More Than a Rope: Finding Sure Hope in an Unshakeable Anchor

[00:03:31] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
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[00:05:30] Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy
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[00:09:43] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
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[00:09:44] He descended into hell.
[00:09:46] The third day he rose again from the dead.
[00:09:49] He ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
[00:09:55] From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
[00:09:59] I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
[00:10:11] Amen.
[00:10:12] You may be seated.
[00:10:17] A couple announcements this morning.
[00:10:19] The first is we are reviving what I've heard is an old program in this church.
[00:10:25] I wasn't here at that time, but it's called Church Mouse.
[00:10:29] And so the idea behind that is for our college students that are currently enrolled in school, some members from our congregation will be sending them packages, care packages, throughout the semester to just encourage them and show...
[00:10:44] We are with them and praying for them and I think it's really meaningful because in this digital age where everything is done by email and on the phone this gives a little bit of an extra special touch that we do care for them and so Nikki Robinson and Nancy Davidson have
[00:11:06] Thank you for taking this endeavor on and we are just announcing to you if you have a college student that you know of that is in your family or your friends and you know they're a part of this church and you'd like them to be included on that list of people that are going to be sent packages we already have a pretty
[00:11:25] We have a large master list that myself and Melissa, our children's director, and some of our church staff have worked through and put together, but we want to make sure that we have got everyone included who wants to be included.
[00:11:41] that you feel should be added to that list you can reach out to me or our church office and we'll make sure we get them put on there and then also if you would like to send out packages to a student and kind of be a church mouse for them you can reach out to Nikki Robinson and she'll get you taken care of with that and besides that we are
[00:12:05] continuing forward with Wednesday night together it's been a great time so far we'll see you this Wednesday we have programs in Bible study and classes after dinner for all ages from children all the way up to the oldest members within our our church so if you haven't been able to join us for that yet we would love to have you come out there's no expectation to stay past dinner either if that's all you can make it we just we want to invite you to be a part of our community in that way
[00:12:36] yeah would you join me now in prayer as we continue in worship Lord Jesus you are our good shepherd you are the one who leads us to green pastures and makes us lie down by still waters and guides us along the right paths for your name's sake Lord you're the one who
[00:13:04] Prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies and anoints our head with oil and overflows us with your power, Holy Spirit.
[00:13:16] You are the one who made a way for goodness and mercy to follow us and for us to be able to dwell in the house of our God forever and ever.
[00:13:28] You are trustworthy, Jesus, and we thank you for all that you have done for us, God.
[00:13:33] We thank you that you died on the cross for our sins.
[00:13:36] We thank you that you were raised to life.
[00:13:39] We thank you that you are not dead, but you are a living God, that you are seated at the right hand of the Father right now, interceding for us, praying for us, that you have a plan for us.
[00:13:51] Who is mankind?
[00:13:53] Who are we, God, that you should even think of us?
[00:13:56] We are just mortals.
[00:13:58] We are human beings, we are flesh, but yet you love us so dearly.
[00:14:05] And we praise you for who you are, God.
[00:14:07] You are love.
[00:14:10] And we are sorry that we do not love you back the way that you deserve to be loved, and we do not love our brothers and sisters in Christ and our neighbors as ourselves.
[00:14:23] So we take this time now to pause and silently confess our sins to you, Lord.
[00:14:37] Where we cling to the promise of your word that says when we confess our sins you are always faithful and just to forgive us of them.
[00:14:45] And that we are cleansed completely by your blood, Jesus.
[00:14:50] That there's no condemnation for us anymore.
[00:14:55] That we are your sons and your daughters.
[00:15:00] And you look at us the same way, Father, that you look at Jesus.
[00:15:04] We are co-heirs with Jesus now.
[00:15:12] God, I pray for whoever in this room who has been doubting your faithfulness recently in their life.
[00:15:29] They have been doubting that you care for them, that you are in control, and that you are good.
[00:15:40] And I ask humbly, Lord,
[00:15:42] that you would touch them today Holy Spirit in the way that only you can that you would revive their hearts that you would open their eyes to see you rightly to see that you have not abandoned them or forsaken them to see that you're with them in this hardship in this pain in this trial
[00:16:06] To see that you are going to work this together for good because they love you and they're called according to your purpose.
[00:16:17] And for the person who has been trusting you, God, and they've been just staying consistent in prayer and abiding in your word, and even though they don't understand and they can't really
[00:16:33] Fully comprehend what you're doing.
[00:16:35] They still trust you for that person.
[00:16:37] I pray God that you today would bring breakthrough.
[00:16:45] God, I pray that you would answer their prayers according to your will.
[00:16:51] That you would move in power in their life.
[00:16:56] That you would bless them and pour your favor upon them.
[00:17:03] it says in James that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective God and we are made righteous in you Jesus none of us are righteous apart from you and so when we pray in your name we know that that you answer and that you move and I just ask Lord that you would blow some of us away with with
[00:17:34] How you answer these prayers this upcoming week that people would just be in shock and in awe of you God because you are holy and you are capable of anything and you will do more than we can ask think or imagine Lord for those in this room who are sick who are dealing with physical pain and suffering I pray for your healing Lord
[00:18:03] Your healing touch upon their bodies and that You would use this season to draw them closer to You.
[00:18:10] God, for our country and world right now and all the craziness that is going on and the noise and the distractions and the opinions and thoughts, Lord, I just pray, Jesus, that we would fix our eyes on You
[00:18:32] that we would lay our concerns and our petitions and our anxieties at the foot of the cross and that you would give us the peace that surpasses all understanding that will guard our heart and our mind in you Christ Jesus Lord would we not get so caught up in all of the politics in in in the the the um
[00:18:57] Feeling like we have to share what we think.
[00:19:00] God, would we just stay focused on you, Jesus, and stay faithful to what you have called us to steward right now in our lives.
[00:19:16] Lord, I pray that you would continue to use us for your glory.
[00:19:20] that you would show us who those people are that we need to witness to that we need to share the gospel with that we need to pray for that we need to go above and beyond to encourage and support and then give us the boldness and the courage to do it by your strength and power holy spirit
[00:19:44] Lastly for this church, Lord, would you continue to build us up and root us in you, Jesus.
[00:19:50] May our foundation be built only upon you, otherwise we will crumble down.
[00:19:55] In all of the things, all of the ministries that we do, may they all be grounded on you, Jesus.
[00:20:06] And we know and we believe that when we abide in you, we will bear much fruit.
[00:20:13] and that apart from you we can do nothing.
[00:20:16] So God, we surrender this time.
[00:20:18] Would you speak to us now?
[00:20:19] Open our hearts and our minds to receive what you have for us through Pastor Dave.
[00:20:23] Speak through him, God.
[00:20:26] It's in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, I pray these things.
[00:20:30] Amen.
[00:20:33] You can stand, we have another hymn.

[00:20:44] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus' love and righteousness I dare not trust the sweetest frame
[00:21:11] of Christ the solid rock I stand, All other ground is sinking sand.
[00:21:34] All other ground is sinking sand.
[00:21:35] When darkness fills this lovely place, My first hope is not changed,
[00:21:42] All other ground is sinking sand All other ground is sinking sand
[00:22:09] of Christ Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Catholic Church, Catholic Church, Catholic Church, Catholic Church, Catholic Church, Catholic Church, Catholic Church,
[00:22:52] All may I then in him be found, T'west in his righteousness alone, A place to stand before the throne.
[00:23:17] On Christ the solid rock I stand, All other crafty sinking,
[00:23:22] Please be seated.

[00:23:35] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Our scripture passage this morning comes from Hebrews chapter 6 verses 13 through 20.
[00:23:43] You can use the pew Bible, you can follow on the screen or use your own Bible.
[00:23:50] Wanted to share a recent dinner conversation before our two college girls went back to school.
[00:23:56] My wife raised a question at the dinner table, and she said, if you could have the perfect adventure day, we'd just spent a summer, what would it be?
[00:24:06] And our fifth daughter, Sierra, said the perfect day, she said it would be on Lake Norman,
[00:24:12] It has to be the tidball home.
[00:24:14] You know, Denise and Rick, they had recently hosted a group at their house of youth.
[00:24:19] It has to be at the tidball home, and it has to be tubing on the water with Rick behind the wheel.
[00:24:26] And then she went on to share the excitement of clinging on, you know, this inner tube, I think they're now like water biscuits, is like attached to the boat, anchored to the boat,
[00:24:40] We're hanging on for dear life as Rick would whip that boat around, sway from side to side, create some wakes, and then, you know, either with a sharp turn as you're readjusting and holding, you'd either lose grip and skip across the water, kind of like a
[00:24:56] A pebble or sometimes you just hit like a wave and pop up.
[00:25:02] There's no way you can hang on.
[00:25:03] That's just the joy of holding on for dear life as Rick's pulling that boat on Lake Norman.
[00:25:11] Now I want to tie that in to an image we get this morning.
[00:25:16] And it's an image I don't think we always get right.
[00:25:20] The image that we receive is that of Jesus
[00:25:24] As an anchor for the soul, but sometimes I think the way we view it is as if a rope is hanging down from heaven, you know, attached to Jesus, and we are here in our human existence just hanging on for dear life.
[00:25:41] You know, it says in our passage this morning, seize the hope, literally hold firm to the hope set before us.
[00:25:51] I think there are people that just as they face life, as life can jerk you around, you're just like clinging to that rope.
[00:25:58] I hope, you know, I re-grip, you know, a new trial in life.
[00:26:03] I hope I don't let go.
[00:26:05] I hope I don't lose the faith.
[00:26:08] That's not what's being communicated this morning.
[00:26:11] So I want to make sure as we really approach this passage to look at it firmly, look at it deeply.
[00:26:16] and see really the encouragement we find when it speaks of seizing the hope.
[00:26:21] Big idea I want to get across this morning is how to seize the hope set before us.
[00:26:29] What does that look like?
[00:26:31] Not just hanging on for dear life, oh I hope I don't let go.
[00:26:36] What that looks like to truly hold firm in our faith.
[00:26:42] Gonna say a prayer, we'll read the passage together.
[00:26:44] Please join me.
[00:26:48] Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of your word.
[00:26:51] We thank you for the timeless truths and the promises that you give us.
[00:26:57] Lord, when you make a promise, you are always true to your word.
[00:27:00] This morning, open our hearts, open our minds to what you may teach us.
[00:27:04] As we gain a deeper understanding, Lord, our prayer is that we draw closer to you.
[00:27:09] We give this time to you now and pray these things in Jesus' name.
[00:27:13] Amen.
[00:27:15] Hebrews 6, beginning with verse 13.
[00:27:17] When God made a promise to Abraham, because he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, I will surely bless you and multiply you.
[00:27:31] And thus Abraham, having patiently endured, obtained the promise.
[00:27:35] Humans, of course, swear by something greater than themselves, and an oath given as confirmation puts an end to all dispute among them.
[00:27:44] In the same way, when God desired to show even more clearly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of His purpose, He guaranteed it by an oath.
[00:27:55] So that through two unchangeable things in which it is impossible that God would prove false, we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us.
[00:28:11] We have this hope.
[00:28:13] a sure and steady steadfast anchor of the soul a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain where Jesus a forerunner on our behalf has entered having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek this is the word of the Lord thanks be to God again we're going to take a look at how to seize the hope set before us
[00:28:42] What that looks like, I'm going to raise three questions.
[00:28:45] The first question is this, what is this hope?
[00:28:50] What's scripture presenting us this morning?
[00:28:54] It's spelled out right in the passage.
[00:28:56] This hope is one of eternal blessing.
[00:29:00] A sure, verse 19, a sure and steady anchor for the soul.
[00:29:05] Jesus Christ, we're told, is our hope for salvation, for everlasting life.
[00:29:12] Through faith in Him, you receive security for the soul.
[00:29:18] Again, He's our anchor.
[00:29:21] He's steadfast.
[00:29:22] He's sure.
[00:29:22] He's trustworthy.
[00:29:28] Now, we're also told in the passage that this hope is a certain hope.
[00:29:33] And I've mentioned this before.
[00:29:35] I've preached on this before.
[00:29:36] We are so programmed in our culture to view hope as wishful thinking.
[00:29:41] I hope I do well on the test this upcoming week.
[00:29:49] I hope I can make some new friends.
[00:29:51] You see it possible, but there's a little doubt that creeps in.
[00:29:56] You know, I hope Chapel Hill does a little better next week than they did this week.
[00:30:01] There's hope there.
[00:30:02] But are we certain?
[00:30:04] Are we steady?
[00:30:04] Do we feel that with confidence?
[00:30:08] Sorry, I picked a different college each week to kind of...
[00:30:13] So the Bible packages hope as objective truth.
[00:30:17] We have this hope, it's sure, it's steadfast, it's reliable.
[00:30:20] Quote, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain.
[00:30:23] Jesus has secured this hope.
[00:30:25] We're told, we've been told countless times now, he's the pioneer.
[00:30:29] The forerunner.
[00:30:31] He came to earth.
[00:30:32] He lived the perfect life.
[00:30:33] He did what we can't do.
[00:30:35] Our human priest.
[00:30:36] Someone came to me after the first service and they said, Dave, I have a grandmother that would always talk about that Jesus is the great high priest.
[00:30:46] and she said I don't know if this is true or not but she said my understanding in history when they once a year on the day of atonement when the priest would go behind the curtain into the most holy of holies often there was a rope tied to his leg because there's this fear that because the priest was not perfect he might be struck dead in the presence of God and so if something would happen no one else wanted to enter that most holy of holies so they could drag the priest out with a rope now I'm going to double check you know exactly
[00:31:16] Do you get the insight?
[00:31:21] Jesus the great high priest has entered because he paved the way and he conquered death.
[00:31:29] The priest here on earth, they would stand as they represented us in the most holy of holies.
[00:31:37] They stood because the work was never done as they provided the blood sacrifices.
[00:31:43] Jesus sits on the throne.
[00:31:46] in heaven.
[00:31:48] He's broken through the barrier of sin and death.
[00:31:52] Victory has been won through the ultimate sacrifice, the once for all.
[00:31:59] So this hope we're told that we're anchored to, the anchor to our soul through faith in him, it's a certain hope.
[00:32:06] It's finished, it's done, the work is complete.
[00:32:09] By faith we've been saved through grace.
[00:32:14] Second question I wanna,
[00:32:16] Raise in what way is this hope set before us?
[00:32:20] We're told to hold firm, to seize that hope set before us.
[00:32:27] Well, this hope is rooted in God's promise.
[00:32:33] We're given an example here, an Old Testament example.
[00:32:38] Who received a promise from God?
[00:32:41] Genesis 22, it actually refers to that in the passage.
[00:32:44] Who is the individual?
[00:32:46] We call him the father of our faith.
[00:32:48] Those who've placed their faith in Jesus Christ, whether you have a Jewish background or a Gentile background, non-Jewish, if you've placed your faith in Jesus, we're told that we become children of who?
[00:33:00] Abraham, a spiritual father.
[00:33:02] We've been grafted into the faith.
[00:33:04] So an example is given of Abraham.
[00:33:06] What was he promised at age 75?
[00:33:11] A child, a son that he would, his seed, from his seed would come many nations.
[00:33:16] Now can you understand why his wife laughed?
[00:33:23] She was 65, he was 75.
[00:33:24] They were trying to have children, unsuccessfully.
[00:33:30] Now the promise came when Abraham was 75.
[00:33:33] How long did he wait?
[00:33:36] 25 years.
[00:33:40] The term in the Old Testament for hope, one of the passages I really love, it gives you an image of an eagle.
[00:33:48] It says those who hope upon the Lord can also be translated those who wait on the Lord or those who trust in the Lord.
[00:33:56] What will we do?
[00:33:59] We will soar, yes, on wings like eagles.
[00:34:02] We will run and not grow weary.
[00:34:04] We will walk and not be faint.
[00:34:08] So the hope is a certain hope, but it involves trust.
[00:34:12] Trust in the Lord.
[00:34:12] Hope in the Lord.
[00:34:14] Wait on the Lord.
[00:34:15] Abraham waited 25 years, and at age 100 they had a son.
[00:34:20] Isaac.
[00:34:21] The Lord was good to his promise.
[00:34:23] This hope is rooted in God's promise and this hope is backed by an oath.
[00:34:27] God promised Abraham and then he backed that promise by giving an oath.
[00:34:35] Now who did God swear by?
[00:34:39] It says by himself, because when we swear, you know, in Old Testament times, if someone made a promise, they would, I think a swear, an oath back then is worth a little more than an oath today.
[00:34:49] People put their hand on the Bible all the time today, and they'd lie.
[00:34:52] You know, they'd commit perjury.
[00:34:54] But back then, that was like life or death.
[00:34:56] You swore upon a Bible.
[00:34:59] A human being swears, it says here in the passage, we swear on something bigger than ourselves.
[00:35:04] So in a courtroom, what do we swear upon?
[00:35:07] A Bible is God's words bigger than us.
[00:35:09] On the playground, what do children swear by?
[00:35:12] You've probably done this before.
[00:35:15] It might be your grandmother's grave.
[00:35:18] Have any of you ever heard that or said that?
[00:35:21] What do children swear by?
[00:35:29] Can you swear by the angels?
[00:35:30] Are they greater than him?
[00:35:31] Can he swear by the heavens, the sun, or the moon, or the stars, or the universe?
[00:35:36] No.
[00:35:37] So we're told that he swears by himself.
[00:35:39] Now, it does something for us.
[00:35:41] Here's what is intended.
[00:35:44] God's promises, we're told, are 100% trustworthy.
[00:35:49] He can't lie.
[00:35:50] It's impossible.
[00:35:51] It goes against his character.
[00:35:53] So one, he's made a promise.
[00:35:54] He backs it with an oath, and that's the way of saying, hey, my promise is good, but just to...
[00:36:00] I doubly encourage you, just to back my own promise, to give you more certainty.
[00:36:10] As we look back to Abraham on God making a promise, did God fulfill the promise?
[00:36:16] Now what was the greater promise when he's saying by your seed you'll be the father of many nations and he made promises to people beyond Abraham what was the ultimate promise given in the Old Testament?
[00:36:27] I want to show you the Old and New Testament they work together their promises and covenants in the Old Testament and they are fulfilled by who?
[00:36:36] Jesus is the one everything you see points towards Jesus and he came and fulfilled so when we're told we have Jesus as an anchor
[00:36:45] for the Soul.
[00:36:47] It's not wishful thinking, but it's objective truth.
[00:36:49] Through faith in Him, you and I have the certainty.
[00:36:54] We have a certain hope of our eternal destiny.
[00:37:00] So this hope set before us is rooted in God's promise.
[00:37:03] It's backed with an oath.
[00:37:06] I want to read something to you.
[00:37:07] Romans chapter 4, beginning with verse 19.
[00:37:11] Listen carefully, and this is going to show you how the Old and New Testament work together.
[00:37:16] Quote, the Apostle Paul, Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it was said to him.
[00:37:29] Did you catch that?
[00:37:30] Against all hope.
[00:37:32] From a human standpoint, what was promised to him seemed impossible.
[00:37:36] Against all hope, Abraham in hope
[00:37:40] Trusting God, believed and so became the father of many nations.
[00:37:44] Just as it has been said to him, so shall your offspring be.
[00:37:47] It continues.
[00:37:49] Without weakening in his faith, Abraham faced the fact that his body was as good as dead, since he was about 100 years old, and that Sarah's womb was also dead.
[00:38:05] So the promise made to Abraham,
[00:38:08] It was only going to be accomplished through miracle.
[00:38:11] Yet Abraham did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but he was strong and he gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what he had promised.
[00:38:25] Again, the promises made to you and me are based on the Word of God.
[00:38:33] God had the power to do what he had promised.
[00:38:35] This is why it was credited to Abraham as righteousness.
[00:38:39] Abraham's faith was credited to him as righteousness.
[00:38:43] If you read Hebrews chapter 11, it shows not only Abraham, but other people who have come before us, men and women.
[00:38:52] is righteousness not what they had done to earn it but what Jesus had done on their behalf by faith it was credited righteous they believed the Word of God they believed they trusted the promises of God now there's an implication embedded in Romans chapter 4 listen really carefully here it applies to you and me today
[00:39:19] Romans 4 chapter 23 Romans
[00:39:38] 416, quote, Therefore the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace, and we may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring, not only to those who are of the law, but to those who have the faith of Abraham.
[00:39:53] He is the father of us all.
[00:39:57] Promise brings certainty.
[00:40:00] The promise of God's word.
[00:40:03] He promises those who place faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
[00:40:06] Jesus is the anchor, the steadfast anchor, hope for your soul.
[00:40:14] Now I want to go back.
[00:40:15] I have one last question I'll ask, but I want to go back to that image.
[00:40:18] And I believe a lot of people view faith as a rope coming from heaven attached to Jesus.
[00:40:25] Jesus is the anchor.
[00:40:26] And if we can just hold on hard enough, firmly, you know, we're on a wild ride here on this earth.
[00:40:33] If we just hold hard enough, firm enough, maybe we can make it to heaven.
[00:40:38] I sure hope I make it there.
[00:40:41] That's not what's being presented.
[00:40:43] Last question, how can we hold firm to this hope?
[00:40:47] Take a second to reflect.
[00:40:49] Self-reflection.
[00:40:52] What are the things you hope for in this life?
[00:40:55] What are the things that in this life you cling very firmly to?
[00:41:01] Because we tend to hope in
[00:41:05] stuff or people you know and maybe it's a a noble person in your family maybe that you have a grandmother that that was a woman of faith and she prayed for the children and the grandchildren and and and it provided you with a lot of hope but what happens when grandma dies you know we can't live you got to own your own faith maybe i've seen in the last couple weeks uh you know people expressing disappointment towards their pastors what they are either preaching on or not preaching on
[00:41:36] and they put pastors on pedestals.
[00:41:37] I was with a pastor's group this past week.
[00:41:39] I had 10 or 12 different pastors and 10 of the 12 were highly discouraged.
[00:41:45] The things they've said over the past month they're getting beat up for and the things they didn't say for the past month.
[00:41:51] But we're not to put our faith or our hope in the pastors.
[00:41:54] Yes, we pastors need to be faithful and you can call us out but that's not who we put our hope and faith in.
[00:42:01] Do you cling hard to...
[00:42:05] you know think of Arnold Schwarzenegger now he probably what he might be 75 years old I'm sure if I went into the weight room with him he's bigger he's stronger he can do a lot more age 75 than me but if you take photos of him when he was 30 versus what he looks like now he can spend three times the amount of time in the gym but when it comes to his physique he's starting to slip from that rope yes
[00:42:32] If that's where he puts his faith, if that's where his hope is placed on being Mr. Olympia, it's slipping away.
[00:42:42] Maybe it's money, maybe it's family.
[00:42:44] I find that sometimes when people stop trusting others, then they try to trust themselves.
[00:42:50] I'll take control.
[00:42:53] You've been burnt by someone else.
[00:42:56] You've been let down by something you've put all your hope in and now you
[00:43:01] I believe then now we have to deal with failing ourselves deep down we know we're not perfect I've shared with you a few years back 20 years ago Eliot Spitzer was the the governor of New York and it was a noble cause he was going after human trafficking and he was working in some legislation and
[00:43:23] And he started aiming, when it came to human trafficking, not so much the call girls or the escorts, but he started zoning in on the johns and throwing the book at them.
[00:43:36] And in the midst of this, as he is really working through legislation and throwing the book at people in this really legitimate issue that we need to tackle as a culture of human trafficking, remember what happened to him?
[00:43:52] He got caught up in a sting.
[00:43:55] He's found with a call girl.
[00:43:58] Same guy who's throwing the book at someone else, and as I've reflected over the years on that, I'm thinking, you know what?
[00:44:04] I think really what was happening with Eliot Spitzer, he was punishing himself.
[00:44:10] He didn't like something in his own life.
[00:44:12] Do you ever do that?
[00:44:13] You don't like something, you're working on something, maybe it's like, oh gosh, I'm trying to have a more healthy diet, and then you see someone eating a piece of chocolate cake and you find yourself mad at that person.
[00:44:24] It's harmless.
[00:44:24] They're eating some birthday cake, but you're mad at yourself and you take it out on them.
[00:44:28] I find road rage.
[00:44:30] You know, you cross the wrong person at the wrong time, and it's not really you, but you've crossed their paths, and they're going to give you the finger, and they're going to yell at you, and, you know, have you had that happen?
[00:44:42] But ultimately, if you put your hope in yourself, you're going to fail yourself.
[00:44:48] We're told here, when it comes to
[00:44:52] Where do we place our hope?
[00:44:53] We're to place our hope in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
[00:44:56] He's the anchor for our soul.
[00:44:59] And here's the image part.
[00:45:01] I'm going to read you a verse.
[00:45:03] It's not so much just grasping on for dear life from a rope attached to him in heaven.
[00:45:10] Get this.
[00:45:11] Philippians chapter 3, verse 12.
[00:45:14] This is the Apostle Paul.
[00:45:16] He says, quote, Not that I have already obtained this,
[00:45:20] or have already arrived at my goal, speaking of salvation.
[00:45:25] But I press on to take hold of that.
[00:45:27] I press on, I persevere to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
[00:45:36] Do you see what's being said there?
[00:45:39] The challenge this morning is an encouragement for us to take hold firm to our hope, to Jesus Christ.
[00:45:47] But the larger context is when you came to faith in Jesus Christ, he took hold of you.
[00:45:55] Right?
[00:45:55] So when we face the storms in life, if our faith is based on how hard we cling, eventually we're gonna be cut loose, we readjust, we adjust, but the scripture wants to assure us through faith in Jesus, you're good.
[00:46:09] You can face the storms in life.
[00:46:11] And even when you grow weary, come to me, those who are tired and weary, I will give you rest.
[00:46:15] He holds you firmly.
[00:46:17] So we're to cling to the one who holds us firmly.
[00:46:23] We're to seize that hope to the one who says, you're good.
[00:46:27] I got you.
[00:46:29] We're going to get through this storm.
[00:46:32] And you may feel like the whole world's caving in on you.
[00:46:37] Cling to that hope to the one that's actually, you know, another image we get is that Jesus is the good shepherd.
[00:46:43] We are his sheep.
[00:46:46] We are prone to wander.
[00:46:47] When we do, he comes after us.
[00:46:49] He goes for the one lost.
[00:46:51] He knows you.
[00:46:53] He recognizes your voice.
[00:46:55] We recognize his voice.
[00:46:58] He knows you intimately, and we're told no one can snatch us away from his arms.
[00:47:02] Through faith in him, it's not what you've done.
[00:47:04] When we're holding firm, it's not about how hard we can humanly cling on, but it's encouraging us to stay focused when life gets tough.
[00:47:17] He's there holding firm to you.
[00:47:20] As we approach the table, keep in mind it's by grace that we've been saved through faith so that no one may boast.
[00:47:30] It's His doing.
[00:47:31] He has you.
[00:47:32] He's holding you firmly.
[00:47:33] Let's close this time in prayer.
[00:47:37] Heavenly Father, as we prepare ourselves for the table, we are grateful for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ.
[00:47:45] Lord, you are our firm foundation.
[00:47:47] You are the rock on which we build our faith.
[00:47:50] Jesus Christ, Lord, he is the anchor for our soul.
[00:47:53] He advocates on our behalf.
[00:47:56] Lord, you, he who began a good work, we're told we're a work in progress.
[00:48:00] You'll carry it on.
[00:48:01] You'll complete it to the day of our salvation.
[00:48:04] You finish what you start.
[00:48:07] So Lord, I pray for the person in this room that may be struggling, that may feel like they're hanging at the end of the rope.
[00:48:12] They understand that you have them.
[00:48:15] that you won't let them slip away.
[00:48:18] As we approach the table this morning, Lord, we ask your blessing upon the bread representing your son's body broken for us.
[00:48:24] We ask your blessing upon the cup as well representing the blood that your son Jesus shed on our behalf for forgiveness of our sins.
[00:48:36] Lord, as we approach the table, we're reminded, we approach it with gratitude, we approach it with reverence,
[00:48:45] We approach it knowing that victory has been won and we say thank you.
[00:48:50] And pray all these things in Jesus' name.
[00:48:53] Amen.
[00:49:04] As we approach the table, I'm gonna first give instructions and then we'll provide an invitation.
[00:49:12] But we will have three stations up front
[00:49:15] So to your right and to your left there'll be a station with bread and grape juice and as you feel led to come forward you can take the bread you can dip the bread into the cup and you can partake right there on the spot or you can bring the bread back to your church pew.
[00:49:31] In the center station there will be gluten-free bread and then also if you desire a packet you can just point to the table and right behind me there are packets that have
[00:49:43] Grape juice and wafers in there.
[00:49:46] If that's what you would prefer, you can just indicate that.
[00:49:50] And as we begin communion as well, if there's anyone here that you're unable to make it to the front, please just raise your hand as people start coming forward.
[00:49:59] And if you raise your hand, an usher will identify you and make sure that we have communion brought to you.
[00:50:04] We don't want anyone to feel excluded in any way.
[00:50:08] The invitation goes out to those who have placed your faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
[00:50:14] You do not need to be a member of this church.
[00:50:21] You don't need to be a Presbyterian.
[00:50:22] You might be a Protestant Baptist or Episcopalian.
[00:50:25] You may have an Orthodox background, non-denominational.
[00:50:31] What qualifies you is faith in Jesus Christ.
[00:50:34] If you have a young child and they're wanting to and they have a professed faith, work that through with the parent and we'll trust how you discern that.
[00:50:42] But a genuine faith qualifies you for the table.
[00:50:46] And we say this phrase not because you must.
[00:50:49] This isn't just simply a religious ritual, but because you may.
[00:50:55] Come to the table because you may.
[00:50:56] It's an act of worship.
[00:50:59] And if you are feeling shame,
[00:51:02] If you're feeling unworthy, if there are some things that you've done this week or left undone, we respect if you don't come forward, but I want to encourage you, even challenge you, that that's not a bad place to be.
[00:51:15] We're told humble yourself on the side of the Lord.
[00:51:17] He'll lift you up.
[00:51:19] For others in this room, the challenge may be pride.
[00:51:22] You're feeling good, you feel better than your neighbor,
[00:51:25] We're also told the proud are humbled.
[00:51:27] The ground is level at the foot of the cross.
[00:51:29] There's no one in this room any better or worse.
[00:51:32] So the invitation, again, is extended to each and every one of you who've placed your faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
[00:51:39] Not because you must, but because you may.
[00:51:43] And I wanna remind you, on the night that Jesus was arrested, it was Holy Week, he told the disciples as they broke bread, this is my body, which shall be broken for you.
[00:51:55] In the same way he took the cup he said this cup represents my blood which will be shed for the forgiveness of your sins.
[00:52:04] Whenever you eat from the bread or drink from the cup be reminded of my death until I return.
[00:52:11] This moment I would like to ask the elders assisting in communion please come forward.
[00:52:42] As you feel led, come eat and drink in remembrance of Him.

[00:53:46] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy
[00:54:29] In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
[00:54:50] Amen.
[00:55:03] Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy, Deuteronomy
[00:55:35] God bless you.

[00:57:25] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Lord, with humble hearts, we express gratitude.
[00:57:36] We thank you for the privilege to partake in Holy Communion.
[00:57:40] We recognize what that represents and we acknowledge that you are present with us.
[00:57:46] We pray all these things in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
[00:57:51] Amen.
[00:57:53] We invite you
[00:57:55] Wednesday night to come join us for dinner and or Bible study afterwards.
[00:58:00] If you just come for the dinner or just come from the Bible study, come as you are.
[00:58:04] We have suggested donation of $5, $20 max.
[00:58:07] But if money is an issue, just come and join us in the fellowship and the breaking of bread.
[00:58:11] And also I encourage you as we serve a God who has provided us a way, a certain anchor for the soul.
[00:58:20] I invite you to receive that.
[00:58:23] Don't put that off if that's something you've done or to return to that.
[00:58:27] His promise is certain.
[00:58:30] Your destiny is secure.
[00:58:32] As we leave this place, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, may the love of God our Father, may the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with each and every one of you now and forever.
[00:58:41] Amen.

[00:59:22] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
I will be done on earth as it is.

[00:59:52] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
The Apostles' Day

[01:00:32] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
He is the King of kings.