Lessons From Acts – Lesson 42
Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
The Bible will have truth stated in a simple verse or a few short verses and then somewhere else we will see that truth lived out. This lets us see what that truth looks like in a life and in real situations.
The narrative type of events in the Bible are not just history. They are for us to learn from. What happened to those people and how they got into their situation and how they reacted and what were the results are all for us to learn from.
About the children of Israel who had to wonder in the wilderness for 40 years the New Testament says:
I Cor 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
We are to learn from their mistake. They are examples to us to learn from so that we don’t do what they did. There are examples in the Bible of what not to do and examples of the wrong way to handle things.
And there are examples of what to do and examples of the right way to handle things.
And you will often see that God loves to use His creation to teach and to show us these examples.
One of the things that we see in the Bible that God uses to teach is storms.
Think about when Jesus sent His disciples out on the lake into a storm after He fed the 5,000. Jesus knew that the storm was coming before He sent them out there.
He used the storm to teach them some things and He had it recorded in His word so that we would think about it and learn from it as well.
Mark 6:44 And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.
Mark 6:45 And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.
Mark 6:46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.
Mark 6:47 And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.
Mark 6:48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.
So Jesus sent them out there and waits. The storm hits. Jesus waits. Thru the 1st watch and the 2nd watch and the 3rd watch. And even though Jesus is far away on land Jesus sees them toiling in rowing.
Another proof that Jesus is God. All knowing and all seeing. But Jesus still waits. He is not waiting because He does not care. He is not waiting because He is indifferent to the trouble the disciples are in.
It should be obvious that Jesus is waiting for another reason. And He keeps waiting. Finally it hits the 4th watch of the night. So we are in the dead of night not too long before twilight.
The disciples never did what Jesus was waiting for so Jesus walks upon the sea. And please do not miss this. It says, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.
Jesus was not lost. The reason He would have passed by them is not because He can’t find them. Jesus on purpose walked close enough for them to see Him. But if they did not call out Jesus would have passed by.
As soon as they cry out to Jesus He responds and talks with them and comforts them.
Mark 6:49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:
Mark 6:50 For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.
And then Jesus goes into the ship and calms the storm.
Mark 6:51 And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.
And then verse 52 tells us what this storm was teaching but you have to pause and think about it. It is clear enough but only if you think about it.
Mark 6:52 For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.
Jesus sent them out there immediately after the miracle of the loaves. And all thru that storm they did not consider the miracle of the loaves for their hearts were hard.
They only kept their attention on the problem of the storm. They did not have their thinking on Jesus when they were in the storm. A huge lesson right there.
But what specifically was it about the miracle of the loaves that they should have considered. For that we only have to look at the reason for the miracle of the loaves.
Mat 6:34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.
Jesus had compassion for those people and so he taught them. But when it was late and the people had no food, Jesus showed that He also had compassion for their needs and for their hunger pains. And so Jesus fed them.
Jesus’ compassion is not limited to only the need of being taught. Jesus showed with the miracle of the loaves that He also has compassion for their physical needs.
And the miracle of the loaves showed the disciples that Jesus has the desire, and compassion, and the power to solve the problem. One of the main purposes of the miracle of the loaves was to teach the disciples. And they completely missed it.
When they were in trouble in the storm they were supposed to think on the compassion of Jesus that He just showed to 5,000 people. And they were to think about how much Jesus cared for His disciples. And how Jesus could fix it and get them thru the storm.
And if they would have considered that they would have called out to Jesus in the first hour of the storm. They put themselves thru a whole lot of extra trouble because they tried to go thru the storm alone and would not call out to Jesus.
A short verse that sums up one of the lessons of that storm is: Casting all your care upon Him; for he careth for you.
God teaches us important lessons in the storms recorded in His word. Last week we looked at a storm in Acts chapter 27 and focused on how God sent the right Centurion for the job ahead of time so that he was there to stop the soldiers from killing Paul when the ship was wrecked.
Today we are going to look at how the storm in Acts 27 teaches us how we should handle the storms in our lives.
Acts 27:6 And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein.
Acts 27:7 And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone;
Acts 27:8 And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.
Acts 27:9 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,
Acts 27:10 And said unto them, 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.
Acts 27:11 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.
Acts 27:12 And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.
Acts 27:13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.
Acts 27:14 But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.
Acts 27:15 And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.
The first thing I notice is that you cannot control the storms of life. You cannot control when they come. You cannot control how bad the storm is.
Like so many of the storms of life that come our way, this storm came at an inconvenient time. They were not in a good place to handle a storm, there were exposed on the water in a ship. When the storm comes you want to be on land in a strong house with lots of supplies and wait the storm out in comfort.
That is not the way life works. Storms in our lives have a way of hitting not only when we least expect it but also at times when it is not convenient for a storm.
And they could not do anything to affect this storm or reduce its effects. They were at the mercy of the storm. All they could do is let the storm drive the boat.
Storms in our lives are like that. We cannot alter the storm or make it slow down or make it change directions. The storm is more powerful than we are.
When you find yourself in a storm of life, you need to first accept these truths. There is no quick way out of the storm. You cannot just say no thanks and get off the boat. The only way out of the storm is thru the storm.
You have to accept that the only way out is thru. You have to come out on the other side of the storm.
But just because you have to accept the storm does not mean that you just sit down and be passive. That is a mistake. You are to be active during the storm and you are to do what you can do while you are in the storm.
God does expect you to move and to take action and do what you can.
Acts 27:16 And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:
Acts 27:17 Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.
Acts 27:18 And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;
Acts 27:19 And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.
They did what they could. They undergirded the ship to make it stronger. They lightened the ship to the right amount. Lighter so they would not take on too much water but not too light so they would not capsize in the waves.
They took action in the storm. They did what they could to make their situation better.
God expects us to do the same when we are in the storms of life. If it is a financial storm, then do what you can, make good decisions to make your situation better.
If it is a health storm, and boy have I had a few of those. Then do what you can. Take your medicine, have the surgery, take whatever steps that you can to make your situation better.
Don’t give up and quit. Do not just sit down like a bump on a log and do nothing. God expects you to be active during the storm and do what you can. He does not expect you to do what you cannot. You are not responsible for doing what is impossible for you to do. But you are expected to be responsible and do what you can.
Next we see the truth that storms can be dark and can be long.
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.
Do not stick your head in the sand like an ostrich. Acknowledge the fact that getting down and hopeless and even depressed is a real danger. Especially when the storm drags on and on and on.
Things can get real bleak. It can look really bad. Guard against getting down and hopeless. You need to take that danger very seriously.
And the next thing we see is how to go about that.
Acts 27:21 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.
Paul sought the Lord. Long abstinence is a reference to fasting and biblical fasting always was accompanied by prayer. So Paul prayed and sought God’s help.
This is your greatest need when you are going thru the storms of life. You need God’s grace and comfort and help. You need it. Do not try to go thru the storm alone like the disciples did.
Jesus wanted to help them and waited and waited for them to call out. God will not force His grace and help upon you when you are in the storms of life. You have to ask Him.
Have faith that God hears you and knows all about it and that He loves you and wants to help. So ask Him for help in faith while you are in the storms of life.
And Paul did get an answer.
Acts 27:22 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.
Acts 27:23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
Acts 27:24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
Acts 27:25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.
Here is another big one. While Paul was in the storm He believed God. When you are in the storms of life believe God. Believe in His love and His promises.
Heb_13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Jesus promised that He will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Period. Not ever. So when in the storms of life cling to that and believe that. The storm may be really bad, but realize you are not alone. You have not been left and you are not forsaken. This is very important.
And believe that there is an end to the storm. It might be really bad and it might be really long, but there is an end.
Acts 27:26 Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.
Next is another big one that I have seen many Christians mess up on when in a storm of life. And that is you do need others while you are in the storm.
Acts 27:30 And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,
Acts 27:31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
Acts 27:32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.
In some of the storms of life there is a temptation to just get down and depressed and take the wrong attitude that I don’t need anyone. I just want to be alone. That is a mistake.
Paul and everyone in that storm needed others to make it thru. The same is true for our storms. We first and most of all need God in the storm, but we also need others.
And while in the storm we need to keep our strength up because we have to keep working and doing what we can.
Acts 27:33 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.
Acts 27:34 Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.
Acts 27:35 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.
Acts 27:36 Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.
Acts 27:38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.
They still had to lighten the ship. They still have to thrust in the ship as much as they could. And they still had to swim to shore. They had to do and work to get thru the storm.
Too many people do not understand this is true during the storms of life. You are expected to do what you can. You do have to work your way thru it. This goes for all of the storms of life.
And be thankful for the truth that God is working and helping in the storm even if you cannot see it.
Acts 27:42 And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.
Acts 27:43 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:
Acts 27:44 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.
In Paul’s case God sent the right centurion for the job. And without that Paul would not have made it thru the storm. God was working before the storm even started. It was not always evident but it was true.
And it was only at the end of the storm that we how God worked.
And that is often true in our storms of life as well. Sometimes only at the end do we see how God was working.
We can learn much from this storm in Acts chapter 27. Principals that apply to us in our storms of life.