In Times Like These...
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· 68 viewsIn the midst of a great storm Paul shows us that the key to the anchor is the rope.
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Introduction
Introduction
In the year 1943, Ruth Caye Jones, a pastor’s wife in Pennsylvania and the mother of five, was distressed by the headlines of her Pittsburgh newspaper. She saw the World War II causality lists and she knew the Allies were making slow progress through the boot of Italy. She quickly found pen and paper and wrote what the Spirit spoke.
Since that day, the words the Holy Spirit spoke to Ruth Caye Jones have been a source of comfort and strength to millions.
IN TIMES LIKE THESE…
For Mrs. Jones… it means the horrors of war… the poverty of rationing… the tears of those who lost loved ones…
For us, IN TIMES LIKE THESE, can mean many things.
For you today, it may be dealing with this pandemic COVID-19.
Maybe you're worried about...
Ruth found comfort as she wrote...
In times like these we need a Savior;
In times like these we need an anchor.
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
The Apostle Paul may have felt this way as the scripture tells us that he and his fellow prisoners were being transported to another prison as a tempestuous wind arose and the ship was caught up and could no longer bear the wind.
The soldiers were not rookies by any stretch of the imagination gives us a greater understanding of the storm.
Vs. 18 -19 tells us they began to throw Cargo overboard to lighten the ship because it was so bad that the storm kept raging for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars until all hope was gone.
states it was so bad that the storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars until all hope was gone.
No matter what
vs. 19 states it was so bad that the storm raged for many days, blotting out the sun and the stars until all hope was gone.
There are many who are in a panic right now. You have begun to take desperate measures thinking that will save you.
You might even be to the point of given up hope like the soldiers and other prisoners.
But in Vs. 21-25 in the midst of the storm the Apostle Paul stood up and shared hope to them:
He reminds them that he warned them not to sail from Crete
He urges them to take courage for last night an angel of God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood by me and said Don’t be afraid.
He tells them to take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. There will be some tough times ahead.
About midnight the sailors sensed land was near they took a sounding and found the water to be about 120 ft deep so they sailed a little further and took another sounding and found it to be 90 ft.
Then fearing they might run aground they dropped four anchors. If you don't mind please allow me to drop four anchors.
First, Why Did They Drop Four Anchors?
First, Why Did They Drop Four Anchors?
You are thinking, “Because the storm was so bad.”
The reason they threw out four anchors is because each one did so little good, so they thought there was safety in numbers
You know how they are made with arms, some two, some more, and these arms are curved with points.
The points are to help the anchor bite into the bottom of the sea. The deeper they bite or grab… the stronger their hold.
But because the arms are curved, it is necessary for the anchor to tip over to bite into the sea bottom.
If it does not tip over, it just slides along the bottom.
GOD SHOWED ME -- The problem for the sailors was not the storm… and it was not the anchors… it was the rope!
The rope was too short!!
It would not allow the anchor to tip and bite.
That is why they used so many.
Secondly, They Prayed For Daylight
Secondly, They Prayed For Daylight
What a wonderful thing they prayed for daylight.
Question: Why did they wait to pray?
Why do we wait to Pray?
They prayed because they wanted it to end soon. They did everything that they wasn't supposed to do in the first place and now they want it to end.
What about you this morning?
I want to encourage you this morning that God does answer prayer but not just because you told Him to.
Talk to God in the calm and He may hear you in the storm....
Thirdly, They Tried to Save Themselves Because God Wasn't Answering Fast Enough
Thirdly, They Tried to Save Themselves Because God Wasn't Answering Fast Enough
The sailors tried to escape. They let down the skiff Pretending That They Were Going To Put Out Anchors From The Bow. (Concerns Me)
While you Praying - In times like this people have time to pretend that they are anchored
While you Praying - Abandoning the ship
Unless you abide in the ship you cannot be saved.
Lastly, Paul Urges Them To Take Nourishment
Lastly, Paul Urges Them To Take Nourishment
Take nourishment and rest for not a hair on your heads will perish.
I encourage you this morning nourishment can be found in Christ.
I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
If your soul isn't anchored in Him it can be today...