Three Anchors To Grasp In The Storms Of Life!

• 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.