Preschool
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation (James 1:12).
Shipwrecked but Saved
Memory Verses
Primary
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life (James 1:12).
Junior
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him (James 1:12).
Background Scripture: Acts 27
Lesson Scripture: Acts 27:27-44
Introduction
Sooner or later everyone will face storms on life’s sea. The storms we fear the most are those in which our vessel almost certainly will be damaged. Instinctively, we desire something tangible to hold on to when the waves are crashing and there seems to be no light or direction for the future. If we allow Him, God will use the storms of life to help us dispose of that which we do not need and assist others on the way to heaven.
In this lesson we will study how, with Jesus as captain of our ship, we can weather any storm. The ship may be lost, but the soul will be saved.
Key Verse
But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel (Phil. 1:12).
Lesson Scripture
Acts 27:27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;
28 And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.
29 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.
30 And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,
31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.
32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.
33 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.
34 Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.
35 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.
36 Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.
37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.
38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.
39 And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.
40 And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.
41 And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.
42 And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.
43 But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:
44 And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.
Studying the Lesson
Luke has recorded a detailed eyewitness account of what could have been Paul’s third or fourth shipwreck. It is amazing how God was with Paul in this disaster at sea. It had not been Paul’s recommendation to sail in such hazardous weather. Soon after leaving port, they encountered hurricane-force winds, and the following two weeks became a battle for survival. The lesson scripture begins at the point where nearly everything that was not essential had been thrown overboard to lighten the ship. Spent, seasick, and miserable, the passengers’ hopes were nearly exhausted, and they began to despair of their lives.
In this setting Paul respectfully admonished those in charge. He had warned them not to undertake the voyage, but he did not chastise them now that his prophecy was being fulfilled. Instead he endeavored to reassure his fellow passengers that none of them would perish, because an angel of the Lord had stood by him in the night and had given an assurance of everyone’s safety. Just as God has done so many times throughout history He arrived on the scene with hope and an answer!
The 276 people on board were a mixture of sailors, soldiers, prisoners, and ordinary passengers. All had different reasons for being on the ship. Some were on board for profit; some were on board because of duty; and others were along simply because they had no choice. The storm forced everyone on board to determine to save themselves no matter the material cost. Some of the sailors tried using deceit in order to abandon ship. Paul had evidently developed a connection with the centurion and warned him that all must stay on the ship to be saved. God surely had his hand in this relationship and in the commanding officer’s response to Paul because they listened and were all saved despite the shipwreck. The ship master became willing to throw all his cargo into the sea in the hope of saving his ship. The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners so that none could escape. If they were to escape, the soldiers expected to pay with their own lives.
In times of extreme trial, good leaders establish an example, offer encouragement and consolation, and fortify the weak and dispirited. Some of the pagans on board likely were abstaining from eating in the hopes of appeasing their gods. Others were probably seasick and unable to eat. After two weeks of the passengers eating little or nothing, Paul demonstrated his leadership ability by giving thanks to God and eating bread in their presence and encouraging them to do the same. Paul’s courage was contagious. Once they had eaten, power and reason to make rational decisions returned, and hope began to bloom again.
Paul must have been somewhat disquieted in heart also because the angel instructed him to not be fearful. Did Paul question why he was subjected to another storm or if his suffering would ever end? Even if he did question, surely by looking back later he could see how God used that particular storm, the direction of the wind, and the location of the shipwreck to bring healing and salvation to the island of Melita.
Practical Truths for Today
Have you ever been shipwrecked? Maybe not literally, but figuratively, you find yourself facing near certain disaster or difficulty. You look back with regret on the choices or circumstances that have led to you being here. The future is filled with dread, and you wonder how you can go on.
The storms of life bear down upon us with seeming indifference and disregard. However, they might come because of going against better judgment or disobeying God’s will. God will tell us no, not because He does not love us but rather because He sees danger on the path we wish to take. Purchases to support a lavish lifestyle can bring financial difficulty. God can use others to bring a concern or reproof to us, and resistance to those concerns or being critical of the one who brought them can cause the wind to blow. When we go against the Holy Spirit’s promptings, we will often find disaster waiting. As the storm increases, we try hard to save our ship with our own strength. We justify our actions, maybe ignoring or denying our ship is in trouble. Possibly we get rid of things in the hope of saving our ship but to no avail. Pride, independence, and self-righteousness will always sink our ship.
Storms can also come in the form of personal loss that we have no control over. Crop failure, accident, sickness, or the death of a loved one can strike without warning and leave us rocking on the waves of discouragement, despair, and hopelessness. It can seem there is no light and no way forward.
Conflict and strong opinions can bring division and leave us feeling angry, resentful, or bewildered. Friends or family may follow after a deviant doctrine, leaving our faith shaken.
God has not promised that we will not suffer loss in the storms of life. Material goods may need to be sold to satisfy debts. Self-pity, anger, frustration, or a negative attitude can feel so right but are all things that will drag us down. Pride is the most difficult article to surrender, especially when we see others seemingly sailing through the storm without loss. Giving up is never easy. It often seems darkest just before the dawn. Being willing for the breakup of the ship is like coming to the cross in full surrender; it is the only way to make shore.
During times of stress as we try desperately to save the ship, it may seem we do not have time for a daily devotion with God. This can rob us of strength and wisdom to make rational decisions about priorities. Like the weakened seafarers refusing to eat, abstaining from the Word of God during times of storm will make surviving the storm more difficult.
Acceptance that God is in control when things seem to be out of control will be an anchor of security. Accepting my wrong in a conflict and asking for forgiveness will calm waves. Cherished dreams and ambitions may be destroyed, but we can have complete assurance that the things which happen to us will be for the furtherance of the will of God in our personal lives. Often, in looking back we can see God’s leading.
We cannot reach heaven alone. Prosperity and easy times can cause us to trust in ourselves rather than relying on the Captain and our brethren. During the storm, in the ship together is the safest place to be. There are diversities among us, but all of us are necessary to help preserve the ship. There are times when we may need to throw overboard our expertise, family background, or anything that we may put self-confidence in. We may be tempted to leave the ship to save ourselves, but we must remember that on our own we will be lost. The storm affects us all, and it is comforting that we do not need to face it alone.
Illustration
The circumstances of Joseph’s early years gave him every right to be discouraged. Hated by his brothers, he was sold to be a slave in Egypt. As a slave, he maintained his trust in God and through faithfulness and honesty became his master Potiphar’s most trusted servant. When he did not yield to sin with his master’s wife, he was falsely accused and thrown into prison. For several years he must have thought he was forgotten, yet he continued to work faithfully. Finally he was brought out of prison to tell the meaning of Pharaoh’s dream, and his fortune began to change. Later, as a ruler in Egypt, Joseph was able to look back over his life and tell his brothers, “Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. . . . God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance” (Gen. 45:5, 7).
Questions
- Why is it so difficult to abandon our hopes and dreams?
- What could pieces of the shipwreck used to make it to shore signify?
- Tell a personal experience of being willing to suffer loss to save spiritual life.
Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).