“ANCHORS THAT WILL HOLD IN LIFE’S STORMS”



“ANCHORS THAT WILL HOLD IN LIFE’S STORMS”

HEBREWS 6:17-20

INTRO: Every person in this world is looking for someone or something

to bring security, peace, and stability to their lives. Some

people have nothing to hold on to, to stabilize and anchor them.

They may have tried various things to try and bring stability but

after awhile all these things allowed them to drift into

depression, defeat, and discouragement.

The writer of Hebrews tells us we have an anchor that is both

sure and steadfast. That anchor is Jesus Christ. In life, we

must find someone or something that will give us security. That

someone is Jesus. In the WORD OF GOD Christ is referred to as

the Rock of our Salvation and also as our strong and mighty

tower. Even though conditions around us are continually

changing, our LORD remains the same! Hebrews 13:8

promises us, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and

forever." He never changes!

The LORD has offered to us some anchors that will hold in any

and every storm of life. May we in faith reach out and grab hold

of the anchor and HOPE SET BEFORE US!

(1) THE SAVIOR IS AN ANCHOR IN LIFE'S STORMS

HEBREWS 6:19-20

*V18 tells us, "We might have strong consolation, who have fled for a

refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us." We have great

encouragement if we have fled to Jesus Christ for He is our Eternal

refuge.

ILLUS: In Numbers 35 and Joshua 20, God appointed six cities, three

on each side Jordan, into which a man could flee if he

accidentally killed someone. The elders of the city would

investigate the case. If it was determined that it was indeed

manslaughter and not murder, they would permit a man to live

in the city until the death of the high priest. Then he could

return to his home. The members of the slain man's family

could not avenge themselves so long as the man remained in the

city. (Warren W. Wiersbe. The Bible Exposition Commentary.

Volume 2: Ephesians-Revelation. P. 298).

We have fled to Jesus Christ. No avenger can touch us because He has

already died and risen from the dead! Romans 8:31, 33-34—“What

shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against

us?... Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that

justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather,

that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh

intercession for us.” Jesus Is our ANCHOR and:

A. HE IS A SURE ANCHOR. Sure means “firm, secure, safe, or certain.”

It cannot break. This is the kind of anchor we have in Jesus Christ.

He is able to deliver us. He has the power. He is sufficient. We read

In Colossians 1:16-19—“For by him were all things created, that are

in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be

thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were

created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all

things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the

beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have

the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all

fullness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross,

by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they

be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime

alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he

reconciled.” When the storms of life are raging, we can fix our eyes on

Jesus. He can and will anchor us! VV19b-20a—"which entereth into

that within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus

...". This anchor has come "into the veil" or the Holy of Holies into

God's presence for us (John 14:6; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 John 2:1).

ILLUS: H.A. Ironside in his commentary on Hebrews relates an

interesting custom in ancient seafaring. Sometimes

sandbars across the entrance of a port made it impossible to

enter the port at low tide. So a sailor (forerunner) in a small

boat would take the anchor across the sandbar and let it

down in the harbor. Thus the ship was held steady and safe.

When the tide rose it would enter the harbor.

Jesus, the forerunner has entered the harbor-the heavenly

Holy of Holies. There he holds intercession for His people

(Hebs. 7:25). His people on earth, like a cargo-laden ship,

must stay in the open sea for awhile. They may experience

the fury of the wind and waves. But they are steadfast and

sure until they enter the Heavenly harbor! (Herschel H.

Hobbs. Hebrews: Challenge To Bold Discipleship. Pp. 65-66).

He will keep you anchored. You can hold on to Him!

B. HE IS A STEADFAST ANCHOR. Steadfast means “firm, fixed.” The

dictionary defines it this way—“Firmed fixed in faith or devotion to

duty; constant; unchanging.” (Funk & Wagnalls Standard Desk

Dictionary. Volume 2, N-Z. p. 659). It cannot slip. No earthly anchor

can give that kind of security. There is no reason to doubt His power

or ability to anchor you. Jesus can calm you in the storms of life or

calm the storms in your life. In troubles, trials, tough times, He is

very able to help and aid you. The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 46:1-3—

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the

mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters

thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the

swelling thereof. Selah.”

C. HE IS A SOUL ANCHOR. Many people turn to drink, drugs, desires,

or deception to ease the pain and heartache. Jesus is very near and

dear to us. He can calm you, comfort you, console you, and counsel

you. He has given us a wonderful promise in Matthew 11:28-30—

“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give

you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and

lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is

easy, and my burden is light.” The spiritual help He can offer to you

is greater than the human of fleshly temporary help.

THE SAVIOR IS AN ANCHOR IN LIFE’S STORMS but also…

(2) THE SCRIPTURE IS AN ANCHOR IN LIFE'S STORMS

HEBREWS 6:17-18a—“Wherein God, willing more abundantly to

show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation…”

*The Scripture's authority rests on the unchangeable nature and will of

God (Malachi 3:6). The nature of God is to be Holy. Throughout the

Scriptures we see God's Holiness displayed. The will of God is that man

be saved. The preaching of the WORD OF GOD accomplishes this (l

Corinthians 1:18; Romans 10:17). The Scripture Is an ANCHOR

because:

A. IT IS TRUTH. Jesus said, "Thy word is truth." (John 17:17). God's

Word is true and anything less is a lie. (Romans 3: 4a—“Let God be

true, but every man a liar…". The Scripture is profitable for doctrine,

reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:

16-17).

ILLUS: Recently a someone wrote the following letter to Dr. Billy

Graham:

DEAR DR. GRAHAM: Why can't I seem to change my life for

the better? I'm always making promises to God about how I'll

stop my bad habits and become a better person, but nothing

ever seems to last. I've read dozens of books on self-

improvement but so far they haven't helped much. -- P.B.

DEAR P.B.: Let me ask you a question: Have you ever read

the greatest book that was written on how to become a better

person? That book is the Bible -- and if you've never read any

of it, I urge you to do so. Why do I say this? The reason is

because the Bible isn't just another book on self-help. In fact

it isn't a "self-help" book at all because it tells us that we are

too weak to change our lives and make ourselves into the

kind of people we ought to be. We may not like to admit this –

- but it's true, as you know from your own experience.

Instead, the Bible points us to God, for only He can change

us and make our lives different. We can't change our lives –

but God can, and He will if we let Him. God loves us, and He

doesn't want us to be sunk in a pit of helplessness and

despair the rest of our lives. How does this happen? It begins

with repentance -- telling God we know we have sinned, and

we are turning from our old ways of living. Then we must

turn to Jesus Christ and ask Him to come into our lives as

our Savior and Lord. When we do, God Himself comes to live

within us by His Spirit. Then we'll discover the same truth

the Apostle Paul discovered: " I can do all things through

Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13). (Bible is

better than self-help books By DR. BILLY GRAHAM. Tuesday,

March 6, 2007.

).

One only has to read the BIBLE to know that the message contained

in its pages is Spiritual and of God.

ILLUS: By his own admission, Terry Anderson had little use for the

BIBLE before being taken hostage in Lebanon. During the

Middle East correspondent’s captivity of nearly seven years ,

he found a new appreciation for God's Word. Since his

release on Dec. 4, 1991 Anderson has been praising the

BIBLE'S power. "Constantly over the years of captivity I

found consolation and counsel in the BIBLE I was given. I

read the BIBLE more than 50 times, cover to cover. It was

an enormous help to me." (Raymond McHenry. The Best of

In Other Words. p. 30).

B. IT IS TRUSTFUL. God's Word will not pass away. Jesus said in

Matthew 5:18—“For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass,

one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be

fulfilled.” In Luke 21:33 our Lord said—“Heaven and earth shall

pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” Man's ideas,

philosophies, and theories change quick and often. God's Word

changes not. It remains the same. Psalm 119:89 says—“Forever, O

LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.” What does it mean when

something is settled? The Hebrew word that is translated our word

settled means “to station, establish, erect, stand, appoint.” You can

depend upon it completely and entirely. Isaiah 40:8 tells us—“The

grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand

forever.”

C. IT IS TESTED. Time has tested the BIBLE. In spite of the passing of

years, it is still a best seller. Satan and his servants have tried, to

burn and destroy God's Word, but he cannot and it still remains!

ILLUS: The Bible-banned, burned, beloved. More widely read, more

frequently attacked than any other book in history.

Generations of intellectuals have attempted to discredit it;

dictators of every age have outlawed it and executed those

who read it. Yet soldiers carry it into battle believing it more

powerful than their weapons. Fragments of it smuggled into

solitary prison cells have transformed ruthless killers into

gentle saints. --Charles Colson (1931- ) (Edythe Draper,

Draper's Book of Quotations for the Christian World (Wheaton:

Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1992). Entry #726).

If you but try God and His Word, you will know it is true because you

have tested it.

THE SAVIOR IS AN ANCHOR IN LIFE’S STORMS, THE SCRIPTURE IS AN ANCHOR IN LIFE’S STORMS, and…

(3) THE SPIRIT IS AN ANCHOR IN LIFE'S STORMS

GALATIANS 5:16, 25—“ This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye

shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh… If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

*"Your life apart from the filling of the Holy Spirit may be spectacular,

but it will never be miraculous." --Ralph Smith. (Raymond McHenry. The

Best Of In Other Words. p. 129).

ILLUS: For the shooting of BEN HUR, Charlton Heston was training to

drive a chariot. Heston was having trouble with the apparatus so

he confided in his director, William Wyler, "I can barely stay on

this thing. I can't win the race." Wyler told Heston, "Your job is

to stay on it; it's my job to make sure you win."

The Holy Spirit orchestrates the victories for God's Kingdom. Our

Job is simply to stay in the chariot of obedience. (Raymond

McHenry. The Best Of In Other Words. p. 129).

Friend, You cannot serve the LORD apart from the Holy Spirit and be pleasing to HIM! The Spirit Is an ANCHOR because:

A. HE INDWELLS. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. (1

Corinthians 6:19-20). If Christ is in us, the Spirit dwells with us.

Romans 8:10-11 tells us—“And if Christ be in you, the body is dead

because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if

the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he

that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal

bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” The Holy Spirit resides in

the heart of the saved person. He is the earnest of our inheritance.

Ephesians 1:11-14 tells us—“In whom also we have obtained an

inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who

worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be

to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also

trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your

salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that

Holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the

redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”

B. HE IDENTIFIES. He witnesses with our spirit we are the children of

God. (Romans 8:16). He produces spiritual fruit in our lives that

bears witness we are saved. Ephesians 5:22-23 says—“But the fruit of

the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” We are not .left

alone. He is our comforter. Jesus promised in John 14:16-18—“And

I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he

may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world

cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye

know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not

leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” The word "comforter" in the

Greek means "one called along-side to help." The Holy Spirit is more

than a Comforter, Helper, and Consoler; he is also an Advocate and

an Encourager. (Life Application Bible Commentary: John. Copyright

© 1993 by The Livingstone Corporation. Tyndale House Publishers,

Inc. Wheaton, Illinois. All rights reserved. Life Application is a

registered trademark of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Electronic

Edition STEP Files Copyright © 2002, , Inc.

C. HE ILLUMINATES. 1 Corinthians 2:12-14 tells us—“Now we have

received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that

we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which

things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth,

but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with

spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of

God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them,

because they are spiritually discerned.” The Spirit-of God .guides into

all truth. (John 16:13). He teaches us the truth and principles of

righteousness. (1 Corinthians 2:13). He will show you things of the

LORD. (John 16:14).

D. HE INSTILLS. He sheds the Love of God abroad in our hearts.

(Romans 5:5). We love the brethren which is an indication of us

being saved. (1 John 3:14).

(4) THE SERVANT IS AN ANCHOR IN LIFE'S STORMS

GALATIANS 5:13-15—“For, brethren, ye have been called unto

liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.”

A. THE SERVANT IS A FRIEND. Friends, there is a special love for the

people of the LORD. (1 John 3:16). In Paul's Letters, he mentions

some of God's people by name. These, no doubt, were some close

friends of his in the ministry. Those who had ministered to his needs

and bore his burdens with him. Christian friends are a wonderful

blessing.

ILLUS: Alone I cannot serve the Lord effectively, and he will spare no

pains to teach me this. He will bring things to an end,

allowing doors to close and leaving me ineffectively knocking

my head against a wall until I realize that I need the help of

the Body as well as of the Lord. -- Watchman Nee,

Leadership, Vol. 9, no. 3.

B. THE SERVANT'S FELLOWSHIP. We may not have the same likes

and dislikes, but we have the same LORD. Ephesians 4:4-6 tells

us—“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one

hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and

Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” We

have all things common in the service of the LORD! We agree on

Salvation, the Savior, the Scriptures, Service, and Second Coming.

Corrie Ten Boom said, “Be united with other Christians. A wall with

loose bricks is not good. The bricks must be cemented together. –

Corrie ten Boom (1892-1983) (Edythe Draper, Draper's Book of

Quotations for the Christian World (Wheaton: Tyndale House

Publishers, Inc., 1992). Entry #4020).

C. SERVANTS ARE FOLLOWERS. They are followers of The LORD.

Paul wrote in Ephesians. 5:1-2—“Be ye therefore followers of God as

dear children: And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath

given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a

sweetsmelling savor.” They follow the ways of the LORD contained in

the WORD. They are followers but also they are leaders. Others who

have just started in the work need to follow them. We must set good,

godly examples for new Christians to follow.

D. SERVANTS ARE FAITHFUL. They are devoted and dedicated to the

LORD. They put Him first. They love Him and show it. (Matthew

6:33).

THE SAVIOR IS AN ANCHOR IN LIFE’S STORMS, THE SCRIPTURES ARE AN ANCHOR IN LIFE’S STORMS, THE SPIRIT IS AN ANCHOR IN LIFE’S STORMS, THE SERVANT IS AN ANCHOR IN LIFE’S STORM, and finally…

(5) THE SECOND COMING IS AN ANCHOR IN LIFE'S STORMS

TITUS 2:11-14—“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath

appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

A. IT IS SOON. No man, angel, not even the Son of God knows when

the Savior will return. Our Lord Jesus said in Mark 13:32—“But of

that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are

in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.” When the Father says,

"son, go get your children, we will be going home!"

B. IT IS SUDDEN. We read in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53—“Behold, I

show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be

changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for

the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible,

and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption,

and this mortal must put on immortality.” Jesus will return will His

people are not expecting' Him! (Matthew 25:5).

C. IT IS SOLEMN. He will return and judge the works of His people. (2

Corinthians 5:10; 1 Peter 4:17). He will return at the end of the age

to pass judgment on the Lost. (Revelation 20:11-15).

D. IT IS SATISFYING. The end of the age will usher in his 1,000 year

reign followed by Eternity. We long to be with our LORD forever!

E. IT IS SERENE. Jesus will return with us His saints as King of kings

and LORD of Lords. Those who have failed to bow to Him will one day

bow their knees and call Him LORD! (Philippians 2:9-11). Forever

will we be with the LORD! (1 Thessalonians 4:17b-18). What an

anchor for the Suffering we face in this life to know that one day it

will all be gone and forever we will be with Jesus! (Revelation 21:3-4,

12, 17, 20).

CLOSING: THE SAVIOR IS AN ANCHOR IN LIFE’S STORMS, THE

SCRIPTURES ARE AN ANCHOR IN LIFE’S STORMS, THE

SPIRIT IS AN ANCHOR IN LIFE’S STORMS, THE SERVANT

IS AN ANCHOR IN LIFE’S STORMS, and THE SECOND

COMING IS AN ANCHOR IN LIFE’S STORMS.

Friend, What is your Anchor? Will it hold in the raging

storms of life? Jesus is the Anchor that never fails! Have

you laid hold on this Anchor sure and steadfast or are you

relying on one that can drift with the fury of the waves?

Prepared by Brother Bryan L. Browning, Pastor of Beechmont Baptist Church, Beechmont, KY for Sunday Evening, April 1, 2007.

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