New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-11-25
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER Fl
PAUL's VOYAGE AND sHIPwREck

LESSON TEXT-Acts 27:l-A.
GOLDEN TEXT know whom | have
believed. and am persuaded that he 10
able to keep that which l have committed
unto him gains that day.-II Tim. 1:l2.
REFERENCE MATERIAL - IL Cor.
n:23-2S: Phil. 4:l2. 10.
PRIMARY TOPIC-The Story of a Ship
wreck.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Paul In a Shipwreck.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Storm and Shipwreck.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
-Paul's Power Over Men.
J.. A Stormy Voyage wv. 1-20).
j. The ship. A ship Of Alexandria
sailing from Myra TO Italy.
2. The company. Two of Paufs
friends, Aristarchus and Luke, are
permitted to go with him. Besides
these three there were 273 in the ship
". y.
3. The storm. The ship made little
Roadway on account of u~nfavOrable
winds. Paul advised that they winter
In Fair Ravens wv. 9-12), but his ad-
vice was unheeded. The gentle south
wind deceived them, so they loosed
from Crete, only to be soon Overtaken
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 lightened the ship by bringing
dow from the masts and rigging ev-
erythinS that was su%periuOus; and
finally, the cargo and tackling of the
ship itself were thrown overheard. All
this seemed to be Of no avail, so that
all hope Of being saved was removed.
1t 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
Overruled by God to bring good cheer
and salvation 10 many on the way.
We should remember that tempestu-
Gus winds, us well as the soft breezes,
await Gods faithful ones. The pres
ence of storms does not prove that we
are going the wrong way.
u. Paul's Serene Faith wv. 21-26).
TO a mar who did o 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 a stormy sea as In their quiet homes.
Note Paul's behavior:
J.. His rebuke for their failure In
heed his advice at Fair Havens ".
2l). This was not n mere taunt, but
a reference to the wisdom of his for
mer advice urging them TO give him
a more respectable hearing.
.. Bids them be Of good cheer ".
22). He inspired them with hope.
3. He promises them safety ". 22).
Though the ship would go to pieces,
every mans life would be saved.
4. The source Of his information
wv. %, 24). The angel of God had
1t unto him. There Is no
darkness of storm that can shut out
the angels. Gods ministerlng serv-
ants, from those who believe and obey,
8. The reason Of Paul's calm faith
". 23). Whose l am and whom
IA. The Ships Crew All Safe n
and wv. 27-44).
This was exactly as the Lord had
aid. We can rest assured that all
iod has spoken shall come to pass.
wen though there be a broken shin.
,rutal soldiers and a perfidious crew.
ASIDE from the fulfllment of Gods
the most important part of
his section is the splendid sanity
which characterizes Paul's action on
he way. Two things especially mark
lis sanctiied ommon sense.
!. His vigilance had detected that
he sailors had planned to escape. He
new how much they would be need
d presently, and MT once took steps
D prevent their escape. He went
TO the man In charge and said,
Except these abide In the ship. We
annot be saved" lie praciiced the
ruth that genuine reliance upon God
the alI-powerful incentive to human
elton. Gods DEGREES always include
be means for their accomplishment.
=. He knew that the furnishing con-
ition Of the people was not the most
svorable for the physical struggle
'hich was Don 10 be undergone by
ZEN when they must struggle through
he water to the shore. SO he gets
{ take a substantial breakfast.
had the good sense to look after
rat which was necessary. Ii vas no
me to talk to these men about their
,uls. for their bodies needed the main
His prayer for that meal
more effect upon the people than
s preaching would have had. Let =.
, learn from this the divine method :
administration, namely, God over !"
ling while man trusts Him and acts. !.
vigorous . faith manifests itself in .
a sOnablp action.