10.14.07 AM Smyrna Assembly of God Pastor Shell Osbon
“Are You Anchored In The Storm? - Pt 2”
Acts 27:13-29
Acts 27:13-29 says, 13“When the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting out to sea, they sailed close by Crete. 14But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon (a violent agitation). 15So when the ship was caught, and could not head into the wind, we let her drive. 16And running under the shelter of an island called Clauda, we secured the skiff with difficulty. 17When 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. 18And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship. 19On the third day we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands. 20Now 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. 21But 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. 22And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, 24saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ 25Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. 26However, we must run aground on a certain island.’ 27Now 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. 28And 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. 29Then, fearing lest we should run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern, and prayed for day to come.”
Intro
Part 1 Review
1. When You’re In A Storm, You Cannot Depend On Human Wisdom
Acts 27:18-19 says, 18“And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship. 19On the third day we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands.”
One of the most difficult things to do when you’re going through a storm will be to resist the temptation to handle your storms in the way that you think they should be handled.
2. When You’re In A Storm, You Can Depend On Godly Wisdom
Acts 27:22-25 says, 22“I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, 24saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ 25Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.”
Whenever you’re in the middle of a storm, you need to remember that God will still be talking to you, you can depend on whatever He tells you and that He will bring you through every storm that you ever face!
3. When You’re In A Storm, You Need To Drop Some Anchors
Acts 4:29 says, “Then, fearing lest we should run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from the stern, and prayed for day to come.” These men were truly at their wits end and knew that all they could hope for was to make it through the night.
Last Sunday I briefly mentioned four anchors that I believe you need to drop whenever you’re going through a storm and today I want to elaborate on each of those four anchors.
A. The Anchor of Prayer
Whenever a storm comes your way, don’t be like these sailors and let prayer be the last thing that you do. Drop to your knees and pray before you try to do anything else!
A couple got the news that they couldn’t have children. On the way home from the doctor’s office they decided to ask their Pastor for prayer. Their Pastor was bi-vocational and ran an auto repair shop so they went by the shop to see him. After they explained the situation, the Pastor grabbed a can of three-in-one oil, anointed them and prayed. About 9 months later they had triplets. When the couple saw the Pastor, the wife gave him a big hug and said, “I’m so glad you didn’t anoint me with WD-40!”
James 5:13-16 says, 13“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
Prayer is a powerful force that God will use to bring healing, restoration and forgiveness into your life!
President Jimmy Carter - “God answers all prayers. Sometimes He answers, “Yes,” sometimes He answers, “No,” and sometimes the answer is, “You gotta be kidding!”
Psalm 55:4-8 David says, 4“My heart is severely pained within me and the terrors of death have fallen upon me. 5 Fearfulness and trembling have come upon me and horror has overwhelmed me. 6I said, ‘Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest. 7I would wander far off and remain in the wilderness. 8I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest’.”
An overweight businessman decided to shed some pounds. One morning he arrived at work carrying a half-eaten box of donuts. His coworkers scolded him but he said, “Let me explain. I accidentally drove by Krispy Kreme this morning and the read light was on. I felt that this was no accident, so I prayed, ‘Lord, if you want me to have some donuts, let me have a parking place in front of Krispy Kreme. And sure enough, the eighth time around the block, I saw the parking spot I had prayed for!”
Acts 12:5-7 says, 5“Peter was in prison but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 6That night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. 7Now an angel of the Lord stood by him and a light shone in the prison and he struck Peter on the side saying, ‘Arise quickly!’ And his chains fell off his hands.”
Don’t overlook the fact that your prayers for other folks can miraculously open prison doors for them!
Acts 16:25, 26 says, 25“At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26Suddenly there was a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison were shaken and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.”
Your prayers will open prison doors for you and they can open prison doors for folks who deserve to be in prison!
B. The Anchor of Fellowship
So many times, I see Christians make the mistake of pulling away from their church whenever they are going through a storm. Satan knows that if he can get you separated from the rest of the Body that you are an easy target for him.
Hebrews 10:25 Living Bible says, “Let us not neglect our church meetings, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other especially now that the day of His coming back again is drawing near.”1 Corinthians 12:18 says, “God set the members in the body just as He pleased.”
God places you in the Body where it pleases Him which infers that it may not be where it pleases you! The challenge is not staying in the church when things are going great. The challenge is staying in the church when you’re in a storm!
1 Corinthians 12:24-26 says, 24“God composed the body 25that there should be no schism in the body but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26And if one member suffers all the members suffer with it or if one member is honored all the members rejoice with it.”
God designed the Body of Christ in such a way as to make sure that there was nothing lacking for any member.
Conclusion
Proverbs 10:25 Living Bible says, “Disaster strikes like a cyclone and the wicked are whirled away but the good man has a strong anchor.”
“Are You Anchored In The Storm?” If so, you will need to remember that....
1. You Cannot Depend On Human Wisdom
2. You Can Depend On Godly Wisdom
3. You Need To Drop Some Anchors
a. The Anchor Of Prayer
b. The Anchor Of Fellowship
c. The Anchor Of Faithfulness
d. The Anchor Of Hope
