As one reads Acts 27 all the details about this journey may seem a little overboard.
However, the purpose of Acts is to detail the spread of the gospel from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth (1:8). This chapter gives specific details how God fulfilled his promise to Paul that he would go to Rome (23:11). God’s glory is clearly seen in every detail!
What can be learned about God’s promises from this chapter? Before you consider these, I would encourage you to read Acts 27 first.
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God’s promises and providence include, not exclude, the means he uses to fulfill his promises and accomplish his purposes
- Prayer, 24 (Evidently sometime during the storm Paul had prayed, expressing his fears and praying for God’s deliverance)
- Retaining sailors, 31
- Eating food, 33–36
- Directing the ship toward the beach, 40
- Throwing off excess weight, 40
- Preserving life, 42–43
- Swimming to shore, 43–44
- No matter how bad the situation may seem, God’s promises are never in jeopardy.
- God’s promises should cheer you (v. 22), no matter how strongly the storms of life may rage, vv. 22, 25
- When times are difficult we must encourage one another with God’s promises, vv. 23–25
- God’s promises provide the basis for praying in faith, v. 24
- Believe God’s promises “exactly as you have been told,” v. 25
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The Geneva Bible’s note at v. 25 says, “The promise is made effectual through faith.”
- God promises eternal life to sinners, but if they do not believe they will not be saved
- God promises to guard your heart and mind, but if you do not do Phil 4:6–7; 1 Pet 5:7 you will worry and be unsettled
- God promises to build his church, but we must pray, preach, live godly lives, biblical worship, etc.
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While God’s promises are clear and understandable, they do not tell us every detail that will happen
- we must exercise faith, vv. 25–26ff
- we must do those things Scripturally necessary, essential, and consistent with the promise, v. 34
- Christians should always give thanks for God’s regular, daily provision of food, v. 35
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God’s almighty power to fulfill his promises doesn’t mean we can
- Be lazy and do nothing
- Not use the means he has given us
- Do foolish things (cf. God’s promise to Hezekiah protecting Jerusalem didn’t mean he could just open the gates to the Assyrians, Isa 37:35)