1. Small Beginnings

Ephesians 3:20 The Passion Translation
20 Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you.

Zechariah 4:10 New Living Translation
10 Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.”


Zechariah 4:4-10 New Living Translation
4Then the angel who had been talking with me returned and woke me, as though I had been asleep. 2 “What do you see now?” he asked.So Zerubbabel told him everything he saw. We often can see the picture but it can be very hard to interpret. 4 Then I asked the angel, “What are these, my lord? What do they mean?”5 “Don’t you know?” the angel asked.“No, my lord,” I replied.6Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 7 Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!”Grace, grace to it”8 Then another message came to me from the Lord: 9 “Zerubbabel is the one who laid the foundation of this Temple, and he will complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sent me. 10 Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.”


Luke 3:5-7 New International Version
4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.5 Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low.The crooked, winding roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth.6 And all people will see God’s salvation.’”


What does this mean for you and I today.

Fair Havens Port
Acts 27:7-9 New Living Translation
Paul Sails for Rome 27: 7 We had several days of slow sailing, and after great difficulty we finally neared C(N)idus. But the wind was against us, so we sailed across to Crete and along the sheltered coast of the island, past the cape of Salmone. 8 We struggled along the coast with great difficulty and finally arrived at Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.9 We had lost a lot of time. The weather was becoming dangerous for sea travel because it was so late in the fall,and Paul spoke to the ship’s officers about it.

Acts 27:10-11 New King James Version The Voyage to Rome Begins
27 10 Paul saying, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.” 11 Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul.

What seemed like the place that you would be stuck was to be the very place of protection

Acts 27: 13-14 New Living Translation
13 When a light wind began blowing from the south, the sailors thought they could make it. So they pulled up anchor and sailed close to the shore of Crete. 14But the weather changed abruptly, and a wind of typhoon strength (called a “northeaster”) burst across the island and blew us out to sea.

Acts 27: 21-26 New Living Translation Shipwreck.
21 After they 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. 22 But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.
23 Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me 24 and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ 25 So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. 26 But we will be shipwrecked on an island.”

Psalm 103:8 New International Version
8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

Psalm 32:8 New Living Translation
8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.

Psalm 37:23-24 New International Version
23 The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him;24 Though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

Acts 28:1-2, 7-10 New International Version Paul Ashore on MaltaAll 276 of us men safely on shore.
28:1 Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2 The islanders showed us unusual kindness. 7 There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. 8 His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. 9 When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. 10 They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.