The Ship Harbor
[Preached May 4, 2008; Based on Acts 27: 7-12]
“It is not the lofty sails but the unseen wind that moves the ship.” (W. Magneile Dixon)
Some of life is like:
Paul was headed toward Rome on a large ship. He was an old man and he was a prisoner. Things weren’t looking very good. The ship arrived in a port named Fair Havens, but it was decided that the port wasn’t suitable for winter. Apparently, they wanted “excellent havens” so they decided to venture out for another harbor that would be better. Unfortunately they got caught in a huge storm. The harbor they left would not be as suitable as the harbor they were going to, but it would have been way better than getting caught on the open sea. Have you ever been caught out on the open sea spiritually?
A harbor is a place of shelter for boats. A church is a place of shelter for people. When the harbor is well located and maintained, it is secure. The same is true for a church. In the spiritual harbor of a church, many “ships” are available for boarding. There are general, all purpose vessels like citizenship, scholarship, friendship, courtship, and leadership. These are actually needed in every community, whether or not it is a church.
I would address several other specific “ships” present in Christian harbors to provide shelter for us in life’s storms. I believe the most important ship in the harbor is:
Worship is usually the door through which people first enter the church, be it a wedding, funeral, VBS presentation, or Sunday morning worship. In ship language, worship is the gang-plank! It’s the bridge aboard for the whole gang! And personally, I believe that once a person truly enters a time of worship, they begin to get their spiritual sea legs.
I would say that every church needs to be sure that its worship is ready to sail. Most people make their decision on which harbor to winter in based on worship. For some, the most important aspect of worship may be music. For others, it may be preaching. For many, it is friendliness. I believe that worship determines whether someone finds a particular church a suitable haven for their winter experiences. Are we a good harbor for those living through a winter of life?
Once convinced that one’s harbor is healthy and a good place to remain, the crew needs to board a second ship: 2. Discipleship.
Jesus didn’t sugarcoat his message about discipleship: "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.... In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14: 26-27, 33) Jesus knew the problem with sugarcoating is that people get just enough to cover them but not enough to soak into their center. The sugar coating gets washed off in the storm. We are to be disciples through and through!
The Apostle Paul reminds Timothy that discipleship was not just for the twelve... or even for church leaders; it was for Timothy, a little known and young leader, as well! Get this, in the language of the sea: discipleship is for the entire crew!
And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. (2 Timothy 2:2)
In other words, every one who enlists as a follower of Jesus Christ, enlists to be a disciple and a disciple-maker! We are called to be both! We are all called to be followers, disciples, and partners in the Gospel. The third ship is...
Max Lucado says that God’s ship “is no cruise ship; it’s a battleship.” (Max Lucado, In the Grip of Grace, 160) On a cruise ship, the workers are there to cater to your every need. You are the king or queen. On a battleship, everyone has a job and needs to do it well! On a cruise ship, the passengers watch the crew work. On a battleship, there are no spectators – everyone is a participant! The church is to be more of a battleship than a cruise ship.
How do you react in a storm, in a crisis? Some of us try to run, others pray, some go into hysterics, some give up in despair, and others face the battle head-on. Acts 27 gives the example of a leading believer whose response is helpful – how to be a saint in a storm.
Paul’s ship had nearly 300 aboard. The captain, the owner of the ship, and the
military leader responsible for the prisoners decided it would be better to
leave Fair Havens for Phoenix, a better port, and more commodious harbor. This
approach exhibits partnership and leadership. In this case it was a limited
partnership, Paul’s perspective didn’t count.
I would suggest here, that sometimes people leave a particular local church for
a larger or more commodious spiritual harbor. Sometimes it works out; sometimes
it doesn’t.
When Paul’s ship set sail, the south wind was blowing softly - what a great day for sailing! But winds change, and this delightful sailing breeze became a "northeaster" blowing upon them in terrifying fury! This storm was no summer squall over in thirty minutes. It raged for hours, then one, two, ten days; and at the end of two weeks the storm wouldn’t quit!
Does that sound familiar to some of you? It’s one thing to face a crisis, but sometimes the crises of life are not over when the sun goes down.
The situation aboard the ship was hopeless. The
men were ready to give up in despair. They were certain death was near. They
hadn’t seen sun or moon or stars in many days, they didn’t know where they were,
where they’d been, or where they were going. They huddled together – anxious,
fearful, terrified, waiting for the end to come.
In the middle of that kind of hopeless situation, Paul stands up among them and
says: "BE OF GOOD CHEER!" What – in this kind of situation – was he totally out
of touch? Paul said that an angel stood by him, and promised him not only his
life, but the lives of all on the (partner)ship would be saved, so cheer up.
Paul was saying, "I believe God!"
This is the kind of conviction that speaks to us in our deepest needs. The world
is dying for contact with persons who are on recent and intimate
speaking terms with God and who believe him!
This is what faith does for the saint in a storm – it gives an unshakable
confidence in God. It believes in the midst of the storm – not after the
storm has passed by and the tumult subsides. Faith believes when it can’t see.
The way of the unbeliever is, "Seeing is believing." For the person of
faith: "Believing is seeing."
3. Fellowship
But while faith has a strong confidence in the supernatural, it doesn’t sit around and wait for God to do for us what we can do for ourselves. Paul gives some very sensible, practical advice. He tells them they must stay with the ship – stay in FELLOWSHIP.
Some of the crew wanted to embark on their own and forget what happens to the others. Paul reminds them they must stay together. Faith is always a uniting and cohesive force, never a divisive one.
Max Lucado wrote: “God’s ship is a grand vessel. Just as a ship has many rooms, so God’s kingdom has room for many opinions. But just as a ship has one deck, God’s kingdom has a common ground the all-sufficient sacrifice of Jesus Christ.” (Max Lucado, In the Grip of Grace, 170) If you have received Jesus Christ, you are welcome aboard!
Jesus said, “Whoever accepts a child like this in my name accepts me. And whoever accepts me accepts the One who sent me.” (Mark 9:37)
So, according to this one teaching, what characteristic do you think is important for Christians? Could it possibly be acceptance? The word “accept” appears four times!
When arguments or differences of opinion happen... the cure is acceptance – not
negotiation or arbitration; not agreement or unanimity – acceptance!
True, some are hard to get along with, cantankerous, unfaithful, stingy,
apathetic, (I’m really trying not to look at anyone!) and even downright ornery
- but the church needs them all. You want to watch anyone, no matter how
"religious" or "holy" or "spiritually deep" they may be, when their words or
actions would cause schism in the body of Christ. Someone has said, “May it
never be said, ‘The body of Christ, broken by you.’”
Then Paul said: "Let down your anchors and wait for the day." Stabilize the situation. Every Christian needs to put his faith in something solid. What are the anchors for your life when the crisis comes – do you turn to Scripture, prayer, or worship? Many turn to alcohol and other drugs.
Next, you can’t get much more practical: Paul told them to eat. "You’re going to need your strength - so get some food in you." All some Christians need to improve their faith is a good meal and/or a good night’s sleep.
I am not suggesting that Christians should never venture out or always remain in the harbor. We were saved to sail! However, when a storm is coming, it’s best to have a slip in the harbor so you can ride it out. Whenever we sense winter approaching, it’s normal to want to be somewhere else; it’s just not wise.
If you want to be a saint in the storms of life, live as a saint first when there is no storm. If you want to be a saint in glory you had better start being that saint here on earth.
For full protection, our spiritual harbor needs to include the following ships:
1. Worship
2. Discipleship
3. Partnership
4. Fellowship... and if I wouldn’t have talked so much I’d tell you about...
4. Stewardship... another time.
How is your harbor? Is it suitable to winter in? I wonder what Paul’s winter would have been like if they had remained at Fair Havens. We’ll never know, but we can be pretty certain they would have fared better than on the open sea. I would urge you: Don’t be caught out in the open sea during one of life’s storms... and, please invite those suffering one of life’s storms to come to this harbor – it’s not perfect, there may be better ones, but this one has provided protection and security for many weary pilgrims and saints for nearly a century! No want wants to face a winter season... especially not alone!
Benediction: A guide in the Rocky Mountains was once asked: "Have you ever been lost in the mountains?" He replied, "No, never, but once for eight days I was bewildered." Sometimes we don’t think we are lost, but we can tell we are bewildered by the problems which press upon us. Sometimes, we don’t think that we are lost; sometimes we don’t know a storm is brewing. Make sure you have a harbor.