The Anchor Hold Part Two

NKJV14 But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon.

15 So when the ship was caught, and could not head into the wind, we let her drive.

16 And running under the shelter of an island called Clauda, we secured the skiff with difficulty.

17 When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrtis Sands, they struck sail and so were driven.

18 And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship.

19 On the third day we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands.

20 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.

21 But after long abstinence from food, 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.

22 And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.

23 For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve,

24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’

25 Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.

26 However, we must run aground on a certain island.”

27 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.

28 And they took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms; and when they had gone a little farther, they took soundings again and found it to be fifteen fathoms.

29 Then, fearing lest we should run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern, and prayed for day to come.

They will unlock the prisons of despair in which the devil seeks to chain you!

Somewhere around 60 A.D., Paul was en route to Rome on a ship that transported grain

Paul had desired to get Rome to share the gospel;

Paul never imagined his journey there would be on a ship as a prisoner.

Not only as a prisoner; but also in the middle fo the worse storm of his life.

He had boarded on the Isle of Crete and they set sail and not long after a fierce “northeastern storm” blew the ship off course.

the storm was called an EuroclydonIn a language that us floridans can understand.

They got caught in a hurricane, It did not look good for Paul and those that were on the ship It looked like all would be lost.

Even their lives.

The storm was more than what the ship could bare

They began to toss everything off the ship to try to lighting the Load but to no avail.

Tossed around like a toy; the ship was being battered.

"It was on the 14th night”, They were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea when they sensed land approaching.

They took some measurements and the measurements confirmed what they were thinking.

Land was close.

Being afraid of the possibility of crashing into rocks because it was dark and they could not see where they were going or what might be in their path,.

the bible tell us in vs 29 that they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for the day to come.

Understand tonight Paul was not living in sin.

Paul was not doing what he was not supposed to be doing .

Paul simply wanted to honor God and wanted to tell others about the message of hope

and now Paul has found himself in a mess

The Apostle Paul looked to heaven from where his help came from

some of you are in a mess tonight.

maybe you in a mess and it’s not even your fault.

Paul simply had a desire to get to Rome and preach the gospel got caught in a storm

it was so bad for them that vs 20 tells us that they had given up all hope.

But we looked at it last night ,Paul had an encounter with an angel and Paul was reminded of what God had told him.

and Paul was encouraged in his spirit

He spoke to the other men on that ship and told them that not one of them would loose their life.

Paul told them to take heart and when the fourteenth night had come they dropped the anchors and prayed for daylight.

tonight I want to continue preaching on the subject

The anchor holds. anchor defined by Webster: a device usually of metal attached to a ship or boat by a cable and cast overboard to hold it in a particular place by means of a fluke that digs into the bottomIt can also be defined as: that which gives stability, safety, and protection in the midst of a storm an anchor is what we hold on to when nothing make sincean anchor is what we hold to when we don’t have the answers.an anchor is what we hold to when its the 14th night and storm has not relented an anchor is what you hold to when all hell has been unleashed against you and you see no light in sight.an anchor is what you hold to when you have tried and tried but to no avail.an anchor is what you hold to when you done all you can do and it seems like everything you done is not working. Paul and the crew let down four anchors and those anchors in that moment saved them from being destroyed. The anchors on that ship were designed to hold that vessel in place. but I want us to look at a different anchor.I want to look at the anchors that kept Paul in place in his life. The first one we talked about last night was the Presence of God.Even in the midst of that raging storm, Paul found that he was not alone. The Lord came to him to minister peace to his heart.Our anchor is found in the presence of the Lord.But look with me if you will in your bibles

​ NKJV24 saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ 25 Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.

His anchor was found in the presence of God

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, “God’s promise” was enough to anchor him and give him blessed assurance. Friend if it was good enough foe Paul It’s good enough for me. Not only do we have the anchor of the Presence of God 2. The Anchor of the promises of God

​ NKJV4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: “That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.”

His anchor was found in the promises of God.

I COME TO TELL YOU TONIGHT! That God is not slack concerning His promisesHis promises are true and steadfast.

You can search the world over but won’t be nobody like Jesus

​ KJV 19005 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

He is the Bright and morning star

He is the lily of the valley

The promise of God is that there will be Brighter daysYou might be in the middle of “the battle of your life that has caused you countless tears,But hold on friend The morning in on the horizon’’Your tears are gonna be turned into joy.His promises are based on His word it is pure it is inspired and it will stand the test of time.a man by the name of Dr. Everek R. Storms spent a vast amount of time studying the promises of Scripture.He said that the scripture contained a grand total of 8,810 promises of which all would not come to pass.When i read that I immediately got defensive.that is until he begin to clarify.he said that 991 of those promises were of one person making a promise to another person290 were promises of man making promises to God.29 were promises made by angels9 were promises made by satan.2 promises were made by evil spirits. I got to calculating that out and thought that that was a lot of promises991 man to man+290 man to God +29 promised by angels+9 made by satan+2 by evil spirits = 1,321 But I got to thinking in my mindthere was a total of 8,810 well that leaves 7,489well who made these promises.And I found out that it was God almighty who made these promises. that means 1 for me 1 for you 1 for you Heres one for somebody in here tonight

The fairest of ten thousand unto my soul.

​ KJV 190036 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This one is minebut I’ll share it with you

He is the way maker

He is peace that passes all understanding

​ KJV 190013 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

He is the high mountain that you can run too

Claim the promises of God as an anchor for your soul as you sail the stormy seas of life! They will unlock the prisons of despair in which the devil seeks to chain you!The Apostle Paul looked to heaven from where his help came fromHis anchor was found in the presence of God His anchor was found in the promises of God.You can search the world over but won’t be nobody like JesusHe is the Bright and morning starHe is the lily of the valley The fairest of ten thousand unto my soul.He is the way makerHe is peace that passes all understandingHe is the high mountain that you can run tooan ever present help in the time of trouble. He is the anchor that we can hold on to when everything is turn upside down and nothing makes sense. I encourage you tonight to hold on The anchor holds The anchor holds The Anchor of the Presence of God The Anchor of the Promises of God III. THE ANCHOR OF THE PLAN OF GOD vs. 24“…fear not Paul thou must be brought before Caesar…” 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. God has a plan for you life. “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. This anchor of God’s plan includes: protection and prosperity! I’m not talking about moneyI talking about being rich in faith and hope and love.Paul believed Paul had hope Paul loved others.SO many people are going through life just to existGod’s got a plan for your life God’s got a purpose for your life.You’re not going get a textYou’re not going to get an emailYou’re not going to get a snap chat from God telling you His plan for your life.You got to seek it out

​ KJV 190013 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

an ever present help in the time of trouble.

You wont find God if all you are seeking is self satisfaction/You wont find God if all yo do is play fort nightYou wont find God if you have made this thing all about you But I’m telling you you manI’m telling you young LadyIf you will put down that video game or that phone or get out of that relationship you don’t need to be in and start seeking the face of God You will find out what it is; that you were created for and There will be an anchor of your soul that the gates of hell wont be able to shake. the anchor of God Presence The anchor of God’s promisesThe anchor of God’s Plan IV. THE ANCHOR OF GOD’S POWER vs. 44“…and it came to pass that they all escaped safe to land.”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 quit, when the storm clouds have moved off fo 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 anchor of God’s power! “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” “…for thou hast made the heavens by thy great power…nothing is too hard for thee.” “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 floatIf God can cause a donkey to talkIf He has power to split the Red Sea and the Jordan RiverIf God can raise the deadIf God can tell the thunder and lighting to ceaseHe has the POWER to keep me safe through the storm…

He is the anchor that we can hold on to when everything is turn upside down and nothing makes sense.

​ KJV 190049 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Friend I come to tell you tonight that he anchor holds....................................presence promise planpower

I encourage you tonight to hold on

The anchor holds

The anchor holds