ANCHOR’S FOR LIFE’S STORMS
Acts 27:22-25
INTRODUCTION
A man drives to work at 6:30 a.m. as he has for 8 years. He punches in his time-card and is soon confronted by his supervisor. John is berated and humiliated as he has been repeatedly over the years over minor things. This time he quits---STORMS
A strong thunderstorm sweeps through the area and destroys a farmers crops and barns. He is already deep in debt---STORMS
A widow faces an empty house and bed for the first time in 40 years---STORMS
Parents sit on the couch. It is 3:00 a.m. Their sixteen year old son has not come home. They fear he has been drinking. As they wait, Dad has another beer----STORMS
We all face storms. Some are physical-- i.e., tornadoes, floods, earthquakes. Some are personal--- i.e., death, job problems, soured friendships. Storms are a part of life. The right question is not whether they will come, or when , but how we will respond to them. Paul faced a life-threatening storm. He was on his way to Rome to see Caesar, to stand trial. For 14 days the ship was in a raging sea. But Paul never panicked. As the crew panicked, Paul stood and shared the anchors that held his life secure.
I. THE ANCHOR OF COURAGE (Acts 27:22)
A. Courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to go on in spite of it. Defined as "the ability to hang on for five more minutes." It is the muscle of character that helps us continue in the midst of overwhelming odds.
B. Examples of this kind of courage
1. David had it when he grabbed his sling
2. Daniel had it when he refused to bow down
3. Elijah had it when he faced the prophets of Baal
4. Job had it when he was covered with boils and misunderstood
5. Moses had it when he stood against Pharaoh
C. God will help you persevere, have courage in the face of change/difficulty
II. THE ANCHOR OF PROTECTION (Acts 27:23)
A. Paul was protected by God’s Angels. He knew he belonged to God and that was real safety.
B. Corrie Ten Boom Story--"Angels", Pg. 75 -- protecting her in Nazi death camp as she passed by guards with a Bible hidden under her clothes
C. Does not mean absence of danger
III. THE ANCHOR OF PURPOSE (Acts 27:23)
A. Paul had a sense of purpose in the midst of the storm--i.e., to live for Christ
B. He could have remained silent, but there was Paul the Prisoner sharing his faith and hope. Do you?
IV. THE ANCHOR OF PRESENCE (Acts 27:25)
A. "I believe God" said Paul. He knew the heart and character of God. He trusted God to do best and as He said that He would do.
B. These anchors are yours through a vital relationship with Christ Jesus.
CONCLUSION
Come to Jesus now. Put your life in the hands of Jesus. Come back to Him and allow His anchors to secure you in the storms of life.
