The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1921-11-24

YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
-PauIs Power Over Men
|. A stormy Voyage wv. LODI
1. The ship. A ship Of Alexandra
sailing from Myra to Italy.
2. The company Two OF Fanfs
friends, Aristarchus and Luke, are
permitted to go with him. Besides
these three there were 273 In the ship
{v. ~.
8. The storm. The ship made little
headway on account Of unfavorable
winds. Paul advised that they winter
ir Fair Ravens (vv. 9-12), but bis adj
vice was unheeded. The gentle south
wind deceived them, SO they lo0sed
from Crete, only 20 be soon oTertaken
by the tempestuous wind, called Eu-
roclydon. They did everything pos
sible to save the ship. They took up
the boat which was towed behind;
they bound great cables around the
ship to strengthen 1t for the storm;
they nghtened the ship BY bringing
down from the masts and rigging ev-
erything that was superfuous; and
finally, the cargo and tackling OF the
&>-~
this seemed to be of no avail, 80 that
all hope Of being saved was removed.
It seemed that wicked men and ma
terial forces were combined to pre-
vent the great apostle from reaching
Rome. However, this Is only appar-
ent, for these very experiences were
overruIed by God to bring good cheer
and salvation ito many on the way.
We should remember that tempestu-
GUS winds, as we'll as the soft breezes,
await Gods faithful ones. The pres
ence Of storms does not prove that we
are going the wrong way.
u. PauPs Serene Faith wv. 1929.
To a man who did not know God,
the failure Of the sun and stars to
shine for many days, the fading Of all
hope, was natural; but to the man OF
faith, hope still burns brightly. God
Is Just as near to His own In the midst
OF stormy sea as In their quiet homes.
Note Paul's behavior:
1. His rebukc Cor their failure to
. heed his advice at Fair Ravens ".
21). This was not mere taunt. but
q reference to the wisdom Of his for
mer advice urging them to give him
q more respectable hearing.
2. Bids them be Of good cheer ".
22). He inspired them with hope.
8. He promises them safety ". 22),
Though the ship would go to pieces
every mans life would be saved.
4. The source of his information
(vv. %, .24). The angel Of God had
revealed 1t unto him.
:. The reason of Paul's calm faith
". 23). Whose 1 am and whom
serve
III. The Ships Crew All Safe on
Lard wv. PAD.
This was exactly as the Lord had
said We can rest assured that all
God has spoken shall come to pass
even though there be broken ship
brutal soldiers and a perfidious crew
Aside from the fulfllment Of Gods
promise, the most important part OF
this section Is the splendid sanity
which characterizes Paul's action or
the way. Two things especially MARI
his sanctif1ed common sense.
1. His vigilance had detected that
luc SdAlOIS udO Rl0AlCA W SSSOPCs AS
knew how much they would be need
| ed presently, and at once took steps
| to prevent their escape. He went
straight to the man in charge and said
| Except these abide in the ship, W
| cannot be saved" He practiced the
truth that genuine reliance upon Coo
Is the all-powerful incentive to human
! action. Gods DEGREES ALWAYS include
| the means for their Accomplishment
2. He knew that the furnishing con
dition Of the people was not the mos
favorable for the physical struggle
which was soon to be undergone BY
them when they must struggle through
the water to the shore. So he get.
them to take a substantial breakfast
He had the good sense to look aftel
that which was necessary. 1t was NJ
time to talk to these men about theil
souls, for their bodies needed the MAR
attention. His prayer for that mea
| had more effect upon the people thar
his preaching would have had. Lee
us learn from this the divine methot
Of administration, namely, God over
ruling while man trusts HIM and acts
vigorous faith manifests itself IL
/ reasonable action.
PeopIed the Holy City.
1 And the rulers Of the people dwell