What Are You Anchored To?

Announcements:

There will be no Bible Study on this Wednesday, October 11th.

Worship:

I Could Sing of Your Love Forever

Oceans

God I look to You

Introduction:

Matthew 24:3-13 tells us things are going to get worse and life is going to get harder as storms continue to come

Matthew 24:3–13 NLT

3 Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives. His disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will signal your return and the end of the world?” 4 Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, 5 for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. 7 Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. 8 But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come. 9 “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. 10 And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. 11 And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. 12 Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

According to Open Doors’ World Watch List 2022, last year more Christians were detained or killed for their faith and more churches were attacked or closed than the year before.

In the past year, 360 million Christians, or 1 in 7 believers around the world, suffered significant persecution for their faith. Every day in 2021, an average of more than 16 believers were killed for following Jesus. With close to 6,000 total martyrs, 2021 saw a 24% increase in Christians killed for the faith.

Jesus said in Matthew that:

1. Things will be hard

2. I must endure difficulty without turning cold

3. I can stand firm in the storm

We are not helpless victims in times of chaos

We need to be anchored to the right things.

The anchor was a symbol of early Christianity

-holds the boat firm

-drop it in immoveable things

-anchor needs to be with you when the storm hits

-has to be outside of the boat

-Anchored to self: own peace/within myself

-Anchored to spouse: spouse is my rock

-Anchored to job: my security

-Anchored to government/political party: seaweed/not firm

While we may not be facing the same persecution and difficulties as our Christian brothers and sisters in other parts of the world (even though it will be in our backyard before you know it), we also face trials and difficulties as well such as:

-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. He 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 an 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.

Anchors have to be outside of our boat and can only be anchored to God or else we will be lost when the storms come:

What are you anchored to?

Dropping anchor in the things of God means you won’t be lost in the midst of the storm because storms will be coming.

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.

Transition: I would like to read in Acts 27 starting at verse 20 and then make a few observations that we can apply to our lives today.

Body:

Acts 27:14–44 (NLT)

14 But the weather changed abruptly, and a wind of typhoon strength (called a “northeaster”) burst across the island and blew us out to sea. 15 The sailors couldn’t turn the ship into the wind, so they gave up and let it run before the gale.

16 We sailed along the sheltered side of a small island named Cauda,* where with great difficulty we hoisted aboard the lifeboat being towed behind us. 17 Then the sailors bound ropes around the hull of the ship to strengthen it. They were afraid of being driven across to the sandbars of Syrtis off the African coast, so they lowered the sea anchor to slow the ship and were driven before the wind.

18 The next day, as gale-force winds continued to batter the ship, the crew began throwing the cargo overboard. 19 The following day they even took some of the ship’s gear and threw it overboard. 20 The terrible storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars, until at last all hope was gone.

21 No one had eaten for a long time. Finally, Paul called the crew together and said, “Men, you should have listened to me in the first place and not left Crete. You would have avoided all this damage and loss. 22 But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. 23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, 24 and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ 25 So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. 26 But we will be shipwrecked on an island.”

27 About midnight on the fourteenth night of the storm, as we were being driven across the Sea of Adria,* the sailors sensed land was near. 28 They dropped a weighted line and found that the water was 120 feet deep. But a little later they measured again and found it was only 90 feet deep.* 29 At this rate they were afraid we would soon be driven against the rocks along the shore, so they threw out four anchors from the back of the ship and prayed for daylight.

30 Then the sailors tried to abandon the ship; they lowered the lifeboat as though they were going to put out anchors from the front of the ship. 31 But Paul said to the commanding officer and the soldiers, “You will all die unless the sailors stay aboard.” 32 So the soldiers cut the ropes to the lifeboat and let it drift away.

33 Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat. “You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for two weeks,” he said. 34 “Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish.” 35 Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it. 36 Then everyone was encouraged and began to eat—37 all 276 of us who were on board. 38 After eating, the crew lightened the ship further by throwing the cargo of wheat overboard.

39 When morning dawned, they didn’t recognize the coastline, but they saw a bay with a beach and wondered if they could get to shore by running the ship aground. 40 So they cut off the anchors and left them in the sea. Then they lowered the rudders, raised the foresail, and headed toward shore. 41 But they hit a shoal and ran the ship aground too soon. The bow of the ship stuck fast, while the stern was repeatedly smashed by the force of the waves and began to break apart.

42 The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners to make sure they didn’t swim ashore and escape. 43 But the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul, so he didn’t let them carry out their plan. Then he ordered all who could swim to jump overboard first and make for land. 44 The others held onto planks or debris from the broken ship.* So everyone escaped safely to shore.

These brave sailors were in a storm that seemed to be overwhelming. In an effort to save the ship and their lives, they cast four anchors into the sea. Sadly, those anchors proved ineffective against the storm and the ship was ultimately lost.

However, on board that ship was a man named Paul.

He was a special man for several reasons:

1. He was a child of God

2. He was a man on a mission

3. He was a man of faith; and

4. He was in fellowship with God.

Because of who he was, Paul was anchored in the midst of that storm, even though the ship wasn’t!

Those sailors threw four anchors into the sea in an attempt to steady that ship. Those anchors failed.

As I read this text, I became aware that Paul had four anchors as well. These anchors steadied him during the storm. Even though that ship was shaken and battered, Paul was able to make it because he had STRONG ANCHORS.

TOO many people have weak ANCHORS.

Anchors are to help steady US in the storm; not change the storm or get rid of the storm. God uses storms!

GOD HAS STRONG ANCHORS as we are told in:

Hebrews 6:19 NLT

19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.

This morning we are going to talk about how the same anchors that kept Paul steady on his stormy seas are available to you and me on our stormy seas.

Transition: The first anchor we see here is:

I. THE STRONG ANCHOR OF GOD’S PRESENCE vs. 23

Acts 27:23 NLT

23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me,

Paul found that even in the midst of the raging storm he was not alone. The Lord came to him to minister peace to his heart.

Hebrews 13:5 “…I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Matthew 28:20 “…and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.”

It would be a blessing if we could enjoy the manifest presence of the Lord as Paul did.

But even when you cannot see Him, He is still there: watching, leading, protecting, being God.

Dr. Tony Compolo says that when he was a boy growing up in a congested and bustling city, his mother arranged a teenage girl who lived nearby to walk home with him at the end of the day. For this she was paid a nickel a day. But Tony rebelled in the second grade and told his mother, I’ll walk myself to school and if you give me a nickel a week, I will be extra careful. You can keep the other twenty cents and we’ll be better off.”

After a period of pleading and begging, little Tony finally got his way. For the next two years he walked himself back and forth to school. It was an eight-block walk with many streets to cross, but he was careful and didn’t talk to strangers or get distracted along the way.

Years later at a family party, he bragged about his independence and reminded his family of how he had taken care of himself as a boy. His mother laughed and added the rest of the story. “Did you really think you were alone?” she asked. “Every morning when you left for school, I left with you. I walked behind you all the way. When you got out of school at 3:30 in the afternoon, I was there. I always kept myself hidden, but I was there and I followed you all the way home. I just wanted to be there for you in case you needed me.”

Vs. 25 Paul says, “I believe God.” He knew God was with Him and everything was going to be alright.

This anchor can be yours through a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Transition: Not only do we have the anchor of God’s presence, but we also have:

II. THE STRONG ANCHOR OF THE PROMISES OF GOD vs. 23-25

Acts 27:23–25 NLT

23 For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me, 24 and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’ 25 So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said.

As Paul weathered that long, terrible storm, the Lord came to him with a precious promise.

He reminded Paul that he would stand before Caesar, and that all those on the ship were to be spared as well.

For Paul, just having a word from God was enough to anchor him and give him blessed assurance.

Why? He knew God was a PROMISE KEEPING GOD!

Romans 4:21 “What he promises He is able to perform.”

The Word of God is full of promises. 7,847 promises from God to man.

Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel have over 1,000 promises each.

In Psalm 37 practically every verse is a wonderful promise.

Promises from God’s Word make a strong anchor for us in the Stormy Seas of Life.

Transition: Not only do we have the anchor of God’s presence and the anchor of the promises of God, but we also have:

III. THE STRONG ANCHOR OF THE PLAN OF GOD vs. 24

Acts 27:24 NLT

24 and he said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Paul, for you will surely stand trial before Caesar! What’s more, God in his goodness has granted safety to everyone sailing with you.’

The angel of the Lord that ministered to Paul told him God’s plan was for Paul to get to Caesar and to spare everyone on board.

Verse 42 says the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, because they were afraid they would swim away and escape. But God’s plan was for everyone to live.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for hope and a future.”

Paul had a purpose. Even though he was in the storm of his life he knew he was living for Christ. He was a prisoner yet he had purpose. His purpose was to share the Good News with Caesar.

DO you share the Good News?

This anchor of God’s plan includes protection and prosperity

How many of us need that? I do!

Transition: Not only do we have the anchor of God’s presence, the anchor of the promises of God, and the anchor of the plan of God, but we also have:

IV. THE STRONG ANCHOR OF GOD’S POWER vs. 44

Acts 27:44 NLT

44 The others held onto planks or debris from the broken ship.* So everyone escaped safely to shore.

Only the power of God is strong enough to be your anchor in the midst of the storm. Nothing else, no one else is strong enough.

If I am in a storm I want to be anchored to the strong power of the One who can calm the winds and the waves.

God is able to work it all out!

He will get you through your storm and land you safely beyond it! It may look like your boat is going to sink. It make look like the storms of life are going to prevail.

But,

when the waves have all settled down,

when the winds have ceased their blowing,

when the rains have ceased,

when the storm clouds have moved off of the horizon;

you will see that God was in control all along!

I can promise you this: no storm in this life will be able to blow you off course if you are holding on to the strong anchor of God’s power!

Luke 1:37 “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

Jeremiah 32:17 “…for thou hast made the heavens by thy great power…nothing is too hard for thee.”

Ephesians 3:20 “Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think according to the power that is at work within us.”

If God has the power to cause an ax head to float

If God can cause a donkey to talk

If He has power to split the Red Sea and the Jordan River

If God can raise the dead

If God can tell the thunder and lighting to cease

If God can send fire from heaven and burn up a sacrifice including the stones, wood, dust and water

THEN He has the POWER to keep me safe through the storm!

Conclusion:

Whether you are going through a storm now or not, the question I have for you this morning still applies.

What are you anchored to? Remember, you have to have your anchor with you before the storm hits.

Are you anchored to:

yourself?

your spouse?

your job?

the government or political party?

a denomination or church?

Or are you anchored to:

God’s presence: knowing He is always with you

God’s promises: knowing God is true to His promises

God’s plan: knowing God has a plan for you and nothing can keep it from taking place as long as we are walking with Him

God’s power: knowing no storm can be strong enough to blow you off course in life and in your relationship with God

We all will go through storms in our life.

The question we need to ask is are we firmly anchored to God so He keeps us safe as we go through the storm without drifting/getting blown off course and getting lost?