The Agony of Transition
by Pastor Crystaline
(Verse 1-8)

Paul was a prisoner for preaching the Gospel, sent on board a ship with other prisoners to Rome.

The journey was tiring, hopeless and there was a tension of waiting on God’s promises for Paul; the agony of transition. Paul had promises from God that he would preach in Rome and Paul held on to it.

Maybe some of us are in that agony of transition but not seeing the promises come to pass. Don’t give up in the tension of waiting. Have courage to go through the waiting and transition into those promises.

It will come to pass and is about to happen as He promised.
In the tension of the agony of transition, God is closest to us. He will bring His promises to pass and He is faithful.

1. God is releasing courage to cross over into our destiny.
2. God is releasing courage to believe and trust in His promises once again. (2 Corinthians 1:20)
3. God is releasing courage to let go of our present pain and to fix our eyes on the hand of the Lord. He holds the entire world together and lives inside of us.

Hearing God’s Voice vs Hearing Man’s Voice
by Pastor Derrick
(Verse 9-12)

“Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, saying, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.” Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul. And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭27:9-12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Paul warned the fellow sailors that it was not wise to sail and perceived a disaster. It may seem like a simple advice. However, verse 10 says that Paul perceived it would be a disaster.

The word ‘perceived’ in the original language meant ‘theatre’. Paul had a perceiving vision of the disaster. When we walk in the Lord, we will sometimes perceive (have a vision) of what is to come (Acts 2:17).

The centurion, however, was more persuaded by the other voices of the experienced sailors (Acts 27:11) rather than Paul who had no experience. There was a tension between hearing the voice of God and the voice of Man. The tension between the wisdom of God vs the wisdom of Man.

Can we listen and heed the voice of God more than Man? Can we place ourselves into what God has spoken to us?

Paul stuck to, obeyed and released the voice of God in spite or circumstances.

Even the crew (the situation) came against Paul by agreeing to set sail. Paul had to resist going with the crowd.

If God made promise to us and we heard His voice, can we hold fast to Him unto victory?

Having faith in God is taking risk despite what the circumstances says. The tension of the voice of the majority and familiarity vs the voice of God.

In order to discern His voice in these challenging times:

1. We need to take risk and have faith.
2. We need to learn to trust in Him

The Importance of the Voice of God
by Pastor Sebastian
(Verse 13-38)

Paul’s warning went unheeded. The storm became more severe as they sailed. Paul rebuked them and said they would be shipwrecked but also told them they would survive because he had heard the voice of the Lord.

Paul was able to have this peace around him because He knew the Lord had spoken to him.

Things got worse and many lost hope and tried to escape the ship. Paul stopped them from doing so. The crew even had to let go of their lifeboats. Sometimes we need to let go of our lifeboats and let the voice of God be the only lifeboat.

Many of us are in chaos because we listen to many other voices (news, media, circumstances) but don’t recognize the voice of God

How do we recognize the voice of God? We need to have an intimate relationship with the Shepherd (John 10:27) and discern and recognize the voice of God.

How do we develop hearing the voice of God? Read the Bible.

Paul recognized that the voice of God brought peace, assurance, direction and security and he was able to give thanks to God in the middle of the storm and encourage others. (John 14:27)

His Faithfulness is our Victory
by Rev Benedict Rajan
(Verse 39-44)

“When it was day, they did not recognize the land; but they observed a bay with a beach, onto which they planned to run the ship if possible. And they let go the anchors and left them in the sea, meanwhile loosing the rudder ropes; and they hoisted the mainsail to the wind and made for shore. But striking a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves. And the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape. But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land, and the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭27:39-44‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

From this text, we get two basic principles for Christian living:

1. The scheme of man cannot overrule the plan of God. The plan of God for our life cannot be shaken. (Acts 27: 42-43, 23-24, Jeremiah 29:11, Genesis 50:20)

2. Why do shipwrecks come to us in the midst of doing God’s will? God wants us to experience His great, unchanging faithfulness in the midst of trials.

•God’s faithfulness is our victory in all our shipwrecks (1 Corinthians 10:13)
• God’s faithfulness becomes our confidence (Romans 8:37)