Acts 27

Order of Service

• Call to Worship — Psalm 107:1-2
• Hymn — When Morning Gilds the Skies (#167)
• Prayer of Invocation
• Westminster Shorter Catechism — Questions 98 & 99
• Hymn — Come, My Soul, Thy Suit Prepare (#628)
• Pastoral Prayer
• Sermon
• Hymn — Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah (#598)
• Benediction — 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

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Sermon Title: Take Heart — Trials and the Faithfulness of God

Scripture: Acts 27:21-26

I. Take Heart Because Trials Are Frequent

A. Trials come because we are hard of hearing

1. Paul had warned the men before the voyage not to set sail from Crete — Acts 27:10
2. In Acts 27:21, Paul reminds them he had spoken this warning — not to say "I told you so," but to establish that he is someone worthy to be heard
3. We too are hard of hearing; some trials we face are brought on by our failure to heed God's word — though not all trials have this cause

B. Trials come because we are subject to circumstances

1. All 276 men on the ship are at the mercy of the sea, powerless and not in control — Acts 27:22, Acts 27:26
2. Even Paul, God's faithful apostle, receives no special exemption from trial — imprisonment, beatings, stoning, and shipwreck mark his ministry
3. The COVID-19 pandemic is a recent reminder that all of us are subject to circumstances beyond our control — fear, grief, loss, and anxiety remain real
4. Trials are the routine experience of even God's people; because trials are frequent, there is a genuine need for the call to take heart

II. Take Heart Because God Is Faithful

A. God faithfully speaks

1. In the midst of the storm, an angel of God appears to Paul: "Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar" — Acts 27:23-24
2. This is the same God who speaks creation into being, who speaks from the burning bush, who speaks through the prophets, and who upholds all things by the word of his power — Hebrews 1:3
3. God is not a distant, removed entity; he is personal and intimate with his people, especially close to the brokenhearted
4. "Do not be afraid" is God's repeated word to his people: to Israel before Canaan, to Joshua after Moses' death, to Mary and Joseph at the announcement of Christ's birth — and now to Paul

B. God faithfully keeps

1. God promises to preserve Paul's life so that he will stand before Caesar — his perfect plan for Paul is not abandoned — Acts 27:24-25
2. God also promises to keep all 276 men aboard the ship — likely in answer to Paul's intercession on their behalf
3. Many of these men are likely pagans, yet God promises to keep them — a picture of his common grace even toward those who have not honored him as Lord
4. The promise is fulfilled: "all were brought safely to land" — Acts 27:44
5. Paul can call the men to take heart because he personally knows this speaking and keeping God — he has tasted God's faithfulness ahead of them
6. Christ himself promises to keep all who are his: "This is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me" — John 6:39

III. The Faithful God Creates Gospel Opportunity

A. In Acts 27:34-35, Paul gathers the men, urges them to eat, gives thanks to God before all, and breaks bread

1. Even in the midst of trial, the faithfulness of God opened a gospel opportunity around a shared meal
2. Paul's testimony of his faithful God was proclaimed to all 276 men on the boat

B. Application: look back and remember God's faithfulness; hold on to those remembrances when new storms come

1. God is always in control, always over all things, always working all things together for the spiritual good of his people — Romans 8:28
2. Take heart — he who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it