• Some of the difficulties (storms) we face can be a result of our own doing
• Some of the difficulties (storms) we face can be a result of the actions of others
For example, there are some who feel that they have the right to drink and drive. Since they feel they have this right, they drive down the highway, and they have a head on collision with someone who may never have touched a drink in their life. This innocent person finds himself in the hospital in intensive care, struggling to survive the crash he had nothing to do with.
Many times we find ourselves in the severe storms of life due to the decisions of someone else. Such is the case with the apostle Paul. He found himself in a life-threatening storm because of the decisions of others.
WHEN DID THIS HAPPENED IN THE LIFE OF THE APOSTLE PAUL? It was when Paul was a prisoner on the way to Rome.
Let’s look at-
I. THE MISTAKE OF THE STORM
This mistake came about because of a bad decision.
Illus: Someone once asked a very successful businessman what he attributed his phenomenal success to. He replied, "Making good decisions". The young man said, "How did you learn to make good decisions?" He said “I learned to make good decisions by making bad decisions".
Some people go through life and they never seem to be able to understand that BAD DECISIONS leads to BAD RESULTS!
WHY WAS THIS MISTAKE MADE? It was made because some -
A. REFUSED THE SAINT’S ADVICE
Acts 27:9-10 “Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.”
Notice several things about how Paul gave the advice.
(1) PAUL WAS POLITE
The reason his advice was rejected was not because he was rude or obnoxious.
Notice, how he addresses them, he said, “...Sirs..” Not all Christians can:
• TEACH A SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS
• SING A SPECIAL OR PREACH
BUT EVERYONE CAN BE POLITE.
This is something we Christians are commanded to do by God. Look at Eph. 4:32, we read, “And be ye kind one to another”
Many times there are some unkind things done among professing Christians.
Illus: For example, it is not polite to go to people and ask them things about their personal lives. If they want you to know, they will tell you, and if they do not tell you, it is because they do not want you to know.
You find this IMPOLITENESS in the church today.
Illus: A pastor asked a young woman about her absence from church. She said, “Pastor, I am sorry I have not been coming to church, but you know of the marital problems I have been having. And every time I attend church, there are people that come up to me wanting to know how things are getting along with our marital problems.”
She then went on to say, “I know these people do not care about me and my husband, they are just nosy people trying to find something to talk about, and as soon as they find out they spread it all over the church.”
She is absolutely correct! There are people who profess to be saved, and they are NOSY, and they are RUDE DUDES!
Illus: This same young lady said, “Until I can solve this problem, I can not come back to church.” The pastor said, “It really isn’t a problem”. He went on to say, “The next time they get in your face and want to know how you and your husband are getting along, put a big smile on your face and very politely say, ‘That is none of your business!’ and then walk off leaving them standing there.”
We can put someone in their place and be polite about it. Notice, Paul disagreed with those in charge, but he was polite about it. He addressed them as, “...Sirs...”
Paul was not only, POLITE but also-
(2) PAUL WAS PRUDENT
It is rare today in our society to find POLITE PEOPLE, but also it is rare to find people who are THINKING PEOPLE.
Paul knew this was no time of the year to be traveling at sea. Notice, he said, “...the fast was now already past...” The fast referred to here was the Day of Atonement.
This was not the time to be at sea. Paul expressed that during this time there would be a danger of losing the cargo and the lives of the sailors.
They REFUSED THE SAINT’S ADVICE! Some of the best advice that a person can receive is from a wise Saint of God.
Illus: Sometimes you can even get some good advice from children. Such as:
• One young man, Patrick, gave this advice, he said, "Never trust a dog to watch your food."
• Nine year old Hanna gave this advice, she said, "When your dad is mad and asks you, ‘Do I look stupid?' don't answer."
• Michael, a teenager, gave this advice, he said, "Never tell your mom her diet's not working."
• A young cowboy gave this advice, he said, "Don't squat with your spurs on."
• A young lady by the name of Taylia gave this advice, she said, "When your mom is mad at your dad, don't let her brush your hair."
• A young girl named Kellie gave this advice, she said, "Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts."
• Naomi, 15, gave this advice, she said, "If you want a kitten, start out by asking for a horse."
• Laura, a nine year old, gave this advice, she said, "Felt markers are not good to use as lipstick."
• Joel, 10, gave this advice, he said, "Don't pick on your sister when she's holding a baseball bat."
• Alyesah, who was 13, gave this advice, she said, "When you get a bad grade in school, show it to your mom when she's on the phone."
• Eileen, the preachers daughter, gave this advice, she said, "Never try to baptize a cat."
Advice is not hard to find. Some of the advice we get is GOOD and some of it is BAD.
Notice, they REJECTED THE SAINT’S ADVICE. But notice something else they-
B. RECEIVED THE SINNER’S ADVICE
Acts 27:11 “Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.”
They took the advice of the SAINT and placed it beside the advice of the SINNERS, and they decided they liked the SINNERS ADVICE a lot better than the SAINT’S ADVICE.
Some of the dumbest places to turn to for advice, instructions or information is to turn to the lost world.
• It is absolutely astonishing that a preacher can tell a lost man that God created Him, and sent His Son to die for him, and there are those who will mock him
• An ungodly professor can stand before a college class and can tell all the students that their ancestors were a bunch of monkeys, and not a student in the class will raise their hand and say - WHAT EVIDENCE DO YOU HAVE TO SUPPORT THAT CLAIM!
The ungodly have always been quick to RECEIVE A LIE AND REJECT THE TRUTH! For example:
• Some will ignore the counsel of God’s Word, and they will call some palm reader they see advertising on television, and pay them $3.95 or $4.95 a minute for advice
• Some count on their horoscope or a Ouija board to guide them in making decisions
The lost world has always REJECTED THE SAINT’S ADVICE (based on the Word of God), and RECEIVED THE SINNER’S ADVICE (based on foolishness).
NOTICE SEVERAL THINGS ABOUT THIS BAD DECISION.
(1) IT WAS WHEN THE GRASS LOOKED GREENER ELSEWHERE
Look at Acts 27:12 “And because the haven was not commodious to winter in, the more part advised to depart thence also, if by any means they might attain to Phenice, and there to winter; which is an haven of Crete, and lieth toward the south west and north west.”
The Bible said they recognized, “…The haven was not commodious to winter in…”
(2) IT WAS WHEN THEY WERE WILLING TO REACT TO CIRCUMSTANCES
Look at Acts 27:13 “And when the south wind blew softly, SUPPOSING that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete.”
THEY WERE MOTIVATED BY CIRCUMSTANCES. They FELT that conditions were right.
There is great danger in acting on feelings. Why? Because sometime we feel:
• UNSAVED
• UNLOVED
• LIKE PUNCHING SOMEONE IN THE NOSE
The Christian should act on the facts of God's Word, not on feelings.
Illus: There is a song with the words, “I feel like traveling on!” But that is not necessarily a good song, because sometimes I do not feel like traveling on. It is times like this that we act on faith, and we do what is right anyway!
They acted on what they FELT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, but notice they found themselves in a life threatening storm.
Look at Acts 27:14 “But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon.” (Storm from the East)
II. THE MISERY OF THE STORM
A sailboat is designed to take the wind and use it to propel it to the desired destination. In other words, we are to harness the wind, not allow the wind to harness us. Notice this-
A. THEY LOST CONTROL
Acts 27:15 “And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.”
They were now in a life threatening storm, and they had lost all control. Paul said, “…We let her (the ship) drive.”
We talk about "circumstances” over which we have no control. This is a bad circumstance to be in on a ship, but also it is a bad place to be in our life; WHEN WE HAVE LOST CONTROL!
But also, notice -
B. THEY LACKED DIRECTION
Acts 27:17 “Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, STRUCK SAIL, AND SO WERE DRIVEN.”
They did not have the slightest idea WHERE THEY WERE GOING, or WHERE THEY WOULD END UP!
C. THEY LOST CARGO
Look at Acts 27:18,19 “And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day THEY LIGHTENED THE SHIP; And the third day we CAST OUT WITH OUR OWN HANDS THE TACKLING OF THE SHIP.”
They threw out valuable cargo, possessions, and equipment in order to lighten the ship.
Some people throw away their values in time of storm.
• SOME THROW AWAY THEIR MARRIAGES
• SOME THROW AWAY THEIR JOBS
• SOME THROW AWAY THEIR CHILDREN
Make no mistake about it, BAD DECISIONS are costly.
III. THE MESSAGE OF THE STORM
The storm had a two-fold message.
A. IT WAS A MESSAGE OF HOPELESSNESS
Look at Acts 27:20 “And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, ALL HOPE THAT WE SHOULD BE SAVED WAS THEN TAKEN AWAY.”
They once thought this was a good idea, but now this idea had brought them to a place where they felt utterly hopeless. They did not want to listen to Paul before the storm, but now in the in midst of the storm they are willing to listen to him.
Acts 27:21 “But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, SIRS, YE SHOULD HAVE HEARKENED UNTO ME, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.”
Paul's rebuke to them - “You should have listened to me!” When people make bad decisions they should be rebuked.
It was a message of HOPELESSNESS. But also-
B. IT WAS A MESSAGE OF HELP
Paul encourages them. Look at Acts 27:22 “And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship.”
Paul told them to be of good cheer!
Look at Acts 27:31 “Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, EXCEPT THESE ABIDE IN THE SHIP, YE CANNOT BE SAVED.” We are only safe because we are in Christ!
III. THE MESSAGE OF THE STORM
Paul shows us three anchors that we can grasp in the midst of the storms.
(1) THE FIRST ANCHOR - THE PRESENCE OF GOD
Acts 27:23 “For THERE STOOD BY ME this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,”
• The Lord said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Heb. 13:5)
• The presence of God also brings the Power of God in our lives
(2) THE SECOND ANCHOR - THE PROMISES OF GOD
Acts 27:25 “Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.”
Be of good cheer ...
• BECAUSE GOD HAS SAID THESE THINGS
• BECAUSE GOD’S WORD IS TRUE
• BECAUSE GOD NEVER BREAKS A PROMISE
(3) THE THIRD ANCHOR - THE PRAYER TO GOD
Acts 27:29 “Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.”
There are some of us that are so proud that we would never let someone see us kneeling at an altar in humble prayer before God. We must humble ourselves if God is to lift us up.
Conclusion:
When the storms of life crash around us, we need to remember and use these THREE ANCHORS.
I. THE MISTAKE OF THE STORM
II. THE MISERY OF THE STORM
III. THE MESSAGE OF THE STORM
(1) THE FIRST ANCHOR - THE PRESENCE OF GOD
(2) THE SECOND ANCHOR - THE PROMISES OF GOD
(3) THE THIRD ANCHOR - THE PRAYER TO GOD
We need these anchors to keep our lives from being wrecked by the storms.
Note: You can hear Dr. Odell Belger preach on Youtube. Type Youtube Lykesland
