Standing On The Promises Of God Series

A. One day a young mother was feeling rather down and hopeless when she heard the phone ring.

1. The young mother picked up the phone and said, “Hello.”

2. A woman’s voice immediately said, “Honey, it’s mom. I called because I know that you’re overwhelmed with the three children, and I want to give you some help. I’m going to stop by to clean the house, take care of the baby, and prepare dinner for when the boys get home from school. I want you to get ready to go to my beautician, I paid her already, and she is going to give you ‘the works,’ your appointment is at 1:00. Give George a call at the office and tell him that you will meet him at The Cheesecake Factory for dinner, my treat...”

3. The young mother suddenly interrupted and asked, “George, who is George?”

4. “George is your husband, of course,” said the caller.

5. “My husband’s name is John,” the young mother replied.

6. The caller asked, “Is this 555-3212?” “No,” replied the young mother, “This is 555-2212!”

7. “I’m sorry,” said the caller, “I have called the wrong number.”

8. After a pause the young mother asked, “Does this mean you’re not coming over to help me?”

B. There are certainly times when exhausted young mothers need help and hope.

1. There are times when people feel hopeless because there are too many bills and not enough cash.

2. There are times when people feel hopeless because the test results reveal cancer and the doctor says there is nothing that can be done.

3. There are times when people feel hopeless because their company or their spouse has decided the relationship is not working out and they need to go in a different direction without them.

C. On August 12, 2000, the largest submarine in the Russian fleet, named the Kursk, suffered an internal explosion and went down in 350 feet of water in the Barents Sea.

1. 118 men were aboard.

2. Deep sea divers went down to assess the situation and to determine if anyone had survived.

3. As they were circling the ship deep beneath the sea, they heard a pinging sound and began to listen more closely.

4. What they were hearing was a type of Morse Code coming from some of the men in the sub.

5. The divers deciphered the code, which turned out to be a simple question: “Is there any hope?”

D. “Is there any hope?” - That’s a question a lot of people are asking today.

1. So where do we turn when it seems that hope runs dry?

2. Today, I want to point us to the same place I have been pointing us during this sermon series: to the great and precious promises of God.

3. The Hebrew writer says: 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. 20 Jesus has entered there on our behalf as a forerunner… (Heb. 6:19-20).

E. None of us need to be told what an anchor is.

1. We’ve either seen or held those iron castings with the pointed prongs.

a. Perhaps you have actually thrown one from a boat into the water and felt the yank when the anchor found a firm and secure place.

2. Anchors have only one purpose – they are designed to steady the boat and hold it fast.

a. We all need a good anchor in order to weather the strong winds and the storms that come.

b. We need one that can hook securely to an object that is stronger than the storm.

F. And why do we need a good anchor, because we are a valuable vessel – each of us is carrying an eternal soul within us.

1. When God breathed into Adam, He gave him more than oxygen, He gave him a soul.

2. And it is the presence of a soul that separates us from the animals.

3. Many people love their pets – whether they are dogs, or cats, or goldfish.

4. Certainly, we have a lot in common with our pets – those things we share in common include, eyes and ears, mouths and tongues, and some of us even look like our pets!

5. Although we may be very much alike, there is one huge difference between us and our pets – we have a soul and they do not.

6. Because we have a soul, we wonder why we are here.

a. Because of our soul, we wonder where we are going.

b. Because of our soul, we wrestle with right and wrong, and we value the lives of others, and we get nostalgic when we think of the old good days.