7-18-99 Don’t Jump Ship Acts 27

by Ronald E. George Jr.

Acts 27:27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country; 28 And sounded, and found [it] twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found [it] fifteen fathoms. 29 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day. 30 And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, 31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.

Purpose of this sermon is to urge us to place all of our hope in the struggle through life in the Lord.

1. Life's Storms: Each of us face the storms of life. We struggle with many different types of storms in life. These storms can take us down or they can be the source of turbulence that propel us forward in our hope and trust in God. The storms of life are common to all who live. Learning how to survive through them is an individual process. How do you deal with the struggles of life?
2. The Ship: The ship is that which carries us through the storms to the other side. The gospel ship will carry all those who place their trust and hope through to the safety of God's prepared dwelling place. Some choose to jump ship and try to make it on their own. They swim and tread water on their own power. But the end is always the same. We can't make it on our own. We have to place our trust in the word of God as spoken by Paul who said, "Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved."
3. The Anchors of Rom. 8: The anchors are sure and steadfast. They hold sure on the rock of the bottom of the sea. They keep us steady and safe while we live through the storms and struggles of life. We have to throw out these anchors and place them in the rock on the bottom to enjoy the benefits they provide. Have you cast out the anchors of life.

Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. 24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

1. The anchor of the "Coming Glory": 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. The end is worth the means to that end.
2. The anchor of the "Eager Hope": 19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God …24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. We hope in what we can not see. That the God which we know and love is able to provide for us what we long for.
3. The anchor of the "Glorious Liberty": 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
4. The anchor of the "Redemption of Creation": There will be a final redemption of all creation.

Don't Jump Ship. Stay on board and cast out the anchors of Romans 8.