Acts 27 Paul’s Encouragement by Ben Fronczek

http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?p=208

Acts 27  Paul’s Encouragement

Question? Have you ever been to the point where you actually feared for your life; when in a situation, you thought that you may actually die?

Maybe some of you have. Maybe when you were in a really bad car accident, or maybe when at one time you got really, really sick. Maybe on one of those occasions you thought, ‘This is it, I may die here!’

I have to admit, even though I’ve had a few accidents and have gotten pretty sick a number of times, I have never got to that point where I thought that my life might be over.

Like a lot of you, I’ve experienced heart shaking, traumatic events that shook me to the core: Like when our first son died a week or so before he entered the world; or when my dad died unexpectedly at the age of 67.  Those events really got me shook up. Most of us probably have had one or more of those bad experiences that shake us up and bring us to our knees.  On those occasions we didn’t need any prophets of doom and gloom complaining around us, rather we need to be comforted.

And after it’s all said and done, and those situations or events have passed by, and most of the hurt is gone, eventually, you can talk to others about your experience.  Somehow God can use our experience to help others when they are in distress.

As one studies the life of Apostle Paul, you read that this man had his share of life shaking, traumatic events. I’m sure that more than once he thought that his life was over.  (see: 2 Corinthians. 11:22-27)

But as a result of those experiences, rather than becoming a bitter old man, we read that he learned to encourage others and taught others to do the same. Concerning this matter he wrote something very profound to those in the Corinthian church; Read 2 Corinthians 1:3-7. ” Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.  For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.  If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.  And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.”

Paul was a guy who not only experience some traumatic events in his life, he probably thought he was at the brink of death on some of those occasions. (Like when he was stoned and left for dead (Acts 14:19))

And in those situations where did Paul find comfort? We read that the Lord comforted him over and over. He found that the Lord’s comfort not only helped him personally, he learned that the comfort that he personally  received also blessed and comforted others.

As we continue on in our study of the book of Acts, we will see an example of how Paul was not only comforted in a difficult and trying situation, we’ll also see how it comforted others as well.

A little background before we read our text in Acts 27: In previous chapters we read that when Paul went to worship at the Temple in Jerusalem he was arrested by the Romans after a riot began to develop. Some Jews from Asia stirred a crowd after making some false accusations about him. The Jews wanted to kill him but after a trial before Governor Festus, rather that going back to Jerusalem to stand trial before the Jews, as a Roman citizen Paul claimed his right to make his appeal before Caesar. Henceforth, Festus send Paul to Rome.  Having been sent to Italy by way of sea, in Chapter 27 we read that things started out all right, but then the weather started going downhill quickly. And this is where our story picks up today:

Read: Acts 27:13-44 (Click on link to read)

Here we see that Paul does not seem too upset about the dire situation they were in. Believe me when I say, that their ships were nowhere are as sea worthy as ships are today. The prospect of that boat sinking was very likely; yet Paul seemed quite calm. I think that there are a couple of reasons for this peaceful state of mind:

#1. Probably in Paul’s mind he had been through far worst situations

#2. We read that an angel of the Lord appeared to him and lets him know that everything was going to be OK, because the Lord wanted him to go Rome.

So what does Paul do? He in turn encourages and comforts those on the ship with him with the comfort that he himself received from the Lord.

So as we read back in 2 Corinthians 1, Paul lets us know that there are two things that can happen when we encounter those life shaking events:

#1. As a believer, you can find comfort in God. And that comfort and peace of mind comes when we learn to trust Him. It doesn’t  matter how bad the situations is. God is in control and probably has a plan in mind for you and your life. And that can be reassuring to a believer.

#2. The 2^nd thing Paul lets us know in 2 Cor. is that you can be a blessing to others by comforting them with the comfort that you yourself have received from the Lord.

People who are upset will feel better if they see your confidence, your assurance, and your trust in the Lord. Never underestimate that power that flows in you and through you to them.

Those men on that boat were afraid. The storm was so bad they hadn’t even eaten in 14 day (vs 33) because of the dire situation they were in. And because of Paul’s confidence and strength, and prayer, it said that they were all encourages and had something to eat.

William Arthur Ward once said:
 “Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you.”

In this day and age people are hungry for encouragement.
We need to understand that Christian encouragement is a profound thing: I love  Philippians 2:1-4  which says, ^“ If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion,  then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.  Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

In the book of Hebrews it talks about us making encouragement a daily habit: In Heb 3:12-13 the author writes:  ^“See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.”

And in Heb. Chapter 10:23-25 he writes, ^“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Encouragement will produce results. Don’t under estimate it’s power.

In closing, let me close by sharing two illustrations with you:

– Marion Gilbert wrote this in Reader’s Digest, February, 1994,

‘One morning I opened the door to get the newspaper and was surprised to see a strange little dog with our paper in his mouth. Delighted with this unexpected “delivery service,” I fed him some treats. The following morning I was horrified to see the same dog sitting in front of our door, wagging his tail, surrounded by eight newspapers. I spent the rest of that morning returning the papers to their owners.’

 – An elderly widow, restricted in her activities, was eager to serve Christ. After praying about this, she realized that she could bring blessing to others by playing the piano. The next day sheplaced this small ad in the Oakland Tribune: “Pianist will play hymns by phone daily for those who are sick and despondent–the service is free.” The notice included the number to dial. When people called, she would ask, “What hymn would you like to hear?” Within a few months her playing had brought cheer to several hundred people. Many of them freely poured out their hearts to her, and she was able to help and encourage them. (Unknown)

You may have had to suffer some bad times in the past, and you may not have liked it very much. But if you let Him, God can use you and your experiences to comfort and encourage another. Your most trying and difficult circumstance in life may have prepared you to give comfort and encouragement to scores of people who may come your way.

My challenge this week is for you choose to be an encourager in a time of so much doom and gloom.  Pray about being a source of comfort and encouragement to others.

And as you talk with others, do so with love, and let them know where your strength and comes from as Paul did on that ship so long ago.