Preached May 2, 1999 (PM) at Faith Baptist Church
By Pastor Steven E. Mays


"That's Ridiculous"

Text… Acts 27: 1

And when it was determined that we should sail into Italy, they delivered Paul and certain other prisoners unto one named Julius, a centurion of Augustus' band.
2 And entering into a ship of Adramyttium, we launched, meaning to sail by the coasts of Asia; one Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, being with us.
3 And the next day we touched at Sidon. And Julius courteously entreated Paul, and gave him liberty to go unto his friends to refresh himself.
4 And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.
5 And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.
6 And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; and he put us therein.
7 And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over against Salmone;
8 And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.
9 Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,
10 And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.
11 Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul. (Folks, I submit he said, "Ah, that's ridiculous")
12 And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.

Relate the Story..

Amos 3: 7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

You know what they were saying? Paul, that's ridiculous!

Acts. 27:13 And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.
14 But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.
15 And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.
16 And running under a certain island which is called Clauda, we had much work to come by the boat:
17 Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven.
18 And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;
19 And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.
20 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.
21 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. (See, I told you so.)
22 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.
23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

Notice in the heat of the mess they've come to listening to Paul… So many times this happens…

Acts. 27:30 And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship,
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.

Did it happen just like Paul said it would? Because Paul was a sailor and knew about sailing?

Acts. 27: 40 And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoised up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.
41 And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmoveable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.
43 But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:
44 And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.

We like to be Phi Beta Kappa's… by the way Everyone knows about the honor society Phi Beta Kappa. Do you know the phrase from which those letters were derived? They are the first letters of a Greek phrase which means "Philosophy is the Guide of Life." This mind-set is what got this ship sunk…

I.) When the Preacher is preaching on Dating, Parents say, "That's Ridiculous"

1 Corinthians 7:1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

Before you say that's talking about touching in a lascivious manner.. let's look at the first five times that work is used in the NT..

1. Matthew 8:3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

2. Matthew 8:15 And he touched her hand, and the fever left her: and she arose, and ministered unto them.

3. Matthew 9:20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:

4. Matthew 9:21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

5. Matthew 9:29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

You go on a let them holds hands a kiss good night, You probably want to be a grandma and grandpa right now anyway…

Proverbs 6: 27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? 28 Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?

By the way you that have got little kids, I'm hoping that if you hear a few years of this you'll have enough courage to stand up and do right by your kids

¨ Illegitimacy is rapidly destroying the stability of our nation. Unless we change, early in the next century one out of two Children will be born out of wedlock. Illegitimacy rates have already exceeded 50% in 7 of our 20 largest cities; Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, Memphis, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, and Washington DC.

Your son and daughter isn't going to call on the phone and court and spark, and date, and carry on for ten or eleven years and stay pure, you really ought try and prolong the start of that process as long as you can..

1 Corinthians 7:28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
36 But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, (Is he talking about his virginity or is he talking about his Daughter?) if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.
37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.

This is the father giving his wife away in marriage…. Yet most American, churchgoing moms and dads won't even take a stand with their 13 year old on having boyfriend… You have slipped…

II. When the Preacher is preaching on Faithfulness, People say, "That's Ridiculous"

Let's face it most folks could not hold a job down if they were as faithful to their job as they are to the Church… Hit and miss… I know they know better… they don't do their job like that.. but they sure do God's house and their responsibility to like that…

Yet people think that they can be just as faithful as they want to be and it'll never catch up to them… Preachers all over are talking about this!

Luke 18:8 ……Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Proverbs 25:19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

III. When the Preacher is Preaching on Worldliness, the People say, "That's Ridiculous"

What does he know, he's out of touch…

Let's set the record clear…

1 Timothy 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

Now why do we want to hang on to all the things of World…

2 Timothy 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

Let me tell you what all this worldliness is going to do…

I hear this kind of preaching called "legalism" all the time… Let's see what God calls it….

James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Tithing…

But I've got to run on…
       
The reason some folks can't make it is they don't trust God and give…

Proverbs 11:24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

Ah Preacher, that's ridiculous ….






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