The Arvada enterprise., 1921-11-24
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 27
pAvL's VOYAGE AND sA,pwaeck

PAOl'S VOYAGE AND SHlPWREck
LESSON TEXT-Acts :1:l-A.
GOLDEN TEXT know whom have
believed, and am persuaded that he 10
able 70 keep that which have committed
unto him against that day.-ll Tim. l.l2.
REFERENCE MATERIAL - IL Cor,
PRIMARY roPlC-rhs Story Of a Ship
wreck.
JUNIOR ToPIC-Paul in a shipwreok.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
Storm and Shipwreck.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
-Paul's Power Over Men.
!. A stormy Voyage tvv. 1901.
!. The ship. A ship Of Alexandria
sailing from Myra to Italy.
2. The company. Two Of Paul's
friends, Aristarchus and Luke, are
permitted to 60 with him. Besides
these three there were 273 In the ship
". y.
3. The storm. The ship made little
headway on account Of unfavorable
winds. Paul advised that they winter
in Fair Havens wv. 912), but his ad.
vice was unheeded. The gentle south
wind deceived them, 80 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 It for the storm;
they liglltened the ship by bringing
down from the masts and rigging ev-
erything that was superfiuOus 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 tkat wicked men and ma
terial forces were combined TO pre-.
vent the great apostle from reaching
Rome. However. this Is only appnr.
ent, for these very experiences were
Overruled by God to bring good cheer
aud salvation to many ON the way.
We should remember that tempestu-
Gus winds, a. well as the soft breexes,
await Gods faithful ones. The pres.
ence Of storms does not prove that We
are going the wrong way.
10. paurs osrene Faith wv. 2l.2G).
To . 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
10 Just as near to His own In the midst
Of stormy sea ~ In their quiet homes.
Note Paul's behavior: =
!. His rebuke for their failure 10
heed his advice at Fair Havens ".
21). This was not q mere taunt, hut
a reference to the wisdom Of his for.
n,er advice urging them to give him
q more respectable hearing.
2. Bids them be of good cheer ".
22). He inspired them with hope.
3. He promises them safety ". 22).
Though the ship would 60 to pIeces,
every mans life would be saved.
4. The source Of his informs tiop
(vv. q. 24). The angel Of God had
revealed Il unto hin.
8. The reason u Paul's calm faith
". ~. "whoss I am and whom I
serve"
~. The Ships crsw Az safe ..
LaN1 (vv. 27-4A).
THIS was exactly a. the Lord had
said. We can rest assured that all
God has spoken shall come TO pass,
even though there be q broken shin,
brutal soldiers and q perfdlous crew.
Aside from the fulnliInent Of Gods
promise. the most important psrt Of
this section Il the splendid sanity
which characterixes Psul's action on
the way. Two things especially mark
his sanctifed common sense.
/. His vigilance had detected that
the sailors had planned 70 escape. He
knew how much they would be need.
Ell presently. and At once took stems
I" prevent their escape. lie went
straight to the man In charge and said,
Except these abide In the shin, ye
cannot be saved" lie prncticed the
truth that genuine reliance upon God
Is the all.pOwerful incentive to human
action. Gods decrees always include
the means for their plishmcnt.
2. He knew that the furnishing con.
dition ~ the people was not the most
favorable for the physical struggle
which WAS sOOn TO be undergone by
them when they must struggle through
the water I" the shore. so he gets
them to take a substantial breakfast.
He Ind the good sense 10 ioOk after
that which WIS necessary. II wns no
time To talk 10 these men about their
souls. for their bodies needed the main
attention. His prayer for that meal
had more effect upon the people than
his preaching would have had. Let
ns learn from this the divine method
Of administration. namely. God over.
ruling while man trusts Him and acts.
A vigorous faith mnnifests itself In
=