Anchored
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19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
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Yoked in
Personal Invitation
The book of the bible that has inspired me this weekend is Hebrews. If you want to get into it I suggest we read through Hebrews (takes 45-60min). I will refer to Hebrews in each of the sessions but please be assured it will not be three bible studies!
Theme is taken from Hebrews 6:18b-20a. We have an anchor for the soul. Look at the sea around here, the current is fierce, the swell, the waves, the constant flow and ever-changing, and dangerous. With such a strong image, if we are the vessel in that sea, our security is in that anchor on board. In the tempest it has to be attached Rock. We cannot attach it by our own efforts. All that water between us is the problem there is no security in the water. Life and Society is like the water - changing and moving constantly. We can't anchor to anything that is passing, or of no substance. You would think these days that we are anchored to our phones, our Films/TV, to success, and family. If it does not have the integrity of a steadfast and sure anchor it will not hold, rocksteady when the storms come.
[Illustr]Clients in KB&Co accountancy practice disliked it when I said I was going into Christian ministry. They expected me to be there for them throughout their business life. Until they stopped but I stopped first – I was not the steadfast anchor they had thought. The water flows on. It is in our human nature to have an anchor because that’s how we have been created. You were made to have an anchor. You have to have an anchor that reaches to eternity for you. You can't live without something or someone. Fully Rely on God (Frog), or Fully rely on others (Froth) - but we were made to trust something or someone.
Heb 13:8 says Jesus is the same yesterday today forever. He is our steadfast hope.
Julie’s story…she asks to see the chaplain, first question, ‘do you really think there is a heaven? and if so, do you think I will go there when I die?’
I prayed for wisdom and answered, ‘Would you like me to help you be sure that you go there?’ Over the months that followed, I met regularly with Julie and she did invite Christ into her life and it had a transformational effect on her.
Julie was born in Yorkshire - worked as a seamstress at the same clothing factory as her mum Pat. Julie and Stuart were childhood sweethearts. They were married and had three children. Her life revolved around the family, walking kids to school and back again. Special birthday parties and meals for the family. Christmas was special, it was for the kids. A beautiful down to earth Yorkshire woman, whose life was her family.
In November she had pain twinges and Cancer was diagnosed in January. She was told she may have just had her last Christmas. Julie died on the 8th November.
Why am I telling you all this? It is an ordinary everyday story that we can all identify with and it was clear that Julie’s anchor was her family, Stuart and the kids and her mum and dad. Nothing wrong with that. But when the storms and troubles came her anchor was not a solid rock. I got to know her over about 10 months months during which time we attempted to answer her first question: ‘Do you really believe there is a heaven and how can I be sure I will go there.’
I had the privilege of introducing her to the Lord Jesus and she told me she felt secure and was ready to meet Jesus – but in no hurry! She renewed her wedding vows in hospital, she was so keen for God’s blessing on that union, now that she believed. She went to be with Jesus in heaven – safe and secure for all eternity.
Julie’s story is an encouragement to us, not because she did everything right but because the Holy Spirit drew her to understand that Jesus was her refuge and her sure hope, her anchor and He is our hope and refuge too.
That is the metaphor and narrative we are going to look at this weekend.
Three Verbs Come. Take. Learn
