Can You Hear Me Now?

Acts 27:21 (New International Version)
21After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: "Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss.

Warning always comes before destruction. God is always speaking to his children but like children we have selective retention. We hear what we want to hear. There are signs up and down the highway of life that warn us of impending danger but you must heed when you read and not speed or else suffer the consequences of your violation. It is interesting that now in many places they have cameras positioned so that when you ignore the signs and think you are getting away, the city will mail you a picture of your violation. We’ve got to take heed of the signs before we find ourselves in trouble.

Paul had told the men on the ship that a storm was coming way before they sailed into it. When they first began their journey there was a wind against them. Sometimes you should pay closer attention when the winds are against you. Whenever I’m feeling consistent resistance for where I’m going I stop and listen for God to tell me if he still wants me to go forward. The times that I didn’t stop and listen usually were the times that I made mess by sailing into a storm. Sometimes, we don’t listen to God until after the storm hits and we have suffered loss.

When we don’t listen to God’s warnings we will:

1. Drive right into a storm. Some of us are in a financial storm right now because we ignored earlier winds. Now we are in the midst of a full blown recession but the good news is that God is still talking you through this storm. You just have to listen more intently because the winds are kind of loud.

2. Be Hungry. Sometimes being hungry is good. It helps you to be more determined to listen to God and to get to your next place of provision. Be hungry for God.

3. Suffer damage and loss. There are some things that you are going to have to throw overboard just so you can make it to your place of destination. It’s amazing what you realize you don’t need after you go through a storm.

God is trying to tell you something but you have to heed the warning. Paul told the believers in Rome that many of them were like the people that the prophet Isaiah prophesied about in Acts 28:27:

Acts 28:27 (New International Version)

27For this people's heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.'[a]

My prayer is that you hear God today before you suffer damage and loss.

Dear God, open the eyes of our hearts. We want to see and hear you today. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from all evil. Send us into the right direction and order our steps in paths of righteousness for your name’s sake. Speak Lord, for your Servants are listening.

In Jesus name,

Amen.