When Darkness Gives Way to Dawn - What to Expect In the Morning, August 16, 2008

When Morning Comes…

Hillcrest Church

August 17, 2008

Text

"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. 37 Altogether there were 276 of us on board. 38 When they had eaten as much as they wanted, they lightened the ship by throwing the grain into the sea. 39 When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. 40 Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. 41 But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf. 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. Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2 The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. 3 Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead, but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. 7 There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and for three days entertained us hospitably. 8 His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. 9 When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. 10 They honored us in many ways and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed." (Acts 27:33-28:10 NIV)

Introduction

Paul’s four “Dark Nights of the Soul”:

·         The night of frustration and apparent fruitlessness (Troas - Macedonian vision – Acts 16)

·         The night of fear and emotional depletion (Corinth – Acts 18)

·         The night of controversy and self-examination (Jerusalem – Acts 23)

·         The night of extreme circumstances (Mediterranean Sea – Acts 27)

Today, we are going to deal with “the morning after,” Paul’s “Malta moment” after a night so extreme that 27:20 says, “…we finally gave up all hope of being saved…” and vs. 29 says they, “…prayed for daylight.”

Through that crisis, God had actually positioned Paul for even greater leadership as he experienced increasing, God-given favor and influence with those sailing on the ship with him. He had started the voyage as a prisoner, but he became a trusted counselor, then the de facto leader…!)

How and why did this happen?

-          He distilled wisdom from experience. (cf. “see” in vs. 27:10 literally means “to perceive from past experience…”)^[1] Wisdom is not the automatic byproduct of experience. “There is no fool like an old fool.” (Vera Brand)

-          He heard a fresh word from God. This caused him to know what others did not know! I believe it came as a result of seeking God in his storm.

-          He had learned to believe when others doubted. (This empowered him to do what others did not do, to lead when others followed!)

-          He cared deeply about other people and knew that the outcome of his life directly impacted them. “God has given me the lives of all who sail with me…so keep up your courage…for I have faith in God that it will happen just as the angel told me…” (27:24-25)

-          He understood the power of his own example. He took bread, gave thanks, and ate it “…in front of them all…” (27:35), encouraging the others to do the same, saying, “ …you will need it to survive…” (27:34)

 “There are times when one dedicated believer can change the whole atmosphere of a situation simply by trusting God and making that faith visible.^[2]” (Warren Wiersbe)

Through this process, Paul developed such credibility with the centurion and the captain that they actually cut the lifeboat loose (27:32) and saved Paul’s life when the soldiers wanted to kill him and the other prisoners…! (27:43)

God can do for you what He did for Paul. He can not only protect you in your crisis, but He can  use it to prepare, promote, and prosper you if you will do what Paul did!

A crisis around you sets the stage for God’s gifts to manifest through you…! Crises do not make a person, they merely reveal who a person really is!

“The darker the night, the nearer the dawn…” (Vera Brand)

As you reach out to the Lord, He will bring you through whatever night season you are in. He wants to prepare you for what will follow and He wants to position you to move forward in faith into your future through the experience of the Apostle Paul.

When darkness gives way to dawn, what will morning look like?

When Paul crawled up out of the surf following his “Night of Extreme Circumstances,” his “morning” was shaped by five realities…

1.    He had experienced unnecessary loss.

·         This was true with Jonah (merited) and it was true with Paul (unmerited).

·         Once on shore, Paul never looked back…! There isn’t any record that he ever reprimanded the captain or the centurion or ever spoke of their unwise decision again, even though the consequences on his own life had been dramatic and very far-reaching.

·         “Could’ve, would’ve, should’ve … ain’t…!” (Walter Fletcher)

·         Three of the truest measures of your character are those things that you are willing to forgive, forsake, and forget…!

" 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead," (Philippians 3:12-13 NIV)

" 12 I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. 13 Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. 14 I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. " (Philippians 3:12-14 The Message)

You cannot grasp the future while you are holding onto the past…!

Ø      Hold out your hand and Say it aloud with me: “Lord, I choose to let go of my past so I can take hold of my future…”

2.    He was in an unfamiliar place.

We all like familiar places.

The older we get, the more this is true. The more we travel, the more this is true.

Even Paul, who felt compelled by his calling to go to new places, returned periodically to those places he had already been, to those places where he had “connected” in a special way in his church-planting ministry (compare his successive missionary journeys.)

Returning to familiar places is important in order to maintain long-term relationships, but sometimes God deliberately takes us places we have never been before.

God sometimes takes where we have never gone, so He can show us what we have never seen so He can teach us what we have never known so we can become what we have never been in order to do what we have never done.

Malta was not on Paul’s original itinerary. It was not even on his list of places that he longed to visit like Rome or Spain…! (Romans 15:23-24)

Are you somewhere you never thought you would be?

Are you in some segment or season or circumstance of life you thought would be a part of your journey or that you thought should be a part of your journey, that is now gone forever?

-          Have you been displaced by Katrina or some other natural disaster?

-          Have you fled a civil war in your home nation or moved to America hoping for greater prosperity only to find yourself facing unemployment?  

-          Are you a spouse suddenly living in an achingly empty house?

-          Are you a homeowner who cannot pay your mortgage and now must move to another neighborhood? (Last year was the first since WWII when the average American home lost value! Our economy has put many people in an unexpected place.)

-          Are you a student whose parents have moved or who through some other circumstance has been forced to transfer to another school?

Wherever you are, however you got there, God wants to bless you and teach you and use you to bring blessing to others…!

In order for this to happen, you must choose to move from fear to faith. You must shift your focus from your loss in the past to your life in the present. You must life your eyes from your own needs and start looking at the needs of those around you.

Ø      touch your eyes with the tips of your fingers and say aloud with me, “Lord, open my eyes by your spirit and help me to see what you want me to see in my surroundings.”

3.    He had been thrust into an unexpected season.

Paul was a man who understood the value of time.^[i]

"5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity." (Colossians 4:5 NIV)

"5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time." (Colossians 4:5 KJV)

"7 I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits." (1 Corinthians 16:7 NIV)

Time that would have been productive for praying, reflecting, writing, and ministering had they wintered where they should have was lost forever. Now, Paul found himself in an unfamiliar place, lacking the scrolls and parchments he both cherished and needed in order to focus on his work. It looked like an entire season of time had been lost and  his time here on Malta would be wasted.

Because Paul refused to allow bitterness to infiltrate his heart or to develop a critical or jealous spirit, God redeemed his time on Malta in two very important ways:

-          God opened a very fruitful door of ministry for him there.

-          God used that time to give him a testimony that has encouraged, comforted, and inspired many, many others…!

-          You not only overcome persecution  and temptation through “…the word of your testimony…(Rev. 12:11)” but you can also overcome the guilt of the failures of your past by bringing benefit to others through your story…!

Other examples from Paul’s life show how he was able to redeem what others would have considered to be lost or wasted time.

-          He wrote many of his best epistles while in prison.

" 9 Do your best to come to me quickly, 10 for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. 12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments." (2 Timothy 4:9-13 NIV)

-          He preached one of his greatest sermons while he was waiting in Athens.

" 16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there... 19 Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?... "22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you… 34 A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others. " (Acts 17:16-17, 19, 22-23, 34 NIV)

Many times, the “little” thing that you do while you are “waiting” for the “big” thing to happen turns out to be the “big” thing…!

Are you going through some season in life that you did not see coming?

-          A childless woman facing menopause?

-          A hard-working career person facing postponed retirement?

-          A grown child caring for a memory afflicted parent?

-          A single person pushing back the panic that comes with the terrifying thought that you grappling with the sinking feeling that you may always live alone?

What God did for Paul He will do for you…!

Ø      Say with me now, “Lord, give me the grace to walk through this season i am in and help me to use it for your glory.”

4.    He was surrounded by an unknown people.

·         He did not have any friends, Christian brothers and sisters, or even acquaintances to care for him on Malta, unlike some other stops on the journey, i.e., Sidon (27:3) or Puteoli (28:13) or the Forum of Appius near Rome (28:15) or to appreciate his gifts or honor him for his past sacrifices (Note that no specific mention is made of either the captain, the centurion, the soldiers, or the sailors ever thanking Paul…!)

·         His reputation was in tatters (“…when the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, ‘This man must be a murderer; though he has escaped from the sea, Justice has not allowed him to live…’” Acts 28:4)

God used this opportunity to connect Paul with new people.

New relationships rarely feel as comfortable or as valuable as old relationships.

Do not make the common, yet tragic, mistake of allowing your relational loss to rob you of your relational future…!

His new relationships brought new opportunities for ministry and for prosperity.

Ø      Say it out loud with me, “Lord, I commit to you today that I will open my heart and my life to the new relationships you want to bring me in this new place and this new season of my life.”

5.    He was facing unusual opportunities.

·         Unusual witness (both to Maltans and to us…!)

·         Unusual favor (“…islanders showed us unusual kindness…built a fire and welcomed us…”)

·         Unusual miracles (“…Publius, the chief official of the island…father was

·         Unusual provision

“Green park bench testimony in Paris” (Word from God – “I am far too wise and I love you far too much than to meet your needs today through means that tomorrow would hinder you from doing my will!”)

Car story in the 16^th (Following theft of “Ford,” God gave us a “ Volkswagen” – the car I wanted from the beginning…!)

Invitation

1.    Do you need God to help you “make it through the night until morning comes” or to “maximize your Malta moment?”

2.    Do you need to begin a relationship with Jesus Christ? There is no better time to do that than during a “dark night of the soul” or as the morning breaks following a stormy season in your life!

Maybe you have just gone through a divorce or you have just got out of jail or you have just lost a job or you have just started a new career or a new relationship. Right now is the right time to serve the Lord!

---

^[1]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.

^[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 27:21.

---

^[i] "6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly." (Romans 5:6 NIV)

"11 And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed." (Romans 13:11 NIV)

"5 Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God." (1 Corinthians 4:5 NIV)

"29 What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none;" (1 Corinthians 7:29 NIV)

"7 I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits." (1 Corinthians 16:7 NIV)

"4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law," (Galatians 4:4 NIV)

"9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Galatians 6:9 NIV)

"7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ." (Ephesians 1:7-10 NIV)

"5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time." (1 Timothy 2:5-6 NIV)

"13 In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time—God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen." (1 Timothy 6:13-16 NIV)

Paul's Dark Nights of the Soul III (Extreme Circumstances), August 10, 2008

Paul's Dark Night of the Soul III

(The Night of Extreme Circumstances)

Hillcrest Church, Dallas, Texas

Sunday, August 10, 2008

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 Desert of Judah. O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you…3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. 4 I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. 5 … with singing lips my mouth will praise you. 6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. 7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. ..." (Psalm 63:1-8 NIV)

"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, what I call, "dark nights of the soul." (soul vs. spirit)

· 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 Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 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)

(The verb "to keep up one's courage" (euthymeō) 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 instead of Ninevah).

· 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 moment" of unusual favor, unusual miracles, and unusual provision!

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 Babylon off the neck of all the nations within two years.' " At this, the prophet Jeremiah went on his way. 12 Shortly after the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 13 "Go and tell Hananiah, 'This is what the Lord says: You have broken a wooden yoke, but in its place you will get a yoke of iron." (Jeremiah 28:11-13 NIV)

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.