Weathering the Impossible: Application from Acts
In a recent C&YA message, Pastor Brandon taught on Acts 27:26-44, which details Paul & Co. suffering through a brutal storm and subsequent shipwreck. In what would seem a hopeless circumstance, we see Paul’s faith in God’s promises and how his leadership affects the perspective of those in the ship. This message was particularly impactful to me as I reflect on what God has been teaching me over the last year or so as I’ve learned to trust him with impossible situations, both in my life and in the lives of those I’m leading.
“Satan’s primary objective in your life is to keep you from believing the promises of God. ”
A desperate situation
In Acts 27:22, God makes it clear to Paul that they would survive the storm approaching them, but they would lose everything but their lives. They were heading into an absolutely desperate situation, one they had no control over. They couldn’t stop the wind or the waves. They couldn’t reinforce their ship to weather such a storm. If it weren’t for God’s promise over their very lives, they would have been completely without hope.
I’d imagine you’ve faced a situation — maybe even many — similar to this. Maybe your life wasn’t in danger like Paul’s, but it was something out of your control. Something you couldn’t do anything about. It may have been a loss, a trespass against you, even just a thought process you can’t get rid of (see me raising my hand). Maybe it was something truly heartbreaking. But no matter what you did, you couldn’t find a way out. Maybe you’re in a situation like that right now.
The crew tried everything they could to avoid the destruction of the ship, even after God had told them that he would preserve their lives. They tried to mentally strengthen themselves, to just hunker down and wait it out, and even to abandon ship. But none of these solutions would have worked.
Despite the promise, they found themselves without hope because of a lack of faith. Something we’ve learned in the last few chapters of Acts is that the wind here is picturing the pushback of the enemy. The crew allowed the wind to make them doubt God’s promise, and Satan’s primary objective in your life is to keep you from believing the promises of God. Whatever impossible situation you may find yourself in, the most important thing you can do is believe God at his word.
James 5:10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
When the wind moves us
Do you believe that God is absolutely for you like he declares in Romans 8:31-35? Do you truly believe that his heart is towards you? That nothing can ever be done to separate you from the incredible and death-conquering love of Jesus the Son of God?
I’ve struggled to believe that in the past. Even just a couple months back, I found myself not fully believing God’s declaration of mercy, kindness, and redemption over my life, and it really threw me into a tailspin for about a week. I’m generally a sober-minded person, so when my emotions and thoughts were waging a war against me, I had a really hard time determining what was true. What I had to learn was that God’s words are always true, no matter our situation, no matter our understanding, no matter our perspective, no matter our feelings, no matter our reasons why they “ought not” be true.
When the winds of the enemy blow against me, telling me I can’t trust the plain words of scripture, I have to stand fast. I know the words of truth, and I must decide that they are certain, even if I am certainly feeling the opposite. The crew of the ship were certain that they were going to lose their lives, but God had promised something different to them.
Satan uses trials to move us to fear and faithlessness. So when we’re faced with the winds of trial, if nothing else, we must cling to the absolute truth of the promises God has given us in scripture. Find the verses that relate to what you’re going through and cleave to them. When the devouring lion roars in your face, stand boldly, declaring what is written (Mat 4:10).
As you grow in ministry leadership, this becomes even more important. Whether the storm is accosting you, your disciple, or your whole ministry, you can’t allow the enemy to let it derail your faith. Our first key point from the message was that, when the storm rages, mission-minded believers are bolstered to lead.
Though the shipmates were thrust into fear, Paul did not succumb to the winds. Instead, he stood firm on God’s promise and stood up to lead the weak into greater faith.
“It’s in these moments of instinctual self-preservation that we must run the other way”
When the wind moves us to lead
We see in the passage five ways that Paul exemplified faith-filled leadership.
1. Warning
When the crew tried to abandon ship, Paul told them what the consequences would be: that everyone, including themselves, would die. As Christians, we’re all called to warn people of the consequences of a faithless life (Col 1:28). We’re called to warn the lost against rejecting Christ and the saved against refusing his commands. However, it’s important to note that warning is always better received when you’ve proven your love towards someone (1 Cor 4:14-16).
As you lead a disciple or a Bible study — or a ministry or a church — it is vital that you assure the ones you’re leading that you’ve given them your heart, and that you’re holding theirs dear. If I only ever instruct my disciple and never show them a parent’s loving care, they likely won’t receive it when I warn them not to go down a certain path. But if I’ve proven that I love them deeply, they’ll know I desire the best for them and am not just trying to control them. After all, God commanded salvation by faith in Jesus Christ only after he had demonstrated his love in the greatest possible way (Acts 17:30, Rom 5:8).
2. Nourishment
After the crew had heeded Paul’s warning, he encouraged them to sit down and eat bread. In their extreme anxiety, they hadn’t eaten in two weeks.
Of course it’s important to take physical care of yourself even in the midst of a hopeless situation, but the spiritual lesson here is of greater significance. In scripture, bread (as a significant source of physical sustenance) is a picture of the word of God (Luke 4:4). Jesus, the Living Word, is also called the Bread of Life (John 1:14, 6:35).
When those you’re leading are facing despair, nourish them in the word and the Word. Remind them of the promises they may have forgotten. Remind them of the Savior who gave his very life just to bring them near to his heart. (Remind yourself of these things, too; forgetfulness always leads to hopelessness.)
Psa 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
3. Encouragement
In the message, Brandon noted that even though Paul had told them to be of good cheer earlier in the passage, it wasn’t until the nourishment and fellowship came in verses 35-36 that they actually became of good cheer.
Even in impossible situations, true fellowship makes hearts glad. Very often, when we’re facing hardship, our inclination is to abandon ship and save ourselves (which never works out the way we imagine). It’s in these moments of instinctual self-preservation that we must run the other way into true fellowship with Christ and his body. Part of why this is so helpful is that it allows us to be reminded of how faithful Jesus has been to us in the past, which gives us hope for the future. When my disciples face storms, I’m always quick to remind them of how God has brought them through so much already.
When your disciple feels overwhelmed by the weight of their circumstances, ask them if they’ve been spending time at Christ’s feet or with the believers in their lives. If not, encourage them to do so, reminding them that there is overflowing joy in the presence of the Lord and his people (Psa 16:11, 133:1).
“We must show endurance and obedience, and prove God’s favor and protection.”
4. Endurance and Obedience
Whereas the people in the ship had previously been self-serving, we now see them working together to navigate the approaching shoreline through the storm. Paul’s demonstration of faith had cultivated faithful laborers.
As you show faith in the midst of desperate situations, those you lead will see it and be provoked to faith of their own. As you continue to labor in the work of the Father despite the crumbling circumstances, those you lead will be strengthened to labor as well. Even in the most impossible conditions, the work of the gospel does not change.
5. Favor and Protection
Towards the end of the passage, we see a last ditch effort by the enemy to thwart God’s promise. As the ship wrecks, the soldiers conspire to kill the prisoners, lest they escape and the soldiers lose their lives at the hands of the Roman government. But because of Paul’s testimony, the centurion in charge shows them favor and prevents that plan, organizing an escape for every person on the ship. And just like God promised, every passenger escaped safe to land.
The final point of the message was that when we all obey, we all reap the reward of obedience. As you grow in leadership, you grow to understand the peace and joy that comes when those you lead choose faithful obedience. I truly can’t describe the blessing it is to see those I’ve discipled and the girls in my Bible study believing and serving Jesus. Paul was on to something when he said he had no greater joy than to know that his children were walking in truth (3 John 1:4).
On the other hand, what an aching heart comes to the leader when those they lead refuse to walk in truth. I’ve felt it; if you lead long enough, you probably will too. Brandon said something in his message that pricked my heart: “It brings me no pleasure to hear God say, ‘Well done, thou good and faithful servant,’ if he can’t say it to you too.” Do you have that kind of heart for the people you lead?
The possibility of God’s flock refusing obedience is why these five aspects of Paul’s leadership are so important. We must warn, nourish, and encourage those we lead as they face the raging winds. We must show endurance and obedience, and prove God’s favor and protection. Above all else, we must come to a place where we truly believe God’s promises above every thought or circumstance.
Luke 18:27 And [Jesus] said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
Melissa Wharton is a discipler and Bible study leader in C&YA. She is a member of Temple Worship and leads the editing teams for Living Faith Books and the LFF Blog.