From the Desk of Pastor Toby Powers
Truth Baptist Church
Bremen, GA
I Believe God
Acts 27:21-26
Intro: This passage tells of a time when the Apostle Paul is imprisoned for preaching the Gospel. He is being sent to Rome to face trial there. Just as they determine to sail out, Paul tells the Captain of the ship that the Lord has given him word that the journey would be dangerous. Turn back! The Captain would not turn about thinking that all was well when the “south wind blew softly.” They fell into a tremendous storm that destroyed the ship. In the midst of it all, however, the angel of the Lord stood by Paul with comfort. He said, “Sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.” I want to say this morning too, “I believe God!”
I. I Believe God Regardless of the Weather: Acts 27
A. In the Sun: v. 10-11, Paul believed God in warning though smooth sailing appeared to be ahead.
B. In the Soft Breeze: v. 13-14, Paul believed God in warning when the signs said that the sailing had been rewarded. Disobedience to God’s Law may appear to be rewarding today, but the south wind that soothes the soul today make sink the ship tomorrow!
C. In the Stormy Sea: v. 22-25, The world is full of sin, struggles, and storms, but I will believe God to preserve his children through it all.
D. In the Shipwreck: v. 41, 44, The ship was broken. It sank. The ships of life may sink, but I will trust him in shipwreck with the pieces of my life. He will use them to preserve me for the ride on the Old Ship of Zion, and it will never sink!
II. I Believe God Regardless of the Wounds: Acts 28:1-6, I will believe him
A. In the Bluffs of Satan: I Peter 5:8, He often only bluffs and threats without delivering
B. In the Bites of Satan: Acts 28:1-6, Sometimes the Devil will strike from the fiery trials of life and attack. It’s not a bluff; it’s real. I will still believe God!
III. I Believe God Regardless of the Way’s End: Acts 28 is the last chapter of Acts, and it appears to be the end of the life of Paul. In Rome, he was eventually beheaded. Nevertheless, just before his death we see that he still believed God. II Timothy 4:6 8 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Conclusion: It is not the way that life begins that will count. It is how it ends. You may feel like all your life has been a ship in the wrong direction, but today if you will believe God, you can have a faith to live by and a faith to die by. Today whatever life is throwing at you, trust him. Believe God. He will hear; he will hedge, he will help! Today is the day to be saved, to trust him in the storm, and to believe him like never before. Today is the day to start truly Living by Faith!
