The Book of Acts: Message Eighty
By Dr. Michael
Guido, D.D.
The most
valuable document we have today of ancient seamanship
is found in Acts 27. In it is a beautiful blending of
the natural and the supernatural, the concern of man
and the care of God. This trip was taken without
chart or compass, and it's exceedingly exciting.
Mark the
departure. It was Paul's desire to go to Rome to
preach the gospel. He knew that if he could sow the
seed there, it would be carried by the Spirit all
over the world. Under the providence of the Lord he
was arrested, but he appealed to Caesar, and he was
carried to Rome to preach the gospel, and Rome was
footing the bill. So it is written in acts 27:2,
"We launched!" There's more in the Bible
about the acts of Paul than there is about his
aspirations. How is it with you? Are there more
dreams than deeds? Has the Lord called you to do a
job? Then put some motion to your devotion, some
expression to your impression, some action to your
intention. Launch out now by faith.
Mark the
danger. It's written in Acts 27:4, "The winds
were contrary." Just as soon as you set out to
do the will of the Lord, the devil will stir up a
contrary wind. When you get saved the Lord doesn't
wrap you in soft tissue and put you in a box, marked
"fragile," "handle with care."
Oh, no. He sends you forth into the conflict. And the
more you do for Jesus, the more souls you save, the
more the devil will stir up a storm. Some church
members never get into contrary winds, because they
never do anything for Jesus. The devil is satisfied
with them, so he lets them alone. Think of the time
Paul went to Philippi. There was a slave-girl who was
dominated by the devil. She brought a great deal of
money to her owners by her fortune telling. But Paul
delivered her from the demon by charging, "I
command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out
of her!" It went out then and there. Then the
devil stirred up a storm. Paul was arrested. The mob
tore off his clothes, and the rulers had him beaten.
Then he was cast into jail. Whenever you do something
for the glory of God the devil will always stir up a
storm. But there's another danger. It's more
destructive. It's written in Acts 27:13 and 14,
"The south wind blew softly, supposing that they
had obtained their purpose, they sailed...But not
long afterward there arose...a bad tempestuous
wind." "The soft wind," says Macaulay,
"is the devil's lure to draw his victims until
they are properly on the way of sin. The way of the
transgressor is hard, but not at first. The sowing of
the wild oats seems to be the soft tune of the south
wind. It's the reaping that comes with the tempest
and confusion and darkness. At first there is
merriment, but in the end there is misery. At first
there is wealth, but in the end there is want. At
first there is delight, but in the end there is
death. Sin often begins in a garden of roses, where
there's a soft wind, but it always ends in despair,
desolation and death. Some of you know what I mean.
You had fun in your sin at the beginning. But now the
bloom has gone from the rose and all you have left is
the thorn. Now the delight has gone from the drink
and all you have left is the delirium. Now the lift
has gone from the lust and all you have left is a
lacerated heart. Now the thrill has gone from the
transgression and all you have left is the tempest.
The Bible says, "Sin, when it is finished,
bringeth forth death."
Mark the
drifting. It's written in Acts 27:15, "When the
ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind,
we let her drift." Years ago an American liner
was wrecked off the coast of Sicily. The sea was calm
and there was a soft wind and the weather was clear.
But the liner was caught in a treacherous current,
which slowly but surely lured it out of its course
and to destruction. In life there are treacherous
currents which get hold of the soul, and slowly but
surely carry it to destruction. For every drift ends
in a wreck. Oh, drift no longer, let Jesus save, let
Him guide you across the wave, lest you sink in a
sinner's grave, drifting over life's sea!
copyright 2000 Guido Evangelistic
Association
All Scripture verses are
quoted from the New King James Version..
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the book of Acts.
This series of messages on the
books of the Bible were originally written for
broadcast on Dr. Guido's radio program, "The
Sower." They are collected and reprinted here
for your enjoyment and spiritual edification.
