Keeping our "Ship" Shipshape
Part 2 - Problems That Arise While In The Harbor
Acts 27:7-13

 INTRO: Last week I started a series on Keeping our "Ship" Shipshape. I dealt with the decision of ours as individuals to "sail" for the Lord. I dealt with the need for accepting Christ as your Savior and letting Him have your life. Today I want to look at the dangers involved with just sitting. This can be applied as individuals or as a church as a whole.

As we look at the scripture today, I realize we find Paul advising the men to keep the ship in the harbor. Today I am going to examine why they were so resistant in staying there.
 

We hear of many great dangers in the open sea, but there are many…

  1. Dangers of the Harbor
    1. People abandon the ship
      1. Bored
      2. Feel useless
      3. Lack proper purpose
    2. Barnacles attach to the hull
      1. Hidden
      2. Dangerous
      3. Hard to remove
      4. Counter productive
    3. Cargo goes stale, spoils or is scattered
      1. Fruit gets mushy, moldy and messy
      2. Grain gets stolen, soiled, soggy, sprouts and
    4. Ship gets banged up in the dock
      1. Storms are hard to ride out in the docks
      2. Incidental, unnecessary damage (innocent bystanders are needlessly hurt, that often could be avoided if we get out of harbor)
    5. Crew goes soft
      1. Crew does not exercise (gifts)
      2. Crew forgets habitual practices (prayer, assembly for worship, Bible study, etc.)
      3. Crew becomes self-absorbed
      4. Crew becomes unproductive
      5. Crew wastes their resources

    Let us now look at…

  2. Why we stay in the harbor
    1. Easier (time, work, stress, etc.)
      1. Less expected
      2. More free time, etc.
    2. Comfortable, complacent (often with peer approval)


      3. Are we waiting on God to make us uncomfortable?

    3. No ownership in the "ship"
      1. Is the "Ship" we sail important to you?
      2. Do you care what happens to the "ship?"
      3. How much do you have invested in the "ship?"
    4. "Harbor Master" wants us here for...
      1. Refreshing
      2. Redirecting (Training)
      3. Refueling
      4. Repairing

Our Harbor Master DOES have plans for us!

Do you think He wants us to stay in the harbor?

Is it His plan for us to spend all our time in the harbor?

If he has us in for repairs, it is to get us out to sail the "seas" for Him?
 
 

 Gary Marcum - East 38th Street Free Will Baptist Church -01/23/00