Four Anchors and a Wish
Acts 27:20-29 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved. [21] After the men had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: "Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. [22] But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. [23] Last night an angel of the God whose I am and whom I serve stood beside me [24] and said, ’Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ [25] So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. [26] Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island." [27] On the fourteenth night we were still being driven across the Adriatic Sea, when about midnight the sailors sensed they were approaching land. [28] They took soundings and found that the water was a hundred and twenty feet deep. A short time later they took soundings again and found it was ninety feet deep. [29] Fearing that we would be dashed against the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern and prayed for daylight.
There are storms that arise in our lives that cause us to wonder whether we’ll see the rising of the sun ever again. But for the child of GOD, there are certain anchors that we can ground ourselves to, anchors that will keep us through every storm of life.
I. The Setting
A. Throughout this entire chapter, we can see the effects that the storm had upon the ship.
a. “The Perfect Storm”
b. Briefly describe crests and swells; the roll of the boat, etc.
c. Note the different things about the boat in the storm that were made clear by the book, such as “letting her drive” and “undergirding the boat”...
B. There may be storms in your life when you feel that all you can do is just hold on and ride it out, and sometimes that is all we can do!
A Christian man lost his home and mill when a flood washed them away. He was broken-hearted and discouraged as he stood surveying his loss. Just then he saw a glittering object that had been uncovered by the waters. It was gold! The disaster he thought had made him a beggar had actually made him wealthy. So, too, the Lord often works through our troubles to strip away certain cherished possessions to show us the better treasures of His love and power. How thankful we should be that in every storm of affliction we have the assurance that the Lord has a good purpose in view!
II. The Anchors
a. The Presence of GOD
i. “For there stood by me this night the angel of GOD...”
ii. David said there is “fulness of joy” in the presence of the LORD.
iii. Acts 3:19 tells us the “times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the LORD.”
iv. Also notice that a guilty party always desired to hide themselves from His Presence!
1. Adam & Eve
2. Cain
3. Jonah
What though my joys and comforts die? The Lord my Savior liveth; What though the darkness gather round? Songs in the night he giveth; No storm can shake my inmost calm, while to that refuge clinging; Since Christ is Lord of heaven and earth, how can I keep from singing? Robert Lowry
b. The Knowledge of GOD
i. “...whose I am, and whom I serve.”
ii. To the child of GOD who understands who his GOD is, however, the very presence of GOD can anchor him in any storm.
iii. Matt. 14: Peter dares to get out of the boat and walk on the water to Jesus.
1. Until that time, Peter was the only disciple who recognized who Jesus Christ really was!
c. The Word of GOD
i. “Saying, Fear not Paul...GOD hath given thee all them that sail with thee.”
ii. Paul not only had the Presence of GOD and the knowledge of who he served, but he had utter confidence that what GOD had told him would absolutely come to pass!
1. vs. 25: “...for I believe GOD...”
iii. If only we can get hold of an anchor like the Word of GOD that we know will never let us down!
Hebrews 6:17-19 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. [18] God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. [19] We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,
The storm was raging. The sea was beating against the rocks in huge, dashing waves. The lightning was flashing, the thunder was roaring, the wind was blowing; but the little bird was sound asleep in the crevice of the rock, its head tucked serenely under its wing. That is peace: to be able to sleep in the storm! In Christ we are relaxed and at peace in the midst of the confusions, bewilderments, and perplexities of this life. The storm rages, but our hearts are at rest. We have found peace-at last!
Billy Graham (1918- )
d. The Will of GOD
God knows, not I, the reason why
His winds of storm drive through my door;
I am content to live or die
Just knowing this, nor knowing more.
My Father’s hand appointing me
My days and ways, so I am free.
Margaret Sangster (1838-1912)
i. “Howbeit, we must be cast upon a certain island.”
ii. GOD had a purpose in Paul being cast upon the island of Melita; it was there that the viper’s harmless bite on Paul revealed to the barbarians that Paul was no criminal, but a man of GOD, and there was a great outbreak of revival there!
iii. GOD always has a purpose in sending us through storms. We may not see the destination that He has in mind for us, but we can rest assured that He knows what and where He is sending us!
iv. A total and complete confidence in the Will of GOD also serves as a sure anchor that we can lean on through the darkest of storms.
Old age is like a plane flying through a storm. Once you’re aboard, there’s nothing you can do. You can’t stop the plane, you can’t stop the storm, you can’t stop time. So one might as well accept it calmly, wisely.
Golda Meir (1898-1978)
IV. The Wish
There can be no rainbow without a cloud and a storm.
John Heyl Vincent (1832-1920)
A Desire to see GOD
1. Ps 130:6 My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.
2. Isa 26:8-9 Yea, in the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. With my soul have I desired thee in the night;
4 Anchors & A Wish
• The Presence of GOD
• The Knowledge of GOD A Christian man lost his home and mill when a flood washed them away. He was broken-hearted and discouraged as he stood surveying his loss. Just then he saw a glittering object that had been uncovered by the waters. It was gold! The disaster he thought had made him a beggar had actually made him wealthy. So, too, the Lord often works through our troubles to strip away certain cherished possessions to show us the better treasures of His love and power. How thankful we should be that in every storm of affliction we have the assurance that the Lord has a good purpose in view!
• The Word of GOD
• The Will of GOD
• A Desire to see GOD
Almost everyone would rather have sunshine than showers. But just imagine what our world would be like if it never rained again. An example of such a place is in Northern Chile. Franklin Elmer, Jr., described a region between the great Andes mountain range and the Pacific Ocean where rain never falls. He wrote, "Morning after morning the sun rises brilliantly over the tall mountains to the east; each noon it shines brightly down from overhead; evening brings a picturesque sunset. Although storms are often seen raging high in the mountains, and heavy fog banks are observed far out over the sea, the sun continues to shine on this favored and protected strip of land. One would imagine this area to be an earthly paradise; but it is not. Instead, it is a sterile and desolate desert! There are no streams of water, and nothing grows there." Elmer then made this application: "Too often we long for total sunshine and joy in life. We have wished to be rid of burdensome responsibilities. But, like this sunny, unfertile part of Chile, life without its burdens and trials would not be creative, productive, or challenging. We need sunshine and showers." The storm clouds of suffering may at times blot out the sun and threaten to engulf us. But the trusting Christian recognizes that in God’s wise design and under His sovereign control they actually bring showers of blessing.
It doesn’t matter what sort of storm you may be going through; if you can throw out these “4 anchors and a wish” you can rest assured you’ll find yourself still afloat when the storm is over!
Disclaimer: The work found here comes from a multitude of sources including but not limited to Sermon Central, personal sermon collections and others. In all cases where similarities may occur I have taken materials such as outlines or creative ideas and added my own illustrations as led by God. There is no attempt to claim sole authorship for anything offered here. Enjoy and God Bless.
