00:34:39.740 stoned. 00:34:39.900 --> 00:34:40.240 We know that 00:34:40.240 --> 00:34:40.660 stoning, 00:34:40.760 --> 00:34:41.119 they thought he 00:34:41.119 --> 00:34:41.480 was dead, 00:34:41.539 --> 00:34:41.920 but he actually 00:34:41.920 --> 00:34:42.420 wasn't. 00:34:42.920 --> 00:34:43.800 Three times I 00:34:43.800 --> 00:34:44.920 was shipwrecked. 00:34:45.119 --> 00:34:45.980 And night and a 00:34:45.980 --> 00:34:47.019 day I was adrift 00:34:47.019 --> 00:34:47.900 at sea. 00:34:48.000 --> 00:34:48.780 This is verse 25 00:34:48.780 --> 00:34:49.180 if you're just 00:34:49.180 --> 00:34:49.619 joining me. 00:34:49.940 --> 00:34:51.219 So before this 00:34:51.219 --> 00:34:52.779 shipwreck, he was 00:34:52.779 --> 00:34:53.500 shipwrecked three 00:34:53.500 --> 00:34:54.179 other times. 00:34:54.279 --> 00:34:54.739 And Luke doesn't 00:34:54.739 --> 00:34:55.900 even record that 00:34:55.900 --> 00:34:56.920 for us in the 00:34:56.920 --> 00:34:57.440 book of Acts. 00:34:57.480 --> 00:34:58.299 But sometime in 00:34:58.299 --> 00:34:59.000 the Acts narrative, 00:34:59.599 --> 00:35:00.380 he's shipwrecked 00:35:00.380 --> 00:35:01.039 three times. 00:35:01.059 --> 00:35:01.539 And one of those 00:35:01.539 --> 00:35:02.460 times he's just 00:35:02.460 --> 00:35:03.259 adrift on a 00:35:03.259 --> 00:35:04.039 plank for a 00:35:04.039 --> 00:35:04.440 night and a 00:35:04.440 --> 00:35:05.440 day in the 00:35:05.440 --> 00:35:05.739 ocean. 00:35:05.980 --> 00:35:06.139 Right? 00:35:06.339 --> 00:35:06.880 That's suffering. 00:35:07.440 --> 00:35:08.420 Just a fascinating 00:35:08.420 --> 00:35:08.920 note. 00:35:09.639 --> 00:35:10.539 Paul took between 00:35:10.539 --> 00:35:11.779 nine and twelve 00:35:11.779 --> 00:35:14.019 ocean journeys up 00:35:14.019 --> 00:35:14.619 to this time, 00:35:14.719 --> 00:35:15.679 Acts chapter 27, 00:35:16.179 --> 00:35:17.079 which means the 00:35:17.079 --> 00:35:18.199 shipwreck rate for 00:35:18.199 --> 00:35:19.279 Paul was really 00:35:19.280 --> 00:35:19.740 high. 00:35:21.320 --> 00:35:23.260 A third to 00:35:23.260 --> 00:35:23.900 twenty-five percent 00:35:23.900 --> 00:35:24.519 of the time. 00:35:25.360 --> 00:35:26.240 I don't know if 00:35:26.240 --> 00:35:26.900 that was normative 00:35:26.900 --> 00:35:27.519 in the day or 00:35:27.519 --> 00:35:28.160 not, but Paul 00:35:28.160 --> 00:35:29.740 really is suffering. 00:35:29.960 --> 00:35:30.080 Right? 00:35:30.140 --> 00:35:30.760 God's bringing 00:35:30.760 --> 00:35:31.180 about. 00:35:31.380 --> 00:35:32.019 And again, God 00:35:32.019 --> 00:35:32.519 is in control of 00:35:32.519 --> 00:35:33.040 all things. 00:35:33.420 --> 00:35:34.080 God is putting 00:35:34.080 --> 00:35:35.720 him through these 00:35:35.720 --> 00:35:37.180 shipwrecks. 00:35:37.960 --> 00:35:38.940 Verse 26, 00:35:39.080 --> 00:35:39.900 on frequent 00:35:39.900 --> 00:35:41.100 journeys in 00:35:41.100 --> 00:35:41.820 danger from 00:35:41.820 --> 00:35:42.740 rivers, danger 00:35:42.740 --> 00:35:43.740 from robbers, 00:35:44.220 --> 00:35:44.900 danger from my 00:35:44.900 --> 00:35:45.760 own people, 00:35:46.360 --> 00:35:46.840 danger from 00:35:46.840 --> 00:35:47.860 Gentiles, danger 00:35:47.860 --> 00:35:48.380 in the city, 00:35:48.540 --> 00:35:49.140 dangers in the 00:35:49.139 --> 00:35:49.960 wilderness, danger 00:35:49.960 --> 00:35:51.400 at sea, danger 00:35:51.400 --> 00:35:51.900 from false 00:35:51.900 --> 00:35:53.139 brothers, in 00:35:53.139 --> 00:35:54.119 toil and hardship 00:35:54.119 --> 00:35:54.839 through many a 00:35:54.839 --> 00:35:55.679 sleepless night, in 00:35:55.679 --> 00:35:56.460 hunger and thirst, 00:35:56.579 --> 00:35:57.599 often without food, 00:35:57.900 --> 00:35:58.819 in cold and 00:35:58.819 --> 00:35:59.480 exposure. 00:36:00.139 --> 00:36:00.759 And apart from 00:36:00.759 --> 00:36:01.319 other things, 00:36:01.379 --> 00:36:02.460 all that stuff, 00:36:03.000 --> 00:36:03.779 there's the daily 00:36:03.779 --> 00:36:04.920 pressure on me of 00:36:04.920 --> 00:36:06.179 my anxiety for all 00:36:06.179 --> 00:36:06.779 the churches. 00:36:07.639 --> 00:36:08.599 And he expresses 00:36:08.599 --> 00:36:09.159 that by saying, 00:36:09.239 --> 00:36:09.940 who is weak and I 00:36:09.940 --> 00:36:10.480 am not weak? 00:36:10.539 --> 00:36:11.960 I am with them 00:36:11.960 --> 00:36:12.779 and their suffering. 00:36:13.279 --> 00:36:14.039 Who was made to 00:36:14.039 --> 00:36:15.119 fall and I am not 00:36:15.119 --> 00:36:16.299 indignant or I'm not 00:36:16.299 --> 00:36:17.539 concerned about their 00:36:17.539 --> 00:36:18.079 failure. 00:36:18.860 --> 00:36:19.719 So on top of all 00:36:19.719 --> 00:36:20.639 of that, this great 00:36:20.639 --> 00:36:21.639 love and concern 00:36:21.639 --> 00:36:23.400 for the church as an 00:36:23.400 --> 00:36:24.519 apostle of Jesus 00:36:24.519 --> 00:36:25.699 Christ. 00:36:26.119 --> 00:36:27.199 So Paul was made 00:36:27.199 --> 00:36:28.440 to suffer, right? 00:36:28.559 --> 00:36:29.820 By the good hand 00:36:29.820 --> 00:36:31.920 of God, Paul was 00:36:31.920 --> 00:36:33.019 made to suffer. 00:36:33.300 --> 00:36:35.099 And to what end? 00:36:35.800 --> 00:36:36.340 Why? 00:36:37.380 --> 00:36:37.860 What does this 00:36:37.860 --> 00:36:40.039 produce in Paul? 00:36:40.279 --> 00:36:41.099 Look at verse 30. 00:36:41.099 --> 00:36:43.460 He says, 00:36:43.519 --> 00:36:44.420 If I must boast, 00:36:45.319 --> 00:36:46.940 I will boast of the 00:36:46.940 --> 00:36:49.019 things that show my 00:36:49.019 --> 00:36:50.460 weakness. 00:36:51.480 --> 00:36:52.279 What does all this 00:36:52.279 --> 00:36:53.039 produce in Paul? 00:36:54.119 --> 00:36:54.599 Humility. 00:36:55.599 --> 00:36:56.719 It produces a great 00:36:56.719 --> 00:36:58.819 humility in his life. 00:36:59.639 --> 00:37:00.259 If God would bring 00:37:00.259 --> 00:37:00.960 about suffering in 00:37:00.960 --> 00:37:01.960 this way, then he 00:37:01.960 --> 00:37:02.699 would see his great 00:37:02.699 --> 00:37:04.639 need of God. 00:37:05.619 --> 00:37:06.259 Let me give you 00:37:06.259 --> 00:37:06.900 another very 00:37:06.900 --> 00:37:08.079 applicable example 00:37:08.079 --> 00:37:09.000 from Mark chapter 00:37:09.000 --> 00:37:09.559 four. 00:37:09.559 --> 00:37:10.900 However, when Jesus 00:37:10.900 --> 00:37:11.739 with the apostles 00:37:11.739 --> 00:37:12.719 crossing the Sea of 00:37:12.719 --> 00:37:13.699 Galilee, they are 00:37:13.699 --> 00:37:14.759 caught in a violent 00:37:14.759 --> 00:37:15.739 storm, right? 00:37:15.739 --> 00:37:16.440 As we study this 00:37:16.440 --> 00:37:17.559 together, the Sea of 00:37:17.559 --> 00:37:18.239 Galilee would have 00:37:18.239 --> 00:37:19.480 been much like Lake 00:37:19.480 --> 00:37:20.259 Lanier, kind of in 00:37:20.259 --> 00:37:21.199 its general size, 00:37:21.279 --> 00:37:21.920 although it's different 00:37:21.920 --> 00:37:22.739 in its shape. 00:37:22.880 --> 00:37:23.820 I fully recognize 00:37:23.820 --> 00:37:24.900 nothing's quite the 00:37:24.900 --> 00:37:25.559 shape of Lake 00:37:25.559 --> 00:37:25.799 Lanier. 00:37:25.800 --> 00:37:27.800 water. 00:37:27.800 --> 00:37:28.680 The storms were 00:37:28.680 --> 00:37:29.660 immense. 00:37:29.960 --> 00:37:31.300 The way that winds 00:37:31.300 --> 00:37:32.220 came through the 00:37:32.220 --> 00:37:33.539 valley would kick up 00:37:33.539 --> 00:37:34.380 waves that were 10 00:37:34.380 --> 00:37:35.300 to 20 feet high. 00:37:35.480 --> 00:37:36.039 I don't know how much 00:37:36.039 --> 00:37:37.220 time you spend at the 00:37:37.220 --> 00:37:37.940 ocean, but I don't 00:37:37.940 --> 00:37:38.740 think any of us have 00:37:38.740 --> 00:37:39.960 probably been out in 00:37:39.960 --> 00:37:41.019 waves that big. 00:37:41.100 --> 00:37:42.220 If you have, I want to 00:37:42.220 --> 00:37:43.080 talk to you after the 00:37:43.080 --> 00:37:43.740 service because that's 00:37:43.740 --> 00:37:44.080 incredible. 00:37:45.120 --> 00:37:45.900 Huge waves. 00:37:46.000 --> 00:37:46.500 They're experiencing 00:37:46.500 --> 00:37:47.580 this other great, 00:37:47.940 --> 00:37:49.760 huge, violent storm. 00:37:50.320 --> 00:37:52.140 Jesus is asleep in the 00:37:52.140 --> 00:37:52.760 stern of the boat. 00:37:53.019 --> 00:37:53.960 The back of the boat 00:37:53.960 --> 00:37:55.220 passed out on a 00:37:55.219 --> 00:37:55.519 cushion. 00:37:55.879 --> 00:37:56.779 Mark chapter 4 tells 00:37:56.779 --> 00:37:57.659 us that the waves are 00:37:57.659 --> 00:37:59.579 crashing over the ship. 00:37:59.659 --> 00:38:01.019 They're taking on water 00:38:01.019 --> 00:38:02.980 and Jesus is asleep. 00:38:03.359 --> 00:38:03.739 Why? 00:38:03.879 --> 00:38:04.559 Because he's the son of 00:38:04.559 --> 00:38:05.879 God and he trusts God's 00:38:05.879 --> 00:38:07.299 goodness in the situation. 00:38:07.819 --> 00:38:08.359 So the apostles, 00:38:08.500 --> 00:38:09.219 though, they frantically 00:38:09.219 --> 00:38:10.459 wake him up and then we 00:38:10.459 --> 00:38:11.399 read beginning in verse 00:38:11.399 --> 00:38:13.199 39, and he awoke and 00:38:13.199 --> 00:38:15.000 rebuked the wind and said 00:38:15.000 --> 00:38:17.079 to the sea, peace, be 00:38:17.079 --> 00:38:17.439 still. 00:38:18.239 --> 00:38:19.939 And the wind ceased and 00:38:19.939 --> 00:38:20.859 there was a great calm. 00:38:21.719 --> 00:38:23.359 He said to them, he 00:38:23.359 --> 00:38:24.099 turned to the apostles, 00:38:24.099 --> 00:38:26.940 why are you so afraid? 00:38:27.559 --> 00:38:30.279 Have you still no faith? 00:38:31.619 --> 00:38:33.440 So Jesus, having exercised 00:38:33.440 --> 00:38:34.819 his control over nature, 00:38:35.579 --> 00:38:36.559 turns his attention to the 00:38:36.559 --> 00:38:38.619 apostles and what is his 00:38:38.619 --> 00:38:39.460 concern? 00:38:40.460 --> 00:38:41.420 Their faith. 00:38:42.219 --> 00:38:43.539 His concern is for their 00:38:43.539 --> 00:38:46.019 belief in him as the 00:38:46.019 --> 00:38:46.299 Christ. 00:38:46.380 --> 00:38:47.059 And we see later on in the 00:38:47.059 --> 00:38:48.179 chapter, they say, who is 00:38:48.179 --> 00:38:49.440 this guy that can even talk 00:38:49.440 --> 00:38:50.860 to the storm and tell it 00:38:50.860 --> 00:38:52.500 what to do. 00:38:52.900 --> 00:38:53.860 He's concerned about 00:38:53.860 --> 00:38:55.500 bringing about good, 00:38:55.760 --> 00:38:57.420 birthing good in the 00:38:57.420 --> 00:38:59.260 hearts of his people. 00:39:00.139 --> 00:39:01.119 Paul wrote in Romans 00:39:01.119 --> 00:39:03.460 chapter 8, verse 28, 29. 00:39:04.340 --> 00:39:05.380 We know that for those who 00:39:05.380 --> 00:39:07.059 love God, all things work 00:39:07.059 --> 00:39:08.280 together for good. 00:39:08.820 --> 00:39:10.340 For those who are called 00:39:10.340 --> 00:39:11.780 according to his purpose. 00:39:11.780 --> 00:39:12.460 purpose. 00:39:13.280 --> 00:39:15.360 What is the good that God 00:39:15.360 --> 00:39:17.480 works all things together 00:39:17.480 --> 00:39:18.780 for? 00:39:19.240 --> 00:39:21.540 What is this good that God's 00:39:21.540 --> 00:39:23.260 effort is aimed at? 00:39:24.420 --> 00:39:25.200 Paul doesn't leave us 00:39:25.200 --> 00:39:25.920 uninformed. 00:39:26.180 --> 00:39:26.840 Praise God. 00:39:27.420 --> 00:39:28.120 Verse 29. 00:39:29.180 --> 00:39:30.760 For those whom he foreknew, 00:39:30.880 --> 00:39:31.920 he also predestined to be 00:39:31.920 --> 00:39:33.680 conformed to the image of 00:39:33.680 --> 00:39:35.580 his son in order that he 00:39:35.580 --> 00:39:37.220 might be the firstborn among 00:39:37.219 --> 00:39:38.959 many brothers. 00:39:40.119 --> 00:39:41.419 Ignore this morning, if you 00:39:41.419 --> 00:39:42.379 can, the controversial 00:39:42.379 --> 00:39:45.039 words of verse 29 and see 00:39:45.039 --> 00:39:46.879 that God is working all 00:39:46.879 --> 00:39:49.019 things so that his people 00:39:49.019 --> 00:39:50.959 will be conformed to the 00:39:50.959 --> 00:39:52.519 image of his son. 00:39:52.939 --> 00:39:54.159 This is the good that God 00:39:54.159 --> 00:39:54.619 seeks. 00:39:54.719 --> 00:39:56.759 Our sanctification, our 00:39:56.759 --> 00:39:59.059 growing perfection in 00:39:59.059 --> 00:40:00.799 Jesus Christ. 00:40:00.939 --> 00:40:03.480 Humility, faith and every 00:40:03.480 --> 00:40:05.799 other good work. 00:40:05.800 --> 00:40:08.420 suffering is aimed at 00:40:08.420 --> 00:40:10.560 bringing that about in 00:40:10.560 --> 00:40:12.320 God's people. 00:40:12.980 --> 00:40:14.220 So, beloved Christian, 00:40:14.340 --> 00:40:15.940 take heart this morning. 00:40:16.980 --> 00:40:19.120 Whatever figurative storm 00:40:19.120 --> 00:40:20.720 you are experiencing, 00:40:21.140 --> 00:40:22.060 none of us are experiencing 00:40:22.060 --> 00:40:23.860 quite the same storm, but 00:40:23.860 --> 00:40:24.720 whatever the figurative 00:40:24.720 --> 00:40:26.900 storm you may have been 00:40:26.900 --> 00:40:28.480 through, you are currently 00:40:28.480 --> 00:40:30.580 going through, or that you 00:40:30.580 --> 00:40:33.680 will go through, hold fast 00:40:33.680 --> 00:40:35.460 to the truth that God's 00:40:35.460 --> 00:40:36.360 words are true. 00:40:37.420 --> 00:40:38.940 God is in control of all 00:40:38.940 --> 00:40:41.079 things, and God uses 00:40:41.079 --> 00:40:43.740 suffering to work good in 00:40:43.740 --> 00:40:45.619 the hearts of his people. 00:40:46.880 --> 00:40:48.039 Now, I'm going to close 00:40:48.039 --> 00:40:50.320 this morning with a reading 00:40:50.320 --> 00:40:51.559 of a hymn written by 00:40:51.559 --> 00:40:52.960 William Cowper entitled, 00:40:53.519 --> 00:40:54.880 God Moves in a Mysterious 00:40:54.880 --> 00:40:55.240 Way. 00:40:55.400 --> 00:40:56.280 People like to use that 00:40:56.280 --> 00:40:57.240 phrase a lot. 00:40:57.500 --> 00:40:59.619 That comes from this hymn. 00:41:00.519 --> 00:41:01.780 But before I read it, let me 00:41:01.780 --> 00:41:02.840 tell you a bit of the story 00:41:02.840 --> 00:41:04.300 that led him to the writing 00:41:04.300 --> 00:41:04.940 of this hymn. 00:41:05.420 --> 00:41:07.059 It's not entirely because 00:41:07.059 --> 00:41:08.100 of this event, but it's part 00:41:08.100 --> 00:41:09.559 of the events of his life 00:41:09.559 --> 00:41:11.160 that led him to the writing 00:41:11.160 --> 00:41:11.600 of this hymn. 00:41:12.980 --> 00:41:14.660 Cowper was a gifted and 00:41:14.660 --> 00:41:16.260 famous English hymn writer 00:41:16.260 --> 00:41:17.440 in the 18th century. 00:41:17.800 --> 00:41:18.880 Really well known. 00:41:19.620 --> 00:41:21.320 But he dealt with serious 00:41:21.320 --> 00:41:22.539 bouts of depression. 00:41:22.720 --> 00:41:23.880 There were at least four 00:41:23.880 --> 00:41:27.120 years-long bouts of depression 00:41:27.119 --> 00:41:28.179 in his life. 00:41:29.179 --> 00:41:30.500 On one occasion, he sought 00:41:30.500 --> 00:41:32.319 to take his own life by 00:41:32.319 --> 00:41:33.639 drowning himself in the 00:41:33.639 --> 00:41:34.199 Thames River. 00:41:34.819 --> 00:41:36.420 Full intention to do this. 00:41:36.920 --> 00:41:38.359 So he hired a carriage that 00:41:38.359 --> 00:41:39.980 night to take him from his 00:41:39.980 --> 00:41:41.559 house to the river. 00:41:42.679 --> 00:41:44.279 But on the way there, a thick 00:41:44.279 --> 00:41:46.319 fog enveloped London, and the 00:41:46.319 --> 00:41:48.099 carriage driver was unable 00:41:48.099 --> 00:41:49.179 to find his way around the 00:41:49.179 --> 00:41:49.359 city. 00:41:49.539 --> 00:41:51.599 Couldn't see at all to get 00:41:51.599 --> 00:41:53.119 him to the Thames River. 00:41:53.940 --> 00:41:55.480 So they're working their way 00:41:55.480 --> 00:41:56.639 around the city, trying to 00:41:56.639 --> 00:41:57.320 find the river. 00:41:57.480 --> 00:41:58.539 The driver has no idea why 00:41:58.539 --> 00:41:59.519 he wants to go there. 00:42:00.699 --> 00:42:02.380 But frustrated by the state 00:42:02.380 --> 00:42:03.380 of their disorientation, 00:42:03.579 --> 00:42:04.920 Cowper asked the driver to 00:42:04.920 --> 00:42:06.599 stop so that he could just 00:42:06.599 --> 00:42:07.519 proceed on foot. 00:42:07.780 --> 00:42:08.960 He just said, okay, let me 00:42:08.960 --> 00:42:09.260 out. 00:42:09.619 --> 00:42:10.559 I'm going to go figure this 00:42:10.559 --> 00:42:11.320 out on foot. 00:42:11.980 --> 00:42:12.960 And upon leaving the 00:42:12.960 --> 00:42:14.199 carriage, he steps out of 00:42:14.199 --> 00:42:14.679 the carriage. 00:42:14.840 --> 00:42:16.860 Cowper found himself back at 00:42:16.860 --> 00:42:18.260 the front door of his very 00:42:18.260 --> 00:42:19.380 own house. 00:42:20.059 --> 00:42:21.039 The place that the carriage 00:42:21.039 --> 00:42:22.900 stopped was back at his 00:42:22.900 --> 00:42:24.440 front door. 00:42:24.440 --> 00:42:26.019 And he was overwhelmed by 00:42:26.019 --> 00:42:26.280 this. 00:42:26.340 --> 00:42:28.240 And he saw this as a mighty 00:42:28.240 --> 00:42:29.740 providence of God preventing 00:42:29.740 --> 00:42:31.139 him from carrying out his 00:42:31.139 --> 00:42:31.559 plan. 00:42:32.599 --> 00:42:33.800 It was after this incident 00:42:33.800 --> 00:42:35.500 that Cowper penned the 00:42:35.500 --> 00:42:35.860 following. 00:42:36.320 --> 00:42:39.900 So hear Cowper in the midst 00:42:39.900 --> 00:42:41.099 of a storm. 00:42:41.780 --> 00:42:43.340 Hear him suffering. 00:42:44.099 --> 00:42:45.820 And this is what he wrote. 00:42:45.820 --> 00:42:48.539 God moves in a mysterious 00:42:48.539 --> 00:42:49.079 way. 00:42:49.679 --> 00:42:51.260 His wonders to perform. 00:42:51.260 --> 00:42:53.800 He plants his footsteps in the 00:42:53.800 --> 00:42:55.920 sea and rides upon the storm. 00:42:57.000 --> 00:42:59.160 Deep and unfathomable minds of 00:42:59.160 --> 00:43:02.000 never failing skill, he treasures 00:43:02.000 --> 00:43:05.000 up his bright designs and works 00:43:05.000 --> 00:43:06.280 his sovereign will. 00:43:07.560 --> 00:43:09.820 Ye fearful saints, fresh courage 00:43:09.820 --> 00:43:10.240 take. 00:43:10.800 --> 00:43:14.380 The clouds ye so much dread are big 00:43:14.380 --> 00:43:16.800 with mercy and shall break in 00:43:16.800 --> 00:43:18.360 blessings on your head. 00:43:18.360 --> 00:43:21.340 Judge not the Lord by feeble 00:43:21.340 --> 00:43:23.480 sense, but trust him for his 00:43:23.480 --> 00:43:23.940 grace. 00:43:24.539 --> 00:43:27.240 Behind a frowning providence, he 00:43:27.240 --> 00:43:29.380 hides a smiling face. 00:43:30.460 --> 00:43:33.019 His purposes will ripen fast, 00:43:33.240 --> 00:43:34.740 unfolding every hour. 00:43:35.519 --> 00:43:37.820 The bud may have a bitter taste, 00:43:38.320 --> 00:43:40.160 but sweet will be the flower. 00:43:41.440 --> 00:43:44.539 Blind unbelief is sure to err and 00:43:44.539 --> 00:43:46.380 scan his work in vain. 00:43:46.380 --> 00:43:50.039 God is his own interpreter and he 00:43:50.039 --> 00:43:51.619 will make it plain. 00:43:52.119 --> 00:43:52.880 Let's pray together.