Apostle Paul experienced a Sovereign move of God on the island named Malta. The story is breathtaking as Paul sails on a doomed ship into the storm-tossed region. He alone knew God as Savior and Lord. The rest of the ship was loaded with hard-boiled seamen, as well as a bunch of thieves and murderers. He and the criminals were bound to a prison in Rome to be executed. Rome needed criminals to die before the cheering mob in their gladiator games. The Sovereign God had a better plan for the whole crowd. Apostle Paul alone was available for God to use in this Sovereign visitation.

As Paul prayed and fasted on this destiny bound ship, an angel appeared to plan this crusade of the Spirit. Notice that the answer came at the final moments of helplessness. It is God’s style to move when men finally reach their end. As long as we think we have the answer, God can do nothing. Here are the words of Scripture that set the stage for God’s visitation, “And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship. And 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 27:19-20). It was now “God” or nothing.

One single man knew and believed God, and he delivered the words of hope, “And 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. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me” (Acts 27:22-25). Please notice that the words from God were spoken and heard without sunshine -- no end to the storm -- and with the ship breaking under their feet. All they had were words from the Divine given to them by a man that must have looked as much like skin and bones as all the rest.

The storm worsened. Fourteen days later, the seamen began to plan the abandonment of the ship. Paul’s words rang with authority, “Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved” (Acts 27:31b). God’s man then led the crowd in eating meat and believing in His God. He said, “Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you. And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat. Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat. And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls (276)” (Acts 27:34-37).

An island full of “barbarous” people was suddenly the destination of all two hundred seventy-five seamen and criminals and one “prophet of God.” There was no choir and no altar workers but a voice from God. Soon, the miracles began. A venomous snake latched on to Paul that would normally kill an unprotected person. Paul simply slung him off in the fire and felt no harm. Miracles will always accompany a Sovereign move of God’s Spirit.

The chief of the barbarians was named Publius, whose father was gravely sick. Paul visited his home and prayed, and the sick man was healed. Words spread and a Sovereign move was begun. Many others were healed and the glory of God filled an island of previously blinded souls. It will be heaven to meet the seaman, criminals, and converted barbarians that discovered the Lord of glory because one man that knew God sailed on a ship to Rome.

Our church world is hopelessly sick. The secular world is so full of rebellious souls and the worse of depravity that despair seems to be the order of things. But, as history proves beyond question, it’s God’s time to speak. A Sovereign revival is about to break. A company of saints -- unsung and even despised -- are praying -- even fasting -- and expecting. The Spirit of God is already hovering and miracles are in the making. Angels always move in the wake of the Holy Spirit, so expect the supernatural to become visible.

I challenge those of you who read this Salty Saints to be of good cheer. Stay in the ship -- God’s church -- because every Sovereign move of history has been intimately connected to the rejected company of Bible-believing saints.