The Storm is God’s Method (Acts 27:20-25)
The Field of Answers of the 1st 2nd 3rd RUTC: 5/16/2021
The Storm is God’s Method (Acts 27:20-25)
Bad things continue to happen amidst the pandemic. Warnings concerning the rise of prices, inflation, and an economic crisis are coming forward as well. It has happened before, and it could happen with greater severity. The sure thing is that God has already spoken of all these things as rightful, inevitable, and absolute signs of the final days (Matthew 24, 2 Timothy 3). There may be individual hardships and even hardships in the family. Hold onto God’s three conclusions regardless of what you undergo. First, it is that Christ has indeed finished all curses on the cross (John 19:30). No problem is a problem to the believer who holds onto this covenant. Like the title, this is God’s method to fulfill His absolute plan. Second, the ongoing calamity in the world is an opportunity for us to share the gospel before the Lord returns (Matthew 24:14). It said that the end would come after finding those who will be saved. Apparently, church attendance has decreased, and evangelism is not taking place due to the pandemic. This is false. This is an incorrect statement. This is the greatest opportunity to give God’s answers even virtually. Third, everything will become evidence to the individual and church that hold onto this (Acts 1:8). The number of church members, the economy, and any other things are not an issue for the church with the gospel, the church that evangelizes, and the church that has trained to do so until now. Paul, who was faced with a storm in the passage, is an evangelist who held onto these conclusions. It does not matter even if a difficult time more severe than the one Paul faced, one where there is no hope to live comes. We must hold onto it as an opportunity to receive at least three answers.
- Storms are God’s method of healing our individual hidden problems.
Who is Paul? What was it that God wanted to do through Paul? (Acts 9:15). What was the vision and prayer topic that Paul held onto? (Acts 19:21). The tribulation was the blessing that God had prepared for Paul before he went into Rome.
1) Hidden scars can form if people face hardships and suffering despite being an evangelist and Lord’s servant.
Right before this, Paul had stood in an unfair trial in Jerusalem and was on his way to Rome to stand in a trial as a prisoner.
① When a person continuously experiences problems, they may have overcome them at that moment, but they could remain as scars unconsciously.
It is unrecognizable when time has passed and things are going smoothly. However, it becomes revealed through different forms one day (loneliness, depression, panic disorder, personality disorder, addiction).
② Because Satan knows our hidden scars, he causes conflict through that and makes into a channel to be deceived and fail.
Paul was human. Why wouldn’t he have had hidden fears? (1 Corinthians 2:3). He could face more tremendous hardships if he went to Rome. God had him experience that before going to Rome and was preparing him in advance. It was a spiritual vaccine.
2) What is God’s answer at this moment? Pray when problems come and regardless of how busy you may be.
① Later that night, Paul experiences God’s angel coming to his side, staying with him, and giving him the Word. God gives answers through the Word amidst any problems, hardships, and crisis. When that happens, it is over. It says that God sent out His word, healed them, and rescued them (Psalm 107:20). He allows us to realize what we need to heal and heals us (Hebrews 4:12).
② Then, what was the God-given answer? It was not to be afraid of anything.
What unwittingly comes to me when I face hardship? It is anxiety and fear. When that grows, it becomes unbelief and resentment to people. The relationship with God breaks, and relationships with people grow uncomfortable and eventually break.
③ Galatians 2:20 is the essential core to healing my scars.
It is no longer I who lives. Give up my standard, level, and criteria. Why? It is because now, it is Christ who lives in me. No matter what others may say, I am a person who is the love and plan of Christ. So how should I live now? Live with the faith that looks upon Christ. That is where peace, courage, and all healing comes from.
- Storms are God’s method to open doors in advance for the evangelist who was on his way to save Rome.
Who do God open doors in advance for? To those who hold onto God’s covenant and see, hold onto and enjoy in advance.
1) The time of tribulation became the absolute opportunity to share the gospel with the Roman centurion and soldiers who were on board the ship.
It said, “neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.”
① Is this how the world we live in is like right now? This is the absolute opportunity to give God’s answers. It is the greatest opportunity for evangelism.
What kind of relationships would have been maintained when these individuals received answers through Paul and returned to Rome?
② Everyone related to them would have become doors to evangelism in Rome.
Even simply saving one person can be a door (relationship evangelism). Look at everyone I help and those who are connected to me as doors and pray.
2) Paul was in the same crisis, but he saw in advance, experienced in advance, and testified in advance what God had prepared.
① If it was not for stormy times like this, how could have Paul, who was a prisoner, given answers and evangelized?
Thus, storms are God’s method. If Joseph had not been sold as a slave and went into prison, how would he have given answers to the king?
② He gave the answer of Christ accurately at that moment.
“an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve” (verse 23). It is the identity and authority of the one who is saved by Christ. What does it mean when it says, “I must stand before Caesar, and God has graciously given me the lives of all who sail with me” (verse 24)? It is our life’s conclusion. “Christ who has saved can save you and Caesar. Christ has finished all problems.”
3) Resolve everything through evangelism. Why does God allow us to undergo problems? It is so that we may see the field and the world through our problems.
Many people need to hear the gospel in the fields I reside in and the problems I face.
- Storms are God’s method to give God’s evidence in the life of an evangelist.
1) It seemed like a time of hardships and a time that seemed like death, but it was actually a time to receive God’s evidence.
All the evangelists in the Bible stood as witnesses of that age amidst famine, problems, captivity, and persecution (Hebrew 12:1-2). Therefore, there is a different answer that we will receive if we are within the only gospel and only evangelism and mission (Mark 10:29-30).
2) So, hold onto the covenant and confess true faith in hardships (individual, family, work, age) and the storms of my life.
Verse 25 is the highlight of today’s passage. “So keep your courage, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as He told me.” God’s will is for us to hold onto the God-given covenant and believe in it. He gives us evidence then (Mark 16:17). Is it a time of tribulation? It is the best opportunity to make into a time to restore faith, prayer, and thanksgiving (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Conclusion – Are there problems? Think unconventionally. May you make it into a deep time of enjoying the three answers that are within those problems.