Standing Strong In The Storms Of Life

This morning, Paul begins his long-awaited trip to Rome. The ship that Paul was on is caught in a nasty storm and things get pretty rough for everyone on the ship. This passage is here for a very simple and clear reason.                      To teach us some very important things about the storms of life.

With that in mind, Read Acts 27:1-12 

Paul was given over to a Centurion that put him and other prisoners on a ship.     The trip was difficult because it was the wrong time of the year to be traveling in that area. Luke referred to the Day of Atonement, which took place in October. Usually, ships did not sail from late fall until spring because it was too dangerous.

Paul explained to them that it was a bad idea to keep going; but Paul’s warnings were not heeded. Regardless of what was going to happen, Paul had no control over the situation.

There are many times that we end up in a storm because of bad decisions. Sometimes those bad decisions are ours and sometimes they are someone else’s. Either way, once we are in the storm, we are in the storm. How you weather the storm shows who you are. How you weather the storm shows who you trust.

1 Peter 4:12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 

Acts 27:13-44

Let’s make some quick observations God gave me about this storm.

1. Storms come to everyone eventually.
2. Sometimes we don’t know why storms come.
3. Storms often last longer than we’d like.
4. We are not necessarily out of God’s will when caught in a storm.
5. God works through storms to accomplish His purposes.
6. Storms give us opportunities to serve and witness.
7. Storms cause us to get rid of excess baggage.
8. Sometimes God calms the storms around us and other times He calms the storms within us.
9. Stay connected to others and don’t jump ship.
10. Majority opinion is not always right.
11. Difficult and dark times can slow us down, but God is always at work.
12. Our response to a storm can lead to bitterness or to deeper belief.
13. Storms help us settle who we belong to and who we worship.
14. Storms reposition us to live out God’s purposes.
15. When going through a storm, make sure Jesus is the captain of your ship. And the anchor to your soul.

You’ve either just come out of a storm, you’re in one now, or you’re about to experience rough waters. Is Jesus the captain of your ship? In the storms of life, make sure you have an anchor for your soul. I see six anchors we can hold onto from verses 22-26.

1. GOD’S PROMISE: Vs22“But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed.” You can count on the promises of God.
2. GOD’S PRESENCE: When Paul felt anxious, Vs23 “Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me…” You can count on God’s presence in the mist of the storm.
3. GOD’S PEACE: Because God is with us and will never leave us, we can be filled with peace according to Vs24 And he said, “Do not be afraid, Paul.”
4. GOD’S PLAN: It was God’s plan all along for Paul to preach to the emperor in Rome. We see this in the middle section of Vs24 “You must stand before Caesar…”
5. GOD’S PROTECTION: This is spelled out in the last part of Vs24 “and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.”
6. GOD’S PROVIDENCE: God loves to work His will and His way according to His sweet providence. Check out Vs25-26: “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.”

GOD’S PROMISE GOD’S PRESENCE GOD’S PEACE

GOD’S PLAN GOD’S PROTECTION GOD’S PROVIDENCE

 Hebrews 6:19-20 “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, ²⁰ where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.” 

Most of us think of an anchor that goes down to the bottom of the ocean, but we have an anchor that goes up to heaven. Our anchor rests in the Holy of Holies in heaven, behind the curtain, in the very presence of God himself.

If you are born again, you couldn’t be safer than you already are because you are already anchored in heaven…Jesus went ahead of us into heaven, and then he became the anchor for our soul.

We’re connected to Jesus Christ in heaven. We’re as safe as Jesus is safe!

Our anchor will never fail. Our anchor will never slip. Our anchor holds because it rests on Jesus in heaven!

Philippians 4:11

Conclusion: You may be like Paul and Luke, dealing with a raging storm today. While it may appear to be devastating, the Lord is in control. If you are in Christ, you are firm and secure in Him. He alone can provide the strength you need to endure.