Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul. And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west. And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete. But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive. Acts 27:9-15
I remember during my time in the Marine Corps a brief trip made to the USS Tortuga, a small amphibious landing ship that was new at the time and had not even made her maiden voyage or her shakedown cruise with a Marine unit aboard her yet. It was just after the Persian Gulf War and I was a communicator who had been reassigned to work for the unit chaplain as his assistant.
We had packed our gear aboard ship and tied everything down, which sailors who served on her told me was a requirement, although the seas were calm that afternoon, just off the North Carolina coastline. We went underway, sailing down the coast only a short distance, but along about the time of sunset, the word came over the 1MC (loudspeaker) stating that there was a strong gale blowing in and ordering the sailors to tie down all loose gear and equipment. The reason, I found out later, is that a folding chair not fastened down HURTS when it comes sliding at you at you from across a compartment at high velocity. Still, as all our equipment was stowed and tied, I did not think anything of it until we tried to hold a Bible study a few hours later up in the control tower of the ship.
Now anyone who has ever served on an ocean-going vessel knows that there are places to go if you are prone to sea-sickness that are easier on the stomach than others…three levels up in the ships control tower is not that place! The reason being is that the ship’s center of gravity is generally below the waterline; otherwise she would be top-heavy and tip over.
That being said, any rocking that the ship does in a storm is magnified the further you get above the waterline. Our 2100 study was pretty much canceled as we were literally thrown from one side of the room to the other, with the ship rocking so much that you could nearly walk on the walls as the vessel tipped and rolled in the heavy seas from side to side and backwards and forwards. It was no picnic in the berthing areas of the ship that night either as Marines and sailors were thrown out of their racks (beds) by the wildly rocking ship and some lost their sea-legs and began to toss their evening dinner on the deck.
That being said, I can say from experience that sailing the oceans, especially in a storm, is not for the faint of heart. With that, I bring you to the island of Melita.
Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, known for his many missionary journeys in the Bible would scarcely be considered a push-over by modern day church standards. Most of our Apostolic churches would not even let him in the door. I seriously believe that with all my heart. There was a boldness and tenacity about the man that slew Christians, fed them to lions, watched the stoning of Stephen and then after being knocked down by Christ on the road to Damascus and brought into the faith…that belies anything modern Christianity, even oneness Pentecostalism has produced of late. Compared to what he endured, we just don’t have the goods…but give us time….
As in the church today, Paul found those even in the position of leadership that would not listen to him and chose the words of other men over those he gave. Face it brethren, it happens. We’ve become a movement of politicians, not ministers. Our mission now is not to keep the faith once delivered to the saints, but to keep the “peace” and not let anyone rock our boat. Only in recent years have I heard a baptism of integrity slipping into our movement in the form of honesty among some of our elders admitting that they had licensed men to the ministry that have never been called by God. There seems to be a baptism of revelation and honesty that is flowing into our older generation as they step off the scene, that is willing to admit that we are not invincible and that position and an office does not make us right in God’s eyes, only obedience to God’s word.
I liken the master and owner of the ship to what we in the Marines called “subject matter experts.” This person did not have to be of any specific rank or status. He or she just needed to be a specialist and a professional in their field of study or work. He knew what it was like out on the deep. Nothing there intimidated him. He had a business to run, money to make and a ship to sail…and ships were built to survive the storm, not avoid them. Let that sink in for a bit.
Paul was not running from God. He was no Jonah. Yet even though Paul had given the centurion counsel not to set sail, there were conditions about him in the natural…his chains, thing said about him, his accusations…and things of life, his situation…that caused the centurion to lightly esteem his advice. In short, Paul was bound hand and foot in chains, a prisoner and sentenced to appear before Caesar because of his petition to Felix and King Agrippa.
Don’t try being in that cat’s shoes in modern Pentecost! Sorry, someone sees you bound; shackled, accused…they will run you under the gauntlet of accusation and strip you of your dignity, your standing in the community and your honor. Some will even try to strip you of your spiritual authority, based on nothing more than an accusation…. Why? Because evil is always accepted at face value and the good has to be proven…because we are fallen flesh. You know what I’m talking about. Be honest. You don’t have to sin to have people in Pentecost slander you and dis-fellowship you. All you need is an accusation on your hide and the good old ain’ts will swarm like a school of piranhas and strip you to the bone!
The centurion should have known better than to not listen to Paul, but he was a victim of flesh. He wanted the specialist’s advice and he got it and followed it. I’m sure he had been with Paul for a long time, and unlike some of us, Paul didn’t clam up and shut his mouth about the gospel so he wouldn’t offend someone. I’m sure that centurion had heard Paul’s testimony over and over and had seen people converted and healed and saved. Paul didn’t do anything in hiding. He told Agrippa that the things that happened in the kingdom were not done in a corner. He’d been thrown out of the temple, out of synagogues (sorry that spells churches in this day and age), stoned, beaten, slapped in the face by the biggest named preachers in the entire land (I know…taboo subject in Pentecost), run out of town. You get those kind of credentials in this generation and you have committed spiritual suicide in most of our social circles! The charismatics might put you in their pulpits, but not us One God people!
Don’t worry…I’m getting closer to hitting you where you live. Read on.
And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat: Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven. And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away. But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me. Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island. Acts 27:16-26
Yes, the head man in charge should have listened, but he didn’t. However, Paul did not hold it against him, because the word of the Lord came to him again and he moved on INTO his storm, gave more advice, gave more warning and this time they listened…for awhile. That spells “we ain’t out of the woods yet,” to those of you who constantly want out of your storms. Sorry, but I gave up that mindset three years ago, friend. When I get in my storm, I push, I rock the boat, I test the waters. I try and see what I can get done. I pray. I fast…just like Paul did. I keep talking to the man who thinks he’s in charge and to the One who is! I don’t sit idle on my hands and that drives some saints and preachers alike slap nuts, because when they are wanting you to resign yourself to your “fate” (in their eyes) no one wants to see someone taking readings, checking the wind, seeing who else is willing to hoist sails, take the wheel, bail water. Our mindset is “curse God and die, you fool!” Shut up and stop bugging me. I have peanut brittle to sell and a sermon to prepare for and I don’t have time for you in your storm! Notice what they did…WE LET HER DRIVE. For those of you not familiar with the terminology, they turned the ship not AGAINST the storm where they would meet the most resistance, but they turned INTO the storm and let the strong winds fill their sails and drive them into a PRE-DETERMINED DIRECTION. That might not make sense to you yet, but hang on. The boat’s coming around.
They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep. Psalms 107:23-24
This verse brought new meaning into my life exactly five years ago this month. One of the greatest storms in my life, up until that time, had blown into my life. I had been out of church for nearly 10 years, running from God’s call on my life. God sought me out like the lost sheep and carried me back out of my desert place and restored me. In less than a year, I had married, gotten out of the Marines and headed to another state where there was a minister who believed in full restoration of fallen ministers. Some say that is everyone among us, but let’s be honest…that simply isn’t true. We put conditions on God and we put conditions on His callings, and “the called” that we have absolutely no say or control over.
During that storm I was faced with a myriad of conditions that absolutely made no sense to me. There was no explanation for my situation, only revelation in my situation. My wife, my best friend turned on me. A mentor and pastor that I highly respect turned on me. I lost my home. It cost me a very lucrative job. I was arrested, charged falsely with a felony, run out of church. (That was a first for me at that time, but not a last.) I was slandered, ridiculed by saints, sinners and ministry alike, called a “vessel unto dishonor” (a false doctrine), called a reprobate because I couldn’t cry on cue during a counseling session that was more screaming and berating than giving of counsel, and a man I sought counsel from repeatedly told other ministers that I “operated with a familiar spirit,” because God read his mail too many times while talking to me. Still, like Paul, you don’t hold their actions, be it via arrogance or ignorance, against them. You move on and get another word from God. That’s the only way you stay relevant and productive.
Sometimes you don’t have any choice about what skeletons God kicks out of the closet when you walk into a church, or an office, or a home. As I was advised recently…don’t take it personal. They will not accept you. Focus on the movement and not the organizations in the movement. They will respect you at a distance but they will not associate with you. They will counsel with you in private, but will not fellowship with you closely in public, because prophets and politicians do not mix. One gets his authority from God…the other from the people and the people do not know God.
For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. Psalms 107:25-27
God calls for the storms of our life. He may allow the enemy to use your storm to attempt to distract you, sway you, turn you, trouble you, try you and test you…but He will NEVER allow your storm to destroy you. Whether God brings the storm to you for direction, correction, or protection, God called for your storm. Set that in your mind from the start. Situation did not bring your storm, no matter how many idiots tell you they did. The situation may have been a catalyst used by the Almighty to get you into a position to enter the storm, but men do not rule in the affairs of their life. You might have your hand on the rudder, but God has the wind in his fist, friend. If God calls for your storm, nothing will bring you out of that storm, but God!
Nothing will bring impurities out of your spirit like a good storm, a good old fashion class 4 gale, friend! Don’t fight it with a spiritual Dramamine patch and seek preachers and saints who only agree with you to give you advice. Hit your knees in prayer and fasting and let God empty you out. Just lean over the side of your situation and throw up all the junk in your life, heart and spirit that are making you spiritually sick. Like a refiners fire, let it burn out of you all the impurities, the cares of life, the fears, the inadequacies, confidence in others that don’t desire to walk as closely to God as you desire to, especially those who don’t esteem you as an equal. Puke up the loneliness, the bitterness, the spiritual political correctness of Pentecost, the fear of rejection, the consideration for some carnal slob’s thoughts on your situation…just get rid of it!
I learned hard way that I can go to seven different saints, nine sinners and fifteen different preachers for advice in my storm, and all I will get is thirty carnal fleshly answers of varying opinions and hopefully one word from God…then I confuse myself worse because I then have to try and figure out who’s lying, who’s guessing and who’s telling the truth! Better hope it was the man of God in your life! If not, there is more at stake than just your storm…there’s a church and a ministry being judged! I hope the engine of your prayer life has a Delco battery attached to it, because you are headed for one long, cold, hardspiritual winter!
[28] Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
[29] He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
[30] Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
[31] Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
[32] Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
[33] He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;
[34] A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
[35] He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.
[36] And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;
[37] And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.
[38] He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
[39] Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.
[40] He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.
[41] Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.
[42] The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
[43] Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD. Psalms 107:23-43
