THE SET OF THE SAIL.
OPENING SONG SCRIPTURE READING: 2 Corth 10: 3-6 CLOSING SONG #15
Growing up as a boy in Brandons, I loved to go to the beach and watch the sailing boats sail across the water. It has always fascinated me how smoothly the boats glided across the waters. But what intrigued me most, above all else, was the observation that the boats were travelling in every direction.
Some boats were moving in the same direction as the wind but some were moving into the wind and I could not understand how this could be possible. If the wind is supposed to propel the boat how was it possible for a boat to move into it? It is only lately that I discover that it was all in the set of the sail. Let us pray.
Let us turn in our bibles to the book of Dan. 3:13-18:
We come upon a -sense of absolute quiet as a spectacle is played out between a king and three Hebrew slaves. Every man, woman, princes, governors and men of high regard is focused on the drama unfolding before them. Every eye is riveted on these three slaves who dared to disobey a direct order from the most powerful king in the world. Every ear strained to hear every word that dropped from the lips of the antagonist. Nebuchadnezzar, whose name means "Oh god Nabu, defend my firstborn son", conqueror of all Palestine, against three slaves, who could not even keep their name.
But amidst this quiet scene hurricane force winds were blowing; Winds of anger and winds of calm
Winds of pride and winds of humility
Winds of fear and winds faith
The bible says: Dan. 3:13-18:
Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said unto them, Is it true, 0 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which i have set up? Now fye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace,- and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, 0 Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, 0 king. But if not, be it known unto thee, 0 king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou last set up. Daniel 3:13 48 (KJV)
The winds of anger and pride were blowing right into Nebuchadnezzar sails. His sails were full. He could not imagine that three slave boys would dare to disobey him. What do we do when our subordinates disobey us, and do so openly, what winds do we allow to blow in our sails? Are we filled with rage and anger?
When our children blatantly disregard our instructions what type of winds do we allow to blow in our sails? Are we a replica of Nebuchadnezzar? Boy, he was angry. And the calmness of the boys did not help.
He was attempting to blow into the boys' sails the wind of fear but they had already set their sails to receive the winds of the Holy Spirit, humility and faith.
Too many of us allow the winds of fear to sail our boats (
Fear of abuse,
Fear of victimization
fear of losing friends
Fear of losing our jobs
Fear of living alone
Fear of independence.
But Brothers and sister we cannot afford to let others blow their winds into our sails. The minute we allow that they are controlling our direction.
They .are controlling our destiny and
they are controlling our lives.
Unfortunately many are controlled by the media. They allow the advertisers to blow into their sails.
Telling them how they should dress
How they should appear
What is beautiful and
What is good.
What type of house you should have and how you should decorate it.
They are masters at it and many are caught in the snare
The story is told about an American company which opened a new plant in Central America because the labour was plentiful and inexpensive. Everything went well until the villagers received their first pay cheque, afterward they did not return to work. Several days later the manager went down to the chief to determine the cause of the problem. The chief responded "Why should we work? We already have every thing we need." The plant stood idle for two months until someone came up with the brilliant idea of sending a mail-order catalog to every villager. There has never been an employment problem since! (Extracted and adapted —from Taking Care of Business- Establishing a Financial Legacy For The African American Family by Lee Jenkins p. 94.
There is only one person we should allow to blow into out sails, that is God.
Nebuchadnazzar was trying with all his might to induce fear and intimidation: he shouted and raged, he threatened and made the furnace ten times hotter but the Hebrew boys kept their sails set to receive the prevailing winds of faith and humility. They answered him with calmness and assurance: not with fear; Dan. 3: 16-18
Even in the midst of the storm you must know how to set your sails:
O, Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king , that we will not serve thy gods, not worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
Our sails must remain set to receive the correct winds if we are to go in the right direction. Remember it is not so much the winds as the set of the sail that determines your direction.
The Hebrew boys kept they bow pointing in the direction of glorifying God and they did:
Dan.3:25, 28,29. He answered and said, Lo, I see our men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
Then Nebuchadnezzar spoke, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God. Therefore make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort. Daniel 3: 2528 - 29 (KJV
The winds of anger were casted out of his sails. Pride was humbled and he had to acknowledge that there was and still is no other God like the God of the Hebrews.
There is no other God like our God Today, yesterday or Tomorrow. There will never be. When we set our bow in the direction of glorifying God,
when we purpose in our hearts that this is our goal
when we determine that this is our passion
God will glorify us.
We must not only set our sails but we must learn to adjust them according to circumstances.
The enemy has so many winds ready to blow into your sails to keep you from attaining your goals both in this life and in the next. We must always be checking on the set of the sail.
The wind does not determine the direction the boat takes but the set of the sail. The question is who sets your sails? Or have your sails be set a long time ago and has never been changed? It is important that the setting of the sails be changed to capture the wind that would be most effective in getting you where you are going. What winds are your sails set to capture: The winds of strife and confusion,
the winds of disobedience and rebellion
or is it the winds of envy and jealousy?
I pray God that it is none of these but that your sails are leaning under the full power of the HOLY SPIRIT. We must always be conscious of how our sails are set and adjust them according to the circumstances.
Paul in Phil. 4:12 declares; I know both how to be abased, and 1 know how to abound: everywhere and in all things i am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
It did not matter what the prevailing winds were Paul was assured of travelling in the direction he desired because he had allowed God to guide him as to how to set his sail. When the poor and hungry winds were blowing Paul adjusted his sails to allow his vessel to travel in the correct direction. When the winds of prosperity were blowing he again adjusted his sail in order to make sure that he stayed on course.
Hunger and poverty can cause men to be angry with the world. It can produce hatred and jealousy and move men to steal and kill. It can also produce in many a spirit of covetousness.
Prosperity on the other hand can result in loss of humility and the growth of pride. Men can begin to lose respect for others and hold material possessions in high esteem. It is easy to desire more money, when you witness what money can purchase. As it ends up, you never have enough. There is always something, it would appear that lies beyond your capacity to purchase.
The set of your sail is your prevailing philosophy in life. It comes out of your attitude to life, your outlook in life and your faith in God. The winds of life will shape them and mold them unless you allow the word and the Spirit of God to do it. The set of your sail will determine what interpretation you give to things happening around you. It will determine your perspective on the issues which surround you and the challenges and difficulties life brings your way.
Too often the sail is set for us and we never change it. We sail according to the sail that is set. If life is to change for us we must change the setting of the sail so that another wind will blow into our sails. The bible tells us in 2 Corinth. 10: 2 -6
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. 2 Corinthians 10:2 - 6 NV)
When we allow God to direct the setting of our sails we can expect new results in our lives. We obtain a new perspective on the issues surrounding us. Our sails no longer respond to the thoughts which formerly propelled them but now a new wind is filling them and pushing the boat in a new direction.
Heb. 4:12 declares the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)
We must not underestimate the power of God's word to change lives. We should try it for ourselves and see the effect it has on our disposition. The word of God can tear down strong holds that the enemy has built in your mind. The belief system the devil has set in place to guide you in your decision making. The word of God will cause you to search your heart for the meaning of life to you and it will help you to understand yourself and the reasons for your actions. Combined with the Holy Spirit, the word of God will revolutionize your life.
The disciples' sails were set long before Jesus met them; Hear James and John in Mark 10: 37
They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.
Their sails were set by their society. Their minds dwelled so much on carnal things that they could not understand the saying of Jesus;
When Jesus said ‘I have meat to eat that ye know not of “
The disciples thought; Hath any man brought him ought to eat?
Matthew 16:6 Then Jesus said unto them,
Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
The disciples reasoned: among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.
Luke 18: 31-33 Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.
Did the disciples understand? Verse 34 states
And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
The disciples could not understand spiritual things because their minds were focused on carnal issues. The set of their sail lead them in a direction totally opposite to the set of Christ's sails.
But after Pentecost their sails were reset to capture the Holy Spirit wind. They view of life was quite different. Thus Peter and John could stand before the Sanhedrin and state boldly; we ought to obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29).
So often in our lives we can misinterpret the message God is sending to us through our experiences, our friends and our love ones because of the setting of our sails. But should we reset our sails so as to allow the WORD OF GOD to fill them what a difference it would make. Stephen as he faced a cruel death did not flinch nor seek to avoid it. It is said in Acts
But after Pentecost their sails were reset to capture the Holy Spirit wind. They view of life was quite different. Thus Peter and John could stand before the Sanhedrin and state boldly; we ought to obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29).
So often in our lives we can misinterpret the message, God is sending to us through our experiences, our friends and our love ones because of the setting of our sails. But should we reset our sails so as to allow the WORD OF GOD to fill them what a difference it would make. Stephen as he faced a cruel death did not flinch nor seek to avoid it. It is said in Acts 7: 59,60
And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Brothers and sisters it is time we pay some attention to the setting of our sails. Where are the winds coming from which fill our sails? Where is it driving us? It is time that we make sure that the wind which fills our sails is that of the Holy Spirit. It is only this wind that will drive us in the direction God desires for us.
