Anchored In The Deep

February 20, 2016

I love a good thunderstorm. We don’t get really good thunderstorms here in California. Michigan, now, they have GOOD thunderstorms. Towering clouds, lightening, thunder, sheets of rain – the power of it is something to behold.

Today we are going to talk about a very different kind of storm which the New Living Translation calls “A wind of Typhoon strength”.

Paul had requested an audience with Caesar, so off to Rome he was sent - in chains. While waiting for another ship, Paul, along with Luke and Aristarchus, were allowed to stay with believers in town. This permission was greatly appreciated By Paul because he was in poor health. (Acts of the Apostles)

Winter was coming and once they arrived at Fair Havens they waited for some time, hoping for favorable winds. Sailing at that time of year was dangerous. The matter was discussed and because Paul was respected by both sailors and soldiers, he was consulted. Without hesitation, Paul advised them to remain where they were. Paul’s counsel was disregarded and it was decided to proceed toward Rome. Paul had no choice; he must go on this perilous journey.

Not long into their journey and as Paul predicted, they were in danger of losing not only their cargo but their lives as well. The violence and power of the storm terrified even the most seasoned of sailors. There was nothing to be done except hang on.

Point 1: Storms happen. You don’t have to look for storms, storms find you. There is no way to avoid storms.

Paul is the poster-child for experiences in trouble. Very few of us can rattle off the kind of trouble Paul lists in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28

• 2 Corinthians 11:18-28 - Seeing that many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast. 19 For you put up with fools gladly, since you yourselves are wise! 20 For you put up with it if one brings you into bondage, if one devours you, if one takes from you, if one exalts himself, if one strikes you on the face. 21 To our shame, I say that we were too weak for that! But in whatever anyone is bold -- I speak foolishly -- I am bold also. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ? -- I speak as a fool -- I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness -- 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.

Christians encounter “storms”. We really do a great disservice if we leave the impression in our preaching or witnessing that becoming a Christian will automatically exempt a person from experiencing troubles or difficulties in life. Job said, “A man is born unto trouble” – and that truth applies to everyone. Not even Christian “super faith” can change that truth. When we are converted, Christ brings many precious gifts into our lives, but a life free from trouble is not one of them.

Jesus plainly states, “In this world you WILL have troubles, but take heart, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.

However!! This world and the trouble in it does not need to be the end of the story!!!! Storms do not have the final say!! Too often we fail to remember that this world is not the final destination for those who Love Jesus.

Point 2: For the Christian Storms have purpose

• We encounter storms of our own making,

• We encounter storms created by other people (circumstances beyond our control). Storms that aren’t really ours but we are caught up in them.

• We encounter storms simply because we live on planet earth

For the Christian storms have a purpose.

• Ellen White {CC – Ch. 88}: God had promised to be their God, to take them to Himself as a people, and to lead them to a large and good land; but they were ready to faint at every obstacle encountered in the way to that land. In a marvelous manner He had brought them out from their bondage in Egypt, that He might elevate and ennoble them and make them a praise in the earth. But it was necessary for them to encounter difficulties and to endure privations. God was bringing them from a state of degradation and fitting them to occupy an honorable place among the nations and to receive important and sacred trusts. Had they possessed faith in Him, in view of all that He had wrought for them, they would cheerfully have borne inconvenience, privation, and even real suffering; but they were unwilling to trust the Lord any further than they could witness the continual evidences of His power. They forgot their bitter service in Egypt. They forgot the goodness and power of God displayed in their behalf in their deliverance from bondage. They forgot how their children had been spared when the destroying angel slew all the first-born of Egypt. They forgot the grand exhibition of divine power at the Red Sea. They forgot that while they had crossed safely in the path that had been opened for them, the armies of their enemies, attempting to follow them, had been overwhelmed by the waters of the sea. They saw and felt only their present inconveniences and trials; and instead of saying, "God has done great things for us; whereas we were slaves, He is making of us a great nation," they talked of the hardness of the way, and wondered when their weary pilgrimage would end.