1 00:00:07,810 --> 00:00:10,170 Let me give you an overview of Acts 27. 2 00:00:11,290 --> 00:00:16,090 Paul begins his journey to Rome as a prisoner under the care of 3 00:00:16,090 --> 00:00:20,650 a Roman centurion named Julius Aristarchus. 4 00:00:21,050 --> 00:00:25,730 A brother Christian travels with Paul on the voyage along with 5 00:00:25,730 --> 00:00:29,330 Doctor Luke. So Paul is not alone with 6 00:00:29,330 --> 00:00:32,450 Christian brethren on this vessel, this journey. 7 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:36,920 Julius the centurion shows kindness to Paul by allowing him 8 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:41,480 on the first visit to stop off at Sidon, and there he meets 9 00:00:41,480 --> 00:00:43,240 with some brothers and sisters in the Lord. 10 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:47,760 Then they set off. Strong winds and a difficult 11 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:51,640 sailing conditions slow the journey across the 12 00:00:51,640 --> 00:00:55,800 Mediterranean. A place called Fair Havens on 13 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:59,480 Crete, the island of Crete. Paul warns the crew not to 14 00:00:59,480 --> 00:01:02,240 continue because danger lies ahead. 15 00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:04,640 He says it's difficult time of the year now. 16 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:09,320 We shouldn't sail now. The centurion Julius listens to 17 00:01:09,320 --> 00:01:12,640 the ship's captain instead of Paul and the owner of the ship. 18 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:15,840 And then what happens? They find themselves in a 19 00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:22,560 violent northeast of storm. The ship by the way, is A1 20 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:25,480 sailed vessel just has a square sail. 21 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:30,320 And when they sail at this time, they don't sail by the the 22 00:01:30,320 --> 00:01:34,160 charts and the compass and the settings at this time. 23 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:37,280 They sail in the Mediterranean along the coast. 24 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:41,000 They just go by the coast and then so they stick by the coast. 25 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:45,520 And because they have just this one square sail trying to sail 26 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:48,120 into the wind, it's pretty much impossible. 27 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:55,080 So a violent storm strikes the ship, drives it just haplessly 28 00:01:55,080 --> 00:01:58,600 out to sea. The crew then begins throwing 29 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:03,280 cargo and equipment overboard to try and lighten the ship. 30 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:08,160 They're worried about going aground after many days without 31 00:02:08,160 --> 00:02:11,480 seeing the sun or the stars. That's because it's storm. 32 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:15,360 It's just black rain, torrential rain, darkness. 33 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:16,880 They don't know where they're going. 34 00:02:17,640 --> 00:02:21,520 All hope of survival begins to fall upon those on board the 35 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:25,400 vessel. Then Paul encourages everyone 36 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:29,000 after receiving a message from an Angel on board the vessel, 37 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:34,640 assuring him that poor will indeed stand before Caesar. 38 00:02:34,640 --> 00:02:40,920 He'll get to Rome. The angelic messenger also said 39 00:02:40,920 --> 00:02:45,400 no lives will be lost on the ship, but the ship will be 40 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:47,320 destroyed. It'll be wrecked. 41 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:52,400 And so the storm after that period continues for another 14 42 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:55,480 days before they finally see land. 43 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:59,760 It's it's difficult. Some sailors take it on 44 00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:02,280 themselves to abandoned ship. They're getting out of it. 45 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:04,840 They see things are going to ship's going to run aground. 46 00:03:05,640 --> 00:03:08,680 But Paul warns them that everyone might stay together. 47 00:03:08,920 --> 00:03:11,520 That's what the Angel said. You got to stay on board, 48 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:18,560 otherwise lives will be lost. The ship runs ground the shore 49 00:03:19,280 --> 00:03:25,240 and begins to break up soldiers. Then the Roman soldiers on board 50 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:29,240 plan to kill the prisoners, because under Roman law, if a 51 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:31,880 prisoner escapes while you're on guard, you're the Roman, you 52 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:34,800 die. So they set about to kill all 53 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:38,160 the prisoners to prevent the escaping. 54 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:44,000 Julius the centurion stops that protects Paul and saves everyone 55 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:47,920 else. Then everyone aboard safely 56 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:51,520 reaches shore, just that God promised. 57 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:56,600 So Paul is finally on his way to Rome. 58 00:03:58,200 --> 00:04:01,960 Paul knows this will be his last port of call. 59 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:08,200 Back in the book of Acts chapter 19 verse 21, Paul had said to 60 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:10,440 those in Ephesus, I must see Rome. 61 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:14,800 I must go to Rome. And Paul has known for some time 62 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:17,720 now that the city of Rome is God's plan for him. 63 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:22,680 It's God's will as a prisoner back in Jerusalem when he'd been 64 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:25,800 set free from the Jewish crowd that were trying to kill him. 65 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:30,200 He was placed in the barracks, the Antonia Fortress, which is 66 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:36,720 on the Temple Mount adjacent to the Temple and Acts 2311. 67 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:40,000 You remember an Angel appears to Paul said you've done a great 68 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:43,160 job here in Jerusalem. Now you you need now you need to 69 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:48,800 go and witness for men in Rome. Paul didn't know, however, he 70 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:52,720 was going to go to Rome as a prisoner paid by Rome. 71 00:04:54,840 --> 00:04:57,360 Paul knows, however, this is important. 72 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:02,480 He is completely in God's will and under God's protection. 73 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:05,960 God says Paul, you're going to Rome, God's going to get him to 74 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:07,480 run. Nothing will stop that. 75 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:12,240 Paul, as I said, has two brothers on board the vessel 76 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:15,200 Aristarchus, He's from Thessalonica. 77 00:05:15,680 --> 00:05:18,640 Luke, his faithful companion personal physician. 78 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:24,960 And Paul at this time is a lot like Daniel and Joseph before 79 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:30,600 him, How both Daniel and Joseph gained favour with those with 80 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:37,040 Nebuchadnezzar and Joseph with with the Pharaoh of Egypt gained 81 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:39,040 favour. Paul had gained favour with 82 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:43,240 Julius, the centurion on board the vessel, the one in charge of 83 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:45,040 bringing these prisoners to Rome. 84 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:51,200 Why is Paul going to Rome? Because there he'll preach the 85 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:57,440 Gospel of Christ for two years from AD 60 to 62. 86 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:03,920 And why is Paul going to Rome? The answer is God wants him 87 00:06:03,920 --> 00:06:05,560 there. That's the answer. 88 00:06:05,760 --> 00:06:08,640 You know when a couple looks to get married, You know what? 89 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:12,560 The answer to the question of why do you want to marry this 90 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:14,240 person? There's only one answer. 91 00:06:14,360 --> 00:06:16,520 It's not because he's good looking or he's got plenty of 92 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:17,640 money. I like his car. 93 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:25,480 There's only one correct answer to why you marry another person. 94 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:31,680 Because I believe God has chosen this person. 95 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:34,880 I believe it's God's will. That's the only answer. 96 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:40,280 The question that I have, however, about this passage, and 97 00:06:40,280 --> 00:06:45,040 I hope you have it too, is why does Doctor Luke, the writer of 98 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:50,440 Acts under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, give so much detail 99 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:56,000 in Acts 27 to tell us about this voyage? 100 00:06:56,560 --> 00:07:00,400 Why do we go into all this and the shipwreck? 101 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:04,560 Why does he tell us the, the, the, the great details of where 102 00:07:04,600 --> 00:07:09,760 each port they went to the storms, the sails, the cargo and 103 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:12,040 how many passengers are on board? 104 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:15,440 Couldn't he just given the, the highlights? 105 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:18,920 I, I did that before we open, I gave you the highlights a whole 106 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:24,880 chapter because the Holy Spirit knew exactly why this detail is 107 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:28,720 important for us to know because there's a message in here that 108 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:32,120 God wants you and I to know to show us. 109 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:37,600 One, this small individual, Paul is about 5 foot 25 foot three. 110 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:43,000 He is the servant of God. He's called to be an apostle. 111 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:49,520 He's on a troubled voyage. And Paul is an example for you 112 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:52,240 and I to follow. Paul followed Jesus. 113 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:54,400 We can follow Paul as we follow Jesus. 114 00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:58,000 You see, this is a man of God. Man. 115 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:00,760 You want to know how to be a man of God, look at the apostle 116 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:04,080 Paul. It's not about your physicality. 117 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:10,520 Paul here is courageous, absolutely fearless. 118 00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:16,160 Though not a sailor, Paul was a seasoned traveller. 119 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:22,280 He was small in stature. Yet in this conflict, and I call 120 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:29,720 it a conflict, this this storm, Paul takes command in this life 121 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:32,840 threatening situation. That's what a man of God does. 122 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:39,240 It's a time of real crisis. Everyone thinks they're going to 123 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:42,400 die. How does one survive a 124 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:45,720 shipwreck? How does one survive a 125 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:49,000 calamitous voyage? Good question. 126 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:55,320 How does one survive an event that maybe strikes your family, 127 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:59,760 that brings you, your marriage, yourself, the whole family, all 128 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:08,120 of you to a typhoon power like situation where you are on the 129 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:11,360 brink of survival? I think we're going to, I think 130 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:16,680 this is the end of this. There's 276 passengers on board 131 00:09:16,680 --> 00:09:21,040 this vessel. It's some 45 metres long. 132 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:27,840 It's 10 metres wide with a draught of some 10 metres. 133 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:32,600 It's topsailing speed is about 5 knots. 134 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:36,080 On a good day that's pretty quick. 135 00:09:38,560 --> 00:09:43,160 And it's loaded down to the gunnels with wheat for Rome. 136 00:09:44,640 --> 00:09:47,680 So let's read. And when it was decided that we 137 00:09:47,680 --> 00:09:50,680 should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other 138 00:09:50,680 --> 00:09:54,440 prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan 139 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:58,160 regiment. So entering a ship of and then 140 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:01,840 you can pronounce that we put to sea meaning to sail along the 141 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:04,320 coast of Asia. See, that's how, that's how they 142 00:10:04,680 --> 00:10:06,800 work out where they're going. They they actually track the 143 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:10,880 coast. Aristarchus, the Macedonian of 144 00:10:10,880 --> 00:10:14,000 Thesalonica was with us. Notice the US. 145 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:16,200 This is Luke saying, me and Paul. 146 00:10:17,680 --> 00:10:20,600 And the next day we landed. Sidon and Julius treated Paul 147 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:24,120 kindly, gave him liberty to go to his friends and receive care. 148 00:10:24,320 --> 00:10:26,360 Paul's a prisoner, but he's allowed to have shore leave, 149 00:10:26,680 --> 00:10:28,400 visit with other believers there. 150 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:33,440 Back on the boat, when we were put out to sea from there, we 151 00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:36,000 sailed under the shelter of Cyprus because the winds were 152 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:39,520 contrary going against them. They just got the one square 153 00:10:39,520 --> 00:10:43,520 sail when we had sailed over the sea, which is off Silicia 154 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:48,320 Pamphylia, That's Turkey. We came to Myra, city of Lycia. 155 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:53,680 There the centurion fell, found an Alexandrian ship sailing to 156 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:57,640 Italy, and he put us on board. So they changed vessels when we 157 00:10:57,640 --> 00:11:01,120 had sailed slowly many days, and arrived with difficulty of 158 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:05,000 Nidus, the wind not permitting us to proceed again. 159 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:06,720 They can only go in One Direction. 160 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:11,640 We sailed under the shelter of Crete of Salome Salmone. 161 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:13,920 You can see the map behind me on board. 162 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:16,880 Passing it with difficulty. We came to a place called 163 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:19,280 Fairhavens, near the city of Lycia. 164 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:23,320 Now, when much time and been spent and sailing was now 165 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:27,120 dangerous, Why? Because the farce was already 166 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:30,200 over. Paul advised them, saying men, I 167 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:38,320 perceive that this voyage will end with disaster, much loss not 168 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:41,240 only of the cargo and ship, but also lives. 169 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:45,720 Paul said, hey, we sail on. It's, it's dangerous. 170 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:56,760 Paul, let us remember, is not some unknowing traveller. 171 00:11:57,720 --> 00:12:00,120 Remember he's done 3 missionary journeys. 172 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:03,840 He's travelled at sea. They believe that they tracked 173 00:12:03,840 --> 00:12:08,280 it some 5600 kilometres. He's done sea voyages. 174 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:18,100 That's a fair, fair fairway. In Two Corinthians Chapter 11, 175 00:12:18,100 --> 00:12:22,980 verse 25, Paul tells us of what is experienced as a traveller. 176 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:25,600 Three times I was beaten with rods. 177 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:29,080 Once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked. 178 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:34,640 So Paul, shipwrecked, been there, done that three times. 179 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:37,320 I've, I've had it happen to us once. 180 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:39,560 And that was bad enough. We got rescued at night, 181 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:44,040 shipwrecked, he said. And a night and day. 182 00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:47,160 I've been in the deep. I spent a night and a whole day 183 00:12:47,440 --> 00:12:52,320 floating in the ocean, in journeys, often in perils of 184 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:56,360 waters, in perils of robbers and perils of my own countrymen, 185 00:12:56,640 --> 00:12:59,480 perils of the gentiles and perils of the cities, perils in 186 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:01,800 the wilderness, in perils in the sea. 187 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:05,920 So Paul is a seasoned sea Voyager. 188 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:12,720 Acts 27 would be Paul's 4th shipwreck. 189 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:15,040 I wouldn't be buying tickets with Paul going on a cruise. 190 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:20,400 He had a three legged dog called Lucky. 191 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:29,840 Now Paul says, hey, you got to eat the fast Here. 192 00:13:29,840 --> 00:13:34,000 Paul's referring to is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. 193 00:13:34,920 --> 00:13:39,600 And in this particular year, the year is 59 AD Yom Kippur 194 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:41,280 occurred in the middle of October. 195 00:13:42,520 --> 00:13:46,160 This is significant because ships did not attempt to sail on 196 00:13:46,160 --> 00:13:49,960 the open seas after October around that area of the 197 00:13:49,960 --> 00:13:52,680 Mediterranean and the Adriatic. Why? 198 00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:54,760 It's just too dangerous. It's winter. 199 00:13:56,080 --> 00:13:59,600 Paul is respected enough to be part of the discussions about 200 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:03,560 shall we carry on the decision making process. 201 00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:07,800 And Paul right there and then he gives a warning that if they 202 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:12,080 continue disaster away to them. He says, hey, if we go, it's 203 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:17,800 risky, it's dangerous. Paul was overruled by both the 204 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:21,440 centurion and the captain of the ship and the owner of the ship. 205 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:25,000 Verse 11. Nevertheless, the centurion was 206 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:28,240 more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship then 207 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:31,400 by the things spoken by Paul. And because the harbour was not 208 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:35,280 suitable to winter in the majority, advice to set sail 209 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:37,960 also from there. Also note that the majority, 210 00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:40,280 Here's why church doesn't run on a democracy. 211 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:43,520 Here's why you don't make decisions just based on, well, 212 00:14:43,520 --> 00:14:46,080 everyone else is doing it. Isn't that what kids say to 213 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:48,520 parents? Well, dad, mum, everyone else is 214 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:51,000 going. Everyone else is part of this. 215 00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:54,360 Everyone else is doing this. Democracy doesn't work. 216 00:14:56,560 --> 00:14:59,200 You and I live not under a democracy. 217 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:06,120 We live under a theocracy. We have a king and it's what God 218 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:09,680 says goes. Doesn't matter what we all say, 219 00:15:10,800 --> 00:15:14,040 it's what Jesus says, it's what God says. 220 00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:16,800 And that's the way you got to learn to live your life. 221 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:18,640 Too many people go, well, what do you reckon? 222 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:21,240 You know people often, and I did that as a young Christian. 223 00:15:21,240 --> 00:15:24,240 I would go to church, then to certain decisions I go, what do 224 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:25,200 you think I should do about this? 225 00:15:25,200 --> 00:15:26,400 What do you think I should do about this? 226 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:33,200 And everyone loves to be a counsellor, but what God wanted 227 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:36,720 to teach me, he says don't start asking everyone else what they 228 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:39,680 should do about asking me what I think you should do. 229 00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:49,400 Expert advice they went by. They didn't go by God's advice 230 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:54,000 through Paul majority rule I've found is usually wrong. 231 00:15:55,520 --> 00:16:00,000 It's now hurricane season and this is what they found 232 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:03,120 themselves in. Let's read on. 233 00:16:06,960 --> 00:16:11,400 When do I get to verse 9/10/11? Nevertheless, it's about 12 now 234 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:13,800 because the harbour was not suitable to winter in the 235 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:15,360 majority. Advice to sit sail. 236 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:18,600 Verse 13 when the South wind blew softly. 237 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:21,800 Aha, oh look, it's lovely calm day. 238 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:26,640 Anyone who knows the ocean knows it can change in a matter of 239 00:16:26,640 --> 00:16:29,680 minutes. Supposing that they had obtained 240 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:33,120 their desire putting out sea, they sailed close by Creek, but 241 00:16:33,120 --> 00:16:37,240 not long after a tempestuous headwind arose called 242 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:40,720 Euroclydon. So a wind, one square sail 243 00:16:40,840 --> 00:16:43,960 starts blowing against them. Euroclydon. 244 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:47,600 It's given a name by the sailors because they believe these 245 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:51,800 storms in this area are sent from Zeus from his mountaintop. 246 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:56,280 They call it a Euroclydon. We would call it a hurricane. 247 00:16:57,760 --> 00:17:00,680 So when the ship was caught and could not head into the wind 248 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:03,680 notes, we let her drive. We let her drive. 249 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:07,319 What else are they going to do? No, no other option. 250 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:11,079 And running under the shelter of an island called Clauda, we 251 00:17:11,119 --> 00:17:12,920 secured the skiff with difficulty. 252 00:17:13,280 --> 00:17:22,079 Now behind the ship they have a Whaler A1 lifeboat and they 253 00:17:22,200 --> 00:17:26,760 they've got it tied up tracking behind them when they take it on 254 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:28,560 board. So they lifted on board because 255 00:17:28,560 --> 00:17:31,560 they don't want it to bang into their boat to poke a hole in 256 00:17:31,560 --> 00:17:36,160 their boat during the storm. And they use cables to undergird 257 00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:38,520 the ship. That's called frapping, not 258 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:42,080 fracking and as in mining, but it's called frapping. 259 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:46,320 So they actually put cables around the actual hull of the 260 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:53,200 ship to hold it during the buffening of the waves, fearing 261 00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:55,320 they should run aground on Serta sands. 262 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:59,960 That's the sands that would the shallow waters of Africa. 263 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:03,920 So they struck sail and were driven and because we were 264 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:08,920 exceedingly Tempest tossed the next day they light the ship. 265 00:18:09,080 --> 00:18:15,160 So they start throwing cargo and and and useless things overboard 266 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:18,920 because they want to keep the ship higher in the water so they 267 00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:23,160 don't bang into a sandbank. On the third day, we threw the 268 00:18:23,160 --> 00:18:26,000 ship's tackle overboard with our own hands. 269 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:30,720 Now, when neither the sun nor stars appeared for many days, no 270 00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:34,440 small Tempest beat on us. All hope that we should be saved 271 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:37,360 was finally given up. They said we're we're going to 272 00:18:37,360 --> 00:18:41,080 die. This was Gilligan's 3 hour tour, 273 00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:45,480 but after long abstinence from food. 274 00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:47,960 Then Paul stood in the midst of them, said men, you should have 275 00:18:48,120 --> 00:18:51,320 listened to me and not have sailed from Crete and incurred 276 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:54,760 the disaster and loss. And now he says, I urge you, 277 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:58,720 take heart, he's got something important to say. 278 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:03,280 For there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the 279 00:19:03,280 --> 00:19:06,320 ship. The ship is done for, but will 280 00:19:06,320 --> 00:19:09,760 be saved. For there stood by me this 281 00:19:09,760 --> 00:19:12,760 night. Do you think Paul had been 282 00:19:12,760 --> 00:19:19,040 praying an Angel of the of of the God to whom I belong, whom I 283 00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:26,160 serve, saying, Do not be afraid, Paul, you must be brought before 284 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:31,240 Caesar, and indeed God has granted you all those who sail 285 00:19:31,240 --> 00:19:34,920 with you. Therefore take heart, man, for I 286 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:39,480 believe God that it will be just as it was told me. 287 00:19:40,120 --> 00:19:49,320 However, we must run aground on a certain island, down to verse 288 00:19:49,320 --> 00:19:52,680 39 it says. And when it was day they did not 289 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:57,440 recognise the land, but they observed a Bay with a beach on 290 00:19:57,440 --> 00:20:00,400 to which they plan to run the ship if possible. 291 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:05,000 And they let go the anchors and left them in the sea, meanwhile 292 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:08,960 losing the rudder ropes. They hoisted the main sail to 293 00:20:08,960 --> 00:20:12,640 the wind and made for sure. At the height of this struggle, 294 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:17,960 in the midst of this violent, powerful storm at sea, after 14 295 00:20:17,960 --> 00:20:23,240 nights in the Adriatic Sea, the crew in desperation dropped 4 296 00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:24,840 anchors. I forgot what this is for. 297 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:36,840 This is my magic act. They dropped 4 anchors to try 298 00:20:36,840 --> 00:20:43,040 and haul the ship from slamming into the shore. 299 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:47,320 So they got four of these tracking out the back being 300 00:20:47,320 --> 00:20:50,920 dragged and they prayed for daylight as their ship was 301 00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:54,720 heading to destruction. In the book of Hebrews we have 302 00:20:54,720 --> 00:21:00,400 told as believers of our anchor, our hope and storms. 303 00:21:01,360 --> 00:21:06,000 Hebrews 617 says thus God determined to show more 304 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:11,320 abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of his 305 00:21:11,320 --> 00:21:14,600 counsel, confirmed it by an oath. 306 00:21:15,240 --> 00:21:19,480 In other words, what I say you can believe it's going to happen 307 00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:25,920 that by two immutable things in which it is impossible, one, for 308 00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:28,360 God to lie. God can't lie, it's impossible. 309 00:21:28,920 --> 00:21:33,680 We might have strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay 310 00:21:33,680 --> 00:21:40,240 hold of the hopes set before us. This hope we have as an anchor, 311 00:21:41,160 --> 00:21:45,720 the Bible says, talked about an anchor, an anchor of the soul. 312 00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:51,560 It's sure, it's steadfast and which enters the presence behind 313 00:21:51,560 --> 00:21:56,080 the veil where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus 314 00:21:56,800 --> 00:22:00,120 having become high priest forever according to the order 315 00:22:00,120 --> 00:22:02,840 of Melchizedek. You said, Keith, what are you 316 00:22:02,840 --> 00:22:06,680 talking about? The Bible tells us we have 317 00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:12,560 wonderful hope and security when we face storms, the storms of 318 00:22:12,560 --> 00:22:19,120 life that seek to shipwreck us, slam us, drown us, kill us and 319 00:22:19,120 --> 00:22:24,320 our family. Our blessed hope, our anchor is 320 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:32,400 not a man made instrument. Our anchor is Christ and God's 321 00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:36,840 promises, His word. In the previous verse to this, 322 00:22:37,120 --> 00:22:41,720 the writer of Hebrews leading on to talking about the anchor is 323 00:22:41,720 --> 00:22:49,040 Speaking of Abraham, who was given a promise by God, and God 324 00:22:49,560 --> 00:22:53,200 swearing by himself on his own name. 325 00:22:53,440 --> 00:22:57,760 He says, Abraham, I'll fulfil this promise, he says in verse 326 00:22:57,760 --> 00:23:01,720 13 in Hebrews 6. For when God made a promise to 327 00:23:01,720 --> 00:23:05,760 Abraham, because he could swear by no one greater God, he he 328 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:13,360 swore by himself, saying, surely blessing I will bless you, and 329 00:23:13,360 --> 00:23:18,640 multiplying I will multiply you. I guarantee these things. 330 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:24,160 It goes on to tell us that Abraham waited patiently and he 331 00:23:24,160 --> 00:23:28,320 received what God had promised in verse 15 of Hebrews 6. 332 00:23:28,640 --> 00:23:33,960 And so after Abraham had patiently endured, he obtained 333 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:35,960 the promise. What is this? 334 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:39,360 Give us more context, Keith. I'm still a bit misty here. 335 00:23:40,080 --> 00:23:45,800 The promise was given to Abraham back in Genesis chapter 2217. 336 00:23:46,160 --> 00:23:48,880 Most of you would know what happens in Genesis 22. 337 00:23:49,160 --> 00:23:55,120 It's about Abraham offering up Isaac, the very thing that 338 00:23:55,120 --> 00:23:56,960 Abraham thought would never happen. 339 00:23:56,960 --> 00:23:58,480 God said, you know that son I gave you. 340 00:23:58,800 --> 00:24:01,680 You know the seed I want you to sacrifice. 341 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:10,520 And Abraham, it says back and just got up immediately the next 342 00:24:10,520 --> 00:24:18,160 morning and headed off. He and Isaac to Mount Moriah 343 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:27,080 there built the altar. Isaac willingly laid down on the 344 00:24:27,080 --> 00:24:29,360 altar. Dad tied him up. 345 00:24:29,920 --> 00:24:32,160 Abraham lifted the knife. You know what happened? 346 00:24:32,560 --> 00:24:36,960 He was about to plunge it into Isaac and God says stop Abraham 347 00:24:37,880 --> 00:24:39,400 and there was a ram caught in a thicket. 348 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:43,200 They took the ram. God will offer himself as a 349 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:46,600 sacrifice. They killed the ram and they 350 00:24:46,600 --> 00:24:52,920 left beautiful picture of Jesus being offered by God the Father. 351 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:58,240 But this time God the Father said his son can die Abraham and 352 00:24:58,240 --> 00:25:02,080 tells us in Hebrews went ahead with this not because it was a 353 00:25:03,040 --> 00:25:06,680 terrible thing to do, but because he believed that the 354 00:25:06,680 --> 00:25:10,040 promise of God through Isaac because he said through Isaac 355 00:25:10,040 --> 00:25:14,800 will come the blessing. In Hebrews 11 it said that 356 00:25:15,000 --> 00:25:20,040 Abraham knew that if he killed Isaac, Isaac would be brought 357 00:25:20,040 --> 00:25:23,960 back from the dead. Beautiful picture of Jesus 358 00:25:23,960 --> 00:25:28,320 Christ. But this is what's behind the 359 00:25:28,360 --> 00:25:32,360 anchor of hope. It has meaning, it has power. 360 00:25:32,880 --> 00:25:42,040 It's not just some hearsay. And Abraham endured and then he 361 00:25:42,040 --> 00:25:47,640 received the promise. When God said to Abraham thought 362 00:25:48,280 --> 00:25:53,840 I know that you love me. It's interesting back Abraham 363 00:25:53,840 --> 00:25:56,920 endured the greatest test in his life at that time and what 364 00:25:56,920 --> 00:26:00,600 happened? He obtained the promise, the 365 00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:04,560 greatest promise. You see, all the blessings were 366 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:06,120 promised to Abraham. Why? 367 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:10,000 Because Abraham obeyed God's voice. 368 00:26:10,480 --> 00:26:16,760 Genesis 2218 says that in your seed, Isaac, all the nations of 369 00:26:16,760 --> 00:26:21,480 the earth shall be blessed, leading on to Jesus. 370 00:26:22,080 --> 00:26:25,600 Because you have obeyed my voice. 371 00:26:27,120 --> 00:26:29,240 You know, sometimes people come to church and go. 372 00:26:29,240 --> 00:26:32,080 I don't know why there's no blessings. 373 00:26:32,840 --> 00:26:36,400 Well, God wants us to have an examination of our hearts that 374 00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:38,840 go well. Are we living a life that's 375 00:26:38,840 --> 00:26:41,160 obedient? Because if you're not living a 376 00:26:41,160 --> 00:26:45,760 life that is obeying God, then the blessings of God won't flow 377 00:26:45,760 --> 00:26:49,600 onto you. There are times in my life when, 378 00:26:49,720 --> 00:26:54,520 when things happen to me and God is trying to get me stirred up, 379 00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:56,560 storms hit me. You know what happens when the 380 00:26:56,560 --> 00:26:59,320 storm hits the beach? It stirs up everything and 381 00:26:59,600 --> 00:27:02,480 calves away the sand and things like that. 382 00:27:02,680 --> 00:27:06,840 And things begin to break and, and, and, and, and things that I 383 00:27:06,840 --> 00:27:11,560 trusted on fall apart. God is saying, have a look at 384 00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:16,120 yourself. You're expecting blessing, but 385 00:27:16,120 --> 00:27:20,840 you need obedience through obedience, blessing flows. 386 00:27:21,760 --> 00:27:26,880 The obedience belongs to God. First of all, obedience to God 387 00:27:26,880 --> 00:27:29,040 results in his rich blessings to us. 388 00:27:30,800 --> 00:27:35,640 By the way, back in Genesis 22, because you have obeyed my 389 00:27:35,640 --> 00:27:39,200 voice. It's the first occurrence in the 390 00:27:39,200 --> 00:27:43,400 Bible of the Word. Obey first time. 391 00:27:46,680 --> 00:27:53,760 So few people today have or live in any real hope, true, tangible 392 00:27:53,760 --> 00:27:57,840 hope. Paul says in One Thessalonians 393 00:27:57,840 --> 00:28:00,840 413. I do not want you to be 394 00:28:00,840 --> 00:28:03,800 ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep. 395 00:28:04,040 --> 00:28:07,080 That's Christians who have died. What's happened to them? 396 00:28:07,840 --> 00:28:11,400 Let's choose sorrow as others who have no hope. 397 00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:15,120 Let's choose sorrow as those who aren't believers. 398 00:28:16,240 --> 00:28:18,800 We still have a term. Back when I was a kid, it's an 399 00:28:18,800 --> 00:28:22,680 Australian term, people would say he's a no hopper. 400 00:28:23,480 --> 00:28:28,040 They're a no hopper. Well, the world without Christ 401 00:28:29,320 --> 00:28:34,000 have no hope. I was a no hopper until I found 402 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:39,520 Christ, but now I have hope. The sailors on board this vessel 403 00:28:39,520 --> 00:28:43,560 with Paul in fear for their lives, looking for hope, trying 404 00:28:43,560 --> 00:28:48,400 to find hope. Drop 4 sea anchors trying to get 405 00:28:48,400 --> 00:28:51,640 hope. I'm going to give you 3 points 406 00:28:51,880 --> 00:28:58,560 to wrap this Acts 27. You see, for you and I to 407 00:28:58,560 --> 00:29:05,160 survive a typhoon, a hurricane, a shipwreck, to save your family 408 00:29:05,160 --> 00:29:11,200 from sinking, man made sinkers of hope will not save you from 409 00:29:11,200 --> 00:29:15,040 destruction. The things that you rely on from 410 00:29:15,040 --> 00:29:22,280 the world won't get you there. One surviving, surviving is 411 00:29:22,280 --> 00:29:25,000 having the assurance of God's presence. 412 00:29:25,600 --> 00:29:29,160 God's presence. How do you and you and I 413 00:29:29,160 --> 00:29:31,560 survive? We're in the middle of a 414 00:29:31,560 --> 00:29:36,320 typhoon. Our hope, our anchor is Christ. 415 00:29:36,960 --> 00:29:38,960 He is the anchor. What for? 416 00:29:39,200 --> 00:29:43,440 For our soul. In the early church, by the way, 417 00:29:43,760 --> 00:29:50,280 the symbol of the Sanka was used as a sign of hope and security 418 00:29:50,280 --> 00:29:53,480 in Christ. The anchor is one of the oldest 419 00:29:53,480 --> 00:29:58,040 and most common Christian symbols found in the Roman 420 00:29:58,040 --> 00:30:04,320 catacombs during the period 2nd and 4th centuries, and they 421 00:30:04,320 --> 00:30:07,320 symbolise unwavering hope in Christ. 422 00:30:07,320 --> 00:30:11,000 He's our anchor. It's symbolise salvation and the 423 00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:17,040 soul secure arrival at port. Port being heaven, they are 424 00:30:17,040 --> 00:30:19,840 often disguised to avoid persecution. 425 00:30:20,720 --> 00:30:24,600 The symbol of the anchor served as a hidden cross shape and 426 00:30:24,600 --> 00:30:27,600 frequently marked early Christian terms. 427 00:30:30,520 --> 00:30:34,800 One Timothy 11 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the 428 00:30:34,800 --> 00:30:39,280 commandment of God our Saviour and Lord Jesus Christ, who is 429 00:30:39,280 --> 00:30:42,000 our hope. You see the hope that you want 430 00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:45,280 to cling to the anchor you want for your family, for your 431 00:30:45,280 --> 00:30:48,800 marriage, for your children, for your own individual life and 432 00:30:48,800 --> 00:30:54,640 walk with God is Christ. But this anchor to our soul is, 433 00:30:54,920 --> 00:30:57,600 is far different from a sea anchor for a vessel. 434 00:30:58,920 --> 00:31:00,880 See anchor. You pull up, you throw the 435 00:31:00,880 --> 00:31:03,280 anchor over and it goes down to the bottom of the ocean. 436 00:31:04,040 --> 00:31:07,400 We're anchored upward. Where is our anchor? 437 00:31:07,560 --> 00:31:09,720 He's seated at the right hand of the Father. 438 00:31:09,880 --> 00:31:13,520 The Bible tells us where he is interceding for us. 439 00:31:13,600 --> 00:31:17,440 We're connected this way. We're anchored. 440 00:31:17,720 --> 00:31:21,960 However, an anchor on a boat makes it stand still. 441 00:31:22,440 --> 00:31:26,680 Our anchor is not to have us stand still to stop us. 442 00:31:27,600 --> 00:31:37,000 No, our anchor is to secure us. It's to protect us so that we 443 00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:42,680 can continue on in the storm. We can continue on and live 444 00:31:42,680 --> 00:31:48,600 victorious because we have this secure hold upon our lives. 445 00:31:48,840 --> 00:31:53,800 It cannot be broken. We live victoriously in the will 446 00:31:53,800 --> 00:31:57,440 of God when facing massive storms in our lives. 447 00:31:57,960 --> 00:32:03,240 Our anchor all by also is is sure ever been in a boat. 448 00:32:03,240 --> 00:32:05,200 They drop the anchor and you just keep drifting. 449 00:32:05,200 --> 00:32:06,840 It just keeps pulling. It can't connect. 450 00:32:08,440 --> 00:32:13,360 Our anchor cannot break. Our anchor is steadfast. 451 00:32:13,480 --> 00:32:20,040 It cannot slip. In Acts 2722 to 26, the Lord 452 00:32:20,040 --> 00:32:23,880 assured Paul that he and all the other passengers in the ship 453 00:32:23,880 --> 00:32:29,240 would be safe and survive even though the boat going to be 454 00:32:29,240 --> 00:32:34,520 wrecked. Do not be afraid Paul. 455 00:32:35,480 --> 00:32:37,040 You must be bought before Caesar. 456 00:32:37,040 --> 00:32:39,600 Indeed, God has granted you all those who sail with you. 457 00:32:40,040 --> 00:32:42,280 There'll be no loss of life among you. 458 00:32:43,320 --> 00:32:50,120 Paul told the rest of the passengers to take heart, to 459 00:32:50,120 --> 00:32:51,800 celebrate. Celebrate. 460 00:32:51,800 --> 00:32:55,800 They're in the middle of a storm like they had, as if they had 461 00:32:55,800 --> 00:33:00,680 already been rescued because the Lord in fact had saved them. 462 00:33:01,160 --> 00:33:04,240 Paul's talking past tense. Do you know that's what we talk 463 00:33:05,040 --> 00:33:08,640 when we talk about the things of the gods promises in our life? 464 00:33:08,800 --> 00:33:10,840 They're all past tense. We have them now. 465 00:33:11,400 --> 00:33:12,400 They're not. Oh, when? 466 00:33:12,400 --> 00:33:16,000 When's that going to happen? In verse 25? 467 00:33:17,400 --> 00:33:21,160 Therefore, take heart man, for I believe God that it will be just 468 00:33:21,160 --> 00:33:26,200 as he told me. However, we must run aground on 469 00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:28,440 a certain island. You know the rapture is going to 470 00:33:28,440 --> 00:33:30,120 happen. Why? 471 00:33:30,800 --> 00:33:32,760 Why do we believe that? Why do we teach that? 472 00:33:33,200 --> 00:33:37,120 Because A it's in the Bible. B God said it's going to happen. 473 00:33:37,280 --> 00:33:40,440 John 14. Let not your heart be troubled. 474 00:33:41,040 --> 00:33:44,680 You believe in God, believe also in me, in my Father's house, on 475 00:33:44,680 --> 00:33:47,200 many mansions. If it were not so, I would have 476 00:33:47,200 --> 00:33:50,440 told you, I go what? To prepare a place for you. 477 00:33:50,560 --> 00:33:54,440 Why that where I am, there you may be also. 478 00:33:54,720 --> 00:33:59,360 Do you believe that? You know I believe it, God said 479 00:33:59,360 --> 00:34:04,240 it and God's word is done. It's happening. 480 00:34:06,000 --> 00:34:11,120 Picture yourself now, after Paul has given you that message. 481 00:34:11,639 --> 00:34:16,480 There's 276 passengers. But now, because what Paul says, 482 00:34:17,239 --> 00:34:22,159 knowing that at the end of the storm, the shipwreck, yeah, the 483 00:34:22,159 --> 00:34:24,480 boat's going to break up, but we're going to be saved. 484 00:34:26,120 --> 00:34:28,360 How would you behave differently to the others? 485 00:34:31,280 --> 00:34:36,800 Yes, you'd still be wet, still cold, still weary no less, but 486 00:34:36,880 --> 00:34:40,520 anxiety would have no effect on your outlook. 487 00:34:40,679 --> 00:34:45,199 That's called Christianity. Because we live now. 488 00:34:45,440 --> 00:34:48,719 We know we're not children of the dark, we're children of the 489 00:34:48,719 --> 00:34:50,600 light. We know what's going to happen. 490 00:34:50,600 --> 00:34:52,960 I know what happens the moment I die. 491 00:34:53,679 --> 00:34:57,200 I know when my nephew was buried and I buried my brother just 492 00:34:57,480 --> 00:35:01,080 this last month. I know exactly where they were 493 00:35:01,080 --> 00:35:04,320 the moment their spirit left their their body. 494 00:35:05,360 --> 00:35:08,800 Why? Because 1 Corinthians 15 tells 495 00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:14,160 me this body translated in the twinkling of an eye. 496 00:35:14,960 --> 00:35:16,040 It can't. It can't. 497 00:35:16,760 --> 00:35:20,120 Our body can't go. This mortal body can't be 498 00:35:20,120 --> 00:35:21,960 immortal. It's got to be changed. 499 00:35:24,480 --> 00:35:29,640 And so it is with circumstances that you and I face today. 500 00:35:30,200 --> 00:35:34,640 Yes, we will have struggles. Yes, we will face difficulties, 501 00:35:35,080 --> 00:35:41,600 but God by His Holy Spirit is with us and in US. 502 00:35:41,600 --> 00:35:45,680 That's what Jesus ascended. I go, but I'm sending you 503 00:35:45,680 --> 00:35:48,080 another, another comforter just like me. 504 00:35:49,880 --> 00:35:54,320 He has promised to save us. For God so loved the world that 505 00:35:54,320 --> 00:35:58,080 he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him 506 00:35:58,280 --> 00:36:05,000 should not What perish, but what have everlasting life is that? 507 00:36:05,000 --> 00:36:06,920 When does that happen? I have it now. 508 00:36:09,600 --> 00:36:14,120 You see, I'm in the storm. I'm living in this world, but 509 00:36:14,120 --> 00:36:17,480 I'm not anxious about it. I don't care what Trump does. 510 00:36:18,440 --> 00:36:28,080 Putin does. Starmer's gone LB mate. 511 00:36:31,880 --> 00:36:35,560 God has promised to save all who trust in Him. 512 00:36:36,920 --> 00:36:40,560 Every cruise, every journey in life, even shipwrecks and storms 513 00:36:40,800 --> 00:36:45,120 will be used for our good. Our first spiritual anchor is 514 00:36:45,120 --> 00:36:48,680 hope. Our second practical 515 00:36:48,680 --> 00:36:54,360 encouragement verse 33 to 38 all the day was about to dawn. 516 00:36:54,360 --> 00:36:56,360 Paul implaud them all to take food. 517 00:36:56,360 --> 00:36:58,120 Today's the 14th day you got to eat. 518 00:36:58,440 --> 00:37:03,400 I urge you to take nourishment. Verse 34 because not a hair will 519 00:37:03,400 --> 00:37:04,960 fall from your hair of any of you. 520 00:37:04,960 --> 00:37:08,200 And when he had given these things, he took bread. 521 00:37:08,400 --> 00:37:10,920 He gave thanks to God on the presence of them all. 522 00:37:10,920 --> 00:37:16,240 Notice he we told this, God said grace is there breaking breath. 523 00:37:16,480 --> 00:37:18,640 Everybody just going to pray. You know what? 524 00:37:18,840 --> 00:37:20,320 No, I'm not. I'm praying. 525 00:37:20,320 --> 00:37:22,400 Not. I'm praying. 526 00:37:22,720 --> 00:37:26,680 Yeah, I'm with you, Paul. And when he had broken it, he 527 00:37:26,680 --> 00:37:29,200 began to eat. They were all noticed that they 528 00:37:29,200 --> 00:37:33,280 were all encouraged. Also took food themselves. 529 00:37:33,680 --> 00:37:36,520 And in all were 276 persons on the ship. 530 00:37:36,760 --> 00:37:38,880 So when they'd eaten enough, they'd lighten the ship 531 00:37:38,880 --> 00:37:41,080 throughout the wheat into the ocean. 532 00:37:41,160 --> 00:37:45,600 Over goes the cargo. After many difficult days at 533 00:37:45,600 --> 00:37:47,000 sea, the crew and the passengers. 534 00:37:47,000 --> 00:37:52,000 However, something happened. When it was day. 535 00:37:52,000 --> 00:37:55,680 They did not recognise the land. They let go of the anchors. 536 00:37:55,680 --> 00:37:58,200 Verse 40. They hoisted the mainsail. 537 00:37:58,920 --> 00:38:02,960 They struck, striking a place, verse 41 where two seas met. 538 00:38:02,960 --> 00:38:07,280 They ran the ship aground. The bow, stuck fast, remained 539 00:38:07,280 --> 00:38:09,280 unmovable. The storm was broken by the 540 00:38:09,280 --> 00:38:12,240 violence of the waves. The soldiers plan was to kill 541 00:38:12,240 --> 00:38:15,280 the prisoners lest any of them should swim away and escape. 542 00:38:15,600 --> 00:38:19,480 But the centurion, wanting to save them, kept them saved. 543 00:38:19,480 --> 00:38:22,640 Paul kept them from their purpose and commanded that those 544 00:38:22,640 --> 00:38:26,320 who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land 545 00:38:26,600 --> 00:38:28,800 and the rest. And I want to tell you now, This 546 00:38:28,800 --> 00:38:34,280 is why surfing is very godly. Well, we have surfboard in the 547 00:38:34,280 --> 00:38:38,800 church here and the rest, some on boards, surfing is first 548 00:38:38,800 --> 00:38:42,880 mentioned, some on parts of the ship and so it was they all 549 00:38:42,880 --> 00:38:48,280 escaped safely to land. Paul said hey, unless the guys 550 00:38:48,280 --> 00:38:52,080 stay on the ship, can't be saved because some of the crew, it's 551 00:38:52,080 --> 00:38:53,800 how quick they forget the promises. 552 00:38:54,600 --> 00:38:56,640 You and I do the same. God makes us a promise. 553 00:38:56,720 --> 00:38:59,280 Three weeks time we start anxious and we get worried. 554 00:38:59,400 --> 00:39:02,040 We start doing things ourselves again, don't we? 555 00:39:03,720 --> 00:39:06,880 Yes we do. We lose patience with God. 556 00:39:07,040 --> 00:39:10,120 We want God to fix it now. God says I'll fix it at the 557 00:39:10,120 --> 00:39:14,560 right time. And they forgot the promises 558 00:39:15,360 --> 00:39:19,680 went to save themselves. God has scores of promises just 559 00:39:19,680 --> 00:39:24,360 like he made with Abraham, of his comfort and care for us in 560 00:39:24,360 --> 00:39:26,440 desperate time. But here's what happens. 561 00:39:26,840 --> 00:39:32,400 But his promises only benefit us if we believe them. 562 00:39:33,920 --> 00:39:35,880 Do you believe God's promises? Really? 563 00:39:40,120 --> 00:39:42,400 Paul says. I urge you to take nourishment. 564 00:39:43,720 --> 00:39:45,520 No hair of your head will be damaged. 565 00:39:46,000 --> 00:39:51,400 Took bread, gave thanks in the presence of them in the storm, 566 00:39:51,920 --> 00:39:54,560 storm still raging, Paul broke the bread. 567 00:39:54,560 --> 00:39:57,880 Gave thanks to the Lord. Paul once again assured them, 568 00:39:58,120 --> 00:40:02,120 God will save you. You need nourishment for what 569 00:40:02,120 --> 00:40:04,920 lays ahead. Paul's encouragement was 570 00:40:04,920 --> 00:40:07,080 physical. Practical. 571 00:40:07,440 --> 00:40:12,240 Words were fine two weeks earlier because that's how much 572 00:40:12,240 --> 00:40:14,440 time has passed since Paul first told them. 573 00:40:15,080 --> 00:40:19,720 But actions made the promises of God concrete. 574 00:40:20,520 --> 00:40:25,400 You see, Paul's calm demeanour, his prayer over the food he's 575 00:40:25,400 --> 00:40:31,080 giving thanks to God, reflected his hope and faith that soon 576 00:40:31,080 --> 00:40:35,360 they'll be safe and on dry land. That made a big difference. 577 00:40:36,400 --> 00:40:38,600 What kind of effect do you have on others? 578 00:40:40,160 --> 00:40:41,520 Oh, no, you know what's happened? 579 00:40:41,840 --> 00:40:43,880 Oh, we prayed and you know what's happened? 580 00:40:44,320 --> 00:40:46,640 Oh, here we go. Look, they're coming here. 581 00:40:46,640 --> 00:40:48,000 We're going to hear about it again. 582 00:40:49,440 --> 00:40:51,120 What kind of effect? Dad? 583 00:40:52,920 --> 00:40:56,520 Mum. In your home, in your family, 584 00:40:56,520 --> 00:40:59,680 when things go awry, what kind of effect do you have? 585 00:41:00,000 --> 00:41:03,960 Do you have a calming effect through the word of God, through 586 00:41:03,960 --> 00:41:06,320 prayer? Because that's your job. 587 00:41:06,600 --> 00:41:11,080 That's your responsibility. When you enter a room, do you 588 00:41:11,080 --> 00:41:14,400 bring a cloud of gloom with you? You know, like in the Peanuts 589 00:41:14,800 --> 00:41:18,200 cartoon when the kid walks around and he's got the cloud 590 00:41:18,200 --> 00:41:22,280 all everywhere he comes. And oh, you ever come across 591 00:41:22,280 --> 00:41:24,640 people like that? I avoid them. 592 00:41:24,760 --> 00:41:26,440 Oh, oh, here we go. Yeah. 593 00:41:26,600 --> 00:41:28,640 I'm feeling terrible now. Yeah, so am I. 594 00:41:28,640 --> 00:41:32,040 I feel terrible, too, you know, Things are going. 595 00:41:32,120 --> 00:41:33,400 Yeah, I know. They're getting worse, aren't 596 00:41:33,400 --> 00:41:33,840 they? Yes. 597 00:41:36,000 --> 00:41:40,200 Well, with me. Or do you bring calm Christians 598 00:41:40,200 --> 00:41:41,640 are to go out in the world or what? 599 00:41:41,880 --> 00:41:48,440 Bring hope, calm, cheeriness, a smile. 600 00:41:48,440 --> 00:41:51,360 Paul says, hey, be glad they're in the storm. 601 00:41:51,360 --> 00:41:53,720 He's breaking bread. They haven't got there yet. 602 00:41:53,800 --> 00:41:56,200 He's saying be glad God's got it all sorted. 603 00:41:58,080 --> 00:42:00,800 You see, hope, practical encouragement, and our last 604 00:42:00,800 --> 00:42:03,200 spiritual anchor is absolute faith. 605 00:42:05,360 --> 00:42:09,440 All through this oceanic turmoil, Paul demonstrated a 606 00:42:09,440 --> 00:42:13,760 calm, assured belief in the promises God had given him. 607 00:42:13,960 --> 00:42:17,760 Oh how good that is how I've learnt that in my life over the 608 00:42:17,760 --> 00:42:20,480 years. Now you know, God's got sorted. 609 00:42:21,120 --> 00:42:23,720 I used to panic, used to start praying. 610 00:42:23,720 --> 00:42:27,920 Oh, praying, Oh Lord. Pray, pray, praying, Lord, now 611 00:42:28,560 --> 00:42:33,000 God says it, let's, let's believe it, let him do it. 612 00:42:35,120 --> 00:42:41,440 Paul's faith became contagious. The soldiers were going to kill 613 00:42:41,440 --> 00:42:46,560 the prisoners, but the centurion, wanting to save Paul, 614 00:42:46,560 --> 00:42:50,520 he kept them from their purpose, commanded that those who could 615 00:42:50,520 --> 00:42:54,280 swim jump, and all the others made their way to the shore. 616 00:42:56,320 --> 00:43:01,800 Five to six months have passed since they first set out for 617 00:43:01,800 --> 00:43:03,320 Italy. This is not just a couple of 618 00:43:03,320 --> 00:43:07,800 weeks on board. Six months they've been at sea. 619 00:43:12,760 --> 00:43:16,600 They left Caesarea in August, shipwrecked in November. 620 00:43:16,600 --> 00:43:19,840 They're still not in Italy. They'll get there in in March. 621 00:43:21,160 --> 00:43:26,120 Julius, because of Paul's impact upon him, stepped in, saved the 622 00:43:26,120 --> 00:43:30,240 prisoners from being killed. He wanted to preserve Paul's 623 00:43:30,240 --> 00:43:33,120 life. And the centurion made these 624 00:43:33,120 --> 00:43:34,880 decisions with confidence. Why? 625 00:43:35,040 --> 00:43:38,760 Because Paul said everyone's going to be saved or will live. 626 00:43:41,280 --> 00:43:44,160 How do you deal with storms when they strike you or your family? 627 00:43:47,840 --> 00:43:49,720 How would you survive a shipwreck? 628 00:43:51,480 --> 00:43:55,520 Perhaps a shipwreck threatening your faith or the faith of your 629 00:43:55,520 --> 00:43:58,840 children? Paul writes in One Timothy 118 630 00:43:58,840 --> 00:44:02,920 about some who've rejected the faith and says notice how he 631 00:44:02,920 --> 00:44:06,960 says this concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck. 632 00:44:07,600 --> 00:44:13,840 He uses that term when healthy personal faith and good 633 00:44:13,840 --> 00:44:17,440 conscience are shaky or even repelled. 634 00:44:17,680 --> 00:44:20,720 The consequences are calamitous. Shipwreck. 635 00:44:20,760 --> 00:44:25,120 You know, there's a lot of families on in storms that go to 636 00:44:25,120 --> 00:44:29,520 church but aren't in the word. They're not in prayer. 637 00:44:30,000 --> 00:44:32,000 They're not serious about. They walk with God. 638 00:44:32,000 --> 00:44:34,160 You know what? They're on a vessel that's 639 00:44:34,160 --> 00:44:37,480 doomed. But you know what the most 640 00:44:37,480 --> 00:44:42,840 terrible thing is? Lives will be lost, lives will 641 00:44:42,840 --> 00:44:49,440 be lost. Shipwreck means personal loss, 642 00:44:50,880 --> 00:44:58,320 tragedy, because the Bible says God wants all people to be saved 643 00:44:59,640 --> 00:45:01,480 and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 644 00:45:02,720 --> 00:45:05,240 You know, as I thought about this passage and I really 645 00:45:05,240 --> 00:45:08,600 wrestled, how do I teach this? We're just going to see the 646 00:45:08,600 --> 00:45:10,320 storm. What's in this Lord? 647 00:45:12,040 --> 00:45:16,040 And as I really took a step back, reading and reading and 648 00:45:16,040 --> 00:45:21,880 reading, I thought, you know what the world is like a giant 649 00:45:21,880 --> 00:45:27,160 vessel. We're all passengers, and we're 650 00:45:27,160 --> 00:45:30,640 heading into a massive storm, the Great tribulation. 651 00:45:32,840 --> 00:45:36,200 And you know what? Things are only growing worse, 652 00:45:36,200 --> 00:45:41,160 aren't they? The passengers, those on Earth, 653 00:45:41,160 --> 00:45:46,680 are abandoning ship. Every man for himself. 654 00:45:48,320 --> 00:45:50,080 This is what I'm going to do. This is what I'm doing. 655 00:45:51,360 --> 00:45:55,200 And people are throwing out anchors of worldly hope. 656 00:45:55,520 --> 00:45:58,000 Well, I'll just make sure I've got this, I've got that, I've 657 00:45:58,000 --> 00:46:01,240 got this. You know, stocks, shares, you 658 00:46:01,240 --> 00:46:04,720 know I've got or I want to be famous. 659 00:46:05,640 --> 00:46:09,920 I'll just live till I'm 130. You've ever seen those? 660 00:46:10,160 --> 00:46:12,000 No, I won't go into that. I want to waste your time. 661 00:46:15,160 --> 00:46:17,800 And all those anchors that they're throwing out, you know 662 00:46:17,800 --> 00:46:20,120 what they do when the storm really hits? 663 00:46:20,280 --> 00:46:23,360 They snap. They break. 664 00:46:24,200 --> 00:46:27,640 They don't hold. When the doctor comes out and 665 00:46:27,640 --> 00:46:29,640 says to you and you're in the intensive care, you're in a 666 00:46:29,640 --> 00:46:31,440 waiting room. We've done all that we can. 667 00:46:34,320 --> 00:46:36,040 Oh, well, what if we give you more money? 668 00:46:36,120 --> 00:46:38,320 No, no, We've done all that we can. 669 00:46:39,080 --> 00:46:41,040 What can we get someone? You know that. 670 00:46:41,040 --> 00:46:42,600 No. We have the best here. 671 00:46:43,080 --> 00:46:48,440 We've done all that we can. The anchors are snapping, the 672 00:46:48,440 --> 00:46:50,520 ropes are breaking. We're drifting. 673 00:46:50,640 --> 00:46:55,320 We're lost. But not if we have an anchor. 674 00:46:55,560 --> 00:46:58,160 And sure and steadfast God, we come to you now. 675 00:47:01,320 --> 00:47:05,200 You see, judgement is coming. The biggest storm. 676 00:47:05,520 --> 00:47:09,240 Jesus said unless the days were shortened, no one would survive 677 00:47:09,240 --> 00:47:12,960 what's coming. But some have heeded the 678 00:47:12,960 --> 00:47:16,040 promises of God. Some have taken like Paul did, 679 00:47:16,040 --> 00:47:18,320 the passengers. Some have taken what God has 680 00:47:18,320 --> 00:47:23,240 said in His word, and they put their faith in him, the anchor 681 00:47:23,960 --> 00:47:29,600 in heaven. He's our hope, and they will be 682 00:47:29,600 --> 00:47:30,600 saved. Why? 683 00:47:30,880 --> 00:47:34,120 God promised not a hair of the head. 684 00:47:34,840 --> 00:47:37,880 We're damaged. Others on board this world with 685 00:47:37,880 --> 00:47:40,640 us. Fellow passengers, they're not 686 00:47:40,640 --> 00:47:46,000 sure as you go out, they need to hear the gospel. 687 00:47:47,120 --> 00:47:49,160 They need to hear the promises of Paul. 688 00:47:49,280 --> 00:47:52,400 Paul didn't say well, good. The Angel appeared to me. 689 00:47:52,600 --> 00:47:55,760 Hey, Aristarchus, Luke, we're good. 690 00:47:56,080 --> 00:48:00,200 We're good. Shared it, told to everyone, 691 00:48:00,240 --> 00:48:05,360 told it to everyone. He could have said no, just us. 692 00:48:05,400 --> 00:48:06,520 We're getting around. Don't worry. 693 00:48:07,520 --> 00:48:10,560 Just hang in there. Now Paul was concerned with the 694 00:48:10,560 --> 00:48:12,200 others. Are you concerned with others? 695 00:48:13,600 --> 00:48:19,360 You see, they need to see the gospel in US, you and I, and the 696 00:48:19,360 --> 00:48:22,560 storms we face. We need to act in a way of 697 00:48:22,560 --> 00:48:24,960 calmness. It's too many people When, when, 698 00:48:25,080 --> 00:48:27,600 when something hits them and they believes, they go to church 699 00:48:27,640 --> 00:48:31,360 and their lives fall apart. We don't see them or what's 700 00:48:31,360 --> 00:48:32,400 going on. Well, they're going through a 701 00:48:32,400 --> 00:48:34,560 difficult time. Well, they should be in church 702 00:48:36,640 --> 00:48:41,520 because this is where you come. This is the House of the Lord in 703 00:48:41,520 --> 00:48:44,080 the presence of God. And there are people here who 704 00:48:44,080 --> 00:48:47,800 can pray for you, encourage you. We'll weep with you, we'll 705 00:48:47,800 --> 00:48:51,600 rejoice with you. Can't do it on your own. 706 00:48:55,400 --> 00:48:58,360 People need to see the good news in effect so we can encourage 707 00:48:58,360 --> 00:49:00,640 others to put their faith in Christ. 708 00:49:00,960 --> 00:49:03,320 You'll hear about the miracles that are occurring in this 709 00:49:03,320 --> 00:49:05,240 church because we pray each Wednesday. 710 00:49:06,160 --> 00:49:10,840 We all want to get to Rome, but God is more interested in how we 711 00:49:10,840 --> 00:49:14,960 get there. You and your family all need 712 00:49:14,960 --> 00:49:18,960 anchors. You need the anchor to be 713 00:49:18,960 --> 00:49:23,520 anchored in God's presence, to know you belong to God. 714 00:49:24,120 --> 00:49:29,600 It's a surety. You can, like Paul, reassure 715 00:49:29,600 --> 00:49:32,640 others. I love going into and I sat with 716 00:49:32,640 --> 00:49:35,080 my nephew. He hadn't gone to church. 717 00:49:35,080 --> 00:49:37,960 He wasn't living for God. I said, Mark, you've got 718 00:49:37,960 --> 00:49:41,000 everything I've told you before. You've got everything sorted. 719 00:49:41,000 --> 00:49:42,640 You've got your superannuation sorted. 720 00:49:42,640 --> 00:49:45,280 You've got that drawn on because your terminal you're going to 721 00:49:45,280 --> 00:49:48,000 die, I said, but you got to get this sorted. 722 00:49:48,000 --> 00:49:52,000 You got to get where you're going to go sorted. 723 00:49:52,000 --> 00:49:57,480 And we prayed, he prayed, he prayed, gave his heart to God. 724 00:50:00,960 --> 00:50:04,360 And his brother heard him, his wife heard him, his daughter, 725 00:50:04,480 --> 00:50:07,440 his granddaughter. You see, there's this 726 00:50:07,440 --> 00:50:13,720 reassurance you and I have the answer to the greatest need of 727 00:50:13,720 --> 00:50:18,360 our lives, fear of death and what lays beyond. 728 00:50:20,160 --> 00:50:23,240 You see, you can be like Paul and you can say, and after we 729 00:50:23,240 --> 00:50:25,040 prayed, I said, Mark, I will see you. 730 00:50:26,960 --> 00:50:28,960 You're going ahead. I'll see you soon. 731 00:50:30,560 --> 00:50:32,800 And these are the people you're going to see when you get there. 732 00:50:34,200 --> 00:50:39,840 It changes everything you see. Tell them to trust and believe 733 00:50:39,840 --> 00:50:42,440 in God and that God will save them. 734 00:50:43,760 --> 00:50:48,680 This is how you survive a shipwreck. 735 00:50:50,000 --> 00:51:00,800 Let's pray, Father, no matter the storm, no matter the wind, 736 00:51:04,720 --> 00:51:11,040 no matter the breaking up of the vessel, the snapping of the 737 00:51:11,040 --> 00:51:17,120 anchor ropes. Lord, our security is in you. 738 00:51:18,920 --> 00:51:26,200 We are safe in your arms, evermore safe am I safe? 739 00:51:26,200 --> 00:51:32,000 Am I in the hollows of your hand, sheltered all, sheltered 740 00:51:32,000 --> 00:51:37,160 all? Lord, I pray for your Holy 741 00:51:37,160 --> 00:51:42,720 Spirit to touch people's hearts here today, to have them know 742 00:51:43,400 --> 00:51:47,000 Your presence, Your hope, and Your anchor.