Hope

Hebrews 6: 13 - 20

13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no

one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself,14 saying, “I will

surely bless you and give you many descendants.” 15 And so after

waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.

16 People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the

oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.

17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his

purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he

confirmed it with an oath.

18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is

impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the

hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.

19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It

enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,

20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has

become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

V13 & 14 = God promised and sealed it with His own name –

was/is there a greater name and power to seal His promise?

V14 & 15 = “I will bless you and give you (Abraham) many

descendants”

… “waiting patiently” – over 25 years … felt FOREVER!

… “Abraham received what was promised” – Isaac, one child!

Looking in forward, when the Israelites returned to Jerusalem to

build the 2nd Temple…some wept because it was not as ‘grand

and beautiful’ as the 1st Temple built by Solomon over 70 years

before Zechariah’s time. Zech 4: 10, “Who dares to despise the

day of small things…?”

V16 & 17, God confirms His promise with an oath - there was no

one greater to swear an oath to so God used Himself to legally

bind His promise to Abraham – ‘legally bind’ = oath

Because God declared His promise an “oath” , it put an end to

any arguments –true or not true??? It IS TRUE because God made

His promise an OATH…was it Ishmael or was the promise Isaac? It

is Isaac!

The OATH made the promise ‘unchangeable’ – God cannot lie! It

is impossible for God to lie (v18)

And because God cannot lie… we have HOPE!

V19, This hope is an anchor to our soul, it is firm and secure!

What is ‘hope’?

Dictionary:

‘secular hope is a state of mind that wishes for good with no

assurance that it will actually happen. Biblical hope is filled with

assurance, certainty, and trust. It is a hope you can believe

because a trustworthy and faithful God has already promised you

it will be so.’

‘A cherished desire with active anticipation’

4 Elements of hope: positivity; responsibility; agility (flexible and

‘bounces’); and reality

Quality of hope:

Not a ‘feel good’ emotion, it

is an action-oriented

strength involving the

motivation and confidence

that goals can be reached

Purpose: encourages a

resilience in face of difficulty

Flower: the iris –bridge

between heaven and earth

Color: blue and green

Bible verses about HOPE:

Psalm 62: 5 –6, “For God alone, o my soul, wait in silence,

for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my

salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.”

Proverbs 13: 12, “Hope deferred (put off) makes the heart

sick but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.”

Romans 15: 13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy

and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow

with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Romans 4: 18 –21, “Hope against hope – against all hope,

Abraham believed” – fact ‘his body was a good as dead’ yet he

did not waver; being fully persuaded that God had the power to

do what He promised.”

Job 17: 9 –15, “Where is my (Job’s) hope?...Nevertheless, the

righteous hold on…and will grow stronger…If I yield to corruption –

where is my hope? The desires on my heart (hope in God) turn

night into day…in face of darkness – light is near!”

What is our hope –

the oath given by

God?

V20, “… Jesus, has

entered the holiest

of holies on our

behalf. He has

become a high

priest forever, in the

order of

Melchizedek.”

Jesus –an anchor to my soul, firm and

secure!