New Wine: Practicing Radical Reliance

ACTS 27: 1-44:

On board an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy; vs 6-8 shows the expertise of the sailors in manoeuvring the ship in difficult sailing conditions.
Experienced sailors, who have made the journey along that route several times and are accustomed to the water course/terrain.
Paul, a man of the Spirit of God warns against continuing on the journey, foreseeing the danger, not only to the ship but importantly to the lives of all 276 souls on board.
Naturally speaking, it makes sense for the centurion to listen to the pilot (man of experience) than to Paul (man of the Spirit), a mere prisoner, with no experience whatsoever in sailing.
Deep calls to deep (Psalm 42:7) – it takes a spiritually minded man to understand the things of the Spirit.
The things that are seen are made out of things that have not yet appeared, i.e everything exists in the spiritual realm before they manifest in the physical (Hebrews 11:3) – this is the order of things right from creation of the universe as we know it.

DECEPTION OF THE PHYSICAL:

Experience and expertise. The men who designed the luxury ocean liner Titanic were so sure of their ingenuity that the chief engineer boasted, “Not even God can sink it.” We know the fate of the ‘masterpiece’ on its first and only voyage!
Physical circumstances which sway the opinion of the majority- vs 12. vox populi vox dei instead of “one with God is a majority”.
Are you controlled by popular opinion? Where or who is your reliance? Are you carnally minded or spiritually minded? – Romans 8: 5-8.
Are you going through some physical unpleasant situation that is making you hasty and not willing to wait on the LORD for His perfect will for your life?
A soft blowing south wind, giving them a false sense of safety and comfort – vs 13.
The Euroclydons of this world always hide behind a soft blowing south wind – vs 14. We must be 100% in tune with God’s Spirit all the time.
A man of the Spirit is always steps ahead vs 30-31.

LET US PRAY:

Dear Lord, please let me walk in the reality of Gal. 2:20. I do not want it to be a jingle, a catchy cliche that I repeat.
Lord, help me remember that You have given Your verdict over the wisdom of this world – 1 Cor. 1:19-20, 2:6. You have made foolish the wisdom of this world. Please help me not to dissipate energy on pursuing that which You called foolish and is coming to nothing.
Lord, please fill me with the knowledge of Your will in all Wisdom and Spiritual understanding.
Please instruct me and teach me in the way I should go; guide me with Your eye, according to your word – Psalm 32: 8.
Dear Holy Spirit, since I (the carnal/natural man) died at the Cross, and have been replaced by the life of Christ (the Spiritual Man), reveal to me the wisdom of God in all things- 1 Cor. 2: 1-7.

New Wine