THE ANCHOR STILL HOLDS
TEXT: Hebrews 6:15-20
Hebrews 6:15-20 -- And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
l. INTRODUCTION -- ANCHORS
A. General
Lord Alfred Tennyson -- Cast all your cares on God; that anchor holds.
-Illustrating the purpose of the anchor, Thomas Beddoes had this to say: The anchor heaves, the ship swings free, the sails swell full. To sea, to sea!
-The anchors of the ancient days on the sea worked because of their sheer weight and friction as they lay at the bottom of the sea. In modern times, the anchor has a long cable attached to it that allows it to actually drill into the bottom of the ocean floor, or to lodge into the coral reefs or a bed of rocks. Still it works on the same principle: To keep the ship steady on the seas.
-In an age of great change, when morality is scoffed at, when at times the world even encroaches the borders of the church, when the stern paths of righteousness are frequently avoided, men have chosen substitute anchors to try to hold them in place in the choppy seas of life.
-Because of the lack of anchors, men often spend themselves in perilous pursuits. There is the search for significance, a search for some semblance of value as they live out their lives. Because the wrong anchors are chosen, life loses it=s value. Life becomes nothing more than a seeming quest for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
-Several years ago, a music group (Truth) had a song entitled Living Life Upside Down. It explored the avenues of men who have the wrong anchors in their lives. A life that had all of the material riches but devoid of the spiritual strengths necessary for a Spirit-filled life.
B. Biblical
-The word "anchor" only appears four times in four verses. Yet, Paul makes an allusion to this word when he wrote to the Hebrews. There is nothing like having the Creator to be able to anchor the soul.
ll. HEBREWS 6:15-20 -- THE IDENTITY OF THE ANCHOR
-Our text states that Abraham patiently endured. In light of the volume of Scriptures concerning Abraham, what was it that he endured. Consider this in his patient enduring:
Mysterious providence.
The seeming slowness of God to make good His promises.
The attacks of Satan on his faith.
The insinuations of the serpent that God had ceased to be gracious.
The temptation of the devil to be enriched by the king of Sodom.
The cruel sneers of those around him.
The persecution by his fellow-men because of his godly walk that condemned their own ungodly ways.
-Paul knew the great Jewish minds that He would be addressing over this particular issue. The Holy Ghost, driving both the mind and pen of the Apostle, faithfully warns of apostasy in the opening segment of the chapter. It is the Holy Ghost that is commanding that men be faithful to their God. Yet, as it often is with the Holy Ghost, the closing segment of this chapter confers to men great comfort.
-Hebrews 6:16 enlightens us that men would in days gone by be held to their vows by God. Now, men are held to their vows by lengthy contracts with stipulations for every aspect of their agreement. But God has no greater, yet He confirmed His promises by an oath. This oath, in turn, relieves men of their worries and stresses about whether or not that God will uphold His end of the bargain. Rest assured that God has never failed on His promises.
Philippians 2:13 -- For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
-There is a much deeper sense of theology found here and there is not enough time to delve into the immutability and counsel of God.
A. The Incarnation
-However, by looking at the process of the Incarnation we can find out that the anchor still holds. It was a God who was concerned enough about men to began to try to reach for them. The only logical way to reach man was to become a man. This was accomplished by the work of robing Himself in flesh and coming to this earth. It was a God who breathed, who died, who rose again, and ultimately will appear again to take His Bride out of this world.
-The picture that Paul used when he spoke of those who "fled for refuge" (6:18) was a trip into the history of Israel. There were six cities of refuge. Three to the east of the Jordan and three to the west of the Jordan. If a man committed some crime accidentally, he would flee to one of these cities and seek refuge in the city along with the existence of the resident priest who lived there. This priest would offer an atonement for him and his sin.
-Man is bound to sin. He is a sinner and there is the sin nature that rises within him that will naturally lead him into the traps that sin construct. This is inevitable. But if we flee to refuge, there is a great High Priest in Jesus Christ who has the ability to save man.
B. The Messiah Exceeding the Levitical Priesthood
-Paul begins to use some very rich illustrations to the New Testament church. The Hebrews understood the economy of the Levitical priesthood. Yet, here Paul brings in some foreign ideas to them. The Aaronic priesthood did not enter the Holy of Holies and the Holy Place as a forerunner, he merely was a representative of the people.
-The Aaronic order entered a place where those whom he represented could not see nor could they go into such a place. To do so would have meant death. The Aaronic priesthood were not to be pioneers bringing men into prohibited territory. Yet in Hebrews 10:19-20, Paul wrote this:
Hebrews 10:19-20 -- Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
-Paul is now exhorting the unbelieving Jew to go into the Holy of Holies personally. The Old Testament believer could only enter by the substitution of the High Priest. But now there is a High Priest who is the forerunner of man. He is the first fruits meaning that He has sampled the great heights of spiritual life and now is urging men to follow Him into such a place.
-The high priest of Israel, would carefully follow the ramifications established by the Law and carry out everything necessary to go into the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement. He would be arrayed in a spotless robe. It would have the twelve onyx stones on the shoulders with each name of the tribes of Israel inscribed there. It was on his shoulders and his strength and his heart of love that would bring Israel into the Shekinah glory of God.
-But Paul is establishing for us that the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek has broken the old order. Now it is His shoulders of omnipotence that carry us toward salvation. It is His heart of infinite love that brings mercy into our lives.
-That is the essence of the hope of the anchor. The anchor still holds. The anchor is Jesus Christ. The anchor was formed in the mind of God at Creation and came to fulfillment at the Incarnation.
Galatians 4:4-5 -- But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
lll. THE PURPOSES OF THE ANCHOR
-Some may feel that the identity of the anchor is not necessary but it is a necessity to know Him whom you have been redeemed by. However there are some great purposes of the anchor called Christ.
-The anchor has the capacity to hold the wind-tossed, the storm-torn, and the weary sailor can find rest in the most perilous times of life.
A. To Hold During the Storm
-There is some small debate about the purpose of the anchor during the storm. A small group of sailors say that it is best if the anchors rest in the sterns and bows of the ship. They hold that the ship should be able to "roll with the flow."
-The vast majority of sea-worthy sailors determine that the anchors should be dropped to the depths. The anchor should find the lodging among the rocks thus holding the ship in a steady position throughout the tossing. The anchor holds and keeps the ship from capsizing.
-The great howling around the ship, the creaking of the timbers, the tremors of the mast are all a physical part of the storm, yet the anchor holds.
1 Peter 4:12-14 -- Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
John 16:33 -- These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
-The anchor can relieve the dread of destruction. The anchor of Jesus Christ is of such quality that no matter how strong the storm is, the heavier the strain that comes upon it, it’s hold grows deeper and firmer. The storm, no matter how great, does not drive men from the Savior it merely anchors their soul deeper in the Rock of Ages.
B. To Hold The Ship During Prosperity
-There are certainly times that the sailor will drop his anchor because he has found great wealth in the sea. When the sailor finds the productive place that the great catch is made, the anchor must be sure.
-There are times in life that God wants us to stay directly where we are. Nothing that God does is without purpose. He does not suddenly entrust men to a great soul overnight. Great buildings are not built overnight. They are built nail by nail, board by board, and brick by brick. Great souls will find themselves at times static without any seeming growth.
-Yet, God who has determined the purpose for our lives directs that the anchors remain down in the depths. There are great treasures that are coming to the nets below.
Luke 21:19 -- In your patience possess ye your souls.
Hebrews 6:11-12 -- And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
-Patience is one of the processes of the making of a man of God. Keep the anchors buried there are some great reasons that we have been placed in such a place:
Love
Joy
Peace
Longsuffering
Gentleness
Goodness
Faith
Meekness
Temperance
-Let the anchor stay down long enough until you are free from:
The acid of bitterness.
The heat of anger.
The rival of jealousies.
The rot of covetousness.
The snare of the substitutes.
The lethargy of complacency.
-The anchor holds men against drifting away from the more important things that can be harvested from the sea of life.
Noah anchored deep and built an Ark.
John anchored his soul and became the disciple of love.
Daniel anchored and walked out of the lions= den.
Aholiab and Bezaleel anchored long and worked patiently and crafted the furniture of the Tabernacle.
Ruth remained anchored and in her patient gleaning found destiny at the hand of the kinsman-redeemer.
-A great prayer life is not built overnight. A great command of the Word of God is not captured overnight. A great ability to fast is not found in the unstable life. Stay anchored to the place that God has determined for you to be.
C. To Give Rest
-Another purpose of the anchor is to give rest to the soul.
Matthew 11:28 -- Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Job 34:29 -- When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:
Psalm 36:7 8 -- How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
-The anchor of Christ has brought rest to many a torn and weary soul. There is nothing like taking the struggles of life and placing them on an altar. In doing this, we affirm, "God I have done all that I can do, You have to take it from here."
-How much easier it would be if we could learn this in the beginning, to take the difficulties to the Lord in prayer.
D. To Keep the Ship From Losing Ground
-Another purpose of the anchor is to keep the ship from losing ground. There are times that the ship must navigate around the dangerous rocks of the headwaters. The anchor is run out and dropped, then the sailors will work the cable and swing around the treacherous point.
-It takes time, effort, and great energy to operate a ship in this manner. Yet, by doing this no ground is lost. In our quest for revival, the ship must not lose ground.
Repentance is not a loss of ground, it is the seed bed of growth.
Sacrifice is not the loss of ground, it is the strong cost and effort of revival.
Scheduled prayer is not a loss of ground, it is the energy of revival.
-The ship does not lose ground when the anchor of Christ is guiding it around the horn. There is nothing that unifies and consecrates a life like some strongly held hope.
lV. CONCLUSION -- I’VE ANCHORED MY SOUL IN THE HAVEN OF REST
-What difficulty do you bring here today?
The failure of some cherished plan.
The death of some great dream.
The sting of sin and the loss of hope.
The hurt received at the hand of the uncaring.
The standard pressures and stresses of life.
My soul in sad exile was out on life’s sea, So burdened with sin and distressed, till I heard a sweet voice saying, "Make me your choice;" And I entered the Haven of Rest.
I yielded myself to His tender embrace, And faith taking hold of the Word, My fetters fell off, and I anchored my soul; The Haven of Rest is my Lord.
The song of my soul, since the Lord made me whole, Has been the old story so blest, Of Jesus who’ll save whosoever will have, A home in the Haven of Rest.
How precious the tho’t that we all may recline, Like John the beloved and best, On Jesus’ strong arm, where no tempest can harm, Secure in the Haven of Rest.
O come to the Savior, He patiently waits to save by His power divine; Come, anchor your soul in the Haven of Rest, And say, "My Beloved is mine."
I’ve anchored my soul in the Haven of Rest, I’ll sail the wide seas no more; The tempest may sweep o’er the wild stormy deep; In Jesus I’m safe evermore.
Philip Harrelson
barnabas14@yahoo.com
