April, 2007
“God is Like VO 5 Hair Spray:
He Holds in All Kinds of Weather”
Acts 27:27-44
INTRODUCTION: How many have heard the expression, “I’m having a bad hair day today?” That seems to be a fairly common expression and doesn’t simply refer to your hair looking absolutely terrible, but it could refer to a day filled with problems and frustrations. Like saying, “things are just going terrible today--one thing after another is going wrong. I’m having a bad hair day and nothing I do makes it any better.” Sometimes our hair care products work and sometimes they don’t. Sometimes our best efforts work and sometimes they don’t.
Today I’ve entitled the message, “God is like VO 5 Hair Spray: He Holds in All Kinds of Weather.”
After Paul’s conversion he preached boldly the message of Jesus Christ throughout the land. As a result he experienced much opposition. He stood before many high-ranking officials to state his beliefs, he was imprisoned; and finally, because he was a Roman citizen, he requested to go to Rome and stand before Caesar. Paul seemed to be having a lot of “bad hair days.” Chapter 27 begins at this point where he is ready to sail for Rome.
They were starting out late in the season, actually too late to have a safe trip before winter. They had already lost a lot of time, and it was dangerous to sail after Sept. 14 and impossible after November 11. Paul warned them that disaster would surely happen because they were sailing so late, but the owner of the ship wouldn’t listen to Paul. What did he know about sailing anyway? The centurion and the ship’s owner could have wintered in Fair Havens but instead were determined to sail toward Phoenix a safer harbor to winter which was about 40 miles west of Fair Haven. On the way they got caught in a hurricane called a “northeaster” and this is when their trouble began--this is when they began to have a really “bad hair day.”
At first when they started out things were not going so bad. When we go our own way sometimes things seem to go OK for awhile. No major problems. But as they continued on, they got hit with the “northeaster” that caused them much fear, and they began to lose all hope of ever surviving. They couldn’t turn back now--they were out too far. The ship was being pounded by the storm so hard that they thought it would break apart. They tried to reinforce the ship with ropes, and they threw cargo overboard to lighten the load three different times. All of their efforts didn’t amount to very much. Day after day this intense storm continued. They struggled to survive; but with each passing day, they lost hope of ever coming out alive.
Sometimes we experience a lot of struggles in our lifetime but I hope not as bad as this one.
STORY: The man groaned but didn’t budge. The usher became impatient.
"Sir, if you don’t get up from there, I’m going to have to call the manager."
Again, the man just groaned, which infuriated the usher who turned and marched briskly back up the aisle in search of his manager. In a few moments, both the usher and the manager returned and stood over the man.
Together the two of them tried repeatedly to move him, but with no success. Finally, they summoned the police.
The cop surveyed the situation briefly then asked, "All right buddy, what’s your name?"
"Sam," the man moaned.
"Where ya from, Sam?"
With pain in his voice Sam replied, "The balcony."
The people on the ship were in a predicament similar to Sam. They couldn’t do anything about the situation they found themselves in. Paul, the Christian, was in the same situation. He was facing the same things as all the others. Where was the God that he served? Where was his faith? What was happening to him during these 14 critical days?
One of the things Paul did was tell them, “I told you this would happen. I knew we were going to have “a bad hair day” right from the beginning but no you wouldn’t listen to me. So now we’re in a mess.” I guess he couldn’t resist saying this. He gave his opinion. But something more happened than that. God had not forsaken Paul in spite of the willfulness of the others.
In what way does this scripture speak to us today? I can see several ways.
1. And YET NOW There is Hope: Divine intervention came to Paul at the most intense time of the storm. The ship is tossed with wind and waves, yet the angel finds a way into it. Matthew Henry says, “no storms or tempests can hinder the communication of God’s favor to his people.”
The angel says, “Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.” (v. 24).
Paul is assured that he will get to Rome and that no one will lose his life even though the ship will be destroyed.
And YET NOW there is hope. Paul had the assurance given to him. He had hope. God was going to be there to “hold this ship together in the worst of storms” long enough for them to get to land. What grounds did Paul have for this hope? He had the PROMISE of God. He had a DIVINE REVELATION. Will he believe it or not? Will he just wring his hands and say, “I’m afraid we won’t make it. I’m afraid God won’t do it for this ship. I’m afraid the storm is too bad this time.”
Would you have believed the angel?
We have the promises of God in Scripture also but how often do we refuse to believe them or apply them to our own situation. Do you believe the promises of God or continue on in fear? When you are fearful of job losses, health concerns, or any number of fears, can you HOLD ON TO THE Promise of God? Can you trust Him to “HOLD in all kinds of weather?”
2. The God--Whose I am and whom I serve: So keep up your courage men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as He told me. (vs. 25).
They might have laughed at Paul and said, “Yeh! Right! Sure it will! I’ve heard that before!”
Paul was not a wishy washy person. Sometimes we back down. Sometimes we talk doubt and unbelief right after we pray for something.
In verse 23 there is a FIRMNESS of belief shown. Paul said, “Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me. In another scripture we see Paul’s firm belief. II Timothy 1:12 says, “I KNOW whom I have believed, and am CONVINCED that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.”
Paul is saying, “God HOLDS in all kinds of weather.” He was CONVINCED of this.
STORY: A goober goes to a restaurant, buys a coffee a sits down to drink it.
He looks on the side of his cup and finds a peal off prize. He pulls off the tab and yells, "I WON! I WON! I WON a motor home, I WON a motorhome!"
The waitress runs over and says, "That’s impossible. The biggest prize given away was a mini van!" The goober replies, "No, I WON A motor
home, I WON a motor home!"
By this time the manager makes his way over to the table and says, "You couldn’t possibly have won a motor homes because we didn’t have that as
a prize!" Again the goober says, "No, no mistake, I WON a motor home, I WON a motor home!"
The goober hands the prize ticket to the manager and he reads, "WIN A BAGEL."
Our life has to be based on God totally--good times and bad times where we are so convinced that HE HOLDS in all kinds of weather that we won’t let people talk us out of it. You can’t just be a “fair-weather Christian.” You’ve got to be an “all-weather Christian.” Paul was because he had made that kind of commitment. He said, “I know in whom I have believed.” And Paul wasn’t wrong.
Why can’t we be “all-weather Christians” so much of the time?
1. Because we refuse to believe the promise.
2. Because we want to do our own thing.
3. Because we don’t want God nibbing into our business.
4. Because we’ve got a little more sinning to do.
5. Because we don’t know God well enough.
3. Then They Ventured to Believe: Paul was in the same situation they were in. He was not exempt from trouble on this trip. How he HANDLED IT caused them to believe too.
Paul brought out some bread and He prayed with the WHOLE group. Maybe a lot of them didn’t believe. Paul set the example. He encouraged them to eat because they needed some strength for the next part of the journey. He told them that they had a hard struggle ahead of them yet and they needed to eat and be strengthened. Paul was making plans for daylight. Up to that point they didn’t even know where they were. They were not hungry. They were probably seasick. He told them to eat. They hadn’t eaten for days because of fear and despair. It showed their distrust of God. Paul says, “OK, It’s time to eat. Time to be of good cheer. We’re going to be getting to land soon. He said, “not a hair will fall from the head of any of you. (vs 34). This was a proverbial saying meaning “you will not be harmed.” Did they believe it?
Yes, it says, “then they ventured to believe the message God sent them by Paul when they perceived that Paul believed it himself. When the people around us begin to see that we believe it ourselves and apply it to our own life, more people will start to listen and believe the gospel message. Paul was in the same danger with them, and yet he believed because he was CONVINCED that God could “Hold in all kinds of weather.” He comforted them with the same comfort he was receiving in trouble. Are we convinced of this today? I think much of the time we will have to admit that we are pretty shaky.
CONCLUSION: At daybreak they looked around and didn’t know where they were, but they hoped to get to shore. The ship held together as long as they needed it and then it broke apart. They didn’t know if the people of the island would be friends or foes. At the end of the chapter everyone reached land in safety and in the first verse of Chapter 28 it tells us that “once safely on shore we found out that the island was called Malta” and that “the islanders showed us unusual kindness.” Because of Paul’s faith and his example, 276 people were saved from disaster.
What if Paul had not been courageous enough to speak up? What if Paul had not believed? How might the outcome have been different? The same is true for our outcome.
We know that God HOLDS in all kinds of weather but how do we “HOLD?”
Can we believe in spite of storms and troubles and bad hair days? Can we overcome the fears and doubts that sometimes plague us? Do we know WHOSE WE ARE and WHO WE SERVE? Can we believe strongly enough that others will venture to believe also?
I believe we can. SHALL WE PRAY:
