Effie Darlene Barba

“A truly Christian love, either to God or men, is a humble broken-hearted love. The desires of the saints, however earnest, are humble desires. Their hope is a humble hope; and their joy, even when it is unspeakable and full of glory, is a humble broken-hearted joy, and leaves the Christian more poor in spirit, and more like a little child, and more disposed to a universal lowliness of behaviour.”

― Jonathan Edwards, Religious Affections

With so many pressures and sorrows surrounding us each day we perhaps can understand the broken-hearted part of what Jonathan Edwards speaks of in this quote more than what we can understand the unspeakable, full of glory Joy or Hope.  So often it may seem that we are holding tight to a very tiny ray of hope, just enough to get out of bed this morning to the next 5 minutes; yet, that ray carries us on to the next 5 as well and so on.  We may feel the pains of great sorrow; yet, there is an under girding of hope, peace and even joy that helps us to remember where our source of hope is–our Heavenly Father.  We very much like a child cling to our Father’s hand; knowing it is there that we are safe.  When our hearts would fear, we seek His face; much like a child when lost in a crowd frantically searches for his father’s face.  Still, there are two truths that can always be an anchor to our soul whenever the storms of life would beat furiously upon us.

Hebrews 6: ¹⁸ 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:

¹⁹ Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

²⁰ Whither the forerunner is for us entered even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

1.  God cannot lie and He has promised to all who would believe in Christ, His grace sufficient for each day.

2.  Jesus Christ is our high priest and has paid the penalty for our sin so that our position and son-ship stands firmly anchored in heaven by His atoning sacrifice.

Listen to the words of this beautiful song and let it up lift you  

Lead me Lord, lead me by the hand and help me face the rising sun.  Comfort me through all the pain that life may bring.  There is no other hope that I can lean on. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QgdQPGjen4

For anyone who is feeling shaky or heavy burdened, please take the time to listen to John Piper’s  sermon Hope Anchored in Heaven.   http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/hope-anchored-in-heaven

Below is an excerpt:

This is the anchor of verse 19 which continues verse 18: "This hope we have as an anchor of the soul." In other words: What anchors our soul is not our subjective confidence, but the sure objective reality that God has promised. This is our anchor. And this is what we are to lay hold of.

The Certainty of Our Hope

So the writer’s point is that what we are hoping for is absolutely sure. He uses three descriptions of the anchor to stress this. In verse 19b he calls the anchor (the hope), "both (1) sure and (2) steadfast and (3) one which enters within the veil." The anchor is sure, certain and safe. The anchor is steadfast, firm and reliable. The anchor is lodged within the veil. This is a reference to the veil that hung across the inner sanctuary of the tabernacle and concealed the arc of the covenant where God in his glory met with the high priest once a year as he brought a blood sacrifice to atone for the sins of the people.

So what’s the point of saying that our hope is an anchor lodged in the heavenly holy of holies where God’s glory dwells? Verse 20 fills it out. This is where Jesus has gone as a forerunner for us (which means we will enter with him someday). And he has gone as a high priest. Not in the order of Aaron and Levi—who (1) had to offer sacrifices for themselves and for the people (5:3; 7:27), and (2) who died and had to be replaced year by year (7:23), and (3) who offered the blood of bulls and goats which could never take away sins (10:4). But Jesus entered into the holy of holies once for all with his own infinitely precious blood and his own indestructible life so that his atoning work for us is perfect and lasts for ever. This is what verse 20 means when it says that Jesus "has become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."

So our anchor—our promised future—is sure; it is steadfast; and it is the finished and purchased work of Jesus our High Priest.

So last week the writer helps us hold fast our hope by telling us that it is based on two unchangeable things: God’s promise and God’s oath to bless us forever. This week he helps us hold fast our hope by telling us that our promised future (our hope) is "an anchor of the soul" that is sure and steadfast and as complete and binding as the work of Jesus in shedding his blood for our sins and taking it himself into the presence of God to plead the case of those he purchased.

What Is the Anchor of Your Soul?

Now here is the burning question for me. Is the anchor of my soul as firmly attached to my soul as it is to the altar of God? In other words is the picture here of an anchor with its hook and chain bound unbreakably to the altar of God in the holy of holies so that nothing could loose it from that end, but with the rope just hanging out of heaven in the air? Is the only point of this text to say "Take hold of the loose end of this rope and you will have safety and firmness and assurance"?

Would that give you the sense of security and confidence and hope and firmness that last week’s text and this text seem to be about? What was the point of an anchor in those days? It was to keep you from being blown by the wind or swept by the tide into destruction—out to sea or on the rocks. But what if someone said: I have fitted your boat with a good solid heavy anchor that will grip any sea-bottom, only have not made it fast to the boat. Would that give you encouragement?

I don’t think that is the image the author has in mind here. When he says in verse 19 that we have an "anchor of the soul" I think he means that the anchor is firmly anchored in heaven, and the anchor is firmly attached to the Christian’s soul.

How can we live the Christian life with so much evil, pain, sorrow, temptations, and desires which surround us and fill us each day?  We see tragedies occurring as we watch the news. We struggle with ever increasing costs with less to pay it with. Our time is pressed so that the demands of our day seem overwhelming.  We are bombarded by constant inflow of information from TV, Internet, phones, people, email, and text messages.  How do we stand fast in our faith and our liberty in Christ without succumbing to our flesh?  How do we avoid being drawn into the crowd?  How do we avoid being swept under by sorrow, depression, and a sense of doom?  How do we win against our own sin filled nature without getting caught up in self pride and legalism like the Pharisees? 

Galatians 5: 5 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage…¹³ For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another…¹⁶ This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

¹⁷ For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.¹⁸ But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law….

²⁴ And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

The following story may help you understand the importance of filling your life with those things that feed the Holy Spirit.

This story seems to have begun in 1978 when a early form of it was written by the Evangelical Christian Minister Billy Graham in his book, “The Holy Spirit: Activating God’s Power in Your Life.”  This version of the story can be found in Chapter 7: The Christian’s Inner Struggle on Page 92 and it is as follows:

“AN ESKIMO FISHERMAN came to town every Saturday afternoon. He always brought his two dogs with him. One was white and the other was black. He had taught them to fight on command. Every Saturday afternoon in the town square the people would gather and these two dogs would fight and the fisherman would take bets. On one Saturday the black dog would win; another Saturday, the white dog would win – but the fisherman always won! His friends began to ask him how he did it. He said, “I starve one and feed the other. The one I feed always wins because he is stronger.”

Billy Graham continues by explaining the story.  I will now provide a few excerpts to show the connection between this story and the later versions as well of how it’s grounded in Christianity.  “This story about the two dogs is apt because it tells us something about the inner warfare that comes into the life of a person who is born again. We have two natures within us, both struggling for mastery. Which one will dominate us? It depends on which one we feed.”

So, I encourage you to study on the word of God morning and evening.  Probably that means the TV needs to be turned off a little sooner.  Listen to Christian music and sermons when in the car.  You can place Christian ringtones on your phone and text messages as little reminders through the day.  Whenever you feel the world pressing in around you, pray.  The world is every day becoming more complex and I urge you to live in the Spirit by starving the flesh and feeding the Spirit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9O_OyOECm4

The Pharisees were a very strong political, religious sect of the Jews who were very strict in following the old testament law and a few that they had added along the way by keeping "the traditions of the fathers."  They were the extreme legalists of their day and were somewhat like a political party among the Jewish people.  The Scribes, some of which were Pharisees as well, were the "lawyers" of the day and were well versed in the law.  The Scribes could draft all the legal documents of the day.  From the beginning of Christ’s ministry on earth, He often directly confronted the Pharisees and the scribes for their self righteousness and for the fact that they added to the law many of their own "taboos" and traditions as though they were the law from God.  They thought that they were following God; but they were standing upon their own pride and strength to do so.  They were not even able to see their Messiah when He came to Earth.  Let’s look at Matthew 5.

Matthew 5: ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

¹⁷ Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

¹⁸ For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

¹⁹ Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

²⁰ For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Christ had come to fulfill the law.  He was the only one who could truly live righteously as the righteous, Holy Son of God.  He was the only unblemished lamb who could pay the penalty of man’s sin once and for ever; so that any who believed in Him as their Savior could become justified before God and to be clothed with the Righteousness of Christ.  Every jot and tittle of the law including the atoning sacrifice would have to be fulfilled.  The righteousness that Christ is calling us to is one that comes from the central core of a broken and contrite heart that is seeking God, savoring Him, and is willing to die to self to follow Him.  The Pharisees stood on their own outward righteousness; but their hearts remained so dark to the light of God that they did not recognize Christ as their Savior. 

So where are you?  Are you trying to fulfill the letter of the law with your own might and power?  Do you believe yourself to be a good person?  Or have you stood before a Gloriously Righteous God whom you see as so Magnificent that you realize your utter unworthiness to stand before Him and your desperate need for a righteousness greater than your own that can only come from a Savior?  Have you ever fallen prostrate to the floor crying unto God "Lord, I have nothing within this covetous, self exalting heart to bring before you; except to cling to the truth that Christ died for me.  Let the light of your righteousness shine into my heart to dispel as the darkness.  My greatest desire is to seek, savoir and to follow after Christ with all my heart, my flesh and my soul.  Lord, lead me where ever You will that I might reflect your light and your righteousness to a world that has been darkened by sin.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EszGLC5r4bU

Several years ago, I heard the soft, gentle voice of God calling me to become a speaker for Him.  My replies were much like Moses.  I reminded Him of all my inadequacies and that I did best speaking as I was currently one person at a time.  Then, as though part of the training process, I began to teach and speak in a jail ministry.  It was there that I realized that God would provide the words when I needed them.  I also was asked to speak at some conferences for a small church.  I finished writing the three books God had asked me to write and I began the discipline of writing these devotionals for you.  During that time, there was a lot of chaff that needed sifting and a lot of Bible study to do; but God always remained patient and gently guiding each step.  As always, He sent the right teachers each step of the way.  Now, He is drawing me to step out further to be the speaker He is calling me to be; the one He has spent my whole lifetime preparing.  I recently went to the SCORRE conference and realized this is the direction He is drawing me toward and that His Grace will provide the words needed as I "boldly before His throne of Grace, find mercy and the grace to help in time of need"  I realize that it is His Grace that under girds me when I speak and I must ask for that grace each and every time.  Without His coming down to uphold me, then nothing I say can be of any importance or consequence.  Sometimes as I move forward, I look ahead and see such obstacles like Giants in my pathway.  As I keep asking for reconfirmation that this is what God desires for my life, I am amazed at His patience in step by step guiding me along this path.  The Israelite nation was about to cross the Jordan to go in and take the land that God had promised them through Abraham and this was the admonition of Moses, as well as the warning to follow once God had given the land to them.

Deuteronomy  9 (NIVUK) Hear, Israel: you are now about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities that have walls up to the sky. ² The people are strong and tall – Anakites! You know about them and have heard it said: ‘Who can stand up against the Anakites?’ ³ But be assured today that the Lord your God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire. He will destroy them; he will subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them quickly, as the Lord has promised you.

⁴ After the Lord your God has driven them out before you, do not say to yourself, ‘The Lord has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness.’ No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is going to drive them out before you. ⁵ It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness of these nations, the Lord your God will drive them out before you, to accomplish what he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. ⁶ Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people.

So when God has called you to bid His Will and step into whatever promised territory He has planned for you, keep your eyes on Him and kept stepping forward.  If when you are looking ahead, you see what appears to be insurmountable Giants standing in front of you; remember this God is the one who goes across ahead of you like a devouring fire to destroy all those giant obstacles one by one.  Then, there is one more very important principle which I must never forget, nor you when you reach that area of promise.  That principle is that it is not because of my righteousness, nor my deserving anything—it has been grace each step of the way.  It is not about me.  If ever, I forget that; then I pray God rip everything from me before I can cause harm to His ministry in any way. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOkImV2cJDg

 

New International Version – UK (NIVUK)

Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.®Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide

Frequently, I have said that we need to cling to the covenant promises of God as our anchor when sorrows, doubts, or trials come our way.  I must confess that there are those moments when doubts and fears try to bombard my mind; but, it is those same moments that I must run to the scripture and read once more the promises of God.  Here in Jeremiah He has promised not to turn away from me, from doing me good.  He has taken the responsibility for my security in faith as well as He proclaims that He will place in my heart the reverence and awe toward Him so that I will not depart.  He will rejoice over me to do good. Amazing thought, God rejoicing over me.

Jeremiah 32: 39 I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them: ⁴⁰ And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. ⁴¹ Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.

Much like the covenant promise in Zephaniah 3: ¹⁷ The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

So rejoice.  Ahhh, I hear some of you murmuring there that all those covenant promises were to the offspring of Abraham.  Well, then again I say rejoice.  Have you not heard?  All who believe in Jesus Christ through faith are the children of Abraham.  Paul makes this argument throughout chapter 3 of Galatians and also chapter 4 of Romans.  I urge you to carefully read both of those chapters.

Galatians 3: ⁶ Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

⁷ Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

⁸ And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

⁹ So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

Now that we have gotten that doubt out of the way.  Let’s go back and claim the truth that God is rejoicing over me with joy, resting in the magnitude of His love; He is pouring out His Joy with singing over me.  Like a mother cradles her small child in her arms and singing a sweet, sweet song.  That is the very way God is singing over me with His comforting song of love and His perfect plans for my good.  Only He in His omniscient, omnipotent power knows what is the very best for me.  He who knows that my hope, my joy, and my peace are secured in my relationship to Him.  I can trust Him even when I don’t see or understand the plan.

Listen closely to the words of this song.  The chorus goes like this:

Oh, there is freedom in surrender, oh I know it
your songs have never stopped
You’ve been singing, always singing over me
Your words are still enough
And You’re singing
Give me faith
Give me strength enough to wait
To stand in faith
And listen for, listen for Your melody

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mb9XGwpZEXQ