Ain’t No Danger In God’s Water
Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. Acts 27:31
My brothers and sisters, there are times when the church stand in awe wondering just how close they are to achieving their goals. And I believe that every once in a while the church need to stop and measure it’s own spiritual progress. Most organizations pause occasionally to review their progress toward stated goals. Whether it is the corporate sector or private enterprise, it always helps to know that you are sailing on the right ship and that the ship is going in the right direction. Sometimes those who are going in a certain direction in life give their best, but feel that their best is not enough. Sometimes, overwhelmed by the abundance of problems and frustrations that surround them, folk will sometimes simply give up and abandon ship. Oh brothers and sisters, a true story was told about how a lady waded into the water off Catalina Island and began her 21 mile swim toward California. If she had completed her journey, she would have been the first woman ever to accomplish this feat. The water was ice cold, and the fog was so heavy, that Florence could hardly see the boats in her own party. Sharks often began to attack Florence as she swam and men armed with rifles in the boats surrounding her had to drive them off with carefully aimed shots.
But the constant numbing cold of the water was her toughest problem. Fifteen hours after she began, she asked to be taken out, her muscles sluggish and unresponsive due to the cold water. Her mother and trainer was along her side in the boat, told her they were near land. They encouraged her not to quit. But as she looked ahead, all she could see was the dense fog, so she gave up and asked to be taken out of the water. When they pulled her out, she found out that she was only a half mile from the California coast! Only a small fraction of her journey was incomplete. She almost did it. Later, when her body began to warm up, the shock of failure finally hit her. She turned to a reporter and told him that I’m not makeing any excuses. But if I could have only SEEN the land, I might have made it. There are many today who give up personal goals because it seems like that their work is in vain. Oh brothers and sisters, sometimes this journey causes us feel like a losing team who is on a losing streak, we just don’t won’t to play any more. Everywhere you turn it seems like the folk are abandoning the ship because of some rough waters.
Even as individuals we abandon worthy causes, noble projects and great undertakings because it seems that no one cares or pays any attention to us. There are many church members who began their journey on the Old Ship of Zion but have lost their zeal and inspiration. Many who were once on fire to change the world, be champion the poor, lift up Christ and live cleaner, holier lives, now have dulled enthusiasm. Instead of the fireballs of energy they once were, they have shriveled down to fleeting shadows of what they use to be. There were some who came to Christ under the false notion that it would mean riches, prosperity, health and wealth. They were not prepared for the storms that were to come and so many of them have decided to abandoned the ship. As the church celebrates its anniversary, it looks back at the distance traveled to measure its progress. And my brothers and sisters, even though anniversary celebrations look back, they also look forward to remind every traveler on the sea of life, that the goal is near, the
time is short and there is less time in front of us than there is behind us. As Christians, we celebrate anniversaries to see where we have been and where we are going!
We know that our salvation is not in abandoning the Christian life and the church, but our salvation comes only if we “abide in the ship.” Oh brothers and sisters, I think I ought to tell you that f we stay in the ship, the waters may become treacherous, but we will not fear because, “there ain’t no danger in God’s waters.” Can I get a witness? This text focuses on Paul onboard a ship whose crew had become disappointed and let down and were about to flee. Paul was on board the ship, as a prisoner. He was being sent to Rome to appeal his case to Ceasar. On the way, the ship was conftonted by two weeks of violent storm that battered the ones on board. Not only did they face the terrible dangers of the storm, but, as they drifted they heard the frightening roar of breakers in the distance. They did not know where they were nor what kind of strange land they might be coming upon nor what kind of shore it would have. When it was pitch dark, in the middle of the night, their fear increased as they heard the breakers pounding against the rocks. They were afraid that their lives might be in danger of being lost so they cast down four anchors to slow the drift of the ship until they could learn where they were.
If they could have seen their location in the dark it would have been easier. If they could have plotted their position by the stars they would have known where they were, but they couldn’t see their location, adding to the stress of the moment. Oh brothers and sisters, I think I ought to tell you that when comes to the church you can’t see everything. You got to understand that vision was given to the pastor. The vision was given to the Shepherd and not the sheep of the pasture. There are some things you don’t need to see. What you got to understand is that this this Christian journey is a faith walk. If the church of God is going to go anywhere, we need to learn to walk by faith and not by sight. The sailors on board felt their efforts were useless. They had given their best and the ship still appeared to be aimlessly drifting to destruction. Even though God had revealed to Paul that they would make it to dry land without the loss of one life, they were nevertheless disheartened. Paul kept saying, God has promised them that each would make their destination without the loss of a life, but they were not listening. Don’t that sound familiar?
You might not have heard the exact words that Paul spoke, you’ve heard some encouraging words from the preacher. If he’s the right pastor, he’s telling you the good news of the Gospel. He’s telling you to keep the faith. He’s telling you to hold on a little while longer. He’s telling to stay in the church. He’s telling to come to Bible Study and Sunday School. He’s telling to pray for one another, love one another, help one another, but my brothers and sisters, I must sadly report to you that somebody is not listening. They feel just the sailors on board the ship and they have decided that continued effort was in vain, so they decided to abandon ship and save their own lives, leaving the rest to survive the best way they could. Paul learned of their plan to abandon ship and told the centurion that was in charge of the ship, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” Ultimately, the people on board all made it to shore, without the loss of one, just as God had promised. The winds subsided. The turbulence of the sea quieted. God’s word and prediction of safety for those who remained on the ship was proven true. You got to understand that every member of a church is happier and more at ease when they know which direction the ship is taking.
They are even more encouraged when they can see some signs of progress toward stated goals and objectives. At anniversaries the local church lifts itself above the fog of everyday circumstance to take a bird’s eye view of its journey past, present and future. It’s a way of peeking above the clouds, to see the land. With respect to the functions of the church, we need to
ask ourselves, are we getting closer to the land or should we abandon ship? The church can’t grow if those who are already on board don’t grow. The church ain’t going nowhere how in the whole can it be a light unto the world. I don’t care how much kerosene is in the lamp, if the wick is wet, the lamp can’t be lit. I don’t care how much Bible you say you know, if you don’t live it, it’s in vain. I don’t care how many members you have, if there’s no love in church, it’s in vain. I tell folk all the time, after I’ve been mess all week long, when come to church on Sunday morning, I’m looking for something to help comfort me and encourage me for the next week. I don’t need to come from a world of mess in church full of mess. That’s why we can’t get nobody to come from the outside world. You got to understand that the main function of any church is to save souls.
The church is the great measuring rod of ministry. As the church looks at its journey, it remembers Jesus’ great commission in Matthew 28, “Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost..” I need to tell you today that it don’t do any good to have budgets met and nobody is being baptized. There is nothing wrong with having activities in the church as long as the end result is in the saving of souls. Oh brothers and sisters, we need to ask ourselves, “Is the church going in the right direction?” Any congregation that reaches out for the lost with a missionary zeal will see souls saved. The church is about saving souls! If the church is saving souls, then it is going in the right direction. All you got to do is stick with the ship! No only Jesus commission the church to save souls, but Jesus also told us to teach them to observe all things. You see that word all. That means everything. Some of our churches and pastors have been misleading folk. Oh yeah they tell you about God is able to bless you. They will tell you about God will heal you.
They will tell that God is good all the time, but my brothers and sisters, some of the churches are misleading folk. They don’t tell you will have trouble on this journey. They don’t tell you that you will have to cry sometimes. They don’t tell that even God is good, He won’t always answer your prayer with a yes. Jesus said teach them all things. Is it alright if I park right here at this parking meter for a minute or two. I promise you I won’t let the meter run out. There use to be a time when all you could hear for the congregation is we need less preaching and more teaching. Don’t y’all sit here and act y’all hadn’t heard this before. They use to say we need less preaching and more teaching. Well God has bless the churches in this present age with some great teachers. But the problem is, folk won’t come to be taught. You see the preachers of old let that excuse slide. But now there no reason for the church of not being taught. You just have to show to be taught. Every time you turn around it’s the same faithful fear. I would go to Bible Study, but. I would to Sunday School, but. Always looking for excuses.
Not only that but the teaching ministry of every congregation must be meaningful and far reaching. Its aim should be discipleship or making Christians prepared to serve. In other words the teaching ministry of the church should not be a time for gossip, but rather a time for the Gospel. Can I get a witness in here. The other objective of the teaching ministry should provide instruction to the congregation in Christian living, family improvement, single living, personal management, Christian careers and other areas that help individual members grow and learn. Oh brothers and sisters, I wonder today if the church is headed in the right direction. Is there a strong program of Christian Education involving leadership training, Sunday Bible schools and regular Bible Study? If the church is teaching! Stay with the ship! The great commission also called upon the church to become missionaries. Its aim should be to support the preaching of the Gospel land and country. Many churches have mistakenly labeled mission work as that of the “Women’s Department” but the church has a mission, not just the women. The mission is not to
sit around and read books about mission and sipping coffee inside the four walls of the church!
The mission is to DO mission work. Mission work is seeking ways to help the poor, needy and downtrodden to help themselves. Mission work is helping the helpless and providing assistance to the homeless. And I wonder today if the church is marching toward its missionary objective. I wonder today if the church is trying to help the community that it is in as well as the support for the foreign mission and home mission. Or is the church just a stuck up congregation that comes to church every Sunday with the attitude that I got mine you get yours the best way you can. I wonder if the church is going in the right direction. All you got to is stay with the ship! Not only that my brothers and sisters, but finally, the program of every church congregation should be family friendly. It should involve activities that encourage family unity, cooperation and growth. Families want to know if the church is reaching their children. Is the church helping to provide opportunities and activities that will challenge and motivate them to reach their highest potential in Christian living, bible knowledge and personal development. Churches should provide growth opportunities for singles and married couples seeking ways to grow stronger in the Lord through workshops, retreats and other activities designed to improve their quality of life. Churches should respond to the needs of the elderly, infirmed, and families dealing with the special problems of aging while providing adequate opportunity for seasoned members of the congregation to use their skills and talents in its ministries. Is the church moving in this direction? If it is, then the families on board would do best to stay with the ship!
* My brothers and my sisters, as I hurry on to a close. Worship and praise ought to be the center piece of every congregation and it ought to be bible centered worship and praise. Through worship the congregation lifts up the name of Jesus in ways that are meaningful to each generation and to each person. An atmosphere must exist where the believer that wants to lift holy hands can feel free to do so. The person that wants to beat a tambourine, stand and clap holy hands, shout or do the holy dance should feel free to do so.
Conclusion:
At the same time the church must promote a respect for the truth that God is also worshiped in the reverence of silence and meditation. If the church is moving in the right direction, then it is best to stay with the ship! And oh my brothers and sisters, the greatest reason to stay with the ship of Zion is that King Jesus is the captain! When Paul told the Centurion Soldier, “Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.,” the words ring true to every believer today. You may think that the church don’t need you, but oh my brothers and my sisters, you need to the church. Not only do you need the church, but you need Captain of the church. If you abandon the church you are headed for destruction. I’m reminded today that abandoning ship has never been an option for the Saints of old, because they knew their only hope of surviving and gaining ther victory over difficulties was to stay close to God. You remember Job, don’t you? Job, though surrounded by death, sickness and difficulty, refused to abandon ship. He said, “Yea though he slay me, yet will I serve him!” Come here Joshua and talk to us today. Tell us Joshua what to do when folk around you want to turn.
Oh my brothers and my sisters, Joshua told me to tell you, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Come here Hezikiah and tells what to do when the saints of God think that their time is up. I can see Hezekiah turning his face to the wall and calling on the name of the Lord. Telling the Lord, Lord, I’m your child. I’ve done all I could do. I went when I didn’t feel like going. I went sometimes when I had to go by myself. Lord, if it be your will let my golden
moments roll on just a little while longer. You know what the Lord did. He added fifteen years to Hezekiah’s life. Oh my brothers and my sisters, I’m going home when I tell you. Don’t abandon ship because as long as Jesus is the captain of the ship, there ain’t no danger in God’s water. Y’all don’t hear me. Ain’t no danger in God’s water. I don’t about you, but I’m glad to know that, because, while traveling through life’s troubling seas, I need some assurance that I can make it on this journey. And you know my brothers and my sisters, I’m happy to report to you today that I found our for myself that ain’t no danger in God’s water. You ought to be encouraged today and stay in ship.
Stay in the church. It’s a good thing to know that when everything else fails, you can come to the church. Just stay in church. Oh just stay in the ship when you are in the church, you can have faith in God that gives us courage while you run this race, because there ain’t no danger in God’s water! In the face of defeat, you find in the church, faith in God that gives us the victory! There ain’t no danger in God’s water! If you stay in church, then in the face of failure, God will you show you the way to success! There ain’t no danger in God’s water! Oh my brothers and my sisters, I’m going to my seat when I tell you that you don’t have to be afraid today, because Jesus is the captain, it doesn’t matter how the storms of life rage! When Jesus is the captain, it doesn’t matter how the winds blow! When Jesus is the captain, trials may come on every hand, but we can stand firm because their ain’t no danger in God’s water! Jesus! Somebody knows Him! Jesus! Mary’s baby! Jesus! The sweet Rose of Sharon! Jesus! Our rock in a weary land! Died out on Calvary, but Early Sunday morning arose from the grave with all power in His hands! Don’t worry about the winds and the waves!
There ain’t no danger in God’s water! I heard a song writer say just the other day, Tis the old ship of Zion. Tis the old ship of Zion. Step on board if you want to see Jesus. That’s what I want to leave with you this evening. If you want to see Jesus, just step on board. If you want to see Jesus, all you got to do is step on board. If you want to see Jesus, just step into Bible Study. Step into Sunday School. Step into morning worship. And when you step on board, you need to step with praise. Step lifting up holy hands. Step with love in heart. Step on board. And you know my brothers and my sisters, I don’t know how you feel about it, but I’ve made up my mind that I’m going to stay in ship. You lie on if you want to, but I’m going to stay in the ship. You call me everything but a child of God, but I’m going to stay in ship. You can put my name on every sign board, but I’m going to stay in ship. I may have cry sometimes, but I’m going to stay. I may have sickness and pain, but I’m going to stay. I may have hard trials, but I’m going to stay. The reason I’m going to stay is because the ship of Zion has landed many of thousands. Ain’t no danger in God’s waters. Ain’t no danger in God’s waters. Ain’t no danger in God’s waters. Ain’t the Lord alright? Ain’t the Lord alright? Say yeah. Say yeah. Say yeah. Oh yeah.
