Acts 27:18-26 - 18 We took such a violent battering from the storm that the next day they began to throw the cargo overboard. 19 On the third day, they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved. 21 After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. 23 Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26 Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”
- Acts 27:20 (NIV) - 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.
- Malta represents the place we never intended or wanted to go to
- What should we do when the unexpected happens?
1st Point of Care: Address Physical Needs
- Acts 27:21 - After they had gone a long time without food
- Acts 27:33 - Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything.
- Under heavy stress, people tend not to prioritize their physical needs
- James 2:15-16 (NIV) - Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?
2nd Point of Care: Address Spiritual Needs
- Acts 27:23-24 (NIV) - “Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’”
- Psalm 34:17 (NIV) - The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles.
- Psalm 61:1-2 (CSB) - God, hear my cry; pay attention to my prayer. I call to you from the ends of the earth when my heart is without strength. Lead me to a rock that is high above me.
- Philippians 4:6-7 CSB - “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. ”
3rd Point of Care: Addressing Emotional Needs
- Acts 27:25 - So take courage, men, because I believe God that it will be just the way it was told to me.
- We must have emotional awareness
- We must take intentional action to address emotional needs
- We must consistently care for our emotional needs
If we want to survive the unexpected, we must:
- Care forour physical needs
- Care for our spiritual needs
- Care for our emotional needs