Title: 狂針 vs. 指針/Acts 27:9-26
Contents * 狂針 vs. 指針 *
Acts 27:9-26
Today's text is the story of how the Apostle Paul got caught up in the trial due to a Jewish accusation and eventually appealed to the Supreme Court of Caesar in Rome, where he was sent to prison while a ship met a storm on the sea route and got through it. It is also a time of teaching. As we face the recent global natural disasters, we have been unable to shake off the anxiety that an earthquake might strike us as well.
Today, we will interpret the text in a didactic sense to see how we can overcome crises in our daily lives.
1. Prevention and avoidance.
Today's text teaches us to prevent disasters and avoid those to be avoided.
Acts 27:9-11 Since the feast of fasting had passed since many days had passed, and the journey was in jeopardy, Paul persuaded them, saying, “Gentlemen, I see that this journey will not only cause damage to the cargo and ship, but also our lives, and will cause great harm and much damage,” said the centurion. They believed the words of this captain and the ship's owner more than Paul's.
Paul foresaw a storm on this journey and advised not to set sail. It was to not recklessly jump into these difficulties.
Acts 27:21 Many of them had not eaten for a long time, and Paul stood in the middle and said, “Men, it would have been better if you had listened to me and not departed from Crete from this blow and damage.
Proverbs 22:3 The prudent see evil and hide from it, but fools go on and be harmed.
Any danger, catastrophe or tribulation is best prevented and avoided is the first guideline.
It is best to prevent the disease before it occurs.
Matthew 2:13 After they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph and said, "Herod is looking for the child and is about to kill him. Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and stay there until I come to you.
Matthew 10:23 If they persecute you in one town, flee to that town. Truly I say to you, you will not be able to go through all the towns of Israel, for the Son of Man will come.
Isaiah 2:10 Go into the clefts of the rocks, and hide in the dust, from the majesty of the LORD and the glory of his greatness.
Jeremiah 4:6 Set a sign toward Zion, flee, do not delay, for I will bring calamity and great destruction in the north.
It is best to avoid the temptations of sin or worldly trends.
1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee from fornication. Every sin a man commits is outside the body, but the fornicator sins against his own body.
Deuteronomy 7:4 The LORD will be angry with you and will destroy you suddenly, because he has seduced your son to turn him from the LORD and serve other gods.
Ephesians 4:14 So that we no longer become children, that we should not be tossed and tossed by every wind of doctrine, falling into the sorcery of men and the deceitful temptations of men.
Ephesians 4:22 Put off the old self, which is corrupt according to the lusts of deceit,
Heb 3:13 But admonish one another daily, while it is called Today, that any of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
2 Peter 1:4 By this he has given us his precious and exceedingly great promise, that through this promise you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Hebrews 6:18 This is so that we, who are fleeing for the hope set before us, may be greatly comforted by these two unchangeable facts, in which God cannot lie.
2. Beware of Information and Island in the Word.
The text contained the words of others besides Paul's.
Acts 27:11-13 The centurion believed the words of the captain and the shipowner more than Paul's. Many people said that the port was too overcrowded, so leave from there and go to Phoenix. The silver was facing northeast and the other side facing southeast. The south wind blew gently, so they thought they had a good time, so they tied up the anchor and sailed near the beach of Crete.
Acts 27:42 The soldiers said it was better to kill the prisoners, lest they swim and flee.
In times of crisis, false information abounds and it is easy to be deceived by such information.
The characteristic of a person who comes out of a crisis is a person who listens to the right voice.
In a crisis, we know where to listen. Only God's voice is the answer in a crisis.
Be wary of information when faced with a crisis.
Misinformation caused by the Internet has gone too far.
False advertisements and health information in various media go beyond the limit, causing confusion.
A lot of people see more sickness because of this information.
Do not be deceived by false information, stand firm in the Word and do not be shaken.
I bless you to stand firm in the word of God and live with courage in your heart.
▶ In the last days, we must beware of the delusion of a lot of information.
Mark 13:21-23 At that time when a man says to you, Behold the Christ is here, and behold there is, do not believe, for false Christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, if possible, to deceive the elect. Beware, I have told you all things beforehand.
Ephesians 4:14 So that we no longer become children, that we should not be tossed and tossed by every wind of doctrine, falling into the sorcery of men and the deceitful temptations of men.
▶ Do not be influenced by rumors. We must stand firm in the word of the Lord.
Luke 21:9 When you hear rumors of wars and commotions, do not be afraid. These things must come first, but the end is not immediately.
Ezekiel 7:26 In affliction, when afflictions increase, and rumors increase, they will seek a vision from the prophets, but in vain, the priests will have no law, and the elders will have no counsel.
Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” May the Word be a lamp and a light to your feet. Don't be deceived by false information and listen to God's voice!
I hope that you will not leave the place of worship and become listeners of God's voice.
3. Let go of the burden and lighten.
Today's message teaches us not to attach ourselves to many possessions in times of crisis, but to lighten our lives by reducing the weight.
Looking at today's verses 18-19, when Paul and his companions met the Euraquila storm, the only way to live was to throw away all the burdens of the ship.
We must understand that it is God's will to throw away what God gives in abundance in our lives.
▶ Peter left the boat and followed Jesus.
▶ James and John also abandoned their father and boat and followed Jesus.
▶ God made the people of Israel exhausted in Egypt, so He made them abandon their life in Egypt and leave. In times of crisis, all we have to do is throw things away.
Hebrews 12:1 “Putting aside every burden and the sin that so easily entangles us, let us run with perseverance the race set before us.”
He tells the saints to cut off all the sins and burdens that easily entangle us.
Ephesians 4:22 Put off the old self, which is corrupt according to the lusts of deceit,
Galatians 5:24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Luke 12:15-21 And he said to them, "Beware of all covetousness, for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of what he has." And he spoke to them in parables, saying, "A rich man was thinking in his heart that his field was producing abundantly. And he said, "I have no place to store the grain. I will do this. I will tear down my barns and make it bigger, and I will store all my grain and all my things there. And I said to my soul, "Soul, I have many goods laid up for many years. Rest, eat, drink, and be merry.” But God said, “You fool, this night your soul will be required of you, and whose will you have prepared?” So is the one who lays up wealth for himself and is not rich toward God.
God tortures us to give up everything we have to forsake.
When faced with a difficult task, you need to make your movements light.
▶ Lot's wife of Sodom and Gomorrah was unable to do this, and looking back, she became a pillar of salt.
▶ Warren Buffett, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway Group, the third largest among the 400 richest people in America, was invited as a speaker at a high school and gave the following speech.
“If you want to be rich, there are things you have to do first. It’s throwing away your credit card.”
I bless you to give up the greed of your heart, the lust for possession of this world, and the things that are too harsh and live an easy life.
4. Becoming an important person with God.
Today's text teaches us that we can survive any disaster because of one important person with whom God is with us.
Acts 27:23-25 An angel of the God whom I belong to, whom I serve, stood by me last night and said, "Do not be afraid, Paul, because you must stand before Caesar, and God has given you all those who sail with you." I believe in God that it will be just as he said to me.
Acts 27:42-43 The soldiers said that it was better to kill them because they were afraid that the prisoners would swim and flee, but the centurion tried to save Paul, and the centurion blocked their will and ordered those who could swim to jump into the water and go out to land first.
It is the saying, “Be a key member in a crisis situation.” God relieves tribulation through them. When God saves a group or group, He sees an important person in that group and uses that person to save. It is the principle of representation and the value of existence of saints.
The church, society, and country can come to life because of me, who is like God.
I have to be that important one.
Can our group be saved because of me? Will our group survive because of me alone?
John 12:24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
▶ Lessons from Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:20-32)
Psalm 34:15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry.
Psalm 34:17 The righteous cried out, and the LORD heard them and delivered them out of all their troubles.
Psalm 34:19 The afflictions of the righteous are many, but the LORD delivers them from them
Proverbs 11:8 The righteous are saved from trouble, and the wicked come and take their place.
Proverbs 15:29 The LORD is far from the wicked, and he hears the prayers of the righteous.
▣ A storm can happen at any time on the road of life.
Prevent and avoid.
Easy to get entangled, let go of the heavy things and make life light.
Don't believe false information, listen and follow God's Word.
Be an important person with God in any case.
This is the way to survive.