Paul stated that his intention was to press toward the mark. Phil. 3:14, “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.” Paul knew from his experience that Christian growth is a daily challenge. He must have looked back many times to his Damascus road encounter with Jesus. That day, Paul received a revelation of who Jesus really was. He came face to face with the Son of God, the Redeemer of Israel, his Messiah and he knew it in the depth of his soul. That encounter was, no doubt, an indispensable strength to him as he ministered for Christ. And the Lord continued to speak to him and reveal His truth.
In Acts 27 Paul had requested an audience with Caesar. He was in the custody of a Roman centurion and on his way to Rome. Acts 27:10, “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. 11 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul. 12 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;” Paul had a revelation regarding this journey, but the centurion chose to listen to the captain rather than Paul. Why? Because it was not convenient to winter there, they wanted to proceed to Crete. Circumstance inspired them to continue on their journey rather than give heed to the revelation by the man of God. Inspiration that is driven by circumstance usually comes out of our own personal desire and intellect and usually does not end well.
Acts 27:13, “And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.” This again speaks to circumstance. A temporary change in circumstance can lull us into Satan's plan...v14, “But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind...18 And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; 19 And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. 20 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.” Three days and nights in the storm and now all is lost and there is no hope except for God! They were not including the God Factor. They drew these conclusions based on their knowledge and the circumstance. Many times our knowledge is not sufficient to draw the appropriate conclusion from our circumstance. Then we must go to God for revelation knowledge to chart the appropriate course. (continued). The Message: A Critical Review Of End Time Events, p 19-20, available at Amazon.com.
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