(reworked SOAP)
SCRIPTURE: Acts (NIV) 27:23 Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, ‘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.’ 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me.
OBSERVATION: Paul is aboard a ship headed for Rome to stand trial before Caesar. The ship is caught in a terrible storm. For fourteen days the crew had nothing to eat. On the third day into the storm, they had thrown the ships tackle overboard.
In the verses above, we have Paul speaking to the crew and fellow passengers on the ship. They consisted of the crew, Roman soldiers, fellow prisoners, and some traveling companions of Paul, at least the author of the book of Acts.
Listen to Paul as he describes His God. Paul belonged to God and Paul served God. Paul’s God was a speaker; He talked to Paul. He sent a message to Paul “last night!” Paul’s God made promises to Paul that included the people around him. They would all survive the present danger. Paul’s God could be trusted. It would be “just as he told me!”
APPLICATION: Paul was not talking about the storm. He made no comments about the wind and the waves. He made no comment about being a prisoner. No, Paul did not talk about the unimportant things; he talked about the Important One! He had heard from the God of the wind and the waves. He had a message from God.
In times of trouble my focus will be obvious by listening to my conversation. Am I talking about the fierce storms or the greatness of my God?
PRAYER: Lord, as I move through a world full of turmoil and trouble, I want to keep my focus on you! Your enemy, and my enemy, wants to get my focus off you and onto what surrounds me. Help me to speak from heaven’s point of view. Amen
Pastor Leon
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