The Anchor Holds (4 Anchors)

Acts 27:14–29 NKJV

14 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.

In the book of acts chapter 19 vs 21 sometime before what was taken place in the story we just read,

In the book of acts chapter 19 vs 21 sometime before what was taken place in the story we just read, Paul made this statement:“I must also see Rome!”These were his words during his ministry in Ephesus.But little did Paul realize how everything would unfold in his life before he ever got the chance to get there.Paul knew in his heart he needed to get to Rome somedayBut He was Faced with everything imaginable that must have discouraged him along the way!He was Illegally arrested He stood trial; both Roman and Jewish,He was put in confinementHe was PrisonedHe was run off and run outAnd he was shipwrecked. Paul had longed to preach the gospel in Rome and then go to SpainBut he never planned to travel there as a prisonerHe never planned to be on a ship as a prisoner in the middle of the worst storm he had ever gone through.All Paul was trying to do; was to preach the good news.He was just trying to share the message of hope.But yet he faced trials on every corner.Can I tell you tonight that;It’s never been promised to us that life would be easy.It’s never been promised to us that once we got saved that we wouldn’t face storms.

In the book of acts chapter 19 vs 21 sometime before what was taken place in the story we just read, Paul made this statement:“I must also see Rome!”These were his words during his ministry in Ephesus.But little did Paul realize how everything would unfold in his life before he ever got the chance to get there.Paul knew in his heart he needed to get to Rome somedayBut He was Faced with everything imaginable that must have discouraged him along the way!He was Illegally arrested He stood trial; both Roman and Jewish,He was put in confinementHe was PrisonedHe was run off and run outAnd he was shipwrecked. Paul had longed to preach the gospel in Rome and then go to SpainBut he never planned to travel there as a prisonerHe never planned to be on a ship as a prisoner in the middle of the worst storm he had ever gone through.All Paul was trying to do; was to preach the good news.He was just trying to share the message of hope.But yet he faced trials on every corner.Can I tell you tonight that;It’s never been promised to us that life would be easy.It’s never been promised to us that once we got saved that we wouldn’t face storms.

Paul made this statement:

“I must also see Rome!”

These were his words during his ministry in Ephesus.

But little did Paul realize how everything would unfold in his life before he ever got the chance to get there.

Paul knew in his heart he needed to get to Rome someday

But He was Faced with everything imaginable that must have discouraged him along the way!

He was Illegally arrested He stood trial;

both Roman and Jewish,

He was put in confinement

He was Prisoned

He was run off and run out

And he was shipwrecked.

Paul had longed to preach the gospel in Rome and then go to Spain

But he never planned to travel there as a prisoner

He never planned to be on a ship as a prisoner in the middle of “the worst storm”he had ever gone through.

he had ever gone through.All Paul was trying to do; was to preach the good news.He was just trying to share the message of hope.But yet he faced trials on every corner.Can I tell you tonight that;It’s never been promised to us that life would be easy.It’s never been promised to us that once we got saved that we wouldn’t face storms.

All Paul was trying to do; was to preach the good news.

He was just trying to share the message of hope.

But yet he faced trials on every corner.

Can I tell you tonight that;It’s never been promised to us that life would be easy.

It’s never been promised to us that once we got saved that we wouldn’t face storms.

​ KJV 1900Man that is born of a woman Is of few days, and full of trouble.

The reality is that you and I are going to face the storms of life.

Don’t matter if you made up in your mind that you are going to live for the Lord; Troubles are gonna come your way

Don’t matter if you made up in your mind you are going to work for God’s Kingdom; Troubles are gonna come your way

Don’t matter if you made up in your mind you are going to share the message of hope to other: Troubles are gonna come your way

Whether you live for God

whether you live for yourself or

whether you live for the devil

You are gonna face the storms of life

Some of you already have.

Some of you are in a storm right now.

Some of you just came out of a storm

Some of you fixing to go into a storm.

It’s the realities of life.

Paul was trying to do the work of the Lord and was faced with storms on every corner.

The question tonight is not:

“are” you going to face a storm?

The question tonight is;

“How” are you going to face the storm?

I want us to look at this tonight;I want to preach on the subject:

The Anchor Holds.

One of the most exciting accounts in the New Testament is the shipwreck that left the Apostle Paul stranded on a barren piece of land in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea.

Somewhere around 60 A.D.,

Paul was en route to Rome on an a freighter ship that hailed grain.

He had boarded on the Isle of Crete when a fierce “northeastern storm” blew the ship off course.

It looked like all was lost.

The storm was more than they can bare

"It was on the 14th night”,

They were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea when they sensed land approaching.

The bible tells us They took soundings; in other words (they measured the depth of the water) and found that it was 120 feet deep.

A short time later, they took soundings again; (they measured again) and found that it was 90 feet deep.

Fearing that they would crash against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight.

Let me stop right here just a minute and explain somethings about an anchor:

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 bottom

It 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 since

an 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 the 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 everyone on that ship where in trouble.

The waves were more than they could bear

The wind was stronger than they could handle with no end in sight

many of them had given up

they feared for their life and rightly so.

as a matter of fact; when the night gave way to the morning, the storm still raged against them

but the bible tells us they could see the land

The anchors kept them through the night.

The anchors kept them from crashing into the rocks which they could not see.

The anchors had spared their lives................................

The anchor on a ship or on any vessel is designed to hold that vessel in place.

but tonight I want us to look at a different anchor.

I would like to take a few moments to share with you “the anchors” that kept Paul steady during the storms of his life.

the same anchors that kept Paul steady are available to you and I this evening.

Four Anchors that we hold on to during the stroms

I. v.23 THE ANCHOR OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD.

Acts 27:23 KJV 1900

23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,

For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,

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.

Regardless of the storm that tosses your life and my life, if we have this same confidence that Paul has in his relationship to the Lord, then we can have faith in His promise to be with us always -

​ KJV 1900

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

​ KJV 1900

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

​ NKJV

O Lord, You have searched me and known me.

You know my sitting down and my rising up;

You understand my thought afar off.

You comprehend my path and my lying down,

And are acquainted with all my ways.

For there is not a word on my tongue,

But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.

You have hedged me behind and before,

And laid Your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

It is high, I cannot attain it.

Where can I go from Your Spirit?

Or where can I flee from Your presence?

If I ascend into heaven, You are there;

If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.

If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me;

Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,

But the night shines as the day;

The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

For You formed my inward parts;

You covered me in my mother’s womb.

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.

My frame was not hidden from You,

When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.

And in Your book they all were written,

The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!

How great is the sum of them!

If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;

When I awake, I am still with You.

The anchor;” in the presence” of the Lord, is not just some chain with a metal object that holds a vessel in place.

Our anchor is found in the presence of the Lord.

What an encouragement it is to know;

that you will never face an “instant of life” on our own!

Every step,

every valley,

every mountain

Every cross road

Every turn

Every curve

Every storm will be graced by His presence,

You may have to walk through the storms of life; but friend you can rest assure, you won’t have to walk alone.

The “presences of the Lord” will be your anchor,

It would be nice if we could see God in the midst of our storms as Paul did;

But even when we can’t see Him;

He is still there;

He is watching over you

He is Leading you,

He is Guiding you

He is protecting you

The Psalmist said; He knows when you sit down and when you rise up

He said that He is acquainted will all your ways.

You may think that you are walking through the trials of life all by yourself

You may think that no one cares for you.

But We have an anchor found in the presence of the Lord.

It’s an anchor that you can hold on to when the winds begin to blow and you feel like you can’t continue on

It’s an anchor you can hold to when the waves get too much to handle.

It’s an anchor you can hold to when the enemy’s got you penned against the wall and you don’t know what to do.

It’s an anchor you can hold to when your life seems to be falling apart; and no matter what you do; it don’t get any better

Friend there is just something about the presence of the Lord. The Hebrew term for "presence" is panim , which is translated "face to face, " implying a close and personal encounter with the Lord.

there is something about “when the storms of life rage and it seems like all hope is gone”Something about being face to face with the Lord

Fear is arrested

Uncertainty disappears.

Chaos turns to peace

Gods presence carries such a wide meaning

To some His presence means fear

we see this in the story of Adam and Eve.

they hide from the presence of God

God’s presence in meant light; Light that Illuminated their sins.

“God's presence” provided comfort for Joshua in times of trouble and anxiety

His presence was encouragement and strength for the down-cast in psalms 4

2 Chronicles- the Israelites experienced God’s presence in worship

The manifest presence of God was so strong when Solomon dedicated the temple the priest couldn’t even perform their duties, 1 kings 8

Before Isaac died, he blessed his son "in the presence of the Lord" ( ).

Aaron was confirmed as high priest in God's presence ( ; )

As the Israelites prepared to enter Canaan, Moses told them to “stand in God's presence” ( ).

The apostle Paul charged Timothy to remain faithful to the Lord, reminded him to remain watchful “in the presence of the Lord” as he performed his ministry ( ; ).

The Bible describes heaven as a place filled with “God's presence”.

David sought “the Lord's presence” when Israel faced a three-year famine ( ).

David counted it a joy to “experience the Lord's presence”

“God's presence” is a place where prayer is heard.

“God's presence” is a place of judgment

“God's presence” is a place of blessing.

Nothing in this world can compare to the presence of the Lord.

Pauls anchor in the midst of the raging storm was “the presence of the Lord”.

What are you facing tonight????

What storms are raging in life. There is an anchor in the Presence of the Lord.......................

​ KJV 1900God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

​ NKJVthat by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.

I COME TO TELL YOU TONIGHT THAT GOD IS NOT SLACK CONCERNING HIS PROMISES. HIS PROMISES ARE STEADFAST AND TRUE. Allow me tonight to remind you of just a few of God’s many promises. 1. There will be Brighter Days -

​ 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.

You might be in the middle of the battle of your life that has caused countless tears.But hold on friend The morning is come upon us Your tears are gonna be turned into joy C. His promises are based in and on His Word. It is pure, inspired and will stand when the world is in flames, ! Dr. Everek R. Storms of Ontario spent a vast amount of time studying the promises of Scripture. Writing in Contact Magazine, he said: "The Holy Scriptures contain a grand total of 8,810 promises. How do I know? I counted them. Dr. Storms goes on to classify the promises found in Scripture into eight kinds: •There are 7,487 promises from God to man (about 85 percent of all the Bible's promises).•There are 991 instances of one person making a promise to another person.•There are 290 promises from man to God.•There are 29 promises made by the angels, most of them found in Luke.•There are 9 promises made by "that old liar, the devil." (For example, his promise to give Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if he would fall down and worship him.)•2 promises are made by an evil spirit.•2 are made by God the Father to God the Son I can’t tell you if all the promises in the bible have or will come to passBut I can tell you this base on the authority of God’s word That is God made a promiseYou can take it to the bank It will happen.

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 ​ NKJV

g in me the grace He means to bestow. Last, in His good time He can bring me out again--how and when He knows. Let me say I am here, (1) By God's appointment (2) In His keeping (3) Under His training (4) For His time." E. That is the kind of confidence that will let you shout in the devil's face, even while the storm still rages, Ill. Job - ! F. Notice this: even after Paul received the great promise of the Lord for himself and all on board the ship, the men still tried to take care of matters on their own, v. 28-39, and some even tried to get off the ship, v. 30-31. Even in the face of God's promise, v. 21-26, the men in the ship fought, feared and fretted in the midst of the storm. There was just one guy on board who was enjoying the trip: Paul! Why? Because he believed God! He knew God was working and he used that truth as an anchor! Friends, we live in a day when men are abandoning ship at an alarming rate! The storms of life attack them and they run from the church, the old ship of Zion. Can I remind you that the best place you can be in the storms of life is in the ship, where the Lord wants you to be. If you leave the ship, you might face the fury of the storm on your own. If you stay where the lord has planted you, you can be assured that His providential work in your life will be carried out to completion!IV. v.44 THE STRONG ANCHOR OF THE PERFORMANCE OF GODA. What the Lord told Paul, and what Paul believed would happen came to pass: everyone made it safely to the shore. God kept His Word! He spared every life and proved Himself to be as good as His Word! B. God is able to work it all out! He will get you through your storm and land you safely beyond it! It may look this evening like the boat is going to sink. It may look like the storms of life are going to prevail. However, when the waves have all settled down, when the winds have ceased their blowing, when the rains have abated, when the storm clouds have moved off to 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 the course God has determined for your life! He will secure you during the storm and He will successfully deliver you to the safe harbor of His glory! C. Corrie Ten Boom said it this way, "When Jesus takes your hand, He keeps you tight. When Jesus keeps you tight, He leads you through your whole life. When Jesus leads you through your life, He brings you safely home." D. I would just remind you this evening that our God is a strong and powerful God, ; . He cab do anything that needs to be done, . The fact of the matter is, He didn't save you to lose His grip on you in a storm. No! He saved you to take you home to glory and that is just what He will do, !Conc: Have you set your anchors deep in the Lord this evening? If you have, then you can weather life's storms. If you haven't, be prepared to be blown about by the winds of adversity. I would encourage you to come before the Lord and say something like this, "Lord, I cannot fix my situation. I cannot calm the raging seas of my life and I cannot still the winds that blow against me. I need help today. By faith, I cast the anchors of your presence, you promises, your providence and your performance into my stormy sea. I am resolved to trust you to walk onto my storm and speak peace when it is your will to do so. Until then, I will not fear, I will not fret, and I will not fight. I will trust you to do what is best for me." When you throw in the towel and come to a place of total trust before the Lord in your storm, it gets His attention and you can be sure that He will do something about your situation!

4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar.

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

​ NKJVAs it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

​ KJV 19005 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life:

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 III. v. 24 THE STRONG ANCHOR OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD told by the Lord that this storm is a part of God working out His plan in Paul's life. At that moment in time, that storm was the safest place in the world for Paul to be! Why? Because he was in the will of the Lord and God wa s working in a mighty way in the situation to bring about His will for Paul's life. B. Did you know that God is doing the very same thing in your life as well? It may be simple faith, but I still believe that God is Sovereign! This just means that He is in absolute control of everything that happens in life! He is a Sovereign Lord - . Listen to the testimony of James concerning this sovereign Lord - . If I didn't know God was on His throne, I would not want to live in this world another second, but as long as I know He orders the storms, (Ill Disciples and storm - ), I can weather them. He knows what is best and that is all He sends into your life and mine, . The best thing we can do when the storms rage about us is run to Him for refuge and cling to Him until the storm passes, ; .) (Ill.Emperor Charles V was trying to assassinate John Brenz, friend of Martin Luther. Hearing of the plot, Brenz barely had time to grab a loaf of bread and duck into his neighbor's hayloft. There he hid fourteen days. The bread was quickly gone, but the Lord sent a hen who showed up and laid an egg each day for fourteen days. In this way, Brenz was kept alive. On the fifteenth day the chicken didn't come, and the reformer wondered what he would do. But from the street below came the cries, "The cavalrymen are gone at last." In a similar way, a dog provided for the needs of another reformer, John Craig, who was arrested during the Inquisition. On the eve of his scheduled execution, Craig escaped, but while fleeing through the Italian backcountry, he ran out of food and money. Suddenly a dog approached him, a purse in its mouth. Craig tried to drive the animal away, but it dog persisted in bringing the purse to Craig. In it was enough money to take him to freedom. Similarly, Robert Bruce of Scotland was running for his life, fleeing persecutors. He ducked into a small cave, and a spider immediately appeared and spun a web over the opening. Bruce's pursuers fanned across the landscape, knowing he was near. Two of them approached the cave, and one of the men started to go in. The other one stopped him, saying, "He could never have gotten in there without breaking that spider's web." Bruce breathed this prayer, "O God, I thank Thee that in the tiny bowels of a spider you can place for me a shelter.") C. Ill. V. Raymond Edman said this in a book called Quietness and Confidence, "First, He brought me here, it is by His will I am in this strait place: in that fact I will rest. Next, He will keep me here in His love, and give me the grace to behave as His child. Then, He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me lessons He intends for me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow. Last, in His good time He can bring me out again--how and when He knows. Let me say I am here, (1) By God's appointment (2) In His keeping (3) Under His training (4) For His time." E. That is the kind of confidence that will let you shout in the devil's face, even while the storm still rages, Ill. Job - ! F. Notice this: even after Paul received the great promise of the Lord for himself and all on board the ship, the men still tried to take care of matters on their own, v. 28-39, and some even tried to get off the ship, v. 30-31. Even in the face of God's promise, v. 21-26, the men in the ship fought, feared and fretted in the midst of the storm. There was just one guy on board who was enjoying the trip: Paul! Why? Because he believed God! He knew God was working and he used that truth as an anchor! Friends, we live in a day when men are abandoning ship at an alarming rate! The storms of life attack them and they run from the church, the old ship of Zion. Can I remind you that the best place you can be in the storms of life is in the ship, where the Lord wants you to be. If you leave the ship, you might face the fury of the storm on your own. If you stay where the lord has planted you, you can be assured that His providential work in your life will be carried out to completion!IV. v.44 THE STRONG ANCHOR OF THE PERFORMANCE OF GODA. What the Lord told Paul, and what Paul believed would happen came to pass: everyone made it safely to the shore. God kept His Word! He spared every life and proved Himself to be as good as His Word! B. God is able to work it all out! He will get you through your storm and land you safely beyond it! It may look this evening like the boat is going to sink. It may look like the storms of life are going to prevail. However, when the waves have all settled down, when the winds have ceased their blowing, when the rains have abated, when the storm clouds have moved off to 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 the course God has determined for your life! He will secure you during the storm and He will successfully deliver you to the safe harbor of His glory! C. Corrie Ten Boom said it this way, "When Jesus takes your hand, He keeps you tight. When Jesus keeps you tight, He leads you through your whole life. When Jesus leads you through your life, He brings you safely home." D. I would just remind you this evening that our God is a strong and powerful God, ; . He cab do anything that needs to be done, . The fact of the matter is, He didn't save you to lose His grip on you in a storm. No! He saved you to take you home to glory and that is just what He will do, !Conc: Have you set your anchors deep in the Lord this evening? If you have, then you can weather life's storms. If you haven't, be prepared to be blown about by the winds of adversity. I would encourage you to come before the Lord and say something like this, "Lord, I cannot fix my situation. I cannot calm the raging seas of my life and I cannot still the winds that blow against me. I need help today. By faith, I cast the anchors of your presence, you promises, your providence and your performance into my stormy sea. I am resolved to trust you to walk onto my storm and speak peace when it is your will to do so. Until then, I will not fear, I will not fret, and I will not fight. I will trust you to do what is best for me." When you throw in the towel and come to a place of total trust before the Lord in your storm, it gets His attention and you can be sure that He will do something about your situation!

Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

The promise of God is that there will be Brighter days

You 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.

God’s 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 person

290 were promises of man making promises to God.

29 were promises made by angels

9 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 promises

991 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 mind

there was a total of 8,810; those only total 1,321

That leaves 7,489 unaccounted for

well 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 a promise for somebody in here tonight

​ KJV 1900

36 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 mine but I’ll share it with you

​ KJV 1900

13 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.

Claim the promises of God as an anchor for your soul!

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 from

His 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 Jesus

He is the Bright and morning star

He is the lily of the valley

The fairest of ten thousand unto my soul.

He is the way maker

He is peace that passes all understanding

He is the high mountain that you can run too

an 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 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.

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 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

He has the POWER to keep me safe through the storm…

​ 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.