WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.880 Good morning. Pastor Derek will be preaching for us this morning and he asked me to come and read the passage that he'll be preaching from. 00:00:08.880 --> 00:00:24.960 So if you have your Bibles with you, if you'll turn to Hebrews 6, verses 13 through 20, and those can also be found in the Bibles in the pews and page 1004. 00:00:27.160 --> 00:00:31.880 And this section tells us about the certainty of God's promise. 00:00:31.879 --> 00:00:45.439 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, Surely I will bless you and multiply you. 00:00:46.479 --> 00:00:51.000 And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 00:00:51.700 --> 00:00:59.439 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 00:00:59.439 --> 00:01:09.120 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath. 00:01:09.840 --> 00:01:22.359 So that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 00:01:22.359 --> 00:01:39.739 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. 00:01:40.319 --> 00:01:42.420 Thus, God's holy and inerrant word. 00:01:45.819 --> 00:01:47.180 Thank you, Skeets. 00:01:50.539 --> 00:01:51.599 Hello, everyone. 00:01:52.359 --> 00:01:53.739 Good morning to you. 00:01:54.939 --> 00:02:04.879 I'm excited about continuing in this series on Hebrews today because the theme is hope. 00:02:06.079 --> 00:02:10.939 And I bet all of you need a little bit of hope if you are alive and breathing. 00:02:11.659 --> 00:02:16.960 So I hope today that after we leave here, you have a little more hope than you do right now. 00:02:17.300 --> 00:02:19.020 Maybe we can drum up a little bit of hope. 00:02:19.360 --> 00:02:21.819 And I hope that hope is the right hope. 00:02:22.360 --> 00:02:23.260 Hope that it's Jesus. 00:02:24.960 --> 00:02:30.480 Remember last week, we ended with the challenge to hope. 00:02:30.780 --> 00:02:32.240 Will said, don't stop growing. 00:02:32.860 --> 00:02:33.960 Don't stop believing. 00:02:34.640 --> 00:02:36.740 Don't stop hoping. 00:02:36.740 --> 00:02:37.360 Don't stop believing. 00:02:39.159 --> 00:02:41.219 So this passage today is going to point us to hope. 00:02:41.340 --> 00:02:45.180 Before we get there, I want to start with a couple stories. 00:02:45.400 --> 00:02:45.500 Okay. 00:02:46.400 --> 00:02:48.180 Anybody in here ever been to the Florida Keys? 00:02:49.360 --> 00:02:49.540 Anybody? 00:02:50.120 --> 00:02:50.360 Okay. 00:02:50.360 --> 00:02:52.360 So it's spring break time. 00:02:52.460 --> 00:02:56.180 Y'all know right now, which is why there's a massive gap in the middle of the sanctuary. 00:02:57.380 --> 00:02:58.960 It's going to be the mosh pit later. 00:02:59.040 --> 00:03:00.360 Dave Clark said he'll start it. 00:03:01.160 --> 00:03:08.360 So if you ever wonder if people sit in the same place every week, there you go. 00:03:08.420 --> 00:03:09.120 It's your proof. 00:03:09.320 --> 00:03:10.060 It's really funny. 00:03:10.060 --> 00:03:15.439 But okay, about 25 years ago, it was spring break time. 00:03:15.620 --> 00:03:20.920 And I was on a boat in the Florida Keys headed out to snorkel. 00:03:21.620 --> 00:03:23.599 And I was a youth leader. 00:03:23.699 --> 00:03:24.780 I was on this youth trip. 00:03:25.580 --> 00:03:27.699 And it was spring break energy. 00:03:27.920 --> 00:03:32.000 There was sunscreen everywhere, goggles, towels, all the excitement. 00:03:32.120 --> 00:03:34.259 You can imagine it smelled like coconuts. 00:03:34.259 --> 00:03:37.679 You know that smell when there's a bunch of sunscreen around. 00:03:37.939 --> 00:03:41.719 So we're halfway out to the reef and the boat breaks down. 00:03:42.919 --> 00:03:45.340 And at first everybody's, oh, this is funny, right? 00:03:45.359 --> 00:03:46.500 We're all together in the ocean. 00:03:47.120 --> 00:03:50.039 And we're in vacation mode and the sun's out and the water's beautiful. 00:03:50.239 --> 00:03:51.000 Kind of looks like that. 00:03:51.060 --> 00:03:52.060 That's not an actual picture. 00:03:52.979 --> 00:03:59.819 And that water that looked so beautiful from the shore after about one hour turned into two, 00:04:00.459 --> 00:04:01.459 turned into three. 00:04:01.460 --> 00:04:05.060 It didn't really feel that beautiful anymore. 00:04:05.659 --> 00:04:07.260 It felt kind of endless. 00:04:07.700 --> 00:04:09.920 And there was no shade and there was no progress. 00:04:10.640 --> 00:04:11.879 And then it started. 00:04:13.500 --> 00:04:17.699 Students' faces, one by one, literally started turning green. 00:04:18.360 --> 00:04:19.319 I still remember it. 00:04:20.379 --> 00:04:23.540 Seasickness took over the whole boat. 00:04:24.360 --> 00:04:30.000 One student leans over the side, then another, then the leaders, and then all the leaders. 00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:34.240 And before long, that boat sounded like this high school horror movie. 00:04:34.600 --> 00:04:36.459 And it was awful. 00:04:37.560 --> 00:04:40.500 And that's the day that I learned the cure for seasickness. 00:04:40.560 --> 00:04:41.319 You know what it is? 00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:43.819 You jump in the water. 00:04:43.819 --> 00:04:48.439 So as any great responsible leader would do, I just jumped in the water. 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:53.259 And I'll never forget looking back at that boat. 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:55.699 It was like a scene out of Titanic. 00:04:55.699 --> 00:05:01.719 But it was heat and sickness and fish everywhere. 00:05:03.519 --> 00:05:04.639 You can imagine. 00:05:05.079 --> 00:05:08.759 And I'm just, I tried to separate as far from the fish as I could. 00:05:08.980 --> 00:05:10.319 But they were scaring me. 00:05:11.519 --> 00:05:18.599 And I remember looking back at that boat drifting and thinking, we really, really need an anchor. 00:05:18.600 --> 00:05:24.620 Recently, another story, I was at a seminar. 00:05:25.780 --> 00:05:32.260 And I struck up a new friendship with one of the guys who was in a small group with me, in a breakout group. 00:05:32.480 --> 00:05:35.960 And we were laughing together about something that we both struggle with. 00:05:36.760 --> 00:05:37.540 Our faces. 00:05:37.540 --> 00:05:46.220 I have learned that my I love you and I care about everything you're saying face. 00:05:47.000 --> 00:05:52.980 And my I'm mad at you and hate everything about you right now face are identical. 00:05:54.439 --> 00:05:56.960 It is a gift that I have. 00:05:58.520 --> 00:06:01.120 Some of you laughing may have the same gift. 00:06:01.580 --> 00:06:03.840 Or maybe have experienced my gift. 00:06:03.839 --> 00:06:10.819 And so the seminar speaker is sharing that he also has the same gift. 00:06:11.539 --> 00:06:15.099 And I thought to myself, finally, my people. 00:06:15.759 --> 00:06:17.459 I can be me. 00:06:17.699 --> 00:06:18.859 And I felt encouraged. 00:06:19.219 --> 00:06:20.419 And I felt seen. 00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:22.099 And I felt understood. 00:06:23.079 --> 00:06:28.479 And then immediately after I have that conversation, immediately, it's like walking out these doors. 00:06:28.479 --> 00:06:29.799 I walk out of the auditorium. 00:06:29.800 --> 00:06:38.879 And this man comes up to me and he says, hey, do you know that when you smile and when you listen, you look like two completely different people? 00:06:40.460 --> 00:06:43.460 And in that moment, do you know what I wanted to do? 00:06:45.139 --> 00:06:46.759 I wanted to punch him in the face. 00:06:48.699 --> 00:06:50.800 All of the pastoral godly instincts in me. 00:06:50.840 --> 00:06:52.400 I wanted to just go on his throat. 00:06:54.379 --> 00:06:56.500 And you know what I needed in that moment? 00:06:57.340 --> 00:06:58.240 I needed an anchor. 00:06:58.240 --> 00:07:00.079 I needed an anchor. 00:07:01.519 --> 00:07:09.000 And if I'm honest, the moments that I need an anchor the most in my life aren't on the boats. 00:07:09.740 --> 00:07:15.139 And they're not in awkward conversations with people who say things that catch you off guard. 00:07:15.819 --> 00:07:17.240 They're the quiet moments. 00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:22.360 Those late night thought moments that you just can't shut off. 00:07:22.360 --> 00:07:25.780 That diagnosis that you didn't expect. 00:07:25.780 --> 00:07:30.900 That prayer that hasn't been answered the way that you want it to. 00:07:31.740 --> 00:07:34.240 The loneliness maybe you can't fix. 00:07:35.060 --> 00:07:38.060 And you're afraid that you might not ever fit in. 00:07:38.060 --> 00:07:44.019 You ever feel those sorts of moments where you're just kind of grasping for something? 00:07:44.740 --> 00:07:47.399 Like your soul is reaching out for something? 00:07:47.399 --> 00:07:51.899 And in those moments, you know what you need? 00:07:52.879 --> 00:07:53.579 An anchor. 00:07:54.359 --> 00:07:55.060 You need an anchor. 00:07:56.579 --> 00:07:57.359 Another story. 00:07:57.799 --> 00:07:58.939 I was at the gym recently. 00:07:59.899 --> 00:08:01.419 And at the gym, there's a friend there. 00:08:01.519 --> 00:08:02.379 I have her name's Tammy. 00:08:02.379 --> 00:08:06.719 And her father-in-law, they call him Opa. 00:08:07.240 --> 00:08:07.480 Okay. 00:08:07.579 --> 00:08:11.600 And Opa goes up to Tammy and he says, send my love to the kids. 00:08:12.439 --> 00:08:14.219 And I thought I'd mess with Tammy for a minute. 00:08:14.399 --> 00:08:15.560 Because she goes, oh, I will. 00:08:15.659 --> 00:08:16.560 And he walks away. 00:08:17.079 --> 00:08:23.079 And then she says, I said to her, are you really going to send your love, Opa's love to your kids? 00:08:23.500 --> 00:08:24.240 She goes, oh, I mean, yeah. 00:08:24.339 --> 00:08:25.079 I go, well, you better. 00:08:25.620 --> 00:08:26.420 I'm going to check up. 00:08:26.439 --> 00:08:27.939 Because he asked you to send his love. 00:08:27.980 --> 00:08:29.019 You better be sending the love. 00:08:29.040 --> 00:08:29.759 How are you going to send it? 00:08:30.100 --> 00:08:31.259 And we got in this conversation. 00:08:31.259 --> 00:08:31.980 I just messed with it. 00:08:31.980 --> 00:08:34.080 If you knew Tammy, you would find that funny. 00:08:34.559 --> 00:08:36.259 But she told me I could share this story. 00:08:37.139 --> 00:08:43.000 But what hit me in that moment later was that phrase, send my love. 00:08:43.100 --> 00:08:44.379 I was thinking about that moment. 00:08:45.620 --> 00:08:48.720 Don't you want to be sent for? 00:08:50.360 --> 00:08:51.539 I think all of us do. 00:08:51.539 --> 00:08:54.080 Don't you want to be claimed? 00:08:54.899 --> 00:08:57.899 Someone to remember you and send their love to you? 00:08:58.700 --> 00:09:00.679 To know that somebody's thinking of you? 00:09:01.259 --> 00:09:10.279 See, when we're in those quiet moments, it's not just affection that we need in the middle of the night. 00:09:10.679 --> 00:09:13.279 It's not only security. 00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:19.839 But we're really longing, I think, and grasping for someone to send their love. 00:09:20.740 --> 00:09:21.579 A refuge. 00:09:22.339 --> 00:09:24.939 And that's something that cannot move. 00:09:25.740 --> 00:09:27.199 And that's what I mean by anchor. 00:09:27.839 --> 00:09:29.519 That I need an anchor in those moments. 00:09:29.519 --> 00:09:32.460 And here's the truth if we think about it. 00:09:33.019 --> 00:09:35.019 We all have an anchor right now. 00:09:35.899 --> 00:09:39.579 In fact, we may have multiple, multiple anchors right now. 00:09:39.580 --> 00:09:50.340 Because when things don't go the way that we planned them, when diagnosis comes or when the promotion doesn't go through or when the relationship starts to shift, 00:09:50.840 --> 00:09:55.740 that's when you find out what you've really been leaning your weight on. 00:09:56.320 --> 00:09:56.720 Okay? 00:09:56.879 --> 00:09:58.100 For your security. 00:09:58.600 --> 00:10:05.160 Not what you say your anchor is, but what you actually rely on to steady you. 00:10:05.159 --> 00:10:05.759 Okay? 00:10:06.719 --> 00:10:08.759 Some of us lean our weight on our careers. 00:10:09.519 --> 00:10:13.079 As long as work is steady, then I'm steady. 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:15.919 Some of us lean on relationships. 00:10:16.779 --> 00:10:20.779 As long as I'm wanted, then I feel secure and okay. 00:10:20.779 --> 00:10:23.899 Some lean on performance. 00:10:25.659 --> 00:10:26.059 Grades. 00:10:26.699 --> 00:10:27.100 Athletics. 00:10:27.899 --> 00:10:28.299 Achievement. 00:10:29.220 --> 00:10:30.379 Some lean on health. 00:10:31.220 --> 00:10:32.459 Some lean on control. 00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:34.059 Some lean on being needed. 00:10:34.259 --> 00:10:35.139 Some lean on money. 00:10:35.299 --> 00:10:36.419 Some lean on reputation. 00:10:37.079 --> 00:10:37.860 It goes on and on. 00:10:37.980 --> 00:10:40.419 And here's the thing that makes this really, really tricky. 00:10:41.079 --> 00:10:42.679 None of those things are really bad. 00:10:43.419 --> 00:10:43.799 Right? 00:10:44.600 --> 00:10:47.639 It's not bad to want to have a good relationship or want to be needed. 00:10:47.720 --> 00:10:48.259 All those things. 00:10:48.259 --> 00:10:51.500 It's just that none of those things actually last. 00:10:52.039 --> 00:10:53.419 They're always moving. 00:10:53.559 --> 00:10:56.139 They're always rocking back and forth. 00:10:57.019 --> 00:11:00.059 And if you focus on it too much, it can make you seasick. 00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:06.379 Psalm 103.15 says something very important before we jump into Hebrews. 00:11:07.039 --> 00:11:07.439 It says, 00:11:07.439 --> 00:11:09.899 As for man, his days are like grass. 00:11:11.360 --> 00:11:16.539 He flourishes like a flower of the field, for the wind passes over it and it's gone. 00:11:16.539 --> 00:11:19.759 And its place knows it no more. 00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:22.539 Think about that. 00:11:23.620 --> 00:11:24.839 Bodies break. 00:11:26.639 --> 00:11:27.939 Markets shift. 00:11:29.179 --> 00:11:30.399 Strength fades. 00:11:31.399 --> 00:11:32.620 Reputations disappear. 00:11:33.939 --> 00:11:36.139 Everything here moves. 00:11:37.139 --> 00:11:40.539 And its place knows it no more. 00:11:40.539 --> 00:11:43.159 That's sobering. 00:11:44.299 --> 00:11:50.860 So the real question then is that if everything moves, is there anything that does not move? 00:11:52.059 --> 00:11:56.620 And that's exactly the question that Hebrews 6 answers. 00:11:57.179 --> 00:11:57.480 Okay? 00:11:57.719 --> 00:11:59.719 And it deals with hope. 00:11:59.720 --> 00:12:04.440 So let's read just the first three verses there. 00:12:05.560 --> 00:12:13.340 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, 00:12:13.500 --> 00:12:16.060 Surely I will bless you and multiply you. 00:12:16.440 --> 00:12:21.000 And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 00:12:21.000 --> 00:12:25.639 So the first thing, when you need hope, just know this, that Hebrews tells us. 00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:27.679 God made a promise. 00:12:28.519 --> 00:12:31.139 He made a loving promise a long time ago. 00:12:31.419 --> 00:12:36.360 And when your soul feels unstable, the scripture here is not pointing you inward. 00:12:37.320 --> 00:12:37.600 Okay? 00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:41.019 The scripture is not even necessarily pointing you outward. 00:12:41.840 --> 00:12:43.159 It's pointing you backward. 00:12:44.379 --> 00:12:44.759 Okay? 00:12:44.759 --> 00:12:49.159 To a time when God promised to send his love. 00:12:51.179 --> 00:12:53.159 When God made a promise to Abraham. 00:12:53.799 --> 00:12:55.360 Now, I don't want to go into all the details. 00:12:55.500 --> 00:12:57.319 Will's talked about this in some of the other sermons. 00:12:57.399 --> 00:12:58.939 But I know you're not here for all of them. 00:12:59.019 --> 00:13:02.240 But a long time ago, God made a promise to Abraham. 00:13:03.000 --> 00:13:03.340 Okay? 00:13:03.379 --> 00:13:04.480 And it goes something like this. 00:13:04.500 --> 00:13:05.439 It's all over Genesis. 00:13:06.100 --> 00:13:09.080 And these promises were guaranteed, which we'll get into. 00:13:09.539 --> 00:13:12.580 But he says, I will make a great nation out of you. 00:13:12.580 --> 00:13:14.399 I will bless you and make your name great. 00:13:15.299 --> 00:13:18.360 Then he promises that he's going to send him, give him an offspring. 00:13:19.080 --> 00:13:19.240 Right? 00:13:19.299 --> 00:13:23.620 And from this offspring, all of these promises are going to be fulfilled. 00:13:24.379 --> 00:13:27.100 And he renews that and he reminds him of it. 00:13:27.299 --> 00:13:29.220 He puts a sign with this promise. 00:13:29.740 --> 00:13:35.580 And then God swears to bless this promise by his own name. 00:13:36.259 --> 00:13:36.519 Okay? 00:13:36.519 --> 00:13:38.200 And you see that one in Genesis 22. 00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:41.700 And remember the promised son who was born? 00:13:42.919 --> 00:13:43.720 What was his name? 00:13:44.759 --> 00:13:45.120 Remember? 00:13:45.399 --> 00:13:46.799 He was called to sacrifice him. 00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:47.500 Just yell it out. 00:13:47.799 --> 00:13:48.480 Starts with an I. 00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:49.759 Isaac! 00:13:49.980 --> 00:13:51.159 Oh, you knew it, Ronnie Sue. 00:13:52.319 --> 00:13:52.580 Right? 00:13:52.919 --> 00:13:57.919 And so he promises to bless him through Isaac. 00:13:58.000 --> 00:13:59.899 And then he calls him to sacrifice his son. 00:13:59.960 --> 00:14:01.779 But Abraham had this resurrection faith. 00:14:01.879 --> 00:14:02.299 It wasn't. 00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:03.740 It was really a test. 00:14:04.439 --> 00:14:04.879 Right? 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:10.600 And God on that mountain that day provided the sacrifice. 00:14:11.500 --> 00:14:12.460 That was real important. 00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:13.899 But God made a promise. 00:14:13.980 --> 00:14:14.600 This is the first thing. 00:14:14.679 --> 00:14:15.539 Long time ago. 00:14:15.620 --> 00:14:17.460 That's what Hebrews is telling us in this passage. 00:14:18.120 --> 00:14:19.720 That I'm going to send my love. 00:14:20.799 --> 00:14:23.860 But more than that, God guaranteed the promise. 00:14:24.639 --> 00:14:24.779 Okay? 00:14:24.840 --> 00:14:26.759 So let's keep reading in 16 through 18. 00:14:26.860 --> 00:14:27.480 He says this. 00:14:27.480 --> 00:14:30.960 For people swear by something greater than themselves. 00:14:30.960 --> 00:14:34.500 And in all their disputes, an oath is final for confirmation. 00:14:35.399 --> 00:14:41.420 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, 00:14:41.419 --> 00:14:43.799 he guaranteed it with an oath. 00:14:44.699 --> 00:14:49.139 So that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, 00:14:49.779 --> 00:14:58.139 we who have fled for refuge might have a strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 00:14:58.219 --> 00:14:59.039 There's that word again. 00:14:59.319 --> 00:14:59.599 Hope. 00:15:00.659 --> 00:15:05.199 So, God made a promise to send his love, but God guaranteed the promise. 00:15:05.360 --> 00:15:06.639 That's what Hebrews is telling us. 00:15:07.419 --> 00:15:10.919 So let's, if we jump back to Genesis again, what I was talking about with all the promises. 00:15:12.419 --> 00:15:20.099 Abraham believed the Lord, we were told in Genesis 15, and it was counted or credited to him as righteousness. 00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:26.879 Now, after that moment, God promised to give him what we know as the promised land. 00:15:27.819 --> 00:15:33.579 That includes today like Canaan, much of modern Israel, parts of Lebanon, Syria, and more. 00:15:34.459 --> 00:15:34.639 Okay? 00:15:34.719 --> 00:15:35.939 So that promise was fulfilled. 00:15:36.059 --> 00:15:39.719 But at the moment, when it was promised to him, Abraham was like, 00:15:39.720 --> 00:15:42.720 how do I know I'm actually going to possess this? 00:15:43.320 --> 00:15:45.100 How shall I know that I'll possess it? 00:15:45.160 --> 00:15:47.399 So God says, I'll guarantee it. 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:49.960 And how does God guarantee it? 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:54.060 That's what's very important for our hope and what Hebrews is talking about today. 00:15:54.059 --> 00:16:01.539 Well, in Genesis 15, God instructs them, go cut a heifer, a goat, and a ram in half. 00:16:02.699 --> 00:16:04.500 Lay the halves opposite each other. 00:16:05.839 --> 00:16:07.619 Place birds alongside them. 00:16:08.819 --> 00:16:09.099 Okay? 00:16:09.139 --> 00:16:10.099 What's going on here? 00:16:10.959 --> 00:16:14.219 This is an ancient Near East covenant ritual. 00:16:14.779 --> 00:16:19.000 Today we have mortgages, and we have lawyers, and we have papers that we sign. 00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:23.899 Back then, they cut up animals, and they walked through the animals, and they would meet each 00:16:23.899 --> 00:16:27.919 other in the middle, and they would shake hands and say, may this be to me if I don't 00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:29.179 keep this promise with you. 00:16:29.720 --> 00:16:31.840 Imagine if we did that in the mortgage business today. 00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:36.960 But it's kind of, I'm trying to get us something similar we can understand. 00:16:37.059 --> 00:16:38.240 It's a binding agreement. 00:16:38.679 --> 00:16:38.919 Okay? 00:16:38.960 --> 00:16:40.019 And that's how they did it. 00:16:40.100 --> 00:16:43.320 It seems weird, I know, to Americans, but that's how they did it. 00:16:43.559 --> 00:16:45.519 So the Bible's just laying that out for us. 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:49.799 So, in true form, God says, let's make a covenant. 00:16:51.059 --> 00:16:55.360 Well, what happened was very interesting in this covenant. 00:16:55.579 --> 00:16:56.899 Abraham doesn't walk through. 00:16:57.000 --> 00:16:59.360 Instead, he falls asleep. 00:16:59.779 --> 00:17:00.659 It gets dark. 00:17:01.319 --> 00:17:06.059 It says that Abraham falls asleep and that God speaks to him in this really powerful vision. 00:17:06.200 --> 00:17:11.639 A smoking fire pot and a flaming torch instead of Abraham, that's what passes through. 00:17:11.640 --> 00:17:12.120 Okay? 00:17:12.860 --> 00:17:15.620 So he sees what's laid out there, but God goes through. 00:17:16.780 --> 00:17:21.100 And it says in Genesis 15 that on that day, the Lord made a covenant with Abraham. 00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:23.580 He literally cut a covenant. 00:17:23.720 --> 00:17:24.840 You would cut an agreement. 00:17:25.480 --> 00:17:25.740 Okay? 00:17:26.100 --> 00:17:32.460 So those images represented God himself, remember, who swore the oath to keep it upon himself, 00:17:32.820 --> 00:17:34.960 because there was no one greater. 00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:43.299 So God right there is guaranteeing the promise by saying, I will be cut into pieces if this covenant fails. 00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:46.460 Its success rests on me. 00:17:47.180 --> 00:17:49.860 And that's what Hebrews right here is referring to. 00:17:50.539 --> 00:17:52.960 God's promise to Abraham is certain. 00:17:54.279 --> 00:17:54.660 Okay? 00:17:54.860 --> 00:17:58.400 And it says in verse 18, it's certain by two unchangeable things. 00:17:58.680 --> 00:18:00.059 The two unchangeable things are this. 00:18:00.059 --> 00:18:01.380 One, that it's God's promise. 00:18:02.019 --> 00:18:04.180 And two, that he guaranteed it. 00:18:04.960 --> 00:18:05.840 By himself. 00:18:06.279 --> 00:18:07.140 With his own oath. 00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:09.279 So it's a done deal. 00:18:10.940 --> 00:18:15.460 Now, if you struggle with the scriptures, here's a moment to take a little, just look at this. 00:18:15.860 --> 00:18:16.860 I've showed you this before. 00:18:17.500 --> 00:18:19.059 The Bible is an amazing book. 00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:20.140 Okay? 00:18:20.180 --> 00:18:25.180 It was written over a period of roughly 2,000 years by 40 different authors from three continents. 00:18:25.400 --> 00:18:26.840 And they wrote in three different languages. 00:18:26.839 --> 00:18:32.500 And one of its most remarkable qualities is the complete unity of the overall message. 00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:38.519 Despite having so many different authors writing over many centuries who hadn't met each other, 00:18:39.259 --> 00:18:43.799 natural explanations fail to account for why the Bible is so consistent. 00:18:44.619 --> 00:18:45.799 It's one huge story. 00:18:45.899 --> 00:18:46.639 This is a diagram. 00:18:46.759 --> 00:18:49.339 That's all of the Bible, the books on the bottom. 00:18:49.339 --> 00:18:54.059 And every time the Bible references itself, a thread is formed. 00:18:54.379 --> 00:18:56.419 That's Genesis to Revelation across the bottom. 00:18:56.759 --> 00:19:01.039 It is a massive story that is still going that we are in. 00:19:01.099 --> 00:19:02.299 And you are a part of it. 00:19:02.599 --> 00:19:02.799 Okay? 00:19:03.179 --> 00:19:05.119 But the Bible is no ordinary book. 00:19:05.119 --> 00:19:10.139 And what you see is the story, right? 00:19:10.179 --> 00:19:14.739 The promise that was made in Genesis, it has a future reality too. 00:19:15.699 --> 00:19:15.939 Okay? 00:19:16.879 --> 00:19:18.779 So, why does that all matter? 00:19:20.299 --> 00:19:24.559 Because the promise that was made for the offspring led to Isaac. 00:19:25.459 --> 00:19:28.179 From Isaac came Jacob. 00:19:28.899 --> 00:19:31.159 From Jacob came Judah. 00:19:31.559 --> 00:19:33.439 From Judah came King David. 00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:36.400 And from King David came Jesus. 00:19:37.580 --> 00:19:37.940 Okay? 00:19:38.380 --> 00:19:40.880 It wasn't just any ordinary promise. 00:19:41.400 --> 00:19:47.779 And Hebrews 11, if you read ahead, says Abraham was really looking forward to a greater promised land. 00:19:47.840 --> 00:19:50.360 Not just the land that he got, right? 00:19:51.480 --> 00:19:54.420 That I mentioned that today is like Lebanon, Syria and more. 00:19:54.900 --> 00:19:56.920 But a future land. 00:19:57.720 --> 00:20:02.140 The city that has foundations whose designer and builder is God. 00:20:02.140 --> 00:20:04.700 That's what Hebrews 11 says he was really looking forward to. 00:20:05.660 --> 00:20:07.140 So, why is this important? 00:20:07.500 --> 00:20:09.100 The land was a preview. 00:20:10.580 --> 00:20:10.820 Okay? 00:20:11.480 --> 00:20:14.280 The son, Isaac, was a preview. 00:20:14.900 --> 00:20:17.860 The sacrifice of Isaac, that was a preview. 00:20:18.220 --> 00:20:20.120 All pointing forward to who? 00:20:20.720 --> 00:20:21.580 To Jesus. 00:20:23.020 --> 00:20:24.780 It's all connected. 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:25.460 And you know what? 00:20:25.680 --> 00:20:28.060 It's connected to you right now too. 00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:29.580 Okay? 00:20:29.579 --> 00:20:30.819 Do you believe it? 00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:35.339 You see, God not only made a loving promise a long time ago. 00:20:35.399 --> 00:20:37.099 And he not only guaranteed the promise. 00:20:37.619 --> 00:20:38.899 This is where it gets cool. 00:20:39.740 --> 00:20:40.839 God became the anchor. 00:20:41.980 --> 00:20:43.539 God became the anchor. 00:20:44.460 --> 00:20:45.699 The hope that you need. 00:20:46.099 --> 00:20:47.299 The hope that I need. 00:20:47.819 --> 00:20:48.899 Let's read ahead. 00:20:48.900 --> 00:21:14.640 God became my anchor. 00:21:14.640 --> 00:21:16.420 God became your anchor. 00:21:16.560 --> 00:21:18.400 God became our anchor. 00:21:18.540 --> 00:21:26.560 Centuries later, on another dark day, God would walk through judgment. 00:21:27.420 --> 00:21:27.620 Okay? 00:21:28.259 --> 00:21:31.960 Except this time it wasn't animals that were torn apart. 00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:33.920 Who was it? 00:21:34.540 --> 00:21:35.380 It was Jesus. 00:21:36.820 --> 00:21:37.100 Right? 00:21:37.099 --> 00:21:42.899 When God made that promise, he was guaranteeing that actually the only way the promise would be fulfilled if he was torn apart. 00:21:44.119 --> 00:21:45.519 That's what was necessary. 00:21:46.599 --> 00:21:47.399 Isn't that amazing? 00:21:48.980 --> 00:21:56.079 Experts believe that when Jesus, before he was crucified, when he was flogged, he was whipped by Roman soldiers. 00:21:56.079 --> 00:22:00.599 And their sole job was to tear him apart, literally all of his flesh. 00:22:01.339 --> 00:22:02.980 No part of his body left untouched. 00:22:04.039 --> 00:22:05.819 Inflicting as much torment as possible. 00:22:06.899 --> 00:22:08.179 This is what they used. 00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:09.460 There's this and there's another picture. 00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:11.539 These are kind of modern day representations. 00:22:12.699 --> 00:22:15.259 Whips, bone ends, glass, metal. 00:22:15.819 --> 00:22:19.039 That was just the stripes that he got before he went to the cross. 00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:23.839 Probably about 200 lacerations on the front, 200 on the back. 00:22:23.879 --> 00:22:28.200 And he probably would have lost most of his body, his blood, before he even went to the cross. 00:22:29.119 --> 00:22:31.599 But after that, he goes to the cross. 00:22:33.039 --> 00:22:34.200 You know, he's torn. 00:22:35.539 --> 00:22:37.039 You probably see his ribs. 00:22:38.079 --> 00:22:41.579 And he's carrying the wood that's going to hang on the cross. 00:22:42.359 --> 00:22:44.079 Those are the wounds that heal us. 00:22:45.159 --> 00:22:46.779 You ever just walked on a blister? 00:22:46.779 --> 00:22:49.220 You ever, okay? 00:22:50.039 --> 00:22:50.759 That's nothing. 00:22:51.399 --> 00:22:54.859 Just try to get in your mind what Jesus actually endured. 00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:56.160 Just even walking to the cross. 00:22:56.539 --> 00:23:04.559 And then when he got to the cross, he had to be ripped apart for our forgiveness of sins. 00:23:05.720 --> 00:23:06.160 Right? 00:23:07.399 --> 00:23:09.119 For the promise to be fulfilled. 00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:14.519 But when he gets to that cross and that state and that horrible state, he has mercy on a thief. 00:23:14.519 --> 00:23:22.480 He has mercy on those that are sitting there as he's there hanging and exposed, those who are murdering him. 00:23:23.099 --> 00:23:25.400 It's because on the cross, God was cut. 00:23:26.119 --> 00:23:26.500 Okay? 00:23:26.740 --> 00:23:28.700 And he was keeping his covenant. 00:23:28.700 --> 00:23:33.940 And after he had said his last words, y'all remember what happened? 00:23:35.259 --> 00:23:36.900 We'll celebrate it on Good Friday. 00:23:37.500 --> 00:23:38.420 The sun darkened. 00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:39.440 It's another dark moment. 00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:45.160 And the curtain to the temple was torn after there was this great earthquake. 00:23:45.160 --> 00:23:49.960 And when the curtain tore, something incredible happened. 00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:52.680 That's when the anchor dropped. 00:23:53.620 --> 00:23:54.900 No ordinary anchor. 00:23:55.740 --> 00:24:01.080 This anchor dropped into eternity behind the curtain, as Hebrews says here. 00:24:01.940 --> 00:24:04.759 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul. 00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:09.360 A hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain. 00:24:09.359 --> 00:24:11.539 A hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain. 00:24:11.539 --> 00:24:12.399 A hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain. 00:24:12.399 --> 00:24:13.839 There's that word again, though. 00:24:14.159 --> 00:24:14.659 Hope. 00:24:15.500 --> 00:24:15.759 Okay? 00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:16.859 Think about this. 00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:18.959 Anxiety, you know, we deal with anxiety. 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:26.439 Anxiety is forecasting this negative thing in the future that hasn't even happened yet. 00:24:27.019 --> 00:24:31.899 Believing it to be negative, ruminating over it in the present, and causing ourselves so much worry. 00:24:33.159 --> 00:24:34.039 Well, think about hope. 00:24:34.039 --> 00:24:40.319 Hope is something that is sure in the future that you call into this present reality and ruminate on. 00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:42.700 You see the difference between the two? 00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:50.700 And we're told that we have this as a hope, as an anchor for our soul. 00:24:51.359 --> 00:24:55.519 So it's not a hope or an anchor that went into this temple made with hands. 00:24:55.619 --> 00:24:59.359 It went into the throne room of God behind the curtain. 00:25:00.299 --> 00:25:02.339 So the anchor is not in your hands. 00:25:02.420 --> 00:25:03.720 It's not something you control. 00:25:03.720 --> 00:25:06.240 It's something that's secured outside of you in heaven. 00:25:06.779 --> 00:25:10.160 And you're invited to tie your soul to it. 00:25:11.140 --> 00:25:12.559 And here's why it matters. 00:25:13.160 --> 00:25:16.660 Because your soul will only be as steady as the promise it's tied to. 00:25:18.400 --> 00:25:21.660 Your soul will only be as steady as the promise it's tied to. 00:25:22.319 --> 00:25:26.880 If your hope's tied to anything that can move, your peace will move along with it. 00:25:26.880 --> 00:25:33.260 If your identity is tied to performance, winning, losing, getting, guess what? 00:25:33.540 --> 00:25:36.440 You're going to be steady when you win and you're going to be shaken when you lose. 00:25:36.440 --> 00:25:43.559 If it's tied to being wanted, you're going to feel secure when you're included and you're going to come unraveled when you're excluded. 00:25:43.559 --> 00:25:49.919 If it's tied to control, you're going to feel calm when things go your way and you're going to feel anxious when they don't. 00:25:50.839 --> 00:25:53.079 It's only going to be as steady as the promise it's tied to. 00:25:53.179 --> 00:25:58.419 And Hebrews is saying that the only promise that cannot break is God's promise. 00:25:58.420 --> 00:26:00.800 So I just want you to consider that. 00:26:01.279 --> 00:26:03.560 Maybe you're here and you're not sure what you believe. 00:26:04.060 --> 00:26:04.480 Welcome. 00:26:04.800 --> 00:26:05.000 Okay? 00:26:05.060 --> 00:26:06.640 This is a welcome place to deal with that. 00:26:07.140 --> 00:26:13.960 But you know what it feels like probably when you were counting on something and then you don't get it. 00:26:14.779 --> 00:26:16.100 I bet you can go there. 00:26:17.259 --> 00:26:22.720 And Hebrews is claiming that there's a hope outside of you that doesn't depend on you. 00:26:23.580 --> 00:26:25.759 And you're invited to run to that hope. 00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:28.400 Not after you fix yourself. 00:26:28.619 --> 00:26:30.519 Not after you clean yourself up. 00:26:31.200 --> 00:26:31.960 But right now. 00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:33.220 Right where you are. 00:26:35.240 --> 00:26:40.519 So recently I was at a conference I mentioned where the guy said a mean thing to me about my face. 00:26:40.519 --> 00:26:46.660 And we did this exercise that took about an hour and a half. 00:26:47.559 --> 00:26:47.759 Okay? 00:26:48.680 --> 00:26:50.400 This looks like a gingerbread man. 00:26:50.460 --> 00:26:53.440 I've come to learn to fear this gingerbread man. 00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:55.440 Let me tell you why. 00:26:56.339 --> 00:27:01.440 So over the course probably an hour and a half with some other guys in one of the small group breakouts. 00:27:02.000 --> 00:27:09.019 This is an exercise designed to help us shine the light of Christ on the lies of condemnation that we tell ourselves every single day. 00:27:10.160 --> 00:27:14.279 So first, the idea is you would trace the outline of your body. 00:27:14.279 --> 00:27:17.079 But this was a seminar teaching us how to do it. 00:27:17.139 --> 00:27:19.059 So we used the gingerbread man as an example. 00:27:19.180 --> 00:27:21.139 But if you did this somewhere else, you would really trace your body. 00:27:22.259 --> 00:27:28.819 And there's men in this room who have known each other, you know, maybe three hours in passing by being at a seminar together. 00:27:28.819 --> 00:27:38.939 And what they encourage you to do is ingrained, write down the lies that you've been told that you tend to believe about yourself. 00:27:39.980 --> 00:27:41.359 You could probably go underneath it. 00:27:41.399 --> 00:27:42.960 All of us have something underneath there. 00:27:42.960 --> 00:27:44.160 Like, oh, you're not good enough. 00:27:44.220 --> 00:27:48.980 Or maybe somebody made a comment to you and told you you were ugly when you were little and it still creeps in there. 00:27:50.220 --> 00:27:51.900 Things that make you think, I'm not enough. 00:27:51.960 --> 00:27:52.640 I'm too much. 00:27:52.759 --> 00:27:53.759 I'll always be alone. 00:27:53.759 --> 00:28:00.319 What are the words you heard that were lies that you believed in your life from someone? 00:28:00.579 --> 00:28:02.879 You sit there and you think about it and you pray about it. 00:28:03.319 --> 00:28:03.859 And you write them. 00:28:03.980 --> 00:28:05.680 That's what, you can imagine it's painful. 00:28:05.819 --> 00:28:10.440 Because all these things come to mind if you actually ask the Spirit to open your mind to that. 00:28:11.700 --> 00:28:20.220 And then, after you write that down in green, in blue, you write the truth that God says over that lie. 00:28:20.220 --> 00:28:23.220 It's a really powerful exercise. 00:28:23.299 --> 00:28:23.980 It was for me. 00:28:25.100 --> 00:28:27.079 And you write what God says. 00:28:27.180 --> 00:28:29.079 You write what Scripture says to that lie. 00:28:29.640 --> 00:28:30.779 You write it where it occurred. 00:28:30.860 --> 00:28:32.880 If it's something you believe about yourself, you write it here. 00:28:33.000 --> 00:28:35.640 If it was someone that hurt you, you would write it like where they hit you. 00:28:36.740 --> 00:28:48.720 And then, at the very end, you draw a cross over all of that in red to remember that Christ has paid for all of that. 00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:54.600 And Christ is the one who has guaranteed that promise that God loves you. 00:28:55.400 --> 00:28:55.579 Okay? 00:28:55.779 --> 00:28:59.680 So, what came up in all that for me, I'll tell you one little thing. 00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:04.339 Was this silly little memory that planted a seed in me a long time ago. 00:29:04.519 --> 00:29:07.640 That I feel like grew into this tree that's been feeding lies. 00:29:08.440 --> 00:29:11.039 And from that, when you see that, you see another one and another one and another one. 00:29:11.079 --> 00:29:13.039 But that day, it was this. 00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:17.539 Because I literally could just go right back to seeing the basketball court. 00:29:18.619 --> 00:29:20.659 I was probably six or seven. 00:29:20.779 --> 00:29:24.859 It was right at the time where they didn't let you shoot close to the goal anymore for a free throw. 00:29:24.980 --> 00:29:27.139 It was the first year where you had to go to the regular free throw line. 00:29:27.940 --> 00:29:29.879 And I get fouled. 00:29:31.359 --> 00:29:35.980 And I could smell the floor. 00:29:36.180 --> 00:29:37.700 It just, I was right there. 00:29:37.700 --> 00:29:43.799 And so, I go to the line, the free throw line, and I know I can't get it to the goal. 00:29:44.279 --> 00:29:45.460 So, I do a granny shot. 00:29:45.960 --> 00:29:47.120 And it goes over the goal. 00:29:47.720 --> 00:29:48.420 And I look over. 00:29:48.900 --> 00:29:51.480 And every single person in the stand is pointing and laughing. 00:29:53.059 --> 00:29:59.299 And I would say that was the most embarrassing moment in my life up to that point. 00:29:59.340 --> 00:30:00.559 Like, for the longest time. 00:30:02.100 --> 00:30:03.080 Everybody was laughing. 00:30:03.079 --> 00:30:07.619 Well, here's what God does. 00:30:08.339 --> 00:30:08.980 He's wonderful. 00:30:11.179 --> 00:30:15.139 Hey, Derek, let me come to that memory. 00:30:16.119 --> 00:30:18.659 So, you sit there with these other dudes they've never met. 00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:20.240 They're weeping about their own stuff. 00:30:20.939 --> 00:30:22.720 And I invited Jesus into that moment. 00:30:23.279 --> 00:30:24.519 And let me tell you what he did. 00:30:26.059 --> 00:30:30.980 When I think back to that moment now, let me tell you what I see. 00:30:30.980 --> 00:30:33.339 And it happened like that. 00:30:35.140 --> 00:30:36.599 I looked over at that crowd. 00:30:38.099 --> 00:30:39.420 And everybody was laughing. 00:30:39.680 --> 00:30:40.579 I see it right now. 00:30:40.880 --> 00:30:42.779 And Jesus is sitting up there on the stands. 00:30:43.620 --> 00:30:45.519 And he's not very happy with the laughing. 00:30:46.200 --> 00:30:47.200 And then he looks at me. 00:30:47.620 --> 00:30:51.200 And he walks down to right where I am. 00:30:51.940 --> 00:30:53.140 And he picks me up. 00:30:53.480 --> 00:30:54.700 And he takes me to the goal. 00:30:55.680 --> 00:30:57.319 And he lets me slam dunk it. 00:30:57.319 --> 00:31:01.980 That was the beginning of a lie that said I wasn't good enough. 00:31:04.019 --> 00:31:07.939 And in that moment, when I called Christ into that moment, you know what he does? 00:31:08.480 --> 00:31:10.059 He redeems me completely. 00:31:10.379 --> 00:31:11.579 And that's what I see now. 00:31:12.099 --> 00:31:13.099 He was there then. 00:31:13.439 --> 00:31:14.439 He's with me now. 00:31:14.659 --> 00:31:16.119 He's going to be with me in the future. 00:31:16.200 --> 00:31:18.899 And I have to call that hope into right now. 00:31:19.019 --> 00:31:21.220 And he meets us right where we are. 00:31:21.500 --> 00:31:23.839 And he loves us so very, very much. 00:31:23.839 --> 00:31:27.339 And if he loves me that much, I know he loves you that much. 00:31:27.980 --> 00:31:30.619 And you see, in that moment, it wasn't self-improvement. 00:31:31.079 --> 00:31:32.399 It was re-anchoring. 00:31:33.480 --> 00:31:33.619 Okay? 00:31:33.740 --> 00:31:35.720 It was this lie. 00:31:35.839 --> 00:31:37.099 It tied me to so many things. 00:31:37.159 --> 00:31:38.299 There's so many other lies. 00:31:39.299 --> 00:31:42.299 But there's no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 00:31:42.859 --> 00:31:49.099 And there's no room for self-condemnation from the lies that the evil one wants us to stay held in. 00:31:49.619 --> 00:31:51.159 And it affects everything we do. 00:31:51.259 --> 00:31:52.339 It affects how we see people. 00:31:52.439 --> 00:31:53.539 It affects how we love people. 00:31:53.539 --> 00:31:55.159 It affects how we listen to the Lord. 00:31:56.259 --> 00:31:57.480 So I want to ask you this. 00:31:59.619 --> 00:32:02.639 Does the cross tie you to a promise that doesn't move? 00:32:03.319 --> 00:32:05.019 And a Savior who frees you? 00:32:06.519 --> 00:32:09.799 See, when we're tied to the wrong anchors, we just drift. 00:32:11.039 --> 00:32:11.259 Right? 00:32:11.359 --> 00:32:14.039 But do you have someone that goes beneath the surface with you? 00:32:14.299 --> 00:32:16.319 Who helps you name the lies? 00:32:16.619 --> 00:32:18.799 And who reminds you who the true anchor is? 00:32:19.879 --> 00:32:21.500 Think about this as we close. 00:32:21.500 --> 00:32:22.799 What does an anchor do? 00:32:23.539 --> 00:32:29.720 It secures you by attaching you to something that you cannot reach on your own. 00:32:30.420 --> 00:32:30.720 Okay? 00:32:30.720 --> 00:32:33.539 But you don't just throw an anchor. 00:32:34.660 --> 00:32:36.960 You got to have a chain connected to the anchor. 00:32:37.600 --> 00:32:39.319 And the chain is made up of links. 00:32:40.120 --> 00:32:41.700 And each link matters. 00:32:42.620 --> 00:32:45.539 And every link connects you to the anchor. 00:32:45.539 --> 00:32:49.700 And when you put your faith in Christ, you are connected to Jesus. 00:32:49.700 --> 00:32:50.759 You are tied to him. 00:32:50.759 --> 00:32:52.599 And in fact, it says you are united to him. 00:32:52.680 --> 00:32:53.779 Union with the spirit. 00:32:54.420 --> 00:32:59.279 And he's the reigning high priest who has gone ahead of you, as Hebrews says, as a forerunner. 00:32:59.279 --> 00:33:05.680 But if you're tied to Jesus, y'all, it means you're also tied to everybody else tied to Jesus. 00:33:06.160 --> 00:33:07.200 That's the chain. 00:33:07.579 --> 00:33:09.079 The church isn't the anchor. 00:33:09.240 --> 00:33:09.879 It's the chain. 00:33:10.339 --> 00:33:11.359 Jesus is the anchor. 00:33:11.759 --> 00:33:12.839 And the church is the chain. 00:33:12.899 --> 00:33:16.099 And some of us are trying to survive without a chain. 00:33:16.899 --> 00:33:17.319 Okay? 00:33:17.319 --> 00:33:21.899 And Hebrews says that we can flee to God for refuge. 00:33:23.159 --> 00:33:25.159 That means you can't do that alone. 00:33:26.279 --> 00:33:27.899 That's a desperate language. 00:33:28.019 --> 00:33:29.559 That's a boat drifting language. 00:33:29.899 --> 00:33:32.480 That's a middle of the night, wake up scared language. 00:33:33.599 --> 00:33:33.939 Flee. 00:33:35.319 --> 00:33:36.759 And here's the deeper truth. 00:33:38.019 --> 00:33:41.879 It's always been about God loving you and sending his love. 00:33:42.240 --> 00:33:45.980 And when God sends his love, he sends Jesus. 00:33:45.980 --> 00:33:49.200 And he guarantees it with his own blood. 00:33:49.680 --> 00:33:55.160 And when you flee to him, the anchor, you'll realize it's already holding you. 00:33:56.360 --> 00:34:06.180 And some of you have been trying to escape the rocking in your life of that boat by changing jobs, by changing routines. 00:34:06.299 --> 00:34:07.620 Maybe you're changing cities. 00:34:08.699 --> 00:34:11.199 Maybe you're changing relationships and you're hiding. 00:34:11.300 --> 00:34:12.039 Well, you're not good enough. 00:34:12.099 --> 00:34:13.219 I'm just going to go to this one. 00:34:13.219 --> 00:34:16.839 But what your soul actually needs, y'all, is not escape. 00:34:18.019 --> 00:34:19.199 It needs an anchor. 00:34:20.980 --> 00:34:24.239 Not in your performance or your stability or your strength. 00:34:24.539 --> 00:34:27.059 Not in your ability to hold on to the anchor even. 00:34:28.799 --> 00:34:30.819 So I want to challenge you to this as we end. 00:34:30.820 --> 00:34:35.519 Take a walk in your own way. 00:34:35.660 --> 00:34:36.980 Whatever walk is for you. 00:34:37.320 --> 00:34:38.620 But get away from people. 00:34:39.820 --> 00:34:43.920 And ask God to show you what you're really tied to. 00:34:44.300 --> 00:34:45.039 Just one thing. 00:34:45.100 --> 00:34:46.180 Don't ask him to show you everything. 00:34:46.300 --> 00:34:48.980 If you ask him everything, you'll never do it again and you'll come home crying. 00:34:49.500 --> 00:34:50.380 Just one thing. 00:34:51.620 --> 00:34:52.840 He'll give you what you can handle. 00:34:52.840 --> 00:34:57.940 And then ask him, is this getting in the way of me having community with you? 00:34:58.640 --> 00:35:01.420 Is this getting in the way of me having community with others? 00:35:03.440 --> 00:35:05.920 And if you have to ask a long time, ask a long time. 00:35:06.940 --> 00:35:09.760 And then I want you to invite him into whatever that thing is. 00:35:10.440 --> 00:35:12.460 And ask him to untie you from that. 00:35:13.740 --> 00:35:16.000 And retie you to him in your own mind. 00:35:16.659 --> 00:35:19.500 And then do that over and over and over again. 00:35:20.199 --> 00:35:22.400 And you will find peace. 00:35:23.460 --> 00:35:25.780 And if you need help doing it or someone to hold your hand, 00:35:27.159 --> 00:35:30.780 hey, call me, call anyone in this church that you feel comfortable with. 00:35:31.260 --> 00:35:32.760 But I want to challenge you to do that. 00:35:33.739 --> 00:35:35.219 You may be tied to a lie. 00:35:36.760 --> 00:35:38.159 And that's a breaking anchor. 00:35:39.059 --> 00:35:43.440 And I want you to ask him to re-anchor you to him and to the cross 00:35:43.440 --> 00:35:45.820 and to the promise that does not move. 00:35:46.000 --> 00:35:51.880 To Jesus, the Savior, the one who promised and swore the promise in his own blood, 00:35:51.960 --> 00:35:53.980 who sealed it in resurrection. 00:35:56.639 --> 00:35:58.780 To the Jesus who's behind the curtain, 00:35:59.519 --> 00:36:02.079 holding you steady until the day he makes all things new. 00:36:02.699 --> 00:36:06.780 And then you finally see what's been holding you all alone, 00:36:07.000 --> 00:36:09.380 all along when you're alone. 00:36:09.980 --> 00:36:16.519 You see, you've got to call that future hope into your present reality. 00:36:17.780 --> 00:36:19.760 But all it takes is this, saying, help me. 00:36:20.420 --> 00:36:21.720 And I just want to encourage you to do that. 00:36:21.800 --> 00:36:24.500 Very personally, wherever you are, go ask God to show you. 00:36:25.360 --> 00:36:27.480 And tell somebody or ask for help if you need it. 00:36:27.800 --> 00:36:29.099 God made you a promise, y'all. 00:36:29.180 --> 00:36:30.039 He guaranteed it. 00:36:30.320 --> 00:36:32.039 And he became the anchor that you need. 00:36:32.039 --> 00:36:34.320 And he is the only one that will not move. 00:36:35.500 --> 00:36:36.360 I love you. 00:36:37.099 --> 00:36:39.159 Clock on the wall says that's all. 00:36:39.420 --> 00:36:39.920 Let's pray. 00:36:40.719 --> 00:36:42.920 Father, thank you for these wonderful people. 00:36:43.099 --> 00:36:46.099 Thank you that your spirit is real and alive and active. 00:36:46.219 --> 00:36:49.599 And you can come into any moment and redeem us or remind us of who you are. 00:36:49.960 --> 00:36:53.360 If you can do that for me, I know you can do that for everyone here. 00:36:53.360 --> 00:36:55.660 And you can do that for people all over this world. 00:36:56.260 --> 00:37:00.559 So help us rest in you and your spirit and look to your cross and thankfulness and hope. 00:37:00.900 --> 00:37:02.500 And may it make a difference right now. 00:37:02.599 --> 00:37:09.680 And may we take that hope and share it with each other and be it for each other as the links in the chain tied to you, Lord Jesus, 00:37:10.420 --> 00:37:14.039 the anchor for our soul, the hope set before us. 00:37:14.240 --> 00:37:14.920 Praise God. 00:37:15.059 --> 00:37:15.760 Praise you, Jesus. 00:37:16.200 --> 00:37:18.039 It's in your holy name I thank you and pray. 00:37:18.360 --> 00:37:18.660 Amen.