Anchored by Hope

Big Idea: As believers, we are encouraged to remain steadfast and committed in our faith through every trial and storm that life may bring. We are anchored by Jesus. He is our great hope, salvation, and savior.

Introduction

Welcome to church! It’s a great day to be here, since we’re starting a new series called Anchor. As we begin our series, you should know it’s built around a single Bible verse; Hebrews 6:19 which says;

Hebrews 6:19 CSB

19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.

Getting back to anchors… Who knows what an anchor is?

An anchor is an amazing invention, used by fishermen and sailors for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. The basic concept of an anchor is that it “is a device, normally made of metal, used to secure a vessel to the bed of a body of water to prevent the craft from drifting due to wind or current.[1]”

An anchor is simple in its design, but very powerful in its function.

As believers, we are encouraged to remain steadfast and committed in our faith through every trial and storm that life may bring. We are anchored if you will, in hope… and as you may have guessed, that hope is Jesus.

One Bible commentator says an anchor “was an ancient Christian symbol for safety, security, and hope. It has been found on the walls of the Roman catacombs. This word brings to mind the hymn,

"I've anchored my soul in the haven of rest, I'll sail the wild seas no more. The tempest may sweep o'er the wild stormy deep, But in Jesus I'm safe evermore.[2]"

So what is the specific “hope” the author of Hebrews is referring to in verse 6:19? Yes, of course the answer is Jesus, but why is the conclusion being drawn that we have “this hope” and not another one?

We Trust in The Promise of God

To better understand what’s going on in Hebrews 6:19 we really need to look at the section of verses that come before it, and probably at some point read the first six chapters of Hebrews altogether. But for now, let’s start in Hebrews 6:13

Hebrews 6:13–17 CSB

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater to swear by, he swore by himself: 14 I will indeed bless you, and I will greatly multiply you. 15 And so, after waiting patiently, Abraham obtained the promise. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and for them a confirming oath ends every dispute. 17 Because God wanted to show his unchangeable purpose even more clearly to the heirs of the promise, he guaranteed it with an oath,

God made a promise to Abraham, the father of the Hebrew nation, and since God couldn’t swear on anything greater than himself He simply said, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” God made a promise to Abraham, and He stayed true to His promise.

Illustration idea: Share a story here of a time someone broke a promise to you or you broke a promise you made. Highlight how a broken promise breeds distrust and division in the relationship.

Our God is a promise keeper. At the end of the day, He has kept every promise and fulfilled every prophecy up to this point. Obviously there is still more to come, but up to this point, God has come through every single time.

Hebrews 13:8 CSB

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Hebrews 6:18 CSB

18 so that through two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us.

Be encouraged today. Especially those of you who fled from the sin and slavery of the world to take hold of Jesus. He is the hope, the specific hope that we have. He is firm and secure. He is an anchor for the soul.

An Anchor for the Soul

Once we have Jesus, we are able to “anchor” ourselves to Him… Listen to how Albert Barnes, biblical commentator beautifully describes this reality:

“Hope accomplishes for the soul the same thing which an anchor does for a ship. It makes it fast and secure. An anchor preserves a ship when the waves beat and the wind blows, and as long as the anchor holds, so long the ship is safe, and the mariner apprehends no danger. So with the soul of the Christian. In the tempests and trials of life, his mind is calm as long as his hope of heaven is firm. If that gives way, he feels that all is lost.” Albert Barnes

In the coming weeks, we’ll talk about the storms and tempests of life in addition to the temptation to hold fast to other things that we think may keep us safe. But for now, let’s consider how peaceful it must be to sleep and work on the deck of a ship whose anchor is steadfast and secure.

It’s obviously not a perfect metaphor, but this is in some way how it feels to be anchored to hope. If you are anchored, firm and secure - if your connections are strong and the anchor is trustworthy then what room is there left for anxiety or fear? If all is good, you might find yourself saying things like, “The anchor will hold.” Or better yet, “We’re not going anywhere.”

We can be confident because of “this hope” we have. And “this hope,” as opposed to other things, is firm and secure.

Anchored by Hope

With so much uncertainty in the world… turmoil, confusion, and division… is it any wonder that our cities and cultures are struggling with epidemic levels of anxiety, stress, and depression? Friends, family, and neighbors are literally grasping for anything firm and secure to hold fast to. But everything they grab gives way. Hope, wrongly applied, will often leave us worse off than when we started.

This reminds me of a story about Jesus walking on water.

Matthew 14:25–31 CSB

25 Jesus came toward them walking on the sea very early in the morning. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and they cried out in fear. 27 Immediately Jesus spoke to them. “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter answered him, “command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Everything was going well for Peter until he took his eyes off of Jesus and began to have doubts. This particular story reminds us to stay locked onto Christ, fastened to Him, our firm and secure hope. There’s nothing else. And, since this life is complicated and complex, this is pretty straight forward and good news.

An anchor is simple in its design, but so very powerful in its function.

Over the next few weeks we are going to continue talking about anchors, boats, hope, and Jesus.

In the meantime it would be good for all of us here today to take some time this coming week to slow down and spend some time thinking about the things or people we’ve put our hope in.

Has someone you trusted ever let you down in the past?

Has someone ever lied to you, misled, or manipulated you?

Are you anxious or depressed?

Have you ever felt fearful of people, places, and situations?

If you identify with any of the situations I just described, or possibly something I’ve missed, it doesn’t mean you’re weak, dumb, gullible, or broken.

It means you’re human.

It means you’re exactly the type of person Jesus came and died for.

In Mark chapter 5, there is a story about a woman afflicted with bleeding for 12 years. She spent all her money on doctors, with no relief. She was ostracized from her community and family, set side and forgotten about. According to the levitical law of the time, everyone she touched and every place she sat became unclean, because she was unclean.

But then, Jesus shows up. She pushes her way through the crowd and touches the very edge of His garment. Thinking to herself, “If I can just get to Jesus, He can heal me.”

And He does.

He heals her completely.

Physically and socially, He restores her.

He is our hope, firm and secure. And it is THIS HOPE we grab hold of. Even just the edge of His garment.

Jesus IS enough

Let’s pray together.

Prayer: “Jesus you are our anchor and hope. You are the steadfast and secure one. Please help us let go of any other thing or person that we’re holding onto when you are the one we need.”

[1] Google search, “What is an anchor” [2] Bob Utley’s online Hebrews commentary; “​​http://www.freebiblecommentary.org/new_testament_studies/VOL10/VOL10_06.html”