“Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved” (Acts 27:31).
It is important to seek God when you are in the midst of a stormy situation in your life. You need to know when to stay in the boat and when to get out to walk on water. There is a time to stay in the boat.
In Acts 27:30 the sailors were ready to jump ship once they got close to the land. They were ready to try to swim ashore. But Paul was given inside intelligence. He was saying to them, “If you get out of this boat, you won’t make it.” God was saying, “I will save you, but you have to stay in the boat.”
There is a time to get out of the boat and walk on the water, but there is also a time to stay out of the water and in the boat. Paul was saying to the sailors, “Unless you stay in this boat, you cannot be saved.” Before they would not listen to him. But this time they did.
In the midst of the storm, Paul told the men to sit down and have something to eat. He was saying, “Let’s take care of ourselves even while this boat is rocking.”
Jesus in Mark 4, got in the boat with His disciples and told them to go to the other side; He went to sleep. When the storm came, they were so afraid that they woke Him up. Jesus could sleep through the storm because He was filled with peace because He operated in virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.
When you have those seven characteristics and find yourself in the midst of a great storm, you can know that same peace Jesus knew, even when everybody around you is panicking. You can sleep when nobody else can. You can rejoice when nobody else can, because you have inside intelligence that the Lord is on your side, no matter what may be going on around you.
When you operate in spiritual intelligence you will know when to stay in the boat and when to get out.
Scripture References: Mark 14:29; John 10:27
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Keith Butler has been an ordained minister since 1974. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds diplomas from Canada Christian College and Rhema Bible Training Center.
He serves in ministry with the support of his lovely wife, Pastor Deborah L. Butler, and their children: Pastor Andre Butler (granddaughters Alexis, Angela, and April), Pastor MiChelle Ferguson and husband Pastor Lee (grandson Lucas), and Minister Kristina Jenkins and husband Pastor Joel (grandsons Andrew and Austin, and granddaughter Alyssa).