Shipwrecked!!! Part 2
Today's mini-sermon is the first in a short series based upon Acts
27.
In part 1 of this series, Paul is being transported to Rome aboard a
merchant ship. They are in a place called "Fair Havens" and winter
is coming on. Paul has advised that they winter in Fair Havens, but
the centurion in charge of Paul chooses to listen to the pilot and
owner of the ship, and the decision is made to set sail. But they
haven't sailed yet. There is still time for them to change their
minds and follow Paul's advice! The men seem to be waiting for a
"sign" that it will be all right to sail!
"When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had
obtained what they wanted; so they weighed anchor and sailed along
the shore of Crete." (Acts 27:13, 14)
A gentle wind. Just the sign they needed! Now they were sure that
their journey would be blessed by God! Of course, they had heard
directly from the mouth of a prophet of God that they should NOT set
sail, but this isn't what they wanted to hear. Their human desire to
go their own way made them doubt Paul's word, and they waited for a
"sign". And they got one. A gentle wind. Who could ask for better
sailing conditions?
How often have we been in a similar situation? We have received a
word from God, but something keeps us from hearing God clearly.
Maybe it's that we're not used to hearing God when He speaks. Maybe
we don't know how to communicate with Him. Or maybe it is that our
human desires are either keeping us from hearing God clearly, or
causing us to doubt what we've heard! Whatever the reason, when we
receive a word from the Lord, we often ask for a "sign".
Is this wrong? No. Look at Gideon. He asked for three signs. But I
believe there is an important lesson to be learned in these two
verses of Acts. Let's look at them again: "When a gentle south wind
began to blow, they thought they had obtained what they wanted . .
." These men asked for a "sign", and then began looking for
circumstantial evidence! Don't we all do the same? "I think God may
be calling me to the mission field in Korea. I prayed for a sign,
and last night there was a documentary on TV. about Korea. I think
God is trying to tell me something!" And yes, maybe He is. But there
is danger here!
The downfall of the sailors lie in this simple statement: "They
thought they had obtained what they wanted . . ." They thought it
was a sign, so they didn't take the time to "check it out" with God!
They based a very large decision, on which rode hundreds of lives,
on circumstance alone, without bothering to get confirmation that it
was indeed of God!
Well, you all are probably familiar with the rest of the story:
"Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the
"northeaster," swept down from the island. The ship was caught by
the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and
were driven along." (Acts 27:14-15) The men asked for a sign, they
received a circumstantial one, and believing it was from God, they
sailed. And the consequence of basing their decision on
circumstantial evidence? "A wind of hurricane force . . . swept down
. . . the ship was caught by the storm . . ."
My friends, I am the first to admit that it isn't always easy to
understand God's direction. I also freely admit that my human
desires often cloud my mind so that I feel the need to seek further
direction from God -- a "sign". But let us NOT fall into the trap of
these soldiers and sailors! Don't make decisions on the basis of
circumstance alone! Always be willing to take the next step! Always
confirm any circumstantial evidence you think you have received by
the Word of God! Why? Because the enemy can also manipulate
circumstance, and if you do not seek God's confirmation of
circumstances, you, like the sailors in Acts 27, could also be led
into the storm of your life!
Please see Sunday edition of the Answers2Prayer newsletter for part
3 of Shipwrecked!!!
Love in Christ,
Lyn
Lyn Chaffart,
Moderator, The Nugget, Scriptural Nuggets (
www.sermonillustrator.org/minisermons/ ), Answers2Prayer Ministries,
www.Answers2Prayer.org ,