10.28.07 AM Smyrna Assembly of God Pastor Shell Osbon
“Are You Anchored In The Storm? - Pt 4”
Acts 27:13-29 says, 13“When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete. 14But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon (a violent agitation). 15So when the ship was caught, and could not head into the wind, we let her drive. 16And running under the shelter of an island called Clauda, we secured the skiff with difficulty. 17When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrtis Sands, they struck sail and so were driven. 18And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship. 19On the third day we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands. 20Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up. 21But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, ‘Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss. 22And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, 24saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ 25Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. 26However, we must run aground on a certain island. 27Now when the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven up and down in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors sensed that they were drawing near some land. 28And they took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms; and when they had gone a little farther, they took soundings again and found it to be fifteen fathoms. 29Then, fearing lest we should run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern, and prayed for day to come.”
Intro
Series Review
1. When You’re In A Storm, You Cannot Depend On Human Wisdom
The sailors knew what to do when they found themselves caught in a storm so they begin to lighten the ship’s load and even threw the tackle overboard.
2. When You’re In A Storm, You Can Depend On Godly Wisdom
After the sailors had done all that they knew to do, Paul stands up and gives them the “Word of the Lord” to let them know that they will all survive the storm they were in.
3. When You’re In A Storm, You Need To Drop Some Anchors
Acts 4:29 says, “Then, fearing lest we should run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern, and prayed for day to come.”
A. The Anchor of Prayer
Jeremiah 33:3 God says, “Call unto Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you do not know.”
B. The Anchor of Fellowship
Hebrews 10:25 Living Bible says, “Let us not neglect our church meetings, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other especially now that the day of His coming back again is drawing near.”
C. The Anchor of Faithfulness
Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not lose heart.”
Sometimes when people are going through a storm, they will quit being faithful to the ministry that God has called them to.
Deuteronomy 14:23 The Living Bible says, “The purpose of tithing is to teach you to always put God first in your lives.”
God can be trusted even when you’re in a financial storm! He will prove Himself to be your Provider even when you’re out of a job as He makes a way where there seems to be no way!
Part 4
D. The Anchor of Hope
Hope is defined as “a feeling of expectation and desire for something to happen.”
Acts 27:20 says, “Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.”
These sailors had been in this storm now for 14 days without any indication that the storm was going to end. They had done all that they had been trained to do (lighten the ship, throw the tackle overboard) and they had even heard the Word of the Lord that Paul brought to them. But despite all of that, they had lost all hope that they would be saved from the storm.
James 5:8 Good News Bible says, “Keep your hopes high for the day of the Lord’s coming is near.”
English poet Joseph Addison said, “Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love and something to hope for.”
An elementary kid wrote a letter to his Pastor which read, “Dear Pastor, I hope to go to heaven some day but later than sooner.”
Dr. Robert Schuller - “Let your hopes, not your hurts, shape your future.”
Ecclesiastes 9:4 Contemporary English Version says, “ As long as we are alive, we still have hope, just as a live dog is better off than a dead lion.”
As long as you’re breathing, there’s hope that you can make it through this storm!
Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.”
Job 14:7-9 says, 7“There is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again and that its tender shoots will not cease. 8Though its root may grow old in the earth, and its stump may die in the ground, 9at the scent of water it will bud and bring forth branches like a plant.”
Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Psalm 33:22 Living Bible says, “Lord, let Your constant love surround us, for our hopes are in You alone.”
One songwriter put it this way, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus’ Name. On Christ the Solid Rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand.”
Conclusion
Proverbs 10:25 Living Bible says, “Disaster strikes like a cyclone and the wicked are whirled away but the good man has a strong anchor.”
“Are You Anchored In The Storm?” If so, please remember:
1. You Cannot Depend On Human Wisdom
2. You Can Depend On Godly Wisdom
3. You Need To Drop Some Anchors
a. The Anchor Of Prayer
b. The Anchor Of Fellowship
c. The Anchor Of Faithfulness
d. The Anchor Of Hope
