Series: Acts
Title: Then They Knew
Text: Acts 28: 1
Date: September 23, 2010
Place: SGBC, New Jersey
When will you know that this gospel word--the very message of Christ Jesus whom I preach--is not of man, but is indeed the power of God to save your soul? When will you believe that Christ is the power and wisdom of God so that you trust him alone to save?
Acts 28:1: And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
This word escaped means: to cure, to preserve, to perfectly save. When will you know that this gospel Word--the message of Christ Jesus whom I preach--is not of man, but is indeed the power of God to save your soul? When will you believe Christ is the power and wisdom of God so that you trust him alone to save? When will you know even as you have been known? When God has delivered you, preserved you and saved you--then you shall know.
Division: I. IN THE BEGINNING; II. THROUGH EVERY TRIAL; III. AT LAST
I. IN THE BEGINNING
You will know and believe on God when God has delivered you from the power of sin and made you willing to hear him, then shall you know.
We saw the condition of all men by nature--no spiritual light. Acts 27: 20
The Word, the Life, the Light, is God. In Christ Jesus, the Light was made flesh and dwelt among sin-dark, dead sinners. And how sad!
John 1:5: And the Light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not….10: He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
A sinner believes, when God shines the Light into the dead, dark sinner through the gospel of Christ (John 7: 17, 18.)
Christ Jesus stood preaching the gospel. As God he needed that no man teach him. As God he is the Word. But when he was questioned by the religious establishment, as the Son of man, the servant of God, he said this:
John 7:15: And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? 16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. 17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or [whether] I speak of myself.
In the day of God's power, the Spirit gives spiritual life through Christ the Life and the Light where there was no life and no light. He puts a new spirit within the sinner where there was only hatred for the true and living God. When he makes his children willing in the day of his power then they are willing to cast all their care on Christ in whom God is pleased. They have a delight in the inner man--so that we truthfully say--"to will is present with me, but how to perform that which I will I find not."
When God delivers, when we are escaped, then shall WE KNOW by the very power that created the willingness within us that this doctrine is of God and not of man.
2 Corinthians 4:3: But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 6: For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7: But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
Paul stood up and deliver the sure word of God's promise to these shipmen (Acts 27: 21-26.)
Our gospel is the gospel which declares promises that God will bring to pass. It is a gospel of promises that only God can bring to pass. Only the God who can bring such promises to pass can give such doctrine and only those who know the power of God to bring it to pass can really declare this gospel in sincerity from a new heart. God delivers in the beginning, then shall we know.
II. THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF FAITH GOD MAKES THIS LIGHT TO INCREASE.
This light increases and continues by the same Power of God making us to behold his Light.
Proverbs 4: 18: But the path of the just [is] as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
Psalms 36:9: For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
John 8:12:…I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Notice the progression we see in Acts 27.
They began with no light. Then Paul delivers the word of the Lord--the light of the gospel--Paul said "Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island." (I think Paul may have told these sailors the name of the island right then. Here is why I think he did so.)
Acts 27:27: But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;
"But" is a key word. Instead of thinking it was the island Paul told them--they deemed that they drew near to some "country." But they dropped anchor, waited for the day. Then as they waited in the night, some tried to save themselves in the lifeboat and Paul gives them more teaching, more light
Acts 27: 31: Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. 32: Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.
Notice the next word.
Acts 27:33: And while the day was coming on,
And with that light, Paul gives them more teaching, more light. We saw this as a picture of this gospel Bread. Then they were cheerful at the promise of his gospel and ate.
Acts 27: 34: Wherefore I pray you to take [some] meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you….36 Then were they all of good cheer and they also took [some] meat.
Notice the progression
Acts 27: 39: And when it was day,
Do you see the picture here?
This is a picture of God giving light through his gospel causes us to walk in the light God gives. We see here an illustration of a willingness to believe what we have been taught. We have no light till God gives the light making us willing to walk in it. As we walk in the light God gives, he gives more light.
Proverbs 4: 18: But the path of the just [is] as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
Psalms 36:9: For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
But notice…
Acts 27: 39: And when it was day, they knew not the land:
These sailors knew every island, every piece of land, every country--but even in the light of day they still do not recognize this land by their own wisdom and understanding. Faith will not stand in man's wisdom, but only by the power of God.
Hebrews 11: 1: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Faith is not turning again to our wisdom but wholly trusting Christ our Wisdom.
Faith is not turning to our righteousness--to the law--but wholly trusting Christ our Righteousness
Faith is not looking to our holiness. True separation unto God, true holiness is having the precious promises of God and trusting him to deliver us in Christ.
2 Corinthians 7: 18: And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 7:1: Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Faith is not boasting in our will to deliver us but trusting the will of God who has redeemed us--who has saved us, is saving us and we believe will yet save us.
The nearer the vine the stronger the branch. Faith is NOT stepping out into the blind, but into Christ.
Hoshea 6:3: Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD:
1. Acts 27: 40--they committed themselves wholly.
2. Acts 27: 42-43--Here is our hope--the soldier of justice wanted to kill the prisoners while the centurion of mercy sets them free for the sake of one. Our hope is God has satisfied his justice and will deliver us in mercy for his own name's sake, for the sake of Christ Jesus
3. Acts 27: 44:…And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.
Follow the progression--
Acts 28: 1: And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.
Every joy or trial, Falleth from above
Traced upon our dial, By the Sun of love
We may trust Him fully, All for us to do
They who trust Him wholly, Find Him wholly true
Stayed upon Jehovah, Hearts are fully blessed
Finding, as he promised, Perfect peace and rest.
I. THIS LIGHT BEGINS WHEN HE DELIVERS US IN THE FIRST HOUR
II. IT CONTINUES AS HE DELIVERS US THROUGH EVERY TRIAL
III. IN THE END THEN WE SHALL KNOW IN GLORY
Proverbs 4: 18: But the path of the just [is] as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
1Corinthians 15: 51: Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”
1 John 3:2: Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”
Colossians 3: 1: If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2: Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3: For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4: When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with HIM in glory.
When God has delivered us, preserved us and perfectly brought us to him in the end--then you shall know HIM!
Amen!