The Promise

People that can fill into the fill-ins. so, we had Chris, filling in, for David, we had Gabriel filling in for Chris, actually, I guess Timothy filled in for Chris and Gabriel supervized.

Yeah.

Damn, your bulletin chicken turn to the back. We have a, an outline there for you. but before we get into that, in before you have to stand again to read the scripture, Questions. Think about promises that you've made. Promises, what was that Aretha? Franklin sang promises. Promises promises of yours. Dionne Warwick.

She's left. Now she's right there. She's correct. So so what are some promises that you've made? What were they

K faithfulness and love to your husband. Laura. Play, raise your hand.

Fulfill our promises. Write a gray. That was my next question is always keep them. That's good. Robert

Good good. Anyone else?

Ride contracts 04, promised, another synonym. Who are we talking about that before? Would be the contract, maybe even a covenant. Because that's what we talked about with her spouse is sort of like the Covenant. So promise promise to love and cherish and all that, how about promises that were made to you?

Were they always kept?

Now, let's name some promises from the word of God.

Truth. That's a promise.

Okay. Yeah, the Lord's truth. Good

I'll never leave you nor forsake you.

Lord is my helper. Are you was that first one for you for for David? I will never leave you nor forsake you all those no promise there. Okay.

yeah, I know, there was a there was an a football announcer who said he never flew in a plane because he claimed that verse Bill Madden. He said, yeah. He said lo, I Am With You Always. He said it wasn't in a plane that's up in the air. Okay. Promise.

He promised he's coming back, okay.

Okay. Call my name. And I will. Show you Great and Mighty things, which you don't know.

It's good. Nice. Do you know that's what I do with Kathy all the time too. I'll start a verse and then she'll finish it cuz I don't know what the rest of the verse in Judy.

It gives us eternal life. Yes.

He promises that. If we believe in him, we can be as children. He said, don't don't worry. I'm going to go and prepare a place for you that where I go you can be also, okay.

If we seek him in his kingdom first, he'll take care of us because it's good, that's good.

This morning. I also wanted to I have this. I don't know, I tend to be too literal sometimes and too. I don't know why I thought of this verse then I hear quoted all the time. Jeremiah 29:11. You hear that? You know what? That one is.

Okay, everyone sort of like, so I'll just I'll just go after. I know the plans that I have for you, plans for welfare and not declares. Lord plans for welfare and not for evil to give you a future and a hope. Now, how many of you claimed that promise Interesting. What what's a reason? Why David why you shouldn't claim that promise out, right?

You need to turn his mic on cuz I don't think they can hear him. Yeah, we can't have them both on, so you just got to talk louder. What he said, is exactly where I was, what I was thinking, where I was going because the promise was made specifically to Israel. And when was it made Isaiah is Maiden Jeremiah, that's why it's Jeremiah 29:11. And It was.

They were in Babylon. And this summer already gone back but but the majority of them were still there. And Jeremiah Was was getting angry with these false prophets who were coming and they were they were telling him they were they were saying, you're all you're going to be here forever and ever. And and he said no you're only going to be there for 70 years and then because and then he goes and he gets in this, this verse this promise to the Israelites who are in Babylon that he has a plan in the future for them. But like David said, it shows God's character and because it's God's character that he has, he has only, he has only good plans for his children. We could even go to Romans 8:28 for that, but so it is can be extended to us. But my pet peeve is at we understand what it meant originally in the context, before we can extract it and apply to ourselves. That that was the only thing I was where I was going with that. And David, Dwell. Okay, so this morning we are going to look at a promise or some promises that God made and we're going to, we're going to be turning to Hebrews chapter 6 and we're going to start with verse 13 and go through verse 20 and out of respect for God's word. Would you we all stand and we'll read it together. And remember, if I mess up you just keep right on going just like David when he's playing a guitar.

Okay, let's read together for when God made a promise to Abraham since he had no one greater to swear. He swore by himself saying surely, I will bless you and multiply you and does Abraham having patiently waited obtain the promise for God's will.

And in all their disputes an oath is final confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to The Heirs of the promise, the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath so that by two unchangeable things then which it is impossible for God. To lie, we who have fled for Refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope that set before us, we have this as an insurer and steadfast anchor of the Soul. A hope that in

Where Jesus has gone. As a forerunner on our behalf and has become the high priest of however, according to the order has tested a father, we thank you for your word and now we pray that as we look into it at your holy spirit will guide our thoughts and help us to understand it and to be obedient to it in Jesus. We thank you for it. May be seated

So God's promises and your outline you'll see God's God's promise. In Titus 1:2, I think this might be one of the really great promise. Titus 12, it gives us the promise of eternal life. The hope of eternal life is said, he says, Paul says and Titus 12 in Hope of eternal life which God, who never lies promised before the ages began. So God promised eternal life before the age is even began. So before even created it, he knew that we were he was going to be offering eternal life. 1st John 2:25 says almost the same thing and he says in this is the promise that he made to us eternal life. So or we we we could even translated as everlasting life is going to be more technical. So the first thing that I think about when we think about promises that God has made to us. First of all it's it's hope the hope of eternal life and then partakers he wants us to be partakers in Ephesians 36. Paul says, this is the mystery that the Gentiles, our fellow heirs members of the same body and partakers of what of the promise in Christ Jesus Through The Gospel. 2nd Peter 1:4 which we had a slide on there, but we have it here now. 2nd Peter 1:4 says by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises. So that through them, you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. And then lastly, in this this passage 1st 2nd Peter 3:13 It says, but according to his promise, we are waiting for new heavens and a new Earth in which righteousness dwells so that there's some things here. There's some promises that God has made to us, that we can claim and that we can have their a promise from God to us.

Now God it back in Hebrews chapter.

6, + 12 less. I'm going to, I'm going to go back a little bit. I know I'm throwing a curveball to this, to The Tech Guys back there. But in verse 9 and 69 remember last week, we talked about how do we speak in this way. Yet, in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things. Now, what he was talking about is how some are some can fall by the wayside. Remember, we talked about that last week and if you need more explanation, hopefully last week's message you can look online and and listen to that. Now he's talking, he's sort of like, giving a breath of fresh air, if you will. He just came down on them with a warning. Now he's giving them an encouragement. So he says, yet. In your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things things that belong to Salvation for God is Not on not unjust. So as to overlook your works and the love that you have shown for his name and serving the Saints as you still do and we desire, each one of you to show the same earnestness and to have Full Assurance of what of Hope until the end so that this is the reason so that you may not be sluggish or you may not be dull. But imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises, you see that through faith and patience inherit the promises. So when, when we go back and we keep going and he says, for when God made a promise to Abraham. So what he's doing here, the author is the word for is like a transition or it's a, it's a pause or it's a a reason for us to just slow down and think about what he just said. And he's going to now give an example or an illustration of what he just said. He said before that he wants all of us to be imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises, know what promises is he talking about? He's talking about basically, the promise was that we just talked about salvation, eternal life, the coming of the of the new age, a new Heaven and a new Earth eternity with God. Those are the promises that God has made to us. So it says now, For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to buy whom to swear he swore by himself. I believe that this is a reference to Genesis 22 verse 16. And God Says, by myself, I have sworn to clear as the Lord Because you have done this and have not withheld, your son, your only son. So he's talking about swearing by it. And it's, it's interesting because when we swear, or when we take an oath, or when we're in the court of law, What do we usually do? When we hear a witness sworn in, right? He puts his hand on the Bible. And repeat after me, right? I swear to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. So help me God, write that mean, that's basically what they say. And why are they putting her hand on the Bible? Because it's a word of God and in there, taking an old saying, I swear to God that I'm going to tell the truth. Nothing but the truth. So God what he swears like he's doing here. He's taking an oath, he doesn't have anyone. He can't say I swear you just needs probably looks around the universe. That says why I don't have anybody else. I can swear by other than myself. There's no one greater than me. So I'm going to swear by myself. And that's what he does. You know, there's another one that I heard to I swear on my mother's grave, I ever hear that one. I heard that one time in the movie in the guy said, well your mother's not dead. Well when she dies, I would swear on her grave. That this was a truth. So anyway, but we always when we take an oath, we take that otho and we used we invoke someone greater than ourselves so that it's sort of like a witness and we're calling God as a witness. That what we say is is going to be the truth and we're going, it's going to be accomplished God. On the other hand, has no one greater to swear by it. So he swears by himself and what does he say? In verse 17, he goes on. Nea says. Wayne, that's that's wrong. I misread that. So he goes Shirley Saying surely, I will bless you and multiply you now, he's talking Abraham, so we need to go back in and look at the diverse back in Abraham about the blessings and we're going to, we're going to get into that in just a minute because I want to give you a quick primer on the blessings of Abraham in Genesis. But the word blessing, their, the word bless. And then in the Greek means to speak. Well of, it's a, it's a where we get the English word, eulogize for our eulogy, it means to speak well of someone, but it also has a connotation of blessing of of, of giving hope and And happiness, that that's what the word blessing, also, and bugs and Genesis 22 verse 17. God says to Abraham, I will surely bless you and I will surely multiply your Offspring as a stars of the heaven. And as a sand that is on the seashore and your Offspring shall possess, the Gate of his enemies. So, in the Old Testament, the word blessed means to endure with power for Success, prosperity and longevity. I thought that's what I got out of the theological. Wordbook of the Old Testament, believe me. I didn't come up with that myself. But to bless means to to endure with power and success. So what God is saying, Abraham you're going to be successful, you're going to have children, you can have Offspring and he said, you look out. Look me, I have you ever gone out to have been camping and you're out in the wilderness and you look up at the sky and you see all the stars? When there's no that no, there's none of that artificial light. You can see all the stars I remember, Kathy, telling me when she went up to Montana I think it was when our first granddaughter and Montana was born. She went outside and she saw the Northern Lights. Has anyone ever seen the Northern Lights? Is she she couldn't even explain it to me. Now, cuz it's just so magnificent. So, so God takes Abraham out and he shows him all the stars and he says that's what your Offspring is going to be like, it's going to be just like all the stars in the sky. You can't even can't even count them. And we know now through telescopes and all that that there is even more than you can see with the naked eye. It's just there's just so much more and God created all those and he's telling Abraham all the stars. Your Offspring is going to be greater than that. It's so he says, I'm going to bless you, and I'm going to multiply you the word multiply their means to make full to multiply to increase. And what does he say? He says, surely, I will bless you and multiply you and us. Abraham have patiently, waited obtained, the promise. So it's really interesting when you think about that word, patiently, waited. So I thought I just want to go back and give a quick Tremor of The Blessing of Abraham in Genesis. Now I think these are all up here. So we're going to go through him quickly for time's sake. But in Genesis chapter 12, verses 1 through 4. This is the first time when we we we have God showing at the Abraham and he says, Abraham I want you to go away from your country. I want you to go away from all your your security if you will even and from your kin to your father's house in the land, which I will show you and here's what it hears. The promises he says, number one, I will make you a great nation number to, I Will Bless You, Never 3, I will make your name great. So that number for you will be a blessing and 45. I will be Those who bless you, number 6, camo designers, who I will curse. And number seven, and you all the families of the earth will be blessed. That's the first one that's so Abraham goes as a lord told him and lot went with him. Abraham was 75 years old when he departed from Herrin so Abraham, he leaves all his family all security and in back then your security was basically in your family now, Abraham and Sarah. I was Abraham, and Sarah. They had no children at this time, right? So if Abraham died, Sarah be left with nothing and end, there's no air. There's no family. There's no one to help so him leaving everyone cuz God told him to leave his whole family there. So he left everyone but a lot and we're going to find out what happens with lot, you know? And he leaves. And he goes, he's trusting, God. So we we go from there and we go and verses 14 through 17. Now in the same chapter says, when Abram entered Egypt Egyptian saw that the woman was beautiful and when the prince of the Pharaohs are, they praised her feral and the woman was taken to Pharaoh's house for this, for her sake. He dealt well with Abram and oxen and gave all this kind of stuff. And then, you know, it's sort of went South right on the says, to his wife is Sarah. I know you're beautiful, even though you're like 74 years old, 74 years old. Around 74074, look at your beautiful. Now, if you guys, you guys are traveling in on your Jazzy's, all right, or whatever. Their scooters and bill says, to you now, past, when we go up, into Kentucky In the Backwoods, and we're on our Jazzy's traveling around, I want you to just tell everybody that you're my sister because you're so beautiful. And I, it'll go well with me if if you do this. Oh yeah, that's right. So here's what happens. Ferrell takes Sarah into the into the Harem, if you will to marry him and it does something in Pharaoh's, sort of knows through the dream and all this kind of stuff that Abraham. And I mean that Abraham and Sarah where I'm going to call them, cuz that we know who they are, that they were really married and he goes but since you've done to me, you know, I could have gone in and it would have been disgraced. So here we have a guy, the promise who's waiting patiently, right? Oh, wait a minute. Well, you know what? It says he's waited patiently. So he's waiting patiently and all this stuff happen. So let's just keep going, you know, what's going on. So now I'm in chapter 15 of Genesis, we go there and it says, after these things, what things but things are just happened in chapter 14 and what just happened in 14, will Abram was blessed by Melchizedek and we're going to get to that more and then in the chapters of following Hebrews, but Abram goes and he finds his nephew lot, because he got taken away captive, and he makes us great, great Victory, and he comes back after he gives any it says. After this, God reduce a covenant with him. Because after these things the word of the Lord came to Abraham in a vision. If you're not a remind with you, I'm your Shield, your reward will be, she'll be very great. But mom says that God you know what you promised me and are you promised me some Offspring and that was a while back and I know you know waiting patiently But nothing's happening and if I die, Elie, Elie, Azar is my air. And that's what he says to him and Abrams said. Behold you've given me? No Offspring. This is verse three. Members of my own household will be my Heir and behold the word of the Lord came in and said, this man shall not. Be your are your very own son, shall be your Heir. Then he brings them out again and shows them all the stars and all this and all that, you know, the, you know, the drill. So then we go on to chapter 16. So it's still a little while, you know, things are going on and Abraham's waiting patiently. So now in chapter 16, Sarah Abraham's wife who had borne him, no children. That's just put in for a little emphasis there. Still, no children, no air. She had a female servant, female Egyptian servant. Remember they fled down to Egypt and all that kind of stuff, cuz there was a famine and down while they're down there, they pick up a slave for her name is Hagar and Sarah says the Abram. Hey, you know what, I got this great idea. I know God's promise to. You is true, it's showing all that. But you know what, I'm a little old, you know, a little bit past the child-bearing years. So why don't you just have an offspring by Hagar? My sermon. My young beautiful servant girl and Abram being a righteous man that he is and in the God-fearing man who would never do anything to disgrace. God's, holy name, that's a great idea. Go figure. So this is it all works out great, their plans working out beautifully. And and a broom has and are now and his name is Ishmael.

That doesn't work out too good. Does it in Genesis 18 1 through 15 we go on and now the Lord appears to Abraham by the Oaths of Abraham by The Oaks of mamre. And he sat at the door of his tent In the Heat of the day. And he lifted up his eyes and looked and behold the three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran to the tent door to meet them. About himself to the Earth and said, oh, Lord. If I have found favor in your sight, do not pass your serving little, little little water, be bought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves here by the tree. And while I want to bring a morsel of bread that you may refresh yourselves. And after that, you may pass time since you've come to your servant play said, so they said do, as you said, and Abraham went quickly to the 10th to Sarah. It said quick 3, Silas of fine flour needed. Make K make cakes. My wife loves it. When I bring people home for unexpectedly for a meal, You know, and she she's a great cook, but it seems like whenever I put her on the spot like that. And it goes, south. It doesn't really work out well and when I go south for her you know it goes further south for me. So anyway. So but Abraham's wife and she doesn't she does all that stuff. And then he goes and he gets the calf and and and and Slaughter said in and prepares it. Any, it takes it, it's it's interesting. I just fine I just find it interesting because it's like all this took. So what 5 6 7 minutes to make bread in the slaughter, a calf and two dresses and all this, you know, this had to take a couple hours. Yeah, they had microwaves back then, it was in the desert so you know you probably became quickly anyway. So you're in verse and I are we, are we in that? How you're doing? Good? They this was the Angels, they say to him to Abram or Abraham, where is Siri your wife? Like they didn't know. Okay. He said she's in the tent. Lord said I was the Lord speaking at all of them. I think all of them were just for like saying it together in unison. The Lord said, I will surely return to you about this time next year and Sarah, your wife shall have a son. Sarah is listening behind the door. And what does she do? she laughs but you know when we get to chapter 11, you're going to find out that Sarah Believed. I mean, she had to believe. Now, it takes to write. And if Abraham believed it and Sarah didn't believe in, it wasn't going to happen. I mean, we know that from experience, Okay? So So anyway, this is this, how it's going in in this is how long is it taking place? Now you know how long this is been since Abraham first received the message that he doesn't have a son? 25 years. Ishmael was 14 years old when this happened. So they they waited patiently, if you will, you do the math. I don't even with a math is, I didn't do it this time but they waited for a certain amount of time, maybe 10, 15, 10, 15 years, or whatever. And then all of a sudden they go, well, we got this great idea and no that doesn't that's not what God's plan. That's why Israel is of the of the Flash and that's why Isaac is of the spirit, right? Because this is miraculous. It's not like, you know, he shows up to a 35 year old and in his wife and Sakura having another child. Okay, that's fine. No, we can do that. It gets wait wait until how old was Abraham when this happens. 100 years old. And she's 99. 90 is 90.

So anyway, 1999. How old are you? I have no idea. I mean, I have to do the math cuz I know I'll get in trouble. I'm already in trouble. Okay, so where in Genesis 18. So that's where the promises made again and then in Genesis 21 lo and behold the Lord visited Sarah. As he had said in the Lord, did the Sarah as he had promised, and Sarah conceived and bore Abraham, a sun in his old age, at the time of which God has spoken him. Abraham called the name of his son was born in from Boris, whom Sarah board him Isaac. And what does Isaac mean laughter? You know, it's like I want to call my son Isaac. So people laugh at him, but that it's a different thing. It's actually laughter meant Joy. I'm so excited that I had my son, you know, and it made me laugh, you know, what brought laughter into our house and there was, I think after they got the message, G child, I think this is exciting and then all of a sudden, nothing happens. Nothing happens. And then they do their own thing and still it's not right? And then so finally, The promise is fulfilled and in laughter, is back in the house. So meanwhile, back in Hebrews 6:15. It says, and does Abraham having patiently waited obtain the promise? What was the promise? The promise was the air, right? Four people swear by something greater than themselves, in in all disputes and oath is final for confirmation. So, when God desired to show more convincingly, I really like more convincingly to who to The Heirs of the promise, who are The Heirs of the promise.

You're awfully quiet. Yeah, it's it's, it's Specifically to the Jews but by extension to us because we're all of the promise. I don't want to get into replacement theology. We're not going to go there. If you know what it means, you can say you can just rest assured that I don't believe in replacement theology. Okay, those are you don't know. You can ask David later. Okay. So the promise was given him now. It says patiently waited is the exact opposite of being sluggish or being dull and 6:12 now in verse 11. 33 11:33 it says that who through faith conquered kingdoms and enforce Justice obtained from. So these people they obtained all their promises even though you know, they waited patiently and they obtained the promises that God gave to them, but then if you look down in Hebrews 11:39 there's some that didn't receive it and if you look in the contacts you can do that. But it says you know they didn't receive what was promised. Why? A story. It says, since God has provided something better for us that apart from us they should not be made complete or perfect or mature. So God didn't give them the promise but he's giving it to us. Sorting interesting to me that God does that. Now moving on and verse 16. Again, it says four people swear by something greater than themselves and all their disputes a notice Final in confirmation. So, in confirmation the oath is there. And like I said before, if you if you if you, if you make a promise and you give an oath, that means that it's like you're going to do it or else in and God said, don't pledge something and not fulfill it, okay. Such a confirmation and then he goes on and he says so, in verse 17. So when God desired show to show more convincingly to The Heirs of the promise, the unchangeable character of his purpose. He guaranteed it with an oath so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God. To lie, we who have fled for Refuge might have strong and courage meant to hold fast to the Hope set before us. So let's break that down a little bit. First of all, we see that God desire to show more convincingly to The Heirs of the promise. What is he going to show more convincingly? The unchangeable as it says of his purpose, the unchangeable character of his perfect character is implied in the Greek. So they put it here in the English but it's the, the promise of the unchangeable of God's purpose. The unchanging was his purpose, will not change. You see that? In an entire, this one to we read this before, but I want you to see it again and hope of eternal life which God who never lies promise before the age of the begin, the emphasis Arizona God doesn't lie. There's certain things that God cannot do. Do you realize that in? This is one of them. God cannot lie.

The Nana promise that he, that he talked about his in and verse 15 does Abraham having patiently waited obtain the promise the promise of an heir and then his purpose is 6:17. So when God designer show more convincingly to The Heirs of the promise, the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with a note. So what are the two unchangeable things now when I read commentaries and looked and listened to a different messages and things like that that there is there's a wide variety of things that people say are the two unchangeable things. And what they say is true, the things that they said is that since unchangeable one of them said that, God cannot lie, that's unchangeable it is. But this isn't what he's referring to In this passage because you see when he says, there are two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie. So the unchangeable things are true because God doesn't lie, you do understand that that's that's just the flow of the text. So then two unchangeable things I put down or the promise that he made. And then the purpose that he had, the purpose is tied up into the oath that he is making. So it's impossible, God's forgot to lie. We who have fled for Refuge might have strong encouragement, the holdfast of the hopes that before us. So this fled for Refuge is is an interesting thing and I believe as some of the commentators that I read that this is a is a is a picture. If you will of the Cities of Refuge that that God gave to the Israelites City of Refuge was a place. Where if you accidentally killed someone, Like, say, I accidentally was working with David and nudged him off the scaffolding and you fell and broke his neck. It was an accident in. This is back then so I did it accidentally, but Joshua, he doesn't care. His dad's dead. So he's going to be the Avenger of blood and he's going to come, and he's going to take his Vengeance out on me. So God was saying that and this is sort of a week illustration, but you know what I'm talking about. So God made six Cities of Refuge were people could go into and they would go into these Cities of Refuge and it would be sort of like a place where the Avenger of blood was not allowed to come into to take out the Vengeance. And if they would, they would be able to remain there until the death of the high priest. So if they go into this place, they sort of have like a little court hearing and if the priests deems that this person is telling the truth, then he gives them Refuge So, this is the same thing where it says, we who have fled for Refuge. Where did we Flee for? Where do we Flee for Refuge to Jesus, correct? And when is that,

Why isn't it at why isn't it ever up? Yeah, cuz he's a priest forever and he died and he rose again. So now he's not going to die again. So we have we have that City of Refuge. Now those are describe the numbers 35 and 1st 9 and following and Joshua 20. So it is interesting that we have that picture that we can. We have that strong encouragement to hold fast to the Hope set before us. Now remember what what hope is

Remember the dent in the biblical? Definition of Hope?

That that's yet. And that's it. That's in Hebrews. But then the biblical definition or the, the dictionary definition of Hope is confident expectation. Is something that you don't see. Say you're expecting it. It's not like oh I wish that the Simmons would give me a brand new car for Christmas. Okay, I don't set my Hope on that. But it's confident expectation. Other words things that God has promised. That's what we put our hope in. So What is his hope is hoping its is what it. It says an anchor of the for the soul and anchor is what he's talking about here. So he says Holdfast of the Hope set before us. We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the Soul. So this hope that set before us we have it as an anchor of the Soul. So I just thought it would be interesting to. I asked I asked Frank and he said that he doesn't fish anymore. So he gave his boat and is Anchor to David so it can you see this? Can everyone see this?

It's an anchor. And it's really not that heavy, or I wouldn't be doing this. So, I want you to look at this anchor. And I want you to just help describe What is what is this anchor for? And and how does it, how does it work?

The secure it. How to secure the boat. How does it secure the boat?

It digs in and it holds fast to something right now. To the Earth or do a rock or something like that the ground. something solid because of it you know if it just goes into this and it might just Drift Away. So, what else is necessary for this anchor to work.

Yeah, he has to hold onto the boat. So this has a chain, right? It has to be linked to something to the boat, right? So in order for this anchor to work, it has to. First of all, be what. Now, I've looked at lots of boats and I've seen lots of anchors on boats but they're really not doing anything. And why is that?

Go ahead, Frank. What?

Yeah, they're not employed to get a fraud over I v, I always remember seeing that one commercial way back and I don't watch TV anymore. So it's got to be way back. And it's like it was a bungee jump and in the bungee cord, wasn't fastened. so, you know, You know, if this isn't fast and it's not going to do any good, so nervous, if you got an anchor and you throw it overboard, you go all. Wow, that's great, and it doesn't do any good if they anchors over there, and it's doing its job. But there's nothing holding on to the boat. So and it's interesting to me to you said, you throw this anchor overboard and what does it do? It goes down into the into the ground and hooks up on something so that the boat won't drift away. So it's interesting to me, let's look at the text again.

I want to I want to think about this this anchor now. It says, we have a sure and steadfast anchor of the Soul. All right. you got me with me so far, you know our soul is our inner being I'm a dichotomous. You know what are the economist is? A dichotomous is a person who believes that the the the human being is made up of two entities. Material and immaterial. So we have a body, we have flesh and then we have our inner self, heart soul spirit, that kind of thing. So it says here we have a anchor, we have this, sure and steadfast anchor of the souls. What are inner being? It's her. It's everything that within us and this help enters where it goes down into

Where does it go?

Yeah, it enters into the inner place behind the curtain. So another little illustration if you will, is this inner curtain is what? It's a holy of holies. Remember the priest would enter into the into the Tabernacle? And he would go in and he would be able to go into the first part. And do his do, the things do is do his business. And then once a year, the high priest only could go into the holy of holies which was behind that curtain at the divider. So when Jesus died we remember you remember. It says it to the curtain was ripped from top to bottom. You know. How do you know how thick this curtain was? Anybody want to guess how thick the curtain was. Yep. Right there was 6 in somebody said that it was 6in thick and saw you know, the priest couldn't just go in there. Do you know he rents his garmet? I always like to watch it on TV that date are there. Rubbing their garments are my t-shirt and I can't even try that. But anyway, so this was torn from top to bottom symbolizing. That that God did it and that he's making a list now into the holy of holies. So he says, enters this, this is our heart, we have this, sure and steadfast anchor of the Soul, a hope that enters into the holy place behind the curtain. Now, it's interesting to me that this is where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf. You know what a 4Runner is. It's a Ford. It's a Ford truck, right? No Toyota or whatever. Okay. Noah 4Runner, have you ever heard the word Forerunner mentioned? Somewhere else. In the scriptures, John the Baptist. He was a forerunner for what Christ. He was preparing the way. So Jesus is a 4Runner and he has gone before us and he's entered into the holy of holies place, not not what was built with hands but what's built by God? So it's interesting to me is a Ford 4Runner. Just so just to show you that I'm a Greek scholar, it literally means a scout. Someone who goes and scout out a goes before you what are the illustrations I heard, and I tried to find out. If this was true, it sounds really good. So I'm going to say it. I don't know if it's true or not, but they say back in the time, in Jesus's time. When did there were certain ports? That a big ship couldn't go in and and rough weather. So they would send a 4Runner ship in a little boat that knew where all the stuff was and you had to get in there and they would take the anchor and attach it to the little boat and the little boat Woodrow in telling the other boat in. So, sort of gives you the picture of a 4Runner, Jesus, going before us preparing away. And, and really, literally Towing Us in, if you will. So that's what the 4Runner would do.

So Warren wiersbe said this, and I thought this was really good. We are anchored upward to Heaven. Not downward. We are. We are anchored not to stand still. Like ice, anchor would be, but to move ahead, our anchoress, sure it cannot break and steadfast it. Cannot slip. No earthly. Anchor can give that kind of security. Do you know that? Cuz I was thinking about this and I'm looking at it, I'm taking so you throw this over in in the in the water. In-N-Out in the way, start going in the winds blowing. And this doesn't really Sink in or do whatever. It's doing it on, you can be driving along and and say that he has a rope instead of a chain course this chain to, it could, it could break or I could get loose and then at the anchors, not doing what it's supposed to do. And this is why Warren wiersbe. I believe said to truthfully, that our anchor doesn't will, never break. It will hold fast. It will bring us to the destination that we need to be. Now in verse 20 it says now where Jesus is gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest Forever After the order of Melchizedek. So Jesus is our high priest. Now, just just to keep this as simple as I can. Regardless of what this is, another quote, regardless of what approach you take to the exhortation. In this section another words, we need to lay hold of the main lesson of this whole passage. Where were up to tonight to now?

I think, you know what I mean, though? We need to remember that if we start to drift from the Ward, remember and Hebrews chapter 2 drift, you just, you don't have an anchor. You just start to drift, then we will also start to doubt the word and that's the admonition and it gives us in Hebrews 3:7 through for 13. And before long, we will get doll toward the word or are sluggish. And that's the last warning he gave us and then we'll become lazy Believers. Now, the best way to keep from drifting is to lay hold of the anchor and in. What is the anchor again? It's Jesus, he's the anchor of our soul. I really like the song We sang last week that one to Anchor one.

You remember that one? I don't know what to eat closing with that, okay. Anyway, it's not a request, it was just a thought. So my admonition to us is we need to be anchored heavenward. No, we can't be any more secure than that, with Jesus being that cuz he is the one is going to hold on to us. So my, my last question is, what promise are you waiting for my ass out of myself? Because I was thinking this past week, as I was studying, this, what you no promises, what, what promise am I waiting for waiting patiently for

And I was at 4 while I was sort of, like, I don't know, but then I started thinking about it. And what are things that I think I'm waiting for patiently and sometimes it's like Abraham, you know, you sort of want to hurry it up a little bit, but I think it's the return of Christ. And if it's something that you know, cuz I want to I want to like what it says hasten it on or you know, trying to help it along that kind of thing. But then I realized that all the people That will be left behind no no pun intended to a movie and books. But you know there's some people that are going to be left behind if if he came right now and that's why I'm waiting patiently because I know that God's timing is perfect. and when he comes back, To take us away. It's going to be the right time. So what do we need to do while we're waiting? We need to be busy about the work that he's giving us to do.