Author: missionspaul

TYPHOONS

Acts 27:14 “Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island.”

The harbour faced both southwest and northwest and it was quite unique meaning that at certain times of the year the harbour was the safest place to be. Even though Paul wanted to get to Rome he advised against continuing from the harbour, but he was in the minority.

So they lifted their anchor and sailed onward, close and safe (so they thought) to the island.

Then it happened … the typhoon. It didn’t come from the open sea pushing them against the rocks where the ship would be broken up. It came from across Crete and pushed them away from their intended purpose of keeping close to the island.

My thoughts:

1. Typhoons happen in typhoon season: wisdom or perhaps common-sense tells us when the spiritual attacks are likely to come, preparation is everything.
2. When typhoons happen it is not business as usual: spiritual attacks debilitate and adjustment is needed.
3. Typhoons can begin as gentle winds: spiritual attacks can be birthed out of a place of deception.
4. Typhoons can receive descriptive names: the identity of spiritual attacks is important for the overcoming of them.
5. Typhoons push you away: spiritual attacks will always push you away from your purpose.

WIND

 

Acts 27:13 “When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had obtained what they wanted; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete.”

 

I was reflecting last night on my childhood when my father before 10pm and bed time would go into the kitchen and make some supper and listen to the shipping forecast.

I am not sure why he did that. We didn’t live anywhere near the coast and there was no fisherman in our family. But that was when I began to hear of north westerly and south winds in some place I had never heard of.

I have friends who live on a small island and the wind forecasts is really important to them as it even causes them to change their route because certain roads may be battered by the sea waves racing in.

Some people go through their whole life understanding and adjusting to the storms and winds of our amazing world.

Some people are battered by life.

Some people have no experience of that.

Some people know that winds are not pure enemies. Some appreciate the gentle breezes that enable the motivation or provocation to move into new chapters of life.

Some people don’t like any change at all.

Some people get deceived by the winds of life. They think the gentle wind will continue and they set out in a direction not realising that it can all change in a moment.

Some people remain unmoved.

My thinking:

1. The natural world is to be understood and so is the spiritual world.
2. We are foolish if we don’t believe in spiritual enemies.
3. Wisdom is the key.
4. Our spiritual enemies ultimately desire to deceive us.
5. Those who don’t experience winds, never go anywhere.

 

Minority position

Acts 27:12 “Since the harbour was unsuitable to winter in, the majority decided that we should sail on, hoping to reach Phoenix and winter there. This was a harbour in Crete, facing both southwest and northwest.”

Do you ever wake up in the morning and realise that today you are alone? In the standing up for your conviction, for justice and for truth, you look around to see if there is anyone else supporting your cause and there is no one. You are in the minority.

Paul was definitely in the minority. The majority ruled.

According to the Bible, God’s people are always a remnant. But it seems that’s how it was always meant to be. That’s how we see the miracles happen. For example, if you want to see the God of Mount Carmel then you are going to have to get used to being alone. Often those who should stand with you are hiding in caves.

One of God’s names in the Bible is that of ‘the Lord of Hosts’ but maybe it should be ‘the Lord of the hidden Hosts’ because often we cannot see the strength behind us.

Paul was in the minority and the majority decided and still God didn’t step in. There are times in your minority position that the situation goes against you and life gets worse. But hold on because the Lord of Hosts though hidden is waiting for the perfect moment to bring about His purposes.

So really you are alone but you are not and God is not there but He really is. That’s the minority position and it is actually a good place to be in even when it looks like the majority rule.

What kind of leader are you following?

Acts 27: 11 “But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship.”

Following someone who has much to gain can be unwise. The final decision was left to the centurion but he ruled that they should follow the experts. The pilot and the owner had goods on board, they were the middle men contracted to transport grain perhaps.

Leaders should lose more than gain; give more than be given and learn more than they teach.

Be careful the type of leader you are following lest you become like them.

What kind of leader are you following?

Acts 27: 11 “But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship.”

 

Following someone who has much to gain can be unwise. The final decision was left to the centurion but he ruled that they should follow the experts. The pilot and the owner had goods on board, they were the middle men contracted to transport grain perhaps.

 

Leaders should lose more than gain; give more than be given and learn more than they teach.

 

Be careful the type of leader you are following lest you become like them.

Who is your teacher?

Acts 27:10 “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.”

We trust those who have experience of going through worst times than the present storm. Paul was simply speaking from experience. In 2 Corinthians 11 he tells us that he had been shipwrecked 3 times and spent a night and a day perhaps clinging on to some floating wood. People who can be best described as walking with a limp because of life’s experiences can be trusted more than those who have had victory after victory. For lessons and wisdom is gained in failure.

Job tells us in 27:11 that he will teach us the power of God. I would much rather be taught the power of God from someone like Job than someone who has never had trouble or pretends so.

Wisdom is born in the anvil of life and I would rather spend time with people who have experienced the vice and who have been shipwrecked than those too lazy to board a ship to go anywhere!

 

Don’t pass by Easter Sunday!

Acts 27:9 “Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement.”

The Fast (the day of atonement) has been estimated to be 5^th October in AD59. Between this date and mid-November sailing was dangerous and after November there was no sailing at all. “What am I still doing out here? I shouldn’t be here right now!”  The question everyone asks you when you are trying to advance is … “Are you on budget? Are you on time?” NO! “The need is greater than what I have and we have not advanced further than I had wanted.”

They were in a predicament because they were still there in the wrong place at the wrong time (after the Fast).

Yom Kippur (day of atonement) is the holiest day of the year for the Jews. At the centre of the celebration is that of repentance and atonement.

Today is Easter Sunday, it is the holiest days of the year for Christians, at its centre is that of repentance and atonement!

The Day of Atonement is found in Leviticus 23:26-32.

Two of the main characters are live goats.

Jesus Christ was given 2 roles, that of High Priest and as the sacrifice for our sins.

One goat represented the Lord and the other would be called the scapegoat and it represents Satan.

The goat representing the Lord would be sacrificed by the High priest. It clearly symbolises Jesus, the ultimate sin offering for everyone.

The scapegoat would be let go into the wilderness once atonement had been made on it by stating the sins of the community are now on the animal. It was not sacrificed like the other goat representing the Lord.

The resurrected Jesus is the High Priest who presents the sacrificed goat’s blood before God. In contrast, Satan carries the sin and blame for all he has done to deceive mankind.

So back to the point: Wrong place wrong time.

The resurrection day is a once and once for all moment in history. This momentous event will not repeat itself in the same way. If you come through the cross and resurrection and are still travelling in this life and have not surrendered to the demands of the cross and have not come into a resurrection new life experience, then it is a dangerous time and place for you. If you are sailing in life oblivious to this then it could be your undoing.

Today call people to acknowledge what you know, ask them why they are still trying to sail after the Fast!

 

Easter Saturday is a part of Easter

Acts 27:8 “We moved along the coast with difficulty and came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.”

The Message: “After much difficulty, we finally made it to the southern coast of the island of Crete and docked at Good Harbor (appropriate name!)”.

The ship had been battered against the winds and they could not hold their course, they eventually harboured but with great difficulty.

And Easter Saturday also took great difficulty to get there. There wasn’t a more difficult day than yesterday. Darkness during the day. Confusion. Despair. Betrayal. The End. It was indeed tough.

 

It was at Fair Havens, a harbour south of Crete, where the ship waited to catch the right weather, they were hoping for the right wind to move them forward. They would wait a considerable time.

And Easter Saturday was also a waiting time. What did the disciples do now? They waited. Was there anyone with hope that things could get better? Not many. Maybe Mary wondered but probably no one else. It seemed like a lifetime. How could one day last so long? It was indeed a waiting time.

 

The harbour was unsuitable to harbour in because the winter winds blew straight into the harbour. The ship was in danger of being broken in half, submerged by the power of the wind.

And Easter Saturday was also a dangerous time. In their waiting they hid away, they couldn’t walk in the street, they would be crucified next, they were sure of it. But they faced other dangers. This team of disciples were on the brink of falling out with each other because of the denial, betrayal and the majority who simply fell away as Jesus went to the cross. They were angry, with the Romans, the Jews and with themselves. Finally, the greatest danger of all: their guilt for not protecting Jesus, not being there, failing Him. It was indeed dangerous.

 

Are you going through tough times? Are you in limbo? Are you shaking under insecurity and trouble?

It is Easter Saturday.

But it’s not over!

At Easter HE held his course

Acts 27:7 “We made slow headway for many days and had difficulty arriving off Cnidus. When the wind did not allow us to hold our course, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone.”

There’s only been one man who has been able to hold his course.

For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)

Jesus held his course to the end.

When the church to be had fallen asleep, Jesus was awake and said “Rise let’s go”, he held his course (Matthew 26:45-46).

When Judas kissed him out of love and respect, Jesus said “do it”, he held his course (Matthew 26:50).

When the disciples wanted to stand up for justice, Jesus said “Put you sword away!”, he held his course (John 18:10-11).

When encouraged to defend himself to Pilate regarding the many accusations, he didn’t speak, he held his course (Mark 15:4-5).

When women who followed Jesus to the cross were wailing, Jesus said “do not weep for me”, he held his course (Luke 23:27-28).

When the crowd wanted Jesus to come down from the cross, he didn’t, he held his course (Mark 15: 32).

When darkness came, Jesus thought of and quoted the Scriptures, he held his course (Mathew 27:46).

When Jesus saw John and his mother at the foot of the cross, he said, “Dear woman, here is your son” and to John “here is your mother, he held his course (John 19: 26-27).

When the sun stopped shining, Jesus said “Father”, he held his course (Luke 23:45-46).

Jesus said “It is finished” (John 19:30)

He had held his course for you and me who often find ourselves unable to do so.

Easter help

Acts 27: 6 “There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board”

They are on the way to Rome and have landed at Myra. It wasn’t difficult for Julius to find the next ship to Italy, there were regular vessels stopping off from Egypt to Italy. The nation depended on Egypt for grain and other produce. This Egyptian ship was from Alexandria and it was heading in their direction. Perfect. The prisoners all got on board and waited for their final leg to commence.

This was an indirect journey for Paul. I have taken those trips a lot in the last several years. I still get to where I want to go but it takes 2 aeroplanes and one time 4 to get there!

The person responsible to get Paul to where God wants him to be is a centurion named Julius, the unlikeliest of chosen people! But he found the next ship, he made Paul’s dream possible.

Never overlook even the strangest of individuals because they could be sent by God to get you to your destiny. It apparently looked like Jesus would collapse under the weight of his own cross and would not make it alone.

Mark 15: 20-22 “And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him. A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”).”

We have a diversion, a stop along the way, a readjustment; someone else is introduced to the scene, Simon. But can you see the picture of what happened. Jesus was being led out of the city to be crucified and at the same time coming in to the city from the country was Simon. He was coming in the opposite direction. He exchanged with Jesus and turned around and followed Him and ever since people have been doing exactly the same thing as Simon did. Jesus turns the direction of people’s lives around.

Jesus stopped, caught his breath and was introduced to someone who would help him get through the final chapter.

Thank God for those people who have or are helping you reach your potential in God and fulfil His purpose for your life. They may be the unlikeliest and they may be a little press-ganged into serving, but nevertheless you know you would not get there without them.