Encountering the Greatest Storm in My Life
( Acts 27: 9 ~ 26 )
Pastor Sengeun Choi (Tacoma Jeil Baptist Church)
The best preacher of the gospel, prophet, and church founder since Jesus Christ is Apostle Paul. The second half of Acts is about his ministry. Wherever he went, he built churches and on his second and third mission trip he watched over them. He was the second great missionary after Jesus, bringing many souls to God. Apostle Paul, the ex-persecutor of the church, became a church builder and the thirteenth apostle. However, a totally different level of trial was in store for him on his fourth mission trip, the turning point of his life. At that time, Paul was being transferred from Jerusalem, where he was arrested, to Rome in order to spread the gospel from Rome, the center of the world to Spain, the end of the world, believing that God would be with him all the way. However, because of a series of violent storms, seasickness, and hunger, the people in the prison ship were about to die. Lets put ourselves in Pauls shoes. What should we do when encountering the worst storm because of the disobedience of those around us? How can we overcome it as Paul did?
1. Check your mission and hold on to it. Which comes first, mission or life? Scores of years ago, Korea was nothing but a small country, but today it stands as a Christian country because of Gods mission for it. In Acts 23, when Paul retuned to Jerusalem, some Jews tried to kill him. However, God said that he would never be put to death until his mission was completed. The time of the worst storm in our life is the moment when we need to check our mission. We find our self-identity in the midst of trials and crisis. Voyaging in our life course, we often seat ourselves in Gods cabin after throwing Jesus into the stormy sea, making our way through the waves of pride toward the abyss. While carrying out what God called us to do, all we need to do in our mission voyage is rely on God, who controls the waves of our life, throwing away our experience, ability and judgment.
2. Look around and find your mission for others. To Christians, trials are the best opportunity to meditate on Gods grace and find a greater perspective than usual by taking care of the people around us. In the midst of storm, the man of faith focuses on others, not himself. Paul demonstrated his leadership by taking care of others even in his hardship, calling himself one of sinners- of whom he was the worst. He said to his fellow sailors, 'So, dear friends, take heart. I believe God will do exactly what he told me.' How great consolation and comfort this was to them! So it is with us. We also can bring many people to healing and recovery through the Word of God especially at the moment when we encounter the worst storm in our life, when God enlarges the territory of our ministry for others through the trials.
3. Thank God and bless your neighbors. Over the ten stormy days, Paul played the role of spiritual captain in the ship. There were 276 people on board. Paul, the prisoner said grace for their sake before eating. Without Gods truth in us, we are blind and overwhelmed. The only solvers to this problem are the people of God in Adullam, who were in distress and oppression. What matters the most in our trials is whether we trust in God, believing that he is with us and giving thanks to him. Why do we worry when we believe in his goodness? Why are we afraid when we believe in Almighty Gods presence? Why do we feel lonely when God is always with us? The status of Jesus, the son of God, who came to us as our messiah for our salvation, is the Lord. Nevertheless, he came to us humbly as a human. The son of God bowed his head to be baptized by a man, was betrayed by his disciples, and was crucified by the Jews, his fellow people. Born in the worst circumstance, he experienced the worst human relationships and the worst betrayal. He reaped the worst fruit of his ministry and was deserted even by God. To our surprise, God intentionally prepared all these worst circumstances. There were not mere accidents. God meant Jesus to be the greatest comfort to those in their worst situation. Edward Motes lyrics 'On Christ the solid Rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.' implies that we can stand on Jesus precious body. Thus God sent us his son for us to stand on. Thats the core of the gospel. May God bless us to trust in this Jesus only!
'Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost only the ship will be destroyed.' (Act 27: 21b-22)
