Trustworthy and Faithful Anchor

Series: God Who Are You

Message: Trustworthy and Faithful Anchor

Text: Hebrews 6:11-20

(Opening Prayer)

Introduction: Good Morning. If you would turn with me in your bibles or on your bible app to the book of Hebrews. We will be in chapter 6, and I’ll be reading verses 11-20 but our main focus will be on verses 19 and 20. (Read text)

Today we are continuing with our our series “God who are you?”. To be transparent several years ago I probably would have looked at the title of this series and thought “I know who God is why are we discussing this”. Some of you may have had the same thought. It’s been said many times in this church. There is a big difference in knowing of God and truly knowing Him. That difference is relationship. Unlike every other religion on the planet true authentic christianity is rooted in a personal and intimate relationship with the one and only God of the universe. He created each of us with a deep desire to be relational. Not just with Him but with each other. We all experience relationships whether it be in our homes, workplaces, or social circles. No matter what form they take, there are two key factors that determine the success of any relationship. Is the person trustworthy and will they be faithful. These two things are critical, but why? Thats simple we need assurance. We are made to have it.

What is assurance? The dictionary defines assurance as “a positive declaration intended to give confidence, a promise”. The promises that we make are intended to give assurance. We make them to our spouses, our children, to friends. But how much assurance can we truly offer? As parents and spouses we promise to protect our families. Sure we can do things like lock the doors at night or safe guard against hazards but what happens if someone gets injured, there’s a car accident, or worse there’s a cancer diagnoses. The fact is we aren’t capable of keeping our families completely safe. We have limitations. Friends in order for promises to bring assurance the promiser has to be completely trustworthy and faithful. The promiser has to be able to anchor the promise. Can we honestly say that when circumstances such as:

- Job loss

Financial problems Marital troubles Heath issues

that the promises we make won’t be tested or even broken? We have all broken our promises. We have also been on the receiving end of broken promises. What happens to our assurance when those we anchor our assurance in fail? When they don’t have the power to keep us steady. We lose hope. Why? Because our assurance is gone. We need an anchor we can fully trust. An anchor powerful enough to keep us steady. When that anchor can’t be found in people we turn to other methods to get it:

The secular route teaches us that the anchor of true assurance is self.

If you have enough will-power, knowledge, and money you can overcome anything. Work hard, make good choices, and have financial security. And if you find yourself in need of help there are hundreds of thousands of “How to” guides just a click away on the amazon book store. For the low price of $9.99 you can learn how to conquer anything. No matter the storm you can overcome it alone because you have ultimate control of your own assurance. You are the anchor.

Or you can become religious:

Choose the religion that best suites your lifestyle there’s plenty to choose from. Attend services faithfully. Volunteer to serve Study and memorize the right words and traditions Become a moral person. If you do this you will be blessed. Nothing bad will happen because you’re covered by good works. Your still the anchor You’re a ship that has tied-off to itself. Assurance is anchored in what you can do.

Friends that’s not an anchor!

How can we know when we’ve done enough?

How much money is enough?

How hard do we need to work?

How good is good?

No one knows.

The truth is that we all place trust in false anchors. We live life thinking we have full assurance. That we are secure. At least until those anchors are tested and we find that we no assurance at all. Without a trustworthy anchor we lose hope. We might give up. Hebrews 6:12 says we become sluggish. Like we are just drifting through life. Have you ever felt like that? Like you’re just drifting.

Im sure Timothy Shaddock felt that way. If you haven’t read his story I recommend checking it out. Shaddock is an experienced sailor who set out on his catamaran. He ensured it was well provisioned. He had made all the necessary preparations for the trip. Or so he thought. A storm not only crippled his boat but also knocked out all his power. He could no longer sail, radio for help, or cook any of his provisions He attempted to drop anchor but it wasn’t sufficient enough to reach the bottom. That storm had taken all of his assurance. It must have been an eerie feeling to be drifting and at the mercy of the sea.

But how much worse would it be to be drifting in life.

To go through the motions day after day without purpose, passion, or reason until you die.

Friends we need an anchor.

- We need an anchor that’s fit just for us.

That can go to any depth we find ourselves in. An anchor that is trustworthy and faithful.

Look at Verses 19-20 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Did you see that. We have an anchor.

Jesus Christ is our anchor. He is sure and steady. He never makes a promise he can’t keep. He never lies. He has absolute power.

He can be the anchor we need because of what He did.

He took ours sin upon himself and took Gods wrath in our place.

He willing went to the cross on our behalf.

Three things I want us to see today.

You have to see the anchor.

Makes sense doesn’t it? How can an actor be used to steady the ship if you can’t see it? The same applies to Jesus in our lives. You have to truly see Jesus. Who he is. Why he came. What he did. He cannot simply be a far off presence. There has to be a relationship. Only then Turn to Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Church when we truly see Jesus. When there is relationship. We are no longer shackled by our mistakes. We are called to lay aside our burdens and sin. To replace them with the full confidence that we are anchored in Him.

You have tie off.

Not only do we have to see the anchor we also have to tie off. When we tie our lives to something we place our trust in it. Flip over to Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Thats a tough word today! I’d dare say that all of us have trust issues. Thats especially true when life is tough. When it feels like everything is falling apart. Doubt creeps in and we all wonder if our trust is misplaced. I’ve had them. The Disciples had them. Even John who baptized Jesus. Who saw the heavens open, heard the voice of God, and saw the spirit descend had doubts. In Luke 7 he sends two of his disciples to ask Jesus “Are you the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?” John is imprisoned and he wants assurance. We all have or have had this same question. Can I trust this Jesus? Listen to how Jesus responds. “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have heard the gospel preached to them. Blessed is he who does not take offence at Me.” This was the assurance that John needed. It is also the same assurance that we need. When you truly see Jesus you tie your life to Him. You will have full confidence that no matter the circumstances, even death, that he is trustworthy and faithful.

You have stay secured.

Without a secure tether an anchor will not steady a ship on rough seas. The same is true in our walk with Jesus. Turn with me to Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. When you place trust in something or someone you hold tight with a firm hand. It drives your day to day actions. It effects everything around you, how you work, how you delegate time, and how you handle money. Matthew 6:21 says where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Your life revolves around what you love. Whatever your heart is set on you serve. John 15:5 says that if you abide in him there will be fruit and apart from him you can do nothing. Friends, when you’re truly anchored and trust in the person and work of Jesus Christ you can not help but to live a life of repentance and obedience. Though you may stumble. The desire of your heart is to please and serve Jesus. You will have a hunger for His word. There will be changes in how you not only view life but how you live it. Some of those will be painful. We don’t teach health and wealth here. The Gospel never promises that christianity is easy. We walk the narrow and difficult road not only because it leads to eternal life but because it leads to Jesus. Our anchor and our assurance!

(Closing)

Friends as we prepare to close today and the band comes I want to leave you with this thought. Each of us anchor our lives. Those anchors can be relationships, careers, finances, health, and many others. But I want to ask a simple question today. Are the things you’ve placed your hope in trustworthy and faithful? Will they be there to keep you steady when life’s storms come?

If you’re a Lifer here today are there areas in your life that need to be tied off and secured? Things that you haven’t fully trusted to God? If you’re here today and you’ve never experienced or don’t fully understand the hope that the hope that is found in Jesus Christ we would love to speak with you. As we open for a time of response the Deacons and Pastoral staff will be here to speak with you.

(Lets Pray)