“But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.” ~ Acts 27:21-25
The Mediterranean Sea is historically known as one of the most treacherous seas in the world to navigate and ships sunk on a regular basis during this time. Even today, you can read about the number of ships that have to be rescued due to storms and high seas…and also about those that did not make it into port.
The people on that ship were right to be concerned about the imminent threat of the storm and waves. In fact, they had been so upset and anxious and fearful for many days that they were not eating any longer. In the middle of the storm, Paul stands up and tells them, with absolute confidence and conviction, "No one is going to die on this ship." He had confidence because of the angel that had appeared to him the night before and told him he would stand before Caesar and not to be afraid. You see, even Paul was subject to fear. The angel was delivering a message to this apostle of God to help give him faith and encouragement in the midst of the storm. Paul had also been praying for those that were with him to be saved and the angel assured him that "God hath given thee all them that sail with thee."
This is the experience of the sanctified life. Faith at work through prayer. God does mighty works amongst His people if we will but ask Him. He stands ready to do "abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us" (Eph. 3:20). We sometimes feel that we are just helpless pilgrims drifting through the world waiting to get to Heaven, with little connection to the events around us. But the Bible does not describe us that way. As sanctified Christians, we have great power at our disposal if we but tap into it. In this passage, God granted to Paul, because of his prayers, the lives of 275 people who sailed with him. They were spared because a sanctified man prayed for them. Saints, there is great power in our prayers of faith!
Paul also was given special encouragement during the storm. He was in the same danger as everyone else, but God strengthened him with a word of encouragement in the midst of the rocking waves. God didn't take him off the boat. God didn't calm the storm or make it less severe for Paul than it was for everyone else. The danger was just as high, the waves just as rough, the wind just as strong, and the rain and lightning just as severe. Everything was exactly the same...except for one thing. God gave Paul a special, secret knowledge that others did not have. He didn't lessen the burden, but He gave an inward peace and assurance that enabled Paul to operate in confidence. This is what the sanctified life is all about.
We are given the "treasures of darkness, the hidden riches of secret places" (Isaiah 45:3).
We have “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding” (Phil. 4:7).
We are given “all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3).
We “know Him, and the power of His resurrection” (Phil. 3:10).
We have resources the world knows nothing about. That's what the "treasures of darkness" are for the sanctified. We have the riches of the Word of God available to us in the midst of dark times. Those resources make it possible to live and act and react differently from those around you. That is what it is supposed to be like all the time.
So, let us examine how we respond in times of distress. Do we succumb to fear? Do we give in to doubt and depression? Or do we “come boldly unto the throne of grace,” choosing to conquer our fears through prayer, being fully aware of the presence and power of God?
