Good Morning All,
We have, in Sunday School, heard much about ‘storms’ as we cut through Acts 27 drawing to an end in the Life of Paul (which we started in May of 2004). The storm that Paul was in while traveling to Rome is likened unto our storms in this life…they are sudden and they are certain. If you are going to set sail in the sea of life, you are going to have storms…They simply are part of life. For those of New Testament Baptist Church, this is a repeat of last night, but I feel led to share it with all.
Acts 27:14 But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon… V. 29 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.
By the 14th night of Paul’s “Hurricane Euroclydon” (euros – east wind), the ship and shipmates are in a dark, dreary and dangerous position… they are driven and discouraged, as a matter of fact according V.20 any hope of being saved was lost. I am sure that we all have been in a situation or two like this. There are days and nights when we figure it cannot get any worse, and unfortunately, it usually does. I wish I could say the storms of life were avoidable, but they are not.
What should they do? What should we do in the middle of a raging storm that seems to show no sign of dissipation?
V.29 – Cast you anchor, as a matter of fact cast four of them. There are four anchors given in the Christian life that we can cast in the midst of the storm, the first one is the anchor of:
1. Duty – It is in the midst of the storm when most people will want to jump out, but just stay in the ship – stay put and stay with the ship, for in the ship there is salvation. What is our anchor of duty to let down? Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Our duty is threefold, casting down the anchor of duty is to continue to be a:
o Witness – Psalm 145:12 To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.
§ A businessman landed at the Dallas airport and realized he had one hour and 20 minutes before his next plane connection. He thought, How can I be used of the Lord here? He had a supply of Gospel tracts with him. He inserted one of his business cards inside each tract. Then he gave these to single men sitting waiting for their planes. But he didn't just hand them out and pass on. Instead he said to each man, "Pardon me. I have a little booklet here that explains how a person can become a Christian. Inside is my business card. I would like you to read this over and if you have any questions, I will be sitting over there. I have some time before my plane takes off. Or if you would like to write, my address is there." At the end of the hour and 20 minutes, men were standing four deep to ask questions about how to become a Christian. And, for weeks afterwards, the businessman received correspondence because of the business cards in the tracts.
Casting down the anchor of duty is continuing to:
o Warn – Ezekiel 33.1-6 (The Christian duty is to be a watchmen and warn the people of the coming sword)
The Anchor of duty requires us to:
o Wait – Prayers are heard and prayers are answered, but some are answered no, but are in the Lord’s time:
§ Psalm 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
§ Psalm 37:34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
§ Proverbs 20:22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
The second anchor is that of:
2. Hope – The next anchor is that of hope and if one has hope, they are in the right place, looking for that blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our Lord.
o Hebrews 11.2 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. – “things hoped for…” Do you have some things hoped for? The Assyrians, Babylonians, Phoenicians, Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans had their many gods—gods of war, gods of industry, gods of agriculture, gods of cities, gods of towns, and various others. But in all of paganism's galaxy of gods, there never was one called "god of hope." For in that ancient world, hope had become a despised delusion, long before our Lord was born in Bethlehem. The fact is, there is no hope for this sin-cursed world apart from the true God, the God of Christians. Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
The third anchor is that of:
3. Christ – That is the presence of God. Acts 27.23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,. Friend, He is there. This ‘Angel of God’ is not ‘an’ angel, but the Angel of God, meaning the ‘appearance of Christ’. It is the same as the ‘Angel of the Lord’ in the OT, the pre-incarnate Christ appeared unto Moses in the burning bush, Abraham in the plains of Mamre and the three Hebrew boys in the burning fiery furnace. Jesus Christ appears unto Paul this night and comforts him in the midst of the storm. This is how Paul, in the worst possible time of the storm is able to stand and firmly attest that all will be well. We may not see the Lord standing next to us, but He is there, He is the third anchor that we must cast out to hold us in the storm.
The final anchor is that of the:
4. Church – Though the winds blew and the ship is battered, that church will get you through the storm… Hebrews 10.25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. The church house is a refuge, a place of safety and security where friends and family member are to help you in the storm…but without Christ, hope and duty…the 4th anchor will never hold. We all have a part in the fourth anchor, our presence and life encourages others to continue forward, or to cast the anchors, or simply to never give up.
o An old question: "Can I be a Christian without joining the church or attending worship?" Answer: "Yes, it is possible. But it is something like being:
· A student who will not go to school;
· A soldier who will not join the army;
· A citizen who does not pay taxes or vote;
· A salesman with no customers;
· An explorer with no base camp;
· A seaman in a ship without a crew;
· A businessman on a deserted island;
· An author without readers;
· A football player without a team;
· A politician who is a hermit;
· A scientist who does not share his findings;
· A bee without a hive."
After you cast your anchors all that is left to do is… wish for day! The storm may rage today…but there is sunshine around the corner. The Lord is not looking to give you peace by removing the storm, rather He will give you peace while withstanding the storm…
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Today in History:
1860 – Republicans nominate Abraham Lincoln for president.
1863 – Ulysses S. Grant begins the siege of Vicksburg, MS.
1896 – The Supreme Court upholds “separate but equal” racial segregation in Plessy v. Ferguson.
1908 – Congress requires the motto ‘In God We Trust’ to appear on certain coins.
1980 – Mt. St. Helens in Washington erupts, leaving 57 people dead or missing.
Have a wonderful day!
Til the Shout,
Dr. B.J. Stagner Jr.
Pastor
New Testament Baptist Church
We have, in Sunday School, heard much about ‘storms’ as we cut through Acts 27 drawing to an end in the Life of Paul (which we started in May of 2004). The storm that Paul was in while traveling to Rome is likened unto our storms in this life…they are sudden and they are certain. If you are going to set sail in the sea of life, you are going to have storms…They simply are part of life. For those of New Testament Baptist Church, this is a repeat of last night, but I feel led to share it with all.
Acts 27:14 But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon… V. 29 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.
By the 14th night of Paul’s “Hurricane Euroclydon” (euros – east wind), the ship and shipmates are in a dark, dreary and dangerous position… they are driven and discouraged, as a matter of fact according V.20 any hope of being saved was lost. I am sure that we all have been in a situation or two like this. There are days and nights when we figure it cannot get any worse, and unfortunately, it usually does. I wish I could say the storms of life were avoidable, but they are not.
What should they do? What should we do in the middle of a raging storm that seems to show no sign of dissipation?
V.29 – Cast you anchor, as a matter of fact cast four of them. There are four anchors given in the Christian life that we can cast in the midst of the storm, the first one is the anchor of:
1. Duty – It is in the midst of the storm when most people will want to jump out, but just stay in the ship – stay put and stay with the ship, for in the ship there is salvation. What is our anchor of duty to let down? Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Our duty is threefold, casting down the anchor of duty is to continue to be a:
o Witness – Psalm 145:12 To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.
§ A businessman landed at the Dallas airport and realized he had one hour and 20 minutes before his next plane connection. He thought, How can I be used of the Lord here? He had a supply of Gospel tracts with him. He inserted one of his business cards inside each tract. Then he gave these to single men sitting waiting for their planes. But he didn't just hand them out and pass on. Instead he said to each man, "Pardon me. I have a little booklet here that explains how a person can become a Christian. Inside is my business card. I would like you to read this over and if you have any questions, I will be sitting over there. I have some time before my plane takes off. Or if you would like to write, my address is there." At the end of the hour and 20 minutes, men were standing four deep to ask questions about how to become a Christian. And, for weeks afterwards, the businessman received correspondence because of the business cards in the tracts.
Casting down the anchor of duty is continuing to:
o Warn – Ezekiel 33.1-6 (The Christian duty is to be a watchmen and warn the people of the coming sword)
The Anchor of duty requires us to:
o Wait – Prayers are heard and prayers are answered, but some are answered no, but are in the Lord’s time:
§ Psalm 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
§ Psalm 37:34 Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.
§ Proverbs 20:22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
The second anchor is that of:
2. Hope – The next anchor is that of hope and if one has hope, they are in the right place, looking for that blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our Lord.
o Hebrews 11.2 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. – “things hoped for…” Do you have some things hoped for? The Assyrians, Babylonians, Phoenicians, Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, and Romans had their many gods—gods of war, gods of industry, gods of agriculture, gods of cities, gods of towns, and various others. But in all of paganism's galaxy of gods, there never was one called "god of hope." For in that ancient world, hope had become a despised delusion, long before our Lord was born in Bethlehem. The fact is, there is no hope for this sin-cursed world apart from the true God, the God of Christians. Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
The third anchor is that of:
3. Christ – That is the presence of God. Acts 27.23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,. Friend, He is there. This ‘Angel of God’ is not ‘an’ angel, but the Angel of God, meaning the ‘appearance of Christ’. It is the same as the ‘Angel of the Lord’ in the OT, the pre-incarnate Christ appeared unto Moses in the burning bush, Abraham in the plains of Mamre and the three Hebrew boys in the burning fiery furnace. Jesus Christ appears unto Paul this night and comforts him in the midst of the storm. This is how Paul, in the worst possible time of the storm is able to stand and firmly attest that all will be well. We may not see the Lord standing next to us, but He is there, He is the third anchor that we must cast out to hold us in the storm.
The final anchor is that of the:
4. Church – Though the winds blew and the ship is battered, that church will get you through the storm… Hebrews 10.25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. The church house is a refuge, a place of safety and security where friends and family member are to help you in the storm…but without Christ, hope and duty…the 4th anchor will never hold. We all have a part in the fourth anchor, our presence and life encourages others to continue forward, or to cast the anchors, or simply to never give up.
o An old question: "Can I be a Christian without joining the church or attending worship?" Answer: "Yes, it is possible. But it is something like being:
· A student who will not go to school;
· A soldier who will not join the army;
· A citizen who does not pay taxes or vote;
· A salesman with no customers;
· An explorer with no base camp;
· A seaman in a ship without a crew;
· A businessman on a deserted island;
· An author without readers;
· A football player without a team;
· A politician who is a hermit;
· A scientist who does not share his findings;
· A bee without a hive."
After you cast your anchors all that is left to do is… wish for day! The storm may rage today…but there is sunshine around the corner. The Lord is not looking to give you peace by removing the storm, rather He will give you peace while withstanding the storm…
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Today in History:
1860 – Republicans nominate Abraham Lincoln for president.
1863 – Ulysses S. Grant begins the siege of Vicksburg, MS.
1896 – The Supreme Court upholds “separate but equal” racial segregation in Plessy v. Ferguson.
1908 – Congress requires the motto ‘In God We Trust’ to appear on certain coins.
1980 – Mt. St. Helens in Washington erupts, leaving 57 people dead or missing.
Have a wonderful day!
Til the Shout,
Dr. B.J. Stagner Jr.
Pastor
New Testament Baptist Church
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