Acts 27:1 Paul is a prisoner, & it has been determined that they sail to Italy. (He has no choice about this trip) This just happened to be the time of the Jews fast. After sailing slowly for several days Paul says >
Acts 27:10...Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.
11 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.
*A great wind drove them & they couldn’t control the ship...finally they came near an Island that gave them shelter from the winds & storm that came upon them. Sailing was dangerous now >
Acts 27:20 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.
21 But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.
22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship.
23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
26 Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.
14 more days of storm...
30 And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship....
31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
*Paul urges them to eat for strength...
40 ...they made toward shore.
41 And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground....
42 And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.
43 But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:
44 And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.
Acts 28:1 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
2 And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand
4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.
6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.
*Like Paul, you make it out of the storm to what you think is a safe place & you’re attacked, but this island is not your destination! First, they look at Paul as a murderer then a god. When you’re attacked, others might think you deserve it. You must have sinned - this must be punishment, etc. Then God starts doing something new.
►The father of the chief man of the island was sick, & when Paul found out, he laid hands on him with the (the same hand that was attacked) & the man was healed >
9 So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:
10 Who also honoured us with many honours; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.
*Remember, this wasn’t where Paul was headed. Sometimes, you have to go thru situations that you don’t want to go thru... things you don’t understand at the time, to get you where you need to be.
The loss in the storm doesn’t matter - the outcome matters! Your life is watched by the world...by your loved ones...people you have influence over. How are you seen thru your struggles & losses?
You might have to go thru things in your life so that others can see your outcome - they can see your faith. Did you fall or did you stand? Did you count your God faithful?
*I’ve been thru a lot of stuff in my life. Pain - loss - rejection - confusion & my faith has been weak at times, but what people see in me is - She’s Still Standing - She’s Still God’s! If someone like me - a nobody that has weathered storms - loss - vipers, & I can make it - so can others.
I love amusement parks & fast rides. Some of the rides are a little intimidating, so I look at the sign that says, “you have to be this tall to ride,” & I tell myself, if a child can ride it, so can I.
►God has given us promises, & what he has promised, he will fulfill. If he has spoken to you, you can stand on his word no matter what. The promised outcome may not get here the way you expect or the way you think it should, but it will get here.
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