"Building a Church Through Outreach"
A Place of Honey
ELCOG 4/20/08
Text: Acts 28:1-5
This morning I want to end this message in Malta, but first we need to back up and start on a wild and crazy ride that will land on this small island called Malta. I am sure that many of you could testify of wild and crazy rides in your life. I know that some of you will be happy to know that there is an island called Malta awaiting you in your life… But first let’s see what happened to Paul and these people before God took them to Malta.
In chapter 26 Paul had been put on trial for his preaching and he is accused of being a mad man. Paul wanted to prove that He was in his right mind and he wanted the opportunity to appeal to Caesar and in chapter 27 he is being taken by boat to Rome. After they changed ships for Italy they began to run into some strong winds but Paul gave them a word…
Acts 27:10
10And 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.
Acts 27:11
11Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.
But they would not heed the warning by Paul. Verse 13 says that they felt the south wind blowing softly they thought that they had obtained their purpose.
** It’s a funny thing in life that there are times when everything is going our way. The wind is not too strong; we get comfortable and confident with our selves. We get comfortable and take up the anchors in life. We live it up. We eat, drink and marry. We party like its 1999. We are in the prime of lives….BUT remember there was a warning in your life. There was a yellow light a few years ago, but you didn’t even slow down. God sent people in your lives, but you ignored them because you were trying to work out your own agenda. You didn’t have time listen. For a while everything is like you want it. BUT verse 14 is coming…
Acts 27:14
14But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.
Acts 27:15
15And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.
Paul and the ship he was on began to be beat by the winds of this typhoon. Isn’t that how life is? One day you are going good and then the next day a typhoon. One day the sun is shinning and you are laughing and then the next day the storm hits and your joy turns to sorrow. If you are in the time of storm in your life don’t give up. Keep driving. Keep fighting. You have come too far to give up now.
In verses 17-19 it is time to throw things overboard. They began to toss the freight overboard, then the tackle and furniture.
This is the phase some of you are in right now. It’s time to throw some things overboard. It is time for you to get rid of some of the unneeded things in your life. If you want to be saved and if you want real freedom; toss is overboard.
Acts 27:20
20And 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.
Acts 27:22
22And 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.
Paul has a visit from an angel and is told that he is going to be safe….he and the men with him. Let me give you a word of encouragement this morning, God is going to keep you safe. You may be in the middle of an awful storm and you may have to toss some things overboard and you may be being tossed by the winds, but God is going to take you to a new place. You are going to make it.
Paul and the crew were in this storm for more than 14 days they ended up having to loose a lot of stuff. They had to go through a ruff time, but in verse 34-35 Paul gives them something to eat to help them keep their strength. In the middle of your battle, you need to take time to eat the word and drink from the cup that Jesus has for you. In our text the men ate and were encouraged.
The boat began to run a ground and to break into pieces. Those who could swim were encouraged to jump in swim to land. They all escape safely to land.
Now here is the point to this message. The land they landed on in chapter 28 was a place called Melita/Malta. The word Melita means a place of honey. Even though this ship had been destroyed and the men had to toss everything overboard and were caught in the middle of a storm for a good 14 days they ended up in a sweet place, a place of honey. God is going to allow your life to end up in a sweet place as well. You may be in the middle of a storm, but your destination is a place of honey.
You may be in phase one where you think everything is going good in life and that this message doesn’t apply to you, but those in phase one need to watch out because a storm is coming.
Those people in phase two the storm is brewing and you are probably scared to death and you need to hear that there will come an end to this phase, but phase 3 is going to require you to throw some things overboard. You are going to have to give up some stuff if you are going to be kept safe.
Phase 4…you are eating and getting encouraged.
Phase 5… you are swimming to a place of honey. You may have thought that you were not going to make it, but God is bringing you into Melita. You are coming into you sweet place. Even though you have been off course, even though you have had to give up things in your life…There is a sweet place prepared for you. It may not be Rome. It may not be where you thought you were going, but God is going to allow you to stop and rest in your place of sweetness. You don’t have to give up. God is going to keep you safe and he is going to help you get your bearings then he will send you on to Rome. Right now you may feel sea sick and out of control, but if you keep on going and if you link into the faith of Christ there is a place of honey in your future.
Let me point out one more thing as I close this morning. In Chapter 28:2 you will notice that the natives of Melita were unusually kind. In your life you have ran into all types of people, but in the place of honey you will be met with kindness and compassion. You will be treated like a new person. People will know that you have been with Jesus and the atmosphere around you will change. Your persona will change. God is going to line you up with blessings. He is going to show you his love and compassion. God is going to greet you with his kindness. He is going to allow you to eat His honey. He has a destination for you. The storm you are in is only taking you into God’s place of honey. Just release the sail and let her go. God wants to take control of your life.
**He will take you through a storm to get rid of your stuff so that he can take you to a place of honey.
Rom. 8:28
28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Come to Jesus this morning and let him take you into His place of honey. He has something very sweet for you. It is going to work out for your favor. Keep going, keep fighting, and keep the faith. God has a Melita prepared for you!