Video Messages
MESSAGE FOR SUNDAY, 11-9-25
“FAITH THROUGH THE STORM,”
ACTS 27:21-31 (KJV)
Acts 27:21–31 (KJV)
21 But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. 22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship. 23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, 24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. 25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. 26 Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.
27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country; 28 And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms. 29 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. 30 And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, 31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
If there was anyone who qualified to talk about weathering storms, rains, floods, winds, persecutions, thorns in the flesh, and whatever else the enemy throws at us, it’s the Apostle Paul. For in 2 Cor. 11:21-28 the Apostle Paul lists his resume and credentials of his sufferings because of the call on his life, and his dedication and commitment to God. In the very next chapter, 2 Cor. 12:7-10, he asks the Lord to remove the thorn in his flesh, which is the messenger of Satan, sent to bring persecutions upon Paul and his ministry, but the answer that God gave Paul was “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” The revelation that God’s favor was in the Apostles direction was all he needed to weather anything. Afterwards Paul said “…when I am weak then I am strong.” The Amplified Bible reads 2 Cor. 12:10 as follows: “So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [in human strength] then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength),” The same applies to Believers today. God’s grace is all that we need to be fully equipped for spiritual warfare, and to be victorious in all endeavors.
BACKGROUND TO THE APOSTLE’S DILEMNA
In our text the Apostle Paul finds himself in a death struggle with the Jews who were taught in the law of Moses, but were not privy of the gospel message of Christ of which Paul, after his Damascus experience, now preached. Paul had been zealous in the law of Moses himself persecuting unto the death by his own confession: Acts 22:4 (KJV): 4 And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women. Acts 26:10–12 (KJV): 10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. 11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities. 12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests. The newly established Church was suspicious of the Apostle who himself had persecuted Christians unto the death, Acts 22:17–21 (KJV): 17 And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; 18 And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. 19 And I said, Lord, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on thee: 20 And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him. 21 And he said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles.
I’M WILLING TO DIE
The Apostle Paul was prepared to suffer for the cause of Christ. The Bible teaches that all who live godly in Christ shall suffer persecution, 2 Timothy 3:12 (KJV): 12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Paul had accepted this and others prophesied to Paul that if he went to Jerusalem he would be persecuted. The Evangelist Phillip, whose daughters prophesied, and this was the same Phillip who witnessed to the Ethiopian Eunuch, had the prophet Agabus prophesy to Paul while Paul was at the Evangelist’s house, Acts 21:8–14 (KJV): 8 And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. 9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy. 10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. 11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. 12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. 14 And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done. Paul understood these things were to be. In Acts 20:22-38 the Apostle shares his destiny with those disciples of his and that they should give of themselves to take care of the flock of God. Paul reveals that even among some of them that they will draw disciples after themselves, yet Paul tells them to remember what the Lord had said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” It’s in this mindset that the Apostle Paul goes to Jerusalem.
FOR THOU SHALT BE HIS WITNESS
Acts 22:12–16 (KJV)
12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, 13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him. 14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth. 15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard. 16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
Through persecution Paul was being used of God as His witness and so in this process the Apostle was traveling as the Spirit led him to be in the presence of kings, Acts 26:24–32 (KJV):
24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. 25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. 26 For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner. 27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. 28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. 29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. 30 And when he had thus spoken, the king rose up, and the governor, and Bernice, and they that sat with them: 31 And when they were gone aside, they talked between themselves, saying, This man doeth nothing worthy of death or of bonds. 32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar. This brings us to our text where the Apostle is in a ship that those who have detained Paul is accommodating the Apostle to be judged by Caesar rather than the Jews. While in the ship they encounter a tempestuous storm called Euroclydon. Euroclydon from the Gr. Euros, “east wind,” and Lat. Aquilo, “northeast wind.” As revealed in our text, the Apostle went through some heavy persecution but also revealed is that God was with Paul throughout. There’s a powerful statement that Paul makes to the men on the troubled ship in Acts 27:31 (KJV): 31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. I’m reminded of another ship that was essential to the saving of a few souls during the days of Noah, 1 Peter 3:18–22 (KJV): 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: 19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; 20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. 21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: 22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. As did the Apostle Paul, so must we. Except we abide in the ship of salvation we cannot be saved and this means remain on the ship in midst of storms, rains, floods, winds, Euroclydons, and whatever else the enemy may throw at us. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV): 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. To stay on the ship for the Believer is to stay in the will of God for any and every situation, the good, the bad, and the ugly.
John 16:33 (KJV)
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Tribulation – Greek Thlipsis, Pressure, oppression, stress, anguish, adversity, affliction, crushing, squashing, squeezing, distress. It’s the term described for the crushing of grapes in the press to get the juice. Some of us have to go through the crushing.
Philippians 1:29–30 (KJV)
29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
2 Timothy 2:8–12 (KJV)
8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: 9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us.
1 Peter 2:20 (KJV)
20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
1 Peter 3:17–18 (KJV)
17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. 18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.
Romans 8:18 (KJV)
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
OUTLINE FOR BIBLE STUDY MONDAY, 11-10-25
“FAITH & VISION,”
HEB. 11:1, 2 (KJV)
Hebrews 11:1, 2 (KJV)
11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
By it, “by faith,” the elders, “presbus (elderly); older; as noun a senior; specifically an Israelite Sanhedrist (also figuratively member of the celestial council) or Christian presbyter: -elder (-est) old, obtain a good report, Greek martureo, to be a witness that is testify (literally or figuratively): -charge, give [evidence] bear record, have (obtain of) good (honest) report, be well reported of, testify, give (have) testimony ( be, bear, give, obtain), witness.
Hebrews 11:13–16 (KJV)
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
These faith greats died in faith, not having received the promises, but faith calleth those things that be not as though they were, so by faith they saw the promises from afar, through the eyes of faith. They were persuaded of them, embraced them and confess them. Theirs is the formula for success, they were persuaded of the promises, embraced the promises, and confessed the promises.
Mark 11:22–24 (KJV)
22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Romans 4:17–22 (KJV)
17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: 20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
Matthew 17:20 (KJV)
20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Hebrews 11:32–40 (KJV)
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
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