1 - Anchored by Hope

SLIDE: Scripture: Hebrews 6:19

Hebrews 6:19 (NLT)

19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls...

SLIDE: Welcome Home

SLIDE: Title

Introduction

Welcome to church! It’s a great day to be here, since we’re starting a new 4-week series called Anchor. As we begin our series, you should know it’s built around a single Bible verse; Hebrews 6:19 which reads in the New International Version as:

Hebrews 6:19 (NIV)

19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure...

Actually, that’s not even the entire verse…I know it sounds pretty ambitious to talk about one half of one Bible verse for the next four weeks. But this is the power of the Bible, the living word. It speaks to us in each and every season of our lives. Every circumstance, suffering, and victory. The Bible is truly amazing, and I hope one of the things you take from our series is a renewed interest in scripture.

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

Illustration idea: This could be a great opportunity to display a picture of an anchor or better yet, find an anchor that you can have displayed on stage with you throughout the series. Something you can refer back to over the next four weeks as you discuss the different principles, we learn from Hebrews 6:19.

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 be 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.

Main Teaching

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 Hebrews 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?

Trusting 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

Read Hebrews 6:13-17

Hebrews 6:13–17 (NLT)

13 For example, there was God’s promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in his own name, saying: 14 “I will certainly bless you, and I will multiply your descendants beyond number.” 15 Then Abraham waited patiently, and he received what God had promised. 16 Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. 17 God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind.

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.

SLIDE: Trusting the Promise of God

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 says, “Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.” He’s not going to have a midlife crisis or go on some crazy existential journey. He is still the same. And this is incredibly good news in a world that’s constantly changing and moving.

Read Hebrews 6:18

Hebrews 6:18 (NLT)

18 So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies 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.”

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.

SLIDE: An Anchor for the Soul

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.

Read Matthew 14:25-31

Matthew 14:25–31 (NLT)

25 About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, “It’s a ghost!” 27 But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!” 28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” 29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. 31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”

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.

SLIDE: Anchored by Hope

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

Conclusion

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 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.

SLIDE: Truths for Life

He is our hope, firm and secure. And it is THIS HOPE we grab hold of. Even just the edge of His garment. If you’ve got Jesus, then you’ve got more than 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”