Through the Storms in life our faith must be anchored in the promises of God

The apostle Paul had appealed to have his case brought before Caesar. So he is being sent as a prisoner on a ship headed to Rome and he faces a horrendous storm but his faith is anchored in the promises of God who assures him that he and those who are traveling with him their life will be saved. Life is filled with unexpected storms. This message is to encourage you to have your faith anchored in the promises of God when the storms in life come our way.

Acts 27:1–8 “And when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Regiment. So, entering a ship of

Ad ra mytt ium (ad ruh mit ih um), we put to sea, meaning to sail along the coasts of Asia. Aristarchus, a Macedonian of Thessalonica, was with us. And the next day we landed at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him liberty to go to his friends and receive care. When we had put to sea from there, we sailed under the shelter of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary. And when we had sailed over the sea which is off Cee lee cia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia (Liss ih uh). There the centurion found an Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy, and he put us on board. When we had sailed slowly many days, and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, the wind not permitting us to proceed, we sailed under the shelter of Crete off Salmone. Passing it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of Lasea.”

Paul’s journey began by setting sail to Italy, he was handed over along with some prisoners to a centurion by the name of Julius with his Augustan Regiment. We are told in v.2 That they entered a ship called Adramyttium (ad ruh mit ih um). Notice that it says “we,” Paul had two friends with him one is his friend Luke who accompanies Paul on this ship and will write a detail account what happens, and Aristarchus a Macedonian of Thessalonica we read about him (19:29) when he was seized when a riot broke out at Ephesus. Paul called him fellow laborer (Philemon 1:24), and fellow prisoner (Col 4:10). It is good to have true friends who will never abandon you in your time of trouble. The centurion Julius treated Paul kindly when they arrived the next day in Sidon. He allowed him to go visit his friends to receive care. There is a lot of speculation about why Julius would risk trusting Paul, a prisoner, to leave and go to his friends; was it because Paul was a Roman, or because Julius had heard of Paul’s good character? We do not have any details to say one way or the other, but one thing is certain: God was the reason this happened. Time and time again, we see the hand of God’s grace opening doors for Paul. And this ought to bring encouragement to you to know that God’s grace will open doors of opportunity for you.  When Paul returned to the ship, they set sail along the northern coast of Cyprus and landed at Myra. And because they were sailing into a strong wind, the centurion found an Alexandrine ship that was sailing to Italy, and he put them on board. They continued sailing for many days because of the wind. How bad was the wind? The trip under normal conditions would take 10-13 days from Alexandria to Rome, but because of the harsh winds, it would take them about 45 days. We are told that they faced more difficulty as they sailed because of the wind, and they finally reached a place called Fair Havens.

Your past storms will help you when faced with unexpected storms

Acts 27:9–12“Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast (the Day of Atonement) was already over. The Fast started  early October, and sea travel would be ill advised during mid-September and would be avoided all together from November through mid-March. This lets us know that the timing for safe travel at sea was over. Paul being no stranger to sailing and being shipwrecked on three previous occasions offers some advise, (v.9) Paul advised them, saying, “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.” Nevertheless the centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman (the captain) and the owner of the ship than by the things spoken by Paul. And because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there.” Collectively, these sailors and the owner of the ship trusted their experience over the words of Paul, whom they saw as just another prisoner. What they failed to realize was that Paul had experience harsh sailing conditions, and had been shipwrecked on three other occasions, and, above all, he had experience the will of God. Through those experiences, his faith was anchored in God. Their rejection of Paul’s advice would lead them to encounter a horrific storm. I want to let you know that your past storms and your experience with the will of God will help you when you face unexpected storms in your life; just keep your faith anchored in the promises of God.

Storms will come when things are looking good

Acts 27:13–20 “When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete. With the gentle wind things were looking good for them as they sailed. But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon (yoo roc lih don). So when the ship was caught, and could not head into the wind, we let her drive. The sailors were unable to steer the ship in the direction they wanted, so they let it run its course. And running under the shelter of an island called Clauda, we secured the skiff (lifeboat) with difficulty. When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship, this involved tying cables around the ship’s hull to keep it from falling apart; and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrtis (Suhr tiss) Sands (off the North African coast a site known as a graveyard for ships), they struck sail and so were driven. And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed (tossed by the storm), the next day they lightened the ship (by throwing cargo overboard). On the third day we threw the ship’s tackle (tools & ropes) overboard with our own hands. Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.”

Isn’t this just like life when things seem to be going good, all of a sudden another storm will come. And you’re unable to turn things around and you’re only left to let those things run its course. But while doing so, you must remember that when things are out of your control, don’t give up hope, God is in control. What do you do when you’re faced with a storm in your life?

Remain anchored in God’s promises

Acts 27:21–26 “But after long abstinence from food (most likely they were seasick because of being tossed back and forth by the waves the storm had caused), then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss (I told you so, but y’all didn't listen, maybe you will listen to what I’m about to say). Paul says to them: And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. Paul explains the promises God has made to him, For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. However, we must run aground on a certain island.””

Paul's faith remained anchored in the promises of God. He wanted these fearful men not to be afraid, because the God he served would fulfill His purpose by protecting Paul and keeping him alive so he could arrive in Rome to be brought before Caesar. In fact, Paul tells them that they needed to take courage, for God has granted all of them mercy. He also tells them that he believes God will do what He said He will do, but that they must endure being shipwrecked on an island.

I want to encourage you to remain anchored in the promises of God. Also, to tell others about your faith being anchored in God, and let them know that God can extend his mercy to them if they remain anchored to his promises. You have to believe that God will do what he says. Even when you are in the midst of a storm, remain anchored in the promises of God.

Acts 27:27–32“Now when the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven up and down in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors sensed that they were drawing near some land. (Sailors in those days didn’t have navigation systems. They relied heavily up sun by day and stars at night) And they took soundings (a rope with a weight attached to measure sea depth)and found it to be twenty fathoms ( a fathom is about 6ft, so 20 fathoms is 120 ft deep); and when they had gone a little farther, they took soundings again and found it to be fifteen fathoms (90ft deep). Then, fearing lest we should run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern, and prayed for day to come. And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, when they had let down the skiff (life boat) into the sea, under pretense of putting out anchors from the prow (bow which is in the front of the ship), Sensing that they were ready to escape the ship, which God had promised that all would be saved,  Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.”  Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the skiff and let it fall off.” The centurion and soldiers finally listen to Paul.

The sailors' fear of the storm made them want to escape from the ship. Often, when you are facing a storm, you are tempted to escape the trials you are going through. Some people will escape their faith because of their storm, or medicate to escape, use alcohol to escape, and even contemplate suicide to escape their storm. Your only true hope through your storm is to have your faith anchored in the promises of God, and He will lead you to peace and safety.

God’s promises never fail

Acts 27:33–44 “And as day was about to dawn, Paul implored them all to take food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food, and eaten nothing. Therefore I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, (Paul urges them to eat so that they would have enough strength to swim to shore for they no longer had a life boat to get them there).  Listen to what Paul says next…(34b) since not a hair will fall from the head of any of you.” Paul encourages them by reminding them of God’s promise. When you or someone is going through a storm remember the promises of God.

(v.35) And when he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat. Then they were all encouraged, and also took food themselves. Because Paul stood before them and took bread and gave thanks to God their fears had gone and they were encouraged. When your in a storm your faith must remain anchored in the promises of God not only for yourself, but to be a witness to others so that they can have their faith anchored in the promises of God and be encouraged when they are dealing with a their own storms.

(v.37) And in all we were two hundred and seventy-six persons on the ship. So when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship and threw out the wheat into the sea. When it was day, they did not recognize the land; but they observed a bay with a beach, onto which they planned to run the ship if possible. And they let go the anchors and left them in the sea, meanwhile loosing the rudder ropes; and they hoisted the mainsail to the wind and made for shore. But striking a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves. And the soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape. Soldiers were responsible for prisoners and if any would escape they would have to pay for it with their own life. But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land, and the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land.”

If you keep your faith anchored in the promises of God, He can take your shipwreck circumstances and deliver you to safety.

God can transform your storms into a testimony. Your pain into praise, and your worries into worship.  Having your faith anchored in God’s Promises can deliver you from your storms.