Paul's Dark Night of the Soul III
(The Night of Extreme Circumstances)
Sunday,
Text
" 3 We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; 7 in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything." (2 Corinthians 6:3-10 NIV)
"35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. " (Romans 8:35-39 NIV)
Introduction
The life and ministry of the Apostle Paul illustrate what it was like to live in the tension between the "already" and the "not yet" of God's Kingdom. Man of faith and absolute commitment that he was, in the midst of the spiritual victories he experienced, while he was strong in his spirit, Paul nevertheless keenly felt the emotional strain of the struggle he was in as he went through "dark nights of the soul."
When you are facing a major problem, carrying a particularly heavy burden, or going through an especially hard trial such as battling with a serious illness, there is something about the hours of the night that can bring extra emotional vulnerability.
In these moments, as we turn our hearts toward God and open our ears to His voice, we hear fresh "words" from Him and the "night" brings us great blessing, great refreshing, and great breakthroughs…!
In the Psalms (perhaps the most emotionally explicit passages in God's Word), we see both of these themes repeatedly. They speak of the impact nighttime has on troubled hearts, but they also celebrate the blessing night brings to those who turn trust in the Lord.
"1 … A psalm of David. O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. 2 Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am faint; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are in agony. 3 My soul is in anguish. How long, O Lord, how long? 4 Turn, O Lord, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love. 5 No one remembers you when he is dead. Who praises you from the grave? 6 I am worn out from groaning; all night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears. 7 My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes." (Psalm 6:1-7 NIV)
"1 … Of Asaph. A psalm. I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. 2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands and my soul refused to be comforted. 3 I remembered you, O God, and I groaned; I mused, and my spirit grew faint…." (Psalm 77:1-3 NIV)
"1 A prayer of David. Hear, O Lord, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer— it does not rise from deceitful lips. 2 May my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right. 3 Though you probe my heart and examine me at night, though you test me, you will find nothing; I have resolved that my mouth will not sin." (Psalm 17:1-3 NIV)
""1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers." (Psalm 1:1-3 NIV)
1 … It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, 2 to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night…" (Psalm 92:1-2 NIV)
"1 A psalm of David. When he was in the
"54 Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge. 55 In the night I remember your name, O Lord, and I will keep your law. 56 This has been my practice: I obey your precepts." (Psalm 119:54-56 NIV)
"8 By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life." (Psalm 42:8 NIV)
"7 I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. 8 I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken." (Psalm 16:7-8 NIV)
Cf. also the French proverb - "La nuit porte bonne conseil…"
"4 Sing to the Lord, you saints of his; praise his holy name. 5 For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." (Psalm 30:1-5 NIV)
Teresa - " Sometimes, the difference between hope and despair is a good night's sleep!"
Paul's life teaches us two important lessons:
· We will experience moments of emotional turmoil as we live out the life of the Kingdom of God
· God is faithful during these moments and if we turn our hearts toward Him, He will speak those words to us that what we need to make it through victorious if we open our hearts to Him!
In the two previous nights, we looked at three "dark nights of the soul" in Paul's life
· The night of frustration and apparent fruitlessness (Acts 16 – Man from Macedonia
During this "night," God spoke a word of fresh direction.
· The night of fear and emotional depletion (Acts 18 - Corinth
During this "night," God spoke a promise of protection.
· The night of controversy and self-examination (Acts 23 - Jerusalem
During this "night," God spoke a promise of redemption and affirmation (but, not vindication…!)
Today, we want to look at Paul's fourth "Dark Night of the Soul"…The night of extreme circumstances (Acts 27 – MEDITERRANEAN storm!)
"18 We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. 19 On the third day, they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved. 21 After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: "Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from
(The verb "to keep up one's courage" (euthymeÅ) is used only three times in the New Testament—twice here and in James 5:13 ("to be happy"). The verb has the idea of having good feelings or being in good spirits)[1]
At some time or another, most everyone of us goes through one of life's storms that brings us to the place where we lose all hope.
· Sometimes it is because we have made good decisions (disciples on boat crossing Sea of Galilee at Christ's command).
· Sometimes it is because we have made bad decisions (Jonah on the ship to Tarsus
· Sometimes the most difficult storms to go through are those that come our way because of someone else's decisions, whether good or bad…!
- Because the company that employs us is taking the steps necessary to bring their expenses into line with their revenues or their operations into line with their vision.
- Because the spiritual leader we serve under has received a fresh call from God to some new form of ministry in some other place.
- Because a broker seriously mistimed or misjudged movement in a market.
- Because of the slip of a well-intentioned surgeon's knife… or, perhaps, because a surgeon cut too quickly or too deeply.
- Because a friend or an adversary spoke when they should have remained silent.
- Because a husband or a wife opened their heart to an outsider and walked away from the marriage covenant.
In the case of the Apostle Paul, he went through the worst storm of his life, a veritable hurricane, because someone in authority over him (the Roman centurion who was guarding him) made a very bad decision.
How did the Centurion make such a bad decision?
· He chose the easy way (more comfortable harbor) instead of the wise way.
· He valued speed over due diligence.
· He gave more weight to external circumstances than to inner convictions. ("south wind blew softly")
· He listened to natural wisdom instead of spiritual wisdom.
· He prioritized carnal leadership over godly leadership.
· He let the will of the majority overrule the wisdom of the minority.
The storm that ensued could have been avoided. It caused great loss (both cargo and ship). It brought even Paul to the place of losing faith that he would survive…!
"18 We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. 19 On the third day, they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved." (Acts 27:18-20 NIV)
On board the ship, Paul was not afraid of death. It was he who wrote the majestic, faith-filled words now contained in Scripture,
"8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord." (2 Corinthians 5:8 NIV)
"21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith," (Philippians 1:21-25 NIV)
But Paul came to the place that he began to believe that someone else's decisions had the power to keep him from his destiny…!
In life's extreme circumstances, everyone loses hope at some moment or another…
- The quarterback of a football team in a championship game who has run every play in the book
- The CEO of a failing company who has hired every consultant he could
- The general who has called up all his reserves and sent every one of his troops into battle against the enemy
- The parent of a troubled teen who has read every book they can lay their hands on
- The husband and a wife who have gone to every counselor in the phone book
Why did Paul and his companions lose hope?
· They did not have any "light" (the sun did not appear sun)
· They did not have any direction (neither did the stars)
· Their circumstances stayed the same (storm continued raging for many days)
· They had done everything they could possibly do …! (Nothing left to throw overboard, not even the tackle was left…!)
We lose hope when we have done everything we know to do and all the while, things have only gone from bad to worse…! Humanly speaking, that is when all hope is lost.
In this night, after even Paul had lost all faith that they would ever survive, God spoke a word to him of hope and specific instruction.
23 Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.' 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26 Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island."" (Acts 27:18-26 NIV)
One word from God made all the difference for the Apostle Paul and for those around him! Before the story ends, we see them experiencing a "Malta
No matter how extreme your circumstances, here is the word God wants to speak to you…!
"11 and he said before all the people, "This is what the Lord says: 'In the same way will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of
Like Paul, in our "night of extreme circumstances," we must do three important things:
· Clearly hear God.
· Completely believe and obey God.
· Courageously speak for God.
- Confront wrong – "You should not have sailed…!"
- Proclaim God-founded faith – "Not one of you will be lost, but this ship is going to sink…!"
- Care for those around you – "Eat some bread because there will be some swimming ahead and you will need strength to survive"
- Offer up the sacrifice of praise – "Gave thanks to God in front of all of them"
Paul's response to this fourth "word in the night" given to him by God reveals what a great, godly leader he had become!
- He had increasing, God-given favor. (First a prisoner, then a counselor, then the captain.)
- His experience had brought him wisdom (cf. "perceive")
The Greek word translated "see" or "perceive" in Acts 27:10 means "to perceive from past experience."[2]
- He received supernatural revelation from God about the situation.
- He knew what to do when others did not (A crisis does not make a person; it merely reveals who they really are. Leadership, as Kipling knew, involves 'keeping your head when all around you are losing theirs…!)
- He had faith when others doubted.
- He understood the power of his own example (took bread and ate it, encouraging the others to do the same.
There are times when one dedicated believer can change the whole atmosphere of a situation simply by trusting God and making that faith visible.[3]
- He knew the outcome of his life would impact many others (God has given me the lives of all who sail with me.)
Paul had such credibility before the centurion, pilot, and owner, that they believed him when he said an angel had spoken to him and cut away the lifeboat, then took food at his command and were emotionally impacted by his words (good spirits) after he promised that nothing would happen to him, then the centurion saved Paul's life when the ship broke apart and the soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners in order to keep them from escaping.
"29 Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. 30 In an attempt to escape from the ship, the sailors let the lifeboat down into the sea, pretending they were going to lower some anchors from the bow. 31 Then Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay with the ship, you cannot be saved." 32 So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat and let it fall away. 33 Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. "For the last fourteen days," he said, "you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven't eaten anything. 34 Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head." 35 After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. 36 They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves." (Acts 27:29-36 NIV)
"42 The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. 43 But the centurion wanted to spare Paul's life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. 44 The rest were to get there on planks or on pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land in safety. " (Acts 27:42-44 NIV)
Invitation
1. Are you in a "night season" where you have lost all hope of things ever changing? Do you need the Lord to speak a fresh word to you?
2. Do you need to receive Jesus into your heart?
[1]John F. Walvoord, Roy B. Zuck and Dallas Theological Seminary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary : An Exposition of the Scriptures (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983-c1985), 2:428.
[2]Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, "An Exposition of the New Testament Comprising the Entire 'BE' Series"--Jkt. (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1996, c1989), Ac 27:1.
[3]Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, "An Exposition of the New Testament Comprising the Entire 'BE' Series"--Jkt. (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1996, c1989), Ac 27:21.
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