ACTS 27
"And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you......"
"Man is not born strong, he is built strong."
The book of Acts is amazing scripture that showcases bold and persevering faith by Paul and other followers of Jesus in their adventurous pursuit of the Great Commission.
However, Acts is much more about God's plan and His love for man than it is man's strength and faith in Him. Honestly, man is not the main character of the book, even though it's easy for one to be focused on the story of faithfulness in Paul. From the surface, one could read Acts and be amazed at how much Peter had grown since the gospels, Stephen's fearlessness as he faced death, and then Paul's faith in the later chapters is like nothing we have ever seen.
Remember through, men are not born strong, bold, or faithful, they are built. When you dig past the surface of man's adventure in the Great Commission, you will find God's great goodness in building man to everything man could ever dream of being!
God's tells us in Isaiah 64, "O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we all are the work of Your hand."
In Acts 27 we see this truth come to life! Near the end of our story, the world throws everything it can at Paul to prevent him in getting to Rome. Storm, after storm, after storm to stop him. The literal storms would quickly become mental and physical storms in the life of anyone who sailed with Paul. They would run out of food, supplies, and hope as it seemed as almost a sure promise that they would die in the waters they sailed in. And when all hope was lost, Paul stood and spoke faithfully to encourage the men that God would provide and that no man would lose their life! He was the loud voice of faith needed in a storm that was unimaginable. Don't lose sight though church, Paul was not born with this faith, God gave and built it for such moments.
In verse 23, "For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, do not be afraid." Don't miss it, Paul was scared, but God made him bold and faithful. God sent an angel to protect Paul and to give him the assurance to pour into the others who were on the ship.
Acts 27 is not about man's fearlessness, but God's rescue and goodness! All that Paul had gone through prepared him for this exact moment and moments like it! Paul is a messenger, not the author of the story.
My life and yours is played out in the exact same way. We are messengers, witnesses of God's great work. We are not the main character of even our own story. God has given us all we need and provided for all that we are.
Stay faithful church.
The book of Acts is amazing scripture that showcases bold and persevering faith by Paul and other followers of Jesus in their adventurous pursuit of the Great Commission.
However, Acts is much more about God's plan and His love for man than it is man's strength and faith in Him. Honestly, man is not the main character of the book, even though it's easy for one to be focused on the story of faithfulness in Paul. From the surface, one could read Acts and be amazed at how much Peter had grown since the gospels, Stephen's fearlessness as he faced death, and then Paul's faith in the later chapters is like nothing we have ever seen.
Remember through, men are not born strong, bold, or faithful, they are built. When you dig past the surface of man's adventure in the Great Commission, you will find God's great goodness in building man to everything man could ever dream of being!
God's tells us in Isaiah 64, "O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we all are the work of Your hand."
In Acts 27 we see this truth come to life! Near the end of our story, the world throws everything it can at Paul to prevent him in getting to Rome. Storm, after storm, after storm to stop him. The literal storms would quickly become mental and physical storms in the life of anyone who sailed with Paul. They would run out of food, supplies, and hope as it seemed as almost a sure promise that they would die in the waters they sailed in. And when all hope was lost, Paul stood and spoke faithfully to encourage the men that God would provide and that no man would lose their life! He was the loud voice of faith needed in a storm that was unimaginable. Don't lose sight though church, Paul was not born with this faith, God gave and built it for such moments.
In verse 23, "For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, do not be afraid." Don't miss it, Paul was scared, but God made him bold and faithful. God sent an angel to protect Paul and to give him the assurance to pour into the others who were on the ship.
Acts 27 is not about man's fearlessness, but God's rescue and goodness! All that Paul had gone through prepared him for this exact moment and moments like it! Paul is a messenger, not the author of the story.
My life and yours is played out in the exact same way. We are messengers, witnesses of God's great work. We are not the main character of even our own story. God has given us all we need and provided for all that we are.
Stay faithful church.
SCRIPTURE TO GO WITH THE MESSAGE
Read Matthew 14:22-33 as we see another story of Faithfulness and the lack there of in the presence of God.
Posted in Year One