God Keeps His Promises!

Acts 27:27, “But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down...29Then 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.” They had to remain in the ship and continue to have faith in the promise that the Lord had given to Paul. God's plan of deliverance was to include the debris of the broken vessel, the vessel that had sustained them thus far. But, they had to be willing to stay with the ship until it literally broke apart on the rocks. Those broken pieces became their salvation. When our circumstances are falling apart, we must stay true and obedient to God’s command in order to be saved.

Acts 27:33, “...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...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.” The fast was concluded. They could take comfort that all would be saved and they were all (276) of good cheer. They continued in faith and obedience as they threw everything overboard to lighten the ship. They had done what they knew to do! Now was the time to allow the Lord to bring an end to their storm. They took up the anchors and committed to the sea, completely free of all encumbrances, completely sustained by the wind of God. 

Acts 27:41, “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...43 the centurion...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.” God's process will run its course and in the end, His purpose is secured. How many times have we survived on the broken pieces of our ship? The storms have been strong and the struggle bitter! But, we have stayed with the Lord and our end is secure in Him! God Keeps His Promises!