hope for the doubter

“ Hope for the

Doubter”Hebrews 6:13-20

Hope for doubters…•There are many words of which we automatically know the “opposites”•North, East, Up, Left, Hot, Big, etc.•But there are also many without obvious opposites; but after you think awhile, you realize the opposites are polar and absolutely mutually exclusive•Like Hope and Doubt…

Hope for doubters…•Doubt shakes our faith and reduces our prayers to nothing more than mumbles•But God can use that too: Sometimes we come to the Lord despondently, or defiantly, oblivious to what is happening behind the scenes in this world•Oswald Chambers said this:•“Doubt is not always a sign that a man is wrong. It may be a sign that he is thinking.”

Hope for doubters…•There is a difference between doubting and unbelief, especially in the Greek•Doubt is mind, Unbelief is heart•Doubt is when we cannot understand what God is doing and why He is doing it•Unbelief is when we refuse to believe God’s Word and do what He tells us to do•Maybe you’ve been asking “why” a lot lately; His timing and what He allows make no sense

“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.”

1 Corinthians 13:12 (NASB)

Hope for doubters…•The Jewish Christians in Israel in the first century were persecuted by their religious leaders in every possible way•In many ways it’s the same Israel today•Some of these first century Christian Jews were doubting their faith in Christ and becoming impatient with the Lord for His answers of their prayers•So, the author assures them…

“13 For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, “I WILL SURELY BLESS YOU AND I WILL SURELY MULTIPLY YOU.” 15 And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise. 16 For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute. 17 In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things in

which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, 20 where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

Hebrews 6:13-20 (NASB)

A. God’s Promise and Oath…•Vs 13-16,

“13 For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, “I WILL SURELY BLESS YOU AND I WILL SURELY MULTIPLY YOU.” 15 And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise. 16 For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute.” Hebrews 6:13-16 (NASB)

A. God’s Promise and Oath…•Vs 13-16, People swearing an oath means nothing anymore•But when God promises, it can’t be broken•When He promised Abraham, scripture says that He made an oath to Himself– a double assurance!•There are three categories within our lives where doubts can run rampant…

3 areas when doubt runs wild1. When things we believe should never

happen, happen•Though we know that the Lord is righteous, good, just, gracious, loving, and merciful, there are times in life when He lets things occur that seem just the opposite•The Lord allows things to happen to us that don’t seem like His character sometimes; that catches us off guard, and we begin to wonder and doubt

3 areas when doubt runs wild1. When things we believe should never happen,

happen2. When things we believe should happen, never

happen•Knowing God within our limited knowledge, we assume our prayer requests are be right in His will•Sometimes praying for healing, prodigals’ returns, justice for injustice, and help seem somewhat lost•When we don’t seem to get the answer we ask for, our doubts can multiply

3 areas when doubt runs wild1. When things we believe should never happen,

happen2. When things we believe should happen, never

happen3. When things we believe should happen now, happen

much later•“No” stinks. “Wait” is worse. The Author talked about Abraham for a reason•The Lord promised Abraham and Sarah a son at 75 and 65 respectively– they had to wait 25 years more

B. Two Immutable Things…•Vs 17-18,

“17 In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.”

Hebrews 6:17-18 (NASB)

B. Two Immutable Things…•Vs 17-18, The promise that God gave to Abraham was not only for him, but also for all the ‘heirs of promise’•Abraham and his Jewish descendants are the first of these heirs, but all Believers are included as “Abraham’s spiritual seed”•So our assurance of salvation is guaranteed by God’s promise and His oath

“And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.”

Galatians 3:29 (NASB)

B. Two Immutable Things…•The two immutable things are God’s promise and His oath•The Bible is full of His promises to carry us through trouble, 3573 of them

“For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.”

2 Corinthians 1:20 (NASB)

B. Two Immutable Things…•The two immutable things are God’s promise and His oath•The Bible is full of His promises to carry us through trouble, 3573 of them•See the phrase “who have fled for refuge” in v18?•This comes from “cities of refuge” from Numbers 35 and Joshua 20 in the OT•We, born-again Christians have fled to Jesus Christ, our eternal refuge. As our High Priest, He will never die and we have eternal salvation. •No one can take us out of His loving and protective hands!!

C. Jesus, the Soul Anchor…•Vs 19-20,

“19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, 20 where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”

Hebrews 6:19-20 (NASB)

C. Jesus, the Soul Anchor…•Vs 19-20, Historically, the anchor was a symbol of hope long before its use here•There are three things I’d like you to remember about the “anchor”

1. An anchor does nothing to stabilize a tossed ship•Ever hear some one say, “I know that Jesus died for peoples’ sins and He is the Savior of the world. That’s really good.”•Unless he is our savior, the knowledge doesn’t keep one from being tossed ‘to and fro’ on life’s stormy sea

3 Things about the anchor…1. An anchor does nothing to

stabilize a tossed ship2. The anchor may be strong and

secured to the ocean floor, but if not securely attached to the ship it does no good

•After Salvation, we must keep faith in Him in everything we do– Faith in Him is HOPE•Hope is the chain that connects the anchor and ship

3 Things about the anchor…1. An anchor does nothing to stabilize a

tossed ship2. The anchor may be strong and secured to

the ocean 58 floor, but if not attached to the ship it does no good

3. The analogy isn’t perfect– we are “anchored” upward, and to Jesus for forward movement!

•In the Tabernacle days, the HP would pour blood over the mercy seat on the ark of the covenant once a year…

Take Home!! •If you’re in that painful space of doubt right now, my word for you is, “Persevere! Hope in God. This is not the end.”

“Why are you in despair, O my soul?And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him,The help of my countenance and my God.”

Psalm 42:11 (NASB)

Take Home!! •If you’re in that painful space of doubt right now, my word for you is, “Persevere! Hope in God. This is not the end.”•God’s answers for our prayers are filled with His love and His best interest for us whether the answer is “Yes,” “No,” or even “Wait.” He is not asking us to understand now what He is doing, but asking us to trust Him.