Skip to content 2025-10-30_Acts 27 Nov 3 · 14 min ...more
Support this leader Liking this video? Support this ministry.
Support this leader
Liking this video? Support this ministry.
Give
Support this leader Liking this video? Support this ministry.
93.9K followers
Family Research Council is serving in the kingdom of God by championing faith, family, & freedom in public policy and the culture from a biblical worldview.
93.9K followers
Paul's Journey to Rome: Faith in the Storm 0:10 Good morning. Welcome to Stand on the Word. Well, getting an early start this morning. The sun is not up, but it will be. I'm I'm confident. Today, we've got an amazing chapter, Acts chapter0:21 27. It demonstrates that it's not your title or your position that determines your power and influence, but rather your relationship with God. Verse 25, therefore, take heart, men, for I believe0:33 that it will be just as it was told me. The journey to Rome for Paul has begun in earnest. The year was the fall, the winter of 60 61 AD.0:45 Paul, departed from Caesarea in August. The plan was to get to Rome before winter and the stormy seas, but didn't happen. Paul didn't arrive in Rome until, March.0:57 Now in this chapter, we see once again Luke's doctor Luke's writings, very precise. He uses nautical terms. It's consistent with the writings of, doctor Luke. Paul was a prisoner.1:09 He was a captive. He was headed to Rome to stand trial before Caesar. He was not the ship's captain, yet we see the power of God at work in and through Paul, leading, impacting, and literally1:21 saving the lives of 276 people that were on that ship. Verse 1, and when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other1:32 prisoners to 1 named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan regiment. So they entered the ship, a Drametium, but, we put to to sea, meaning1:44 to sail along the coast of Asia. Or Isticus, a Macedonian of Thessalonia, was with us. And the next day, we landed1:56 in Sidon, and Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him liberty to go to his friends and receive care. Luke, as we've talked about, he was also the author of Acts. He was a companion of Paul.2:08 He notes something that we might be apt to to overlook, the kindness of Julius, which, you know, I'm sure that that strengthened Paul and his companions for this journey by2:20 confirming god's favor and provision. Now the fact that it is recorded is an expression of gratitude. We need to be mindful of and thankful for the people god sends our2:31 way to make our journey, even in difficult times, a little easier. Maybe it's a smile. Maybe it's someone holding the door for it. Maybe just a small act of kindness. If we're looking for it,2:43 it can go a long way to encourage us. Now that kindness did not mean that Julius listened to Paul and the warnings that he gave. Look at verse 9. Now when much time had been spent and sailing was2:55 now dangerous because the fast was already over, Paul advised them saying, men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only for the cargo of the ship, but also our lives.3:07 Nevertheless, the Centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul. Now, I mean, in all fairness, would you have listened to Paul, the man of3:19 God, or would have you listened to the seasoned sailors? Verse 20. Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and no small tempest beat on us. All hope that we would be saved was3:31 finally given up. But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, men should have listened to me and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this3:43 disaster and loss. This is 1 of those I told you so moments. Verse 22, and now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.3:55 For there stood by me this night an angel of the god to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, do not be afraid, Paul. You must be brought before Caesar, and indeed, god4:07 has granted you all those who sail with you. Therefore, take heart, men, for I believe god that it will be just as it was told me. However, we must run4:19 aground on a certain island. Alright. Before we, continue here, just a a note when things get their very worst and people are out of hope, that's when we,4:30 as followers of Christ, need to be competent in who we are and who we serve. And and this is they were looking for answers. They were they were at the end of their rope. It was they were about4:42 to be shipwrecked. They thought they were going down, and Paul gives them a word of competence. This is why we need to be anchored in the word of God. We need to have an understanding of the times which the4:54 Bible gives us. And so in this tumultuous time in which we live, where people are looking for answers and we stand up with confidence. They weren't listening to Paul before when5:06 everything was going fine. They weren't listening. But when the bottom fell out, they were looking for someone who could point the way. And that's where you and I need5:18 to be ready and prepared to point the way when it looks like there is no way. Verse 33. And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored them to all take5:30 food saying today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food and eaten nothing. Therefore, I urge you to take this nourish nourishment for this is for your survival, since not a5:42 hair will fall from your head of any of you. And when he has said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all. And when he had broken it, he began to eat. Then they all5:54 were encouraged and also took food themselves. Now consider this. Again, Paul was a captive, a prisoner, but yet because of his relationship with God, he was entrusted with the6:06 power to know what to do. He was the captain. He became the leader. They went from ignoring his advice to following his directions when the wheels came off or should I say6:18 the sales came off. Now look what he's doing here. He's leading them in prayer, thanking god for his provisions. This is the confidence that comes with walking in fellowship with6:29 God and that heart of gratitude we talked about. Now let me ask you this. Are you captive to the events and the circumstances around you? Or by the power of God in these moments of6:41 crisis, do you lead yourself and others by the truth in a direction that offers hope and life? You know, many of us are tempted to say, you know, I don't have a title. I wasn't6:53 elected as a leader. Paul was a prisoner with no authority given to him by his title or position, but he was a man who walked in7:04 authority because of god who called him. In the midst of the crisis, when others were desperate and without direction, Paul was able to7:16 calmly lead in the midst of the deadly storm. How? How was Paul able to lead in this desperate situation? His relationship with God. Those who walk7:28 with God and hear God are calm in the midst of the storms of life. And as a result, they have the ability to lead others who have become blinded by7:39 fear. Why are those who walk with God calm? A couple of reasons. Look at Paul's situation. First, the Lord reminded Paul of what he had previously told him.7:51 My plans for you will be fulfilled. You are going to Rome. You must appear before Caesar. Listen again to the verse 24. Do not be afraid, Paul. You must be brought before8:03 Caesar, and indeed, god has granted you all those who sail with you. Now if you've been saved, if you've trusted Jesus Christ as your savior, if you've given your life to him, then your life has purpose and meaning. God8:15 has a plan for you. He has a purpose for you. You're not just cargo on the ship traveling through this world waiting to be thrown overboard. Remember remember what Jesus said? He slept in the boat in the midst of the8:27 storm when his followers were frantic. Why? Because he knew god's purpose and god's plan would be accomplished in his life.8:39 We can have the same confidence. Our life will not end until god's purposes have been fulfilled in us. Us. Now it might not be what we planned or anticipated, but that's why we've got to yield our8:51 lives to god, our plans. It's not our plans that should be paramount. Not our will, but god's will be done. And and and and also as9:03 as believers with an eternal perspective, the uncertainty of life cannot eclipse the certainty that lies ahead. Remember what Paul said, to live is Christ, to die9:15 is gain? You know, our nation has been and remains in a in a spiritual, cultural, political, and and I think soon, an economic storm that threatens to shipwreck our9:26 nation. We've got 38000000000000 dollars in debt. I know I know people don't pay a whole lot of attention to that, but that is an anchor. I mean, a a real drag on our nation. It's9:38 not a positive anchor. If we are to survive, followers of Jesus, those who truly walk with him and are yielded to the truth of his word must step forward9:50 with confidence and be prepared to lead. Lead their families, fathers. It's time for you to lead. It's time for you to lead your family. Grandfathers, time for you to lead. Be the patriarch of10:02 your family. I know that's a negative term in the eyes of the world, but not in the eyes of god and his word. We need to leave our lead our neighborhoods. Be a light in your neighborhood.10:14 We need to lead in our churches, and we need you know, they we need Christians on our school boards, on our city councils. We need we need Christians, vocal, confident Christians10:26 around the boardrooms of corporate America, and the country needs godly men and women that are declaring and living by the truth of god's word.10:39 Just like the centurion who ignored the initial advice of Paul, the world is prone to do the same thing with our advice as followers of Christ today. However, however,10:51 it's in those moments as the world moves into greater times of crisis and uncertainty that people are looking for hope. They're looking for guidance. And if those who follow Christ are prepared,11:03 we can confidently lead those around us to a destination of safety. Take courage. There are rough seas ahead, and there are more challenges.11:15 But the church, if confident through our obedience to Christ, we'll be able to advance the kingdom of god in ways we never thought possible.11:27 So keep your eyes upon Jesus and keep standing on his word. Father, we thank you for your word. And and, lord, this example of Paul and11:39 his companions to keep their eyes focused upon you. And and and, lord, in the midst of challenges and difficulties because they walked with you, lord, they literally saved the lives of11:51 those around them and pointed the way forward. Lord, may we do the same. May we, Lord, may we point others to the eternal salvation that comes through that12:03 relationship with you and only through you, through your son, Jesus Christ. And I pray, Lord, that you would give us the confidence to stand and lead in those moments of crisis, which are here and I think will12:15 only be multiplied in this day and time in which we live. Lord, use us for your kingdom, for your glory, and for your honor. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.Call to Leadership and Confidence in Christ 12:26 Alright. Thanks so much for, joining us. And, and we encourage you coming up Friday, Saturday will be our monthly stand on the word bible study. So if you wanna join us online, you can do12:38 so on the app, the stand firm app. We're gonna be looking at Ephesians. We're gonna be moving into the letters, the prison letters of Paul that he wrote during his 2 year period in12:50 Rome. So, tune in. We'll be meeting 7 PM, central time. So that's 8 PM eastern time, sun Saturday evening on the Stand Firm app.13:02 App. Until next time, keep standing on the word.13:07 Today's study comes from the Stand on the Word Bible Reading Plan available for free at f r c dot o r g slash bible. By following along in just a few minutes a day, you13:19 can read through the entire Bible in just 2 years. Learn more and request the free reading guide at frc dot org slash bible.In this video 0:00 Paul's Journey to Rome: Faith in the Storm12:26 Call to Leadership and Confidence in Christ
Comments No comments yet. Start the conversation.
Comments
Keep it kind. Comments are public.