Shipwreck - March 29, 2014

Scripture: Acts 27-28
11 It was three months after the shipwreck that we set sail on another ship that had wintered at the island—an Alexandrian ship with the twin gods as its figurehead. 12 Our first stop was Syracuse, where we stayed three days.13 From there we sailed across to Rhegium. A day later a south wind began blowing, so the following day we sailed up the coast to Puteoli.14 There we found some believers, who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome.
15 The brothers and sisters in Rome had heard we were coming, and they came to meet us at the Forum on the Appian Way. Others joined us at The Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he was encouraged and thanked God.
16 When we arrived in Rome, Paul was permitted to have his own private lodging, though he was guarded by a soldier. - Acts 28

Message:
GOD is faithful even when we go through a Shipwreck

Observation/Promise:
There are times that GOD allows us to go through a time of shipwreck. But is always and only to serve His great and good purpose. Nothing that He allows in this world to His children will be a waste because He is a good GOD most especially to those that belong to Him. Paul went through a shipwreck but he already knew that it was going to happen for GOD had warned him and prepared his heart and mind. He not only was level headed among all those that were with him in the ship, he was the only one who made the most our of his experience after being in a shipwreck where they landed in an island with people they don't even know. He always made every opportunity to share the gospel to others and be a witness to the Lord and Savior Yeshua Ha Mashiach. The journey we go though in life is all planned by GOD. HE knows and sees everything.

Application/Command:
GOD supplies our every need in the journey HE has planned for our lives. GOD will never leave us in need because He is a faithful Father who cares for us. Most especially when we go through hard and difficult times, GOD is still behind everything working out the best for us. We only have to look to Him, cling to Him, hold on to Him especially in times of hardship. GOD knew that Paul needed the encouragement of believers after a time of shipwreck and GOD provided that when Paul arrived in Rome where he was sent to be in trial. If we are true to our faith, and Yeshua is really our GOD, we will find rest even in the times of war and storm. Only the true seekers in GOD will find joy and meaning even during a shipwreck.

Know Your Season

4 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the captives he has exiled to Babylon from Jerusalem: 5 “Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce. 6 Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not dwindle away! 7 And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.”
8 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let your prophets and fortune-tellers who are with you in the land of Babylon trick you. Do not listen to their dreams,9 because they are telling you lies in my name. I have not sent them,” says the Lord.

- Jeremiah 29

There comes a time in our lives that GOD will instruct us the things that we think HE may not want for us as His people. There are many voices and ideas that come to us during the day but only one is the truth that leads to the perfect will of GOD. How do we know which is which? We cannot put GOD in a box and assume just because it makes sense or it seems like it is what GOD most likely would want for us doesn't necessarily mean it is from HIM. We have to be sensitive to His prodding and discern what the Spirit is saying to us. For GOD wills for us to know HIS ways and HE communicates to us HIS plan so that we will understand clearly what His will is for our lives.

For all you know it is a terrible thing to be exiled to another place. For HE has lead Israel from a foreign nation to a place where they can call their own. But during this season, GOD has called them out of Israel to be exiled. Certainly it is not GOD's will for His people to be scattered and be bound in slavery again to a foreign nation that will oppress them? Surely GOD would grant peace to HIs people living in their promised land? The religious who only assume what GOD is, would probably think this way. But we cannot afford to put GOD in a box and be sincerely mistaken of HIS will. We have to know what GOD is saying! It may be a bad thing to be exiled and the most unbelievable thing to be sent to work for another nation, being a stranger in a foreign land but if GOD has called you to be sent at this season you better know it and obey or else you will miss out big time. Seek and know your season in the LORD and whatever HE is telling you make sure you are sure it is HIS and do it!