Our Anchor in Times of Storm

Sermon Outline

Our Anchor in Times of Storm

Charles F. Stanley

Scripture: Hebrews 6:17-20

I. Introduction: There are many different storms in life. You may be facing a conflict at work, financial trouble, or job loss. You might be struggling with poor health or a difficult relationship. The Father doesn't promise to deliver us from all adversity. But He gave us the Scriptures for our encouragement and comfort. God's Word is an immovable anchor in times of storm (Life Principle #3). In the midst of hardship and pain, we can rely on the Bible for the stability, guidance, and security we need.

II. What is the cause of storms?

A. We can bring adversity on ourselves, through sin, poor judgment, or lack of experience.

B. Some difficulty is caused by the wrongdoing of other people.

C. Satan brings hardship in an attempt to draw us away from the Lord.

D. The Lord causes some adversity. Whether or not the storm is from Him, He will always use it for our good.

III. What are God's purposes in storms? He wants to . . .

A. Get our attention. When we lose our passion for the Father, He may use troubles and difficulty to gain our focus.

B. Purify us from sin. Through storms, God can call attention to areas of our lives that are not pleasing to Him.

C. Cause us to surrender to Him. The Father may want you to loosen your grip on something you treasure, because He has another blessing in mind for you.

D. Conform us to His image. Through adversity, the Lord refines our character and makes us more Christlike (Rom. 8:29).

E. Equip us to serve Him. If you remain close to the Father, hardships will purify your heart and realign your life with His will

IV. What makes the Bible an anchor for our lives?

A. It is the record of God's unfolding revelation of Himself through the spoken Word, nature, history, and ultimately the coming of His Son Jesus Christ into the world.

B. Most importantly, we know who God is because we see how Jesus lived (John 14:9-10).

C. The Bible is infallible and inerrant—which simply means it's without error. God has given it to us as a guidebook.

V. How does the Word of God anchor us in times of storm?

A. It comforts us. In the middle of heartache and struggle, try reading the Book of Psalms. For example, see Psalm 57:1-3.

B. It reminds us of God's promises. Scripture assures us of the Lord's presence, power, and provision in our lives. (See Matthew 11:28 and Joshua 1:8-9).

C. It is a compass for our lives (Prov. 3:5-6).

D. It teaches us how the Father works. Reading about the saints teaches us how to make wise decisions, and the stories of Israel's rebellion help us avoid similar mistakes (1 Cor. 10:1-13).

E. It gives us God's viewpoint. By studying how He used adversity in the lives of biblical characters, we can better understand how He may want to use our present struggles.

VI. How does the Bible work as an anchor?

A. You must read it. Just as a ship's anchor does no good unless it is lowered, the Word of God can't encourage you unless you take time to study it.

B. You must meditate on it. Think about the Lord's promises and how He proved His faithfulness to believers in the past.

C. Believe what it says. If you allow yourself to doubt God's promises, you will never receive all He has for you.

D. Apply it to your own life first—not the life of someone else.

E. You must be willing to obey it.

VIII. Conclusion: You and I live in a wicked, godless age. Unless we are grounded, we will drift in our devotion to the Lord. So anchor yourself to His Word. It will comfort you, remind you of His promises, reveal His ways, and act as a moral compass. Most importantly, it will renew your mind with His eternal perspective. Regardless of what storms come, you can weather them with confidence, anchored to the solid rock of Jesus Christ.