FOUR ANCHORS IN TIME OF DIFFICULTY

(Acts 27:20-29)

By EVANGELIST HAROLD BOYD

CO-EDITOR - THE FLAMING TORCH

Paul is being sent to Rome as a prisoner. He was to sail by way of the coast of Asia after being put on a ship going into Italy.

After spending much time in the fair havens sailing became dangerous and Paul warns them that they should not sail. But like many today they would not take heed to the word of the man of God.

The storm began to rage and the lives of 276 men were in harms. They battle the storm for 14 days. Let me make an application to the day in which we live.

We are living in difficult times. (2 Tim. 3:1-5) Physical, politically, morally the devil is making an all out attack against all of us. He knows his time is short. (Rev. 12:12)

Here are four anchors that will hold fast in the midst of a storm.

THE BIBLE

God prepared the Word of God (2 Peter 1:20-21). He also promised to preserve it (Psalms 12:6-7). He also protected it (1 Peter 1:25).

We are to proclaim the Word of God (Acts 1:8, 2 Timothy 4:2). That is the written Word. But we also have the Living Word (John 1:1,13,14) The two cannot be separated. Without the written Word, I cannot know the Living Word. Without the Inspired word, I cannot know the Incarnate Word. I would not know how to get saved, nor how to serve the Lord nor obey His teachings if I did not have the written word. (Col. 3:16, Mark 16:15)

Both are called the Word of God (Rev. 19:13, Heb. 4:12). Both are called Light (John 9:5, Psalms 119:105). Both are called Life (John 14:6, 1 Peter 1:23). Both are called Truth (John 14:6, John 17:17)

It takes both the written word and Living Word to be saved (Rom. 10:14,17) Would the Living Word work apart from the written Word? NO!

THE BLOOD

(Hebrews (9:22)

You cannot deny the blood and be saved. His death without the shedding of blood is not enough. He had to rise from the dead (Romans 10:9) but the blood had to be shed. (1 Peter 1:18-19, Lev. 17:11, Acts 20:28, Rev. 19:11-13, 1 John 1:7)

THE BLESSED HOPE

(Titus 2:13)

This is our message of the day. The Old Testament prophets had a main message which was the first coming of Christ. The early Christians after Pentecost had a main message which was the resurrection. Our main message of the day is the soon return of Jesus Ä that is our Blessed Hope.

The second coming is spoken of in the New Testament some 320 times Ä one verse out of every 25 from Matthew through Revelation. Paul himself brings this event to our attention some fifty times. What will this message do for us?

1. The message of the Second Coming will motivate us to service (Titus 2:13). 2. The Second Coming will cause us to desire to live pure lives (1 John 3:1-3, 1 John 2:6-10. Who is this written to (verses 12-14 and 21-16)?

THE LOCAL CHURCH

(Matthew 16:13-20)

The local church is where you get your Spiritual food in order to grow (1 Peter 2:2). The local church is where we learn to help send out the Gospel. We are to love the local church. We are to serve the local church as unto the Lord. In this we glorify the Lord and the Father (Col. 3:20-21, Matt. 5:14-16, Rev. 1:29).

Cast out these four anchors in the midst of any storm that you face and they will hold fast (1 Cor. 15:58). Amen!!!