The
online Bible teaching ministry of Stephen
&
Brooksyne Weber
A
daily, Bible-based perspective of hope,
encouragement and exhortation.
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Thursday, September
7, 2023
Christ
the sure and
steady anchor
through the
floods of
unbelief
Hopeless, somehow, o my soul now lift your eyes to Calvary
This my ballast of assurance see His love forever proved
I will hold fast to the anchor it shall never be removed
Hopeless, somehow, o my soul now lift your eyes to Calvary
This my ballast of assurance see His love forever proved
I will hold fast to the anchor it shall never be removed
Click on photo to enlarge
"An
Anchor Of Hope"
Message
summary: All
who trust in
Christ have an
anchor of
hope, a living
hope. As we
live out our
lives we have
many of the
same problems
as others. But
our
perspective
differs based
on an empty
tomb and the
resurrection
of Jesus
Christ from
the dead. Our
hope is alive
and our
eternal future
awaits us, no
matter the
present
circumstances.
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure" (Hebrews 6:19). "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3).
While visiting upstate New York last weekend we saw the huge anchor featured in our lead photo along the Saint Lawrence River in Clayton, NY. As best as we could determine based on the descriptive placard in front of the anchor it was recovered from a shipwreck. It's sure a stunning sight when walking along the harbor.
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure" (Hebrews 6:19). "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3).
While visiting upstate New York last weekend we saw the huge anchor featured in our lead photo along the Saint Lawrence River in Clayton, NY. As best as we could determine based on the descriptive placard in front of the anchor it was recovered from a shipwreck. It's sure a stunning sight when walking along the harbor.
The
sight of an
anchor always
brings to mind
our first
daily text
which we both
memorized many
years ago, "We
have this hope
as an anchor
for the soul,
firm and
secure"
(Hebrews
6:19).
This
is the only
verse in the
Bible where
"anchor" is
used
figuratively.
(It is used
literally in
Acts during
Paul's
shipwreck
experience.
Anchor is a
direct
transliteration
of the Greek
work
"ἄγκυραν".
Anchor is used
as a theme in
many Christian
songs. A hymn
some of our
readers will
recognize is
an old gospel
song called
"Will Your
Anchor Hold"
written in
1882 by
Priscilla Jane
Owens in the
United States.
The words will
grip your
heart:
Will
your anchor
hold in the
storms of
life,
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift and the cables strain,
Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?
Refrain:
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Savior's love.
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift and the cables strain,
Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?
Refrain:
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Steadfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Savior's love.
A
more recent
hymn that has
touched our
hearts is
"Christ The
Sure And
Steady Anchor"
written by
Matt Papa (His
last name is
what I called
my grandpa!)
Today we all need a firm grasp on the anchor of hope in Christ, a living hope. Bible teacher F.B. Meyer calls this hope "the link between our present and future". This hope is "an anchor for the soul, firm and secure" (6:19). Some of you are facing very difficult circumstances in your life today. Hopelessness and despair can so easily take a grip if we forget to anchor our hope in Christ.
Our
"living hope"
is a result of
God's great
mercy and the
new birth He
has given us,
which is
grounded in
the glorious
resurrection
of Jesus
Christ from
the dead. The
apostle Peter
wrote the
words in our
second daily
text to
encourage
believers
undergoing
various trials
and
persecution.
Some thirty
years after
Christ's
resurrection
the church
entered a time
of horrific
persecution
during Nero's
reign. It was
shortly after
this that
Peter was
likely
martyred for
his faith.
Tradition
asserts he was
crucified
upside down.
What a tremendous encouragement this reminder of their present standing with God must have been to Peter and these early believers and we hope to so many others besieged by evil! Peter's initial readers, like us, had come to faith on the basis of the testimony of Peter and other eyewitnesses to the resurrection. They and everyone since are among those spoken of by Jesus when He said to Thomas. "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29).
All of us who trust in Christ have this living hope. As we live out our lives we have many of the same problems as others, but our perspective differs based on an empty tomb and the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Our hope is alive and our eternal future awaits us, no matter the present circumstances. Billy Graham characteristically states it so simply, "As a Christian I have hope not just for this life but for Heaven and the life to come."
We encourage you this day to keep the presence of our living hope ever before you! We promise you, in doing so you will be encouraged!
What a tremendous encouragement this reminder of their present standing with God must have been to Peter and these early believers and we hope to so many others besieged by evil! Peter's initial readers, like us, had come to faith on the basis of the testimony of Peter and other eyewitnesses to the resurrection. They and everyone since are among those spoken of by Jesus when He said to Thomas. "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29).
All of us who trust in Christ have this living hope. As we live out our lives we have many of the same problems as others, but our perspective differs based on an empty tomb and the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Our hope is alive and our eternal future awaits us, no matter the present circumstances. Billy Graham characteristically states it so simply, "As a Christian I have hope not just for this life but for Heaven and the life to come."
We encourage you this day to keep the presence of our living hope ever before you! We promise you, in doing so you will be encouraged!
Christ
the sure and
steady anchor
in the fury of
the storm
When the winds of doubt blow through me and my sails have all been torn
In the suffering, in the sorrow when my sinking hopes are few
I will hold fast to the anchor, it shall never be removed
When the winds of doubt blow through me and my sails have all been torn
In the suffering, in the sorrow when my sinking hopes are few
I will hold fast to the anchor, it shall never be removed
Be
encouraged
today,
(Hebrews
3:13)
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
Weber
Daily prayer:
Father, help
me not to
waste my time
or energy in
futile or
wishful
thinking.
Instead I want
to fix my
thoughts upon
the living
hope found in
Jesus Christ
my Lord. I
anchor my soul
in the bedrock
of Your Holy
Word so that
when other
views counter
the truths
presented in
Your Word my
anchor remains
firm. When
difficulties
appear
insurmountable,
remind me that
I serve an
extraordinary
God who does
not rely on
man-made
solutions but
works in the
supernatural
realm to meet
my needs. Your
solutions to
my problems
are not
subject to my
scrutiny but
rather I
conform to
Your leading
and accept
Your plan for
my life. In
doing so I am
not tossed to
and fro by
winds and
waves, but I
am firmly
grounded in
the living
hope of our
resurrected
Lord and
Savior. It is
in His name
that we anchor
our hope and
faith. Amen.
Today's
Suggested
Music and
Supplemental
Resources
"We
Have an
Anchor"
Watch
video on
YouTube
The Hymns
Project
"Christ
The Sure And
Steady Anchor"
Watch
video on
YouTube
Matt Papa,
Matt Boswell,
Keith &
Kristyn Getty
Update:
Last week we
shared about
our friend
Nick, who fell
while
dismounting
his bike while
on a bike ride
with Stephen
and broke his
hip requiring
surgery. He is
now in a rehab
and doing
well.
Brooksyne and
Ester visited
him yesterday
and he was
demonstrating
the victory!
Today
we share more
photos from
our trip last
weekend to
upstate New
York and share
our final set
tomorrow.
Yesterday we
used a
nautical theme
(the islands),
and today the
anchor.
Tomorrow we
will share
another
nautical theme
based upon
what we saw,
lighthouses.
Dusk
on Sackets
Harbor
Homes
are all along
the Saint
Lawrence
River, both on
the islands
and along the
mainland.
We
spotted this
classy antique
car while
walking along
Riverside
Drive in
Clayton, NY.
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In considering support we are so pleased when we hear from you, our readers, that our messages are a source of teaching and encouragement to you. We also urge you to consider the mission aspect of these daily teachings that are freely available and read by many all over the world.
To
donate
directly
online
click here.
(This will
open to a page
that
designates the
offering
to: STEPHEN
&
BROOKSYNE
WEBER -
700001-237376 SERVING
IN SPECIALIZED
CHAPLAINCY)
If
you desire you
can also
donate
directly
through PayPal
using this link.
This will open
to a page that
states
"Brooksyne
Weber". We
keep this
option
available due
to the
familiarity,
convenience,
for
international
supporters,
and for those
who may not
need an
official
receipt. You
can also set
up for
recurring
donations.
Thank
you,
Stephen
&
Brooksyne
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radioPermissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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