## Anchors That Will Hold

## Acts 27:29

In our text this morning we find the apostle Paul being taken captive to Rome where he would eventually die. As a Roman citizen he had requested and was granted a hearing in Rome. In the midst of his journey there arose a great storm. There is nothing quite as frightening to me as to be at sea and meet up with a storm. They found themselves in such a place that to survive they cast out four anchors and waited for the storm to subside.

In the course of life, we find ourselves from time to time in the midst of some difficult storms. How we handle these trying times will have much to say about our future. There is a great difference between sailing along with a gentle breeze and struggling for survival as the waves beat upon our vessel and threaten a shipwreck. Oh how we need anchors that we can count on to see us through the storms of life.

In times like these you need a Savior; In times like these you need an anchor; Be very sure, be very sure, Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!

I. God, Himself is An Anchor. Acts 27:23-24

A. The person of God is an anchor in the midst of storms.

1. Knowing that He is the Omnipotent One.

2. The self-existing One.

3. The God of heaven and earth.

4. The God of the universe.

5. The Holy God.

6. The Omniscient One.

7. The Immutable God.

B. The believer's position in God is an anchor.

1. "Whose I am and whom I serve." Paul is stating his own relationship with God.

2. It is one of Sonship.

(1 John 3:2a) "Beloved, now are we the sons of God…"

(John 1:12) "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:"

3. It is also one of servitude.

a. Too many Christians have laid down the position of servants.

b. They want rather to be served.

c. We are called to be servants of God.

C. The Proclamation of God = "Fear not"

1. Fear does not come from God.

2. The context is speaking about Paul not having fear in doing God's purpose.

3. God is saying that all safety, security, and supply comes from Him.

4. We need not worry about any of these. God supplies all.

D. The Plan of God. "must be brought before Caesar."

1. God has a plan for His children.

2. Being involved in anything except that plan, will bring unhappiness.

3. It will bring defeat and discouragement.

4. God's plan may not always be enjoyable, but it will always be right and will bring fulfillment to our lives!

II. Faith in God is an Anchor. "I believe God."

A. The Word of God will be of little benefit to us unless we exercise faith in it.

B. The whole key to our success day by day is whether we believe God or not.

1. Are you holding on to the anchor of God?

2. What about the anchor of faith?

3. Remember God has instructed each of us to live our lives according to His Word.

4. That will require faith.

5. We are instructed by His Word to give our all to Him. That will require faith.

C. Paul said, "I believe God..."

1. He knew that the same God that had delivered him from the Philipian jail…

2. The same God who had delivered him from the angry mobs…

3. The same God who had delivered him time and time again. would deliver him in this situation.

4. How did He know? He believed God and His Word!

5. This same God will see us through as well.

III. Obedience to God's Word is another anchor that will hold.

A. Stay in the ship. Cf. 27:31

1. They had been battling the storm for several days.

2. Every attempt had been made to keep the ship afloat, but to the sailors it looked like a lost cause.

3. Some were ready to abandon ship. V30

B. The importance of the ship.

1. The ship would not survive the storm unharmed, but it was to be the means of their survival.

2. The ship was the vessel by which God would take Paul to fulfill His plan.

3. What would make the difference would be obedience to God's Word.

C. Obedience = To hear God's Word and act accordingly.

1. A person's obedient response to God's Word is a response of trust or faith.

2. To really hear God's Word is to obey God's Word.

(Jer 7:23) "But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you."

3. The Bible views disobedience as a failure to hear and do God's Word.

(Psa 81:11) "But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me."

What will see us through the storms of life? What will we hold on to when there is no where else to turn? May I suggest that we learn from this Scriptural account. We cannot depend upon our own abilities…we will fail. We cannot trust the majority of those around us…they are just as fallible as we are.

We can only cling to the strength of a personal relationship with God. Exercising faith and obedience to His Word will be what will sustain us and lead us to shore. Do you know Him? Are you trusting in His Word, and obeying His instructions? If so, He will lead us safely through whatever storms may come.

Will your anchor hold in the storms of life, When the clouds unfold their wings of strife? When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain, will your anchor drift or firm remain?

We have an anchor that keeps the soul. Steadfast and sure while the billows roll, fastened to the Rock which cannot move. Grounded firm and deep in the Savior's love.