June 23, 2024
Pastor John Hering
Acts 27:13-26
Acts 27:13-26
13 When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they could carry out their plan. They raised the anchor and sailed close to the shore of Crete.
14 But before long, a hurricane-like wind, called the “northeaster,” rushed down from the island. 15 Since the ship was caught in it and could not head into the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along. 16 As we sailed on the sheltered side of a small island called Cauda, we were barely able to secure the skiff. 17 After hoisting it on board, the men tied ropes around the ship to reinforce it. Then, fearing that they would run aground on the sandbars of Syrtis, they lowered the sea anchor and in this way were driven along. 18 Because we were tossed around so violently by the storm, the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. 19 On the third day, they threw the ship’s gear overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the violent storm kept pressing down on us, finally all hope that we would be saved was disappearing.
21 After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have followed my advice and not set sail from Crete and avoided this damage and loss. 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because there will be no loss of life among you. Only the ship will be lost. 23 In fact, last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar. And surely God has graciously given you all those who are sailing with you.’ 25 So keep up your courage, men, because I believe God that it will be exactly the way I have been told. 26 However, we must run aground on some island.”
Disaster is all around us. My sister, Kathy, was nearly struck by a tornado last night. She did very well having lived in Oklahoma’s Tornado Ally by taking cover in the bathroom, and then the inner hall of Heritage Homes. If you work in the health care or education industry you probably received training and practice drills to prepare you in case of a disaster at your place of work. We have even done the same right here at Divine Peace in the event of a terror attack or a child that suddenly goes missing. We have created an Emergency Action Plan, so we know how to react with disaster strikes. Throughout the Bible there are example of disasters recorded for us. The Flood. The escape from Egypt. The Assyrian and Babylonian battles. Sometimes the disaster comes from power hungry kings, or from wind and waves such as the disciples experienced. And in the middle of these disasters God puts his people. Noah, Moses, Daniel, Joshua, St. Paul…and you. God puts us in these situations for his purpose. God revealed this purpose to Moses as he stretched out his hand over the Red Sea and the instructions of God were ringing in his ears,
“4 I will harden Pharaoh’s heart so that he will pursue them, and I will gain glory through Pharaoh and his entire army. The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord.”
Exodus 14:4
Disaster holds a divine purpose. God revealed this to St. Paul at the beginning of his ministry through Ananias.
“15 The Lord said to him, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. 16 Indeed, I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
Acts 9:15,16
The same is true today. May the Holy Spirit teach us:
A Christian’s Role In Disaster Response
Your Crisis is Our Problem
Today we find St. Paul traveling on his way to Rome to go on trial before Caesar.
“14 But before long, a hurricane-like wind, called the “northeaster,” rushed down from the island.”
The word used here to describe the storm is “typhoon” which in Greek means, “a demon with magical powers.” You get the picture of a tiger pawing at its prey before devouring it.
“15 Since the ship was caught in it and could not head into the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along.”
There are lots of crisis’ going on. He was arrested by the Romans and imprisoned; and fearing for his life, he appealed to Caesar. So they tossed Paul and his companion (Luke who wrote the Book of Acts) onto this ship heading for Italy. Joining them on the boat heading for disaster was a crew of pagan men who needed a life-boat named Jesus. What they didn’t know, but Paul did, was that the demon Satan was going to do his best to ruin Paul’s ministry. Also Paul knew that he would stand in the eye of this hurricane much like a preacher standing in the spotlight of the pulpit. Do you see it? God made their crisis Paul’s problem in order to proclaim God’s saving message!
So, what temptations would Paul be facing? What if the wind was more of a concern to Paul than the souls of his shipmates? What if Paul had lost his composure and ragged at the sailors for ruining his travel plans? What if Paul had not been prepared for this day (having been shipwrecked three times already on other trips)? Paul could have complained about the weather over which he didn’t have any control. He could have cursed God for the horrible situation he was in. But, he didn’t. Rather he made the Crisis His Problem and used it to proclaim God’s Word to his pagan companions.
Let’s turn to our lives just a second. What disasters in your life are going on right now? I don’t hear any tornado winds right now. Or do I? Maybe those winds sound like a disease, job issues, family squabbles, or frustrations with your friends that is blowing your boat around. What is your reaction? Are you tempted to join the disciples saying, “Don’t you care that we are about to drown?” (Mark 4:38). That is hardly making the crisis our problem and using it to glorify God. Perhaps Jesus needs to rebuke you saying, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still lack faith?” (Mark 4:40). Rather I pray the Lord would teach us Our Role In Disaster Response. God does not place us in these situations to collapse under the pressure of fear, but to explode like fireworks—lighting up the sky, showing the beauty and awe that can come out of the explosion and chaos. You are God’s people to carry his glorious salvation to those around you. What in the world am I talking about?
Listen: Jesus put himself in the middle of the ultimate disaster—taking on the punishment of God’s hell for the sin and guilt of sinners. Jesus made himself the center pole for God’s lightning bolt of anger that should have been directed at our sins. Jesus spattered his blood on the crisis of the cross to calm the storms of God’s wrath forever. Listen to Jesus’ words, “Peace! Be still!” as the waves and winds of sin’s power and death’s curse swirl away. Do you get it? Disasters and Crisis will come, but I pray the flashing of lightning and the booms of thunder are Christians fulfilling their Role To Respond to the disaster by pointing people to the glorious salvation won for us by Jesus Christ!
This is what Paul did.
“21 After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have followed my advice and not set sail from Crete and avoided this damage and loss. 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because there will be no loss of life among you. Only the ship will be lost.”
I know, at first Paul’s words sound like, “I told you so.” But, really what he was saying was to build credibility for what he was about to tell them. Paul was making their problem his problem. Then Paul spoke the solution to give them hope.
“23 In fact, last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar. And surely God has graciously given you all those who are sailing with you.’ 25 So keep up your courage, men, because I believe God that it will be exactly the way I have been told. 26 However, we must run aground on some island.”
Paul told them, “I belong to this God!” And “I serve his God.” It wasn’t about Paul’s life, his career, his dreams, his promotion or his retirement, but Paul served God! And God chose Paul for this divine purpose to share God’s Word with people who are desperately in need of God’s message. They would live to tell the day when Paul spoke God’s Word to them. Of course it is our prayer that they would come to realize that
Your Courage Comes From Faith In Our God
It is never a good thing when the disaster relief efforts become a disaster themselves. A storm went through here about three weeks ago. Many of our members experienced damage to their homes. I have chopped up trees lined up on my curb because the city promised to come pick them up. They’re still there. Now, that is small potatoes compared to the relief efforts after an event like Hurricane Katrina. Do you remember how FEMA was blasted for their poor response? The director resigned. The blame game between president, mayor and other government official went ballistic! And the worst part of this whole thing are the lives that were lost during this whole ordeal.
So, when God puts us in the middle of a crisis or disaster for a divine purpose, wouldn’t you love to have the confidence that you’re not going to make it worse?!? Here is your answer: You stand with Jesus Christ! Your Courage Comes From Faith In Our God! Because we believe that we support the WELS Christian Aid and Relief who sends teams to disaster areas to give people hands on help, and tell them about God’s divine purpose in allowing disasters to point us to Jesus. Because our Courage Comes From Faith in our God we attend funerals and share the gospel with people to remind them of God’s divine purpose in calling our loved one to heaven. Because our Courage Comes From Faith in our God we visit people in the hospital and share the gospel to remind them of God’s divine purpose in allowing us to think about living in this sin broken world and focus our attention on the joy of being in heaven one day. God puts us in the middle of such disasters and crisis situations to give us a dangerous opportunity to tell people that Our Courage Comes From Faith In Our God!
When people see you have courage, then they will be inspired to have courage as well. That’s what Paul did. “25 So keep up your courage, men, because I believe God that it will be exactly the way I have been told.” God watches over the sparrows, so how much more will he watch over you, for whom he sent Jesus who heal lepers, the blind, the sick and even forgave prostitutes and rescued the dying. Jesus then called fishermen to proclaim the gospel to the world—that Jesus died on the cross to wash away our sins. Faith in Jesus Christ has given courage to billions of people. Have Faith in Christ To Give You Courage, too!
There are wonderful disaster relief agencies working all around the world. Perhaps the most famous is the American Red Cross. They respond to disasters from hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and fires. They provide shelters and food to millions of people as they support and first responders and victims of the crisis. Without minimizing their efforts, you are part of an even larger disaster relief team. You are a believer in Jesus. You believe that God has given you a Role In Disaster Response. You can make the Crisis of Somone Else Your Problem, and share Your Courage that Comes From Faith In Our God. Because when you wear your faith on your sleave, they will see God At Work! Amen!
