Hope is an anchor, thrown and lodged in the presence of God. Through any storm below, our feeble life is held in place deep inside the eternal Presence.
TRANSCRIPT
Please note: this transcript is auto-generated so forgive any (or many) errors 😲 – click the timestamps to play that section directly in the audio.
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The Scriptures talk about hope being like an anchor that is literally thrown and lodged in the very presence of God through whatever storms are happening here below, a feeble transitory. Life on this planet is held in place deep inside God’s eternal presence. Hebrews 6:19 says, we have a hope that’s like an anchor for our soul sure and steadfast, which enters into and within the veil. Any of you who know me at all know that I’m fairly passionate about something called Tabernacle prayer, such an incredible pathway to God’s presence when we apply it with New Testament revelation.
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But here we find that hope reaches deep into the Holy of Holies and takes a hold of the eternal God.
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It is something that we must carry in our soul every single day on the floor. Here in the stormy winds of life on Earth, our boats would literally be smashed against the rocks of disappointment were it not for the rich and living hope that stretches across the chasm of time and takes hold of eternity, Jesus is our assurance. Whatever life throws at us, even death itself cannot claim the Crown. Jesus’life death and resurrection offer a perspective that no earthly circumstances, however dire they may seem condemn. I’m thinking about the disciples and how Jesus.
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I just love the way that the New Testament relates the story of the disciples crossing this choppy sea of Galilee in Matthew 14, and he just gave them this simple instruction. Go over to the other side, and most of us know what it is to be crossing to an other side. It seems so simple. It’s just such a simple instruction. And yet when we find ourselves out in the middle of the sea between where we’ve come from and where we are going to, it can look like very different and not so simple at all.
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The other side for you may be financial freedom. It may be a strong and secure marriage. Maybe your other side is a satisfying job in which you’re respected and appreciated or a breakthrough in your Ministry. The other side, for some, might be their child coming home or a sickness healed. The other side can mean a lot of different things for a lot of different people.
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But rest assured, hope himself. The King himself has instructed you to cross over, not to stay on the shore looking into some void. Hope has made his word known. And that word is your bridge to a better future. The command to cross over, of course, doesn’t come with a guarantee that the journey there is not going to pose challenges.
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However. In fact, if there’s any guarantee, it is that there will be trouble I love. I mean, one of the promises that you don’t find people claiming too often is the promise of Jesus in the Book of John, where he said in this life, you will have trouble. I’ve not got that on my confession list. In fact, I don’t think I even need to believe for it, because whether I want it or not, it turns up on the doorstep.
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But be of good cheer, because I have overcome the world. Thank God that he qualified that statement. Looking at the tossing waves and the contrary winds. That’s how this same passage from Matthew talks about what the disciples were facing tossing waves and contrary winds. Now I’m certain that you face similar threats to your peace.
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God says one thing and then everything around just breaks open and you’re screaming the exact opposite. Been there. Got the wet suit. Seriously. But hope is the anchor.
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Hope stays attached to those words that God has spoken and the word is settled in heaven. The words of God. Even those words let us go over to the other side are settled in heaven. God’s promises to you. God’s promises to you personally.
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God’s promises there in the universal word of scripture are yours for the taking. And they are settled in heaven. When you attach your heart and your mind and your faith to those words, they will anchor you through any storm. Our life becomes connected to eternity through faithful words that will never fail. Even the presence of God in the midst of this crazy storm.
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And these were well hardened fishermen. So this must have been quite a squall that was blowing up. Even the presence of God seemed like a spectre in the face of the storm. These surly disciples, with their previous bravado, having seen so many wonderful things take place, are left in the boat trembling. And then even when Jesus emerges from the froth, it seemed to them unbelievable that the other side was still within their grasp.
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They feared for their lives. The harsh winds and the bearing waves upon them had all but dissipated their confidence. But despite their cries and in the face of stark unbelief, and unless you are unusual in the way you live and think and respond to the smashing waves of life, I’m sure we’ve all been there with our knees knocking in the boat in stark unbelief, wondering, where is Jesus? And then when Jesus turns up, we don’t believe that it could possibly be Him and that the answer is on our doorstep.
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But here are the words that hope spoke through the darkness.
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Be of good cheer. It is. I be not afraid. His word in heaven anchors us all. His presence on Earth.
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Walking above the storm cheers us Jesus first, my friends. Everything else follows with our eyes on Him, our heart wrapped around His promises. Our heart on fire with the lively expectation of eternal life and disdain for the Devil’s lies. God’s words are active and carry the power of fulfilment within themselves. When he says, Go to the other side, the words themselves believed and received in the heart of the bridge over which we can cross the wildest waves.
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What has God spoken to you? What anchor. Has he fixed deep within the veil for you to hold on to keep rowing, if necessary, scoop out the water that threatens to sink your little ship. Not even the storm we see in the darkest hours can stop your progress. Jesus is no apparition.
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He is very much alive, however loud the storm may showed Jesus words. We are told when he opens his heart and mouth are like many waters. Drowning out. Discouragement he is faithful, a living hope that can never be extinguished and can never be calmed. Well, thanks for listening.
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Hopefully, it’s been an encouragement to you today. If you want to connect any further, you can do so through my website at davidleemartin.com. Have a great day.
