Anchors In The Time of Storm

Read - Acts 27:14-29

Dr. Luke the author of Acts and the Apostle Paul are being taken to Rome Paul as a prisoner to see Caesar.

I’m sure you know the story - how that Paul warned them not to leave even though every thing looked perfect. It was perfect weather to sail.

I think that is something to learn from - just because the opotunity looks perfect - doesn’t mean its the right thing to do...

Well Paul was just a prisoner, the Guard and Captain knew better - so off they sailed -

Right into one of the worst storms those men had ever experienced.

Listen to this time line -

The Storm - a Euroclydon (or Northeaster) came up. Wind with hurricane force. They lost control of the ship and just had to give way to it - they found some protection near a small island of Clauda and were barely able to get the ship’s boat under control

Now as best I can tell in my studies - what this means is a larger ship, such as this one would often carry it anchors in a smaller boat that was attached by some distance. They would sail together. This one, they could not control at all as they couldn’t control the ship they were on.

So in verse Acts 27:17 we are told they hoist it up and then they use support to undegird the ship. Some kind of ropes or cable system that helped support the boat.

After all of that work they realized they were getting too close to shore of the Island and so “strake sail and so were driven”

The next day - Acts 27:18 they are being exceedingly or violently storm-tossed and so begin to lighten the ship by throwing the tackling overboard. Luke must have helped with this job

Acts 27:20 and when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared - so now it’s been many days - they have been in this angry violent raging sea...

We get down to Acts 27:29 where the men - the seasoned sailors had done all they knew to do - and felt the end had come - they ate some food had a few laughs even in the raging storm and

Acts 27:29 KJV 1900

29 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.

I don’t want to take too many liberties with God’s word but as I studied I had seen where someone had named these four anchors - and I said “that’s good” I want to share that - So I’m gonna tonight -

Four anchors in our life’s storms that will help us through

The Anchor of His Presence -

From the God’s first walk with Adam in the Garden of Eden

To his journeys with the Children of Israel in the form of a Pillar of Fire and a Cloud of Smoke

To his presence with the Judges, Prophets, the few Godly Kings and on into the New Testament -

God is always trying to show us HE IS THERE -

At the Nazi prison camp at Auschwitz, a group of Jewish people, including an eight-year-old boy, were being lined up for the gas chamber. The little boy was very much afraid and began to cry. An orderly standing nearby had a candy bar in his pocket. Knowing how long it had been since the boy had seen candy, the orderly pulled it out, unwrapped it, and handed it to the boy. Still crying, he took a bite and gave it back. The line was getting shorter and the boy was becoming more terrified. Suddenly, the orderly did an amazing thing. He said to the boy, "Dying isn't so hard. Let us do this together." And he took the boy by the hand and walked in.

Isn’t it wonderful though that even in the midst of the storm - many days of the storm Paul had someone stand by him. The Old writer said - “When the storms of life are raging stand by me”

Paul had someone stand by him - Someone who didn’t have to tie himself to the ships support pole to stay upright, someone who wasn’t blown around by the wind - someone who wasn’t afraid of the raging water - In our times of storms perhaps he’s not as visible, or audible, or tangible But you can rest assured GOD IS THERE.

The Anchor of His Power - The Heavenly Messenger from the God that Paul served gave him some orders the first of which - DO NOT BE AFRAID - not only is God here - but God is going to get you through this - What promise what hope but what a revelation of God’s power

We have trouble keeping track of our own children in the calm sometimes - but God said not one hair will be harmed on all of these men, prisoners, solders, sailors - the ship was shredded but not one was lost at sea. God’s anchor of power kept everyone of them.

The Anchor of his purpose - the whole purpose of this trip wasn’t to get Paul to Rome or to Prison - it was to get the Message to Caesar Acts 27:24

And Paul was going to get there storm or no storm, ship or no ship.

God is bigger than our situation - than our storm than our broken boats

we have the Anchor if God’s Purpose for our lives and we can rest on that

We have an anchor that keeps the soul steadfast and sure though the billows rolls

Fastened to rock which cannot move

Grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love

Then we have the Anchor of His Peace

Acts 27:25 - “be of good cheer - for I believe God” The storm hadn’t stopped - the winds were still blowing - they realized this ship was not going to make it through - but Paul had peace Paul had an anchor of peace in his soul

About 150 years ago, Luther Bridgers, a recent seminary graduate, was spending a weekend with his parents, his wife, and their five children. That night the house caught fire and burned to the ground. Bridgers and his parents escaped, but his wife and five children died in the flames. In his desperation and depression, he cried out to God, "O God, give me a song. Somehow give me a song to know that you are there." And God did. Bridgers wrote down the following lyrics:

There's within my heart a melody.

Jesus whispers sweet and low,

"Fear not I am with thee, peace be still

In all of life's ebb and flow."

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, sweetest name I know.

Fills my every longing, keeps me singing as I go.

The world doesn't understand it, but those who know God and his peace do. He is real. He is there.

We can depend on:

The Anchor of God’s Presence

The Anchor of God’s Purpose

The Anchor of God’s Power

The Anchor of God’s Peace

These Anchors along with what my Aunt Margie used to always admonish us to “Stay in the Boat”

and one of these days - The Old Ship of Zion will sail into the Heavenly Port!!!