Four Anchors And A Wish

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,