Acts 27

Calvin

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Anchor yourself for the storm

A. HUMOR

1. There was a farmer who had three sons: Jim, John, and Sam. No one in the family had ever attended church or had time for God. The local church and pastor had tried to reach them, but to no avail.

2. Then one day Sam was bitten by a rattlesnake. The doctor was called and he did all he could, but the outlook for Sam looked slim indeed.

3. So the old reprobate farmer called the Pastor and asked him to over and pray for Sam. The preacher arrived and prayed for Sam thus…

4. “Dear Father, I thank you that You in your wisdom sent the rattlesnake to bite Sam. He’s never been inside the church and it’s doubtful he’s ever prayed or acknowledged your existence. This may lead to his genuine repentance. And now Lord, will you send another rattlesnake to bite Jim and another to bite John and a really big one to bite the old man. We’ve tried to reach them for years and it seems that what our combined efforts could not do, this rattlesnake has done in 2 days. It appears the only thing that will do this family any good is rattlesnakes; so Lord, send us bigger and better rattlesnakes! Amen.” [Victor Yap]

1. When it was decided that we would sail for Italy, Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a centurion named Julius…. 2 We boarded a ship from Adramyttium…and we put out to sea….9 Paul warned them [at Crete], 10 “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.” 14 Before very long, a wind of hurricane force, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island. 15 The ship was caught by the storm and could not head into the wind; so we gave way to it and were driven along. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved. 21 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 Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.” 27 On the fourteenth night…about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. 29 Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight. 39 When daylight came….41 the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. 43 But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life… ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. 44 In this way everyone reached land safely.

We all face storms and difficulties in life. Some are physical, such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, rattlesnakes. Other storms are personal – such as death in the family, job problems, marital difficulties, child-raising headaches, etc.

The question is not IF they will come or WHEN they will come, the question is “How will I respond to the storm when it comes?”

What kept Job from turning against God when he lost his family, his possessions, and his health? He knew his God!

What kept Joseph during the years of slavery and prison? His relationship with God!

What kept David during the years that Saul pursued him?

When writing the Book of 2nd Timothy, Paul had been arrested by Rome the second time. The threat of death was before him. The executioner’s ax would soon fall. But Paul was not afraid.

a. The grim specter of death was before him. The executioner’s ax would soon fall. But Paul was not afraid.

Paul also found himself in a life-threatening storm. For 14 days the ship was in a raging sea. When the crew panicked, Paul stood and shared the anchors that held his life secure.

That night, “they cast four anchors…and prayed for the day” KJV. Those four anchors kept them through the storm until daybreak.

I want to talk about FOUR SPIRITUAL ANCHORS that will keep you and I through all life’s storms:

1. Pray persistently every day

Prayer

Acts 27:29 Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight.

I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.

2. In times of trials, believers are to pray for each other and give whatever help they can.

In times of trials, believers are to pray for each other and give whatever help they can.

2. Reading the Word of God daily

IT IS STABILITY IN AN UNSTABLE WORLD

In times of uncertainty, you can trust the Word!

1. In times of uncertainty, you can trust the Word!

When everything is changing, the Word doesn’t.

How could Paul be at peace? Because he had the written Word of God’s care. He also had a prophetic word from the angel; “You will stand before Caesar; none will perish.”

So Paul had confidence. He wrote in 2 Timothy 3;

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God p may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

WE CAN’T CHANGE THE WORD: THE WORD CHANGES US

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God p may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

WE CAN’T CHANGE THE WORD: THE WORD CHANGES US

Get that Word in you and it will change you!

3. The way in which things happen daily

The next day we landed at Sidon; and Julius, in kindness to Paul, allowed him to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs. 4 From there we put out to sea again and passed to the lee of Cyprus because the winds were against us. 5 When we had sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra in Lycia. 6 There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing for Italy and put us on board. 7 We made slow headway for many days and had difficulty arriving off Cnidus. When the wind did not allow us to hold our course, we sailed to the lee of Crete, opposite Salmone. 8 We moved along the coast with difficulty and came to a place called Fair Havens, near the town of Lasea.

When daylight came, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a sandy beach, where they decided to run the ship aground if they could. 40 Cutting loose the anchors, they left them in the sea and at the same time untied the ropes that held the rudders. Then they hoisted the foresail to the wind and made for the beach. 41 But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow stuck fast and would not move, and the stern was broken to pieces by the pounding of the surf.

42 The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. 43 But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. 44 The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely.

4. Relationship building with believers daily

4.THE PEOPLE OF GOD

2. What kept Joseph during the years of slavery and prison? His relationship with God!

IMPORTANCE OF FELLOW BELIEVERS

The next day we landed at Sidon; and Julius, in kindness to Paul, allowed him to go to his friends so they might provide for his needs.

3. What kept David during the years that Saul pursued him?

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken”

1. A wise man once wrote, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls

4. When writing the Book of 2nd Timothy, Paul had been arrested by Rome the second time.

and has no one to help them up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” .

a. The grim specter of death was before him. The executioner’s ax would soon fall. But Paul was not afraid.

How many of you have been encouraged by another believer? We are here to help you through your storm! We are one of your anchors!

3. How many of you have been encouraged by another believer? We are here to help you through your storm! We are one of your anchors!