Acts 27:33-44
33 As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing. 34 Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength,[a] for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.” 35 And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. 36 Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37 (We were in all 276 persons in the ship.) 38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.
39 Now when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to run the ship ashore. 40 So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach. 41 But striking a reef,[c] they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the surf. 42 The soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape. 43 But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, 44 and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.
Have you ever had hurt feelings with Father God, King of Kings, Lord God Almighty?
Best to tell Him.
Why the shipwreck GOD??? Why 3 Times a Shipwreck???
If I were Paul I'd have said, "Did I make You mad?"
I'd have hurt feelings.
But if you look,this is more rollercoaster ride than anything else.
And Paul gets to say,"I DID THAT. I Lived Through That!"
Look at Paul's list:
2 Corinthians 11
Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea.
That list right there, will put hair on your chest.
Wake you up in the morning.
Put grit in your stance.
But you know, after all those efforts for Father God, I'd have hurt feelings over the shipwrecks.
THREE SHIPWRECKS??? Worse than Charlie Brown. Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy???
Evangelism, News, Attention, Curiosity. Stamina... the answer is... God's Purpose.
Isaiah 46
3 "Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of the house of Israel, You who have been borne by Me from birth And have been carried from the womb; 4 Even to your old age I will be the same, And even to your graying years I will bear you! I have done it, and I will carry you; And I will bear you and I will deliver you. 5 "To whom would you liken Me And make Me equal and compare Me, That we would be alike?…
Paul with his great Love and power and Will and Joy and Faith and Hope...
Paul sees alllll this trouble and he has lived
7 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—
What will he do with this Will to do God's Will?
The last of 2 Corinthians 11 says, Paul will Boast.
57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
Proverbs 21:31
The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD.
Blessings like faith, can be unseen. It's the only answer to Paul saying he rejoices in all these troubles. To Overcome!
Romans 8
The Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.
Father God,
The Lord's Prayer is Perfect and Complete.
The Apostle's Creed tells us of faith.
But the "Help Lord Jesus" Works well.
The Highest Name of Jesus
will carry us out and up
or we will walk through this and learn
or we will suffer and be changed to grow again.
Jesus is going to have the Victory.
The highest name gathers us to rest in His Love.
Father God, Let me be led in Your Mercies and not be the one reined in.
Comfort and enfold and grow the ones I love. Uphold and Protect the People You have given me.
Lead and Guide the Nation trusting in You. Empower all the People trusting in You. IN Jesus, the Victory. Amen.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves †
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