Hope Has A Rope (10.15.17 Notes)

Hope Has A Rope
#ThroughTheEyesOfALion
Week 3 Pastor Kris Freeman
Revolution Church

This series, Through the Eyes of a Lion, is based upon a book by Levi Lusko of the same name. It is recommended you order the book online or by electronic device to follow the series through the month of October at Revolution Church. This series is used by permission.

Hebrews 6:19
19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast.

Because a boat that is properly anchored will still face waves and wind, it just won’t be MOVED.
Because of Jesus, we have hope. And because of hope, even in the midst of the worst storms of this life, we are anchored.
- We have a living hope, because we have a living Lord
- The author of Hebrews doesn’t just tell us what we have, but rather he tells us what we are anchored to.

Hebrews 6:20 - this anchor “enters the presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus.”

• The Greek word for forerunner is prodromos
  
• A pilot boat called a prodromos would go ahead of a large vessel and bring its anchor into
  the harbor that was difficult to navigate.
  
• Large ships would would pull to the edge of the port and stop until a forerunner could come
  and grab the anchor
  • This is what JESUS did for us!
  As we make our way through life, we are slowly being WINCHED in closer to shore. There is no such thing as a WIRELESS anchor. So what is the rope?
  
  John 14:25-27
  25 These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
  
  John 16:7
  Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send him to you.
  
  The Holy Spirit is the ROPE connecting us to our HOPE. That means it’s up to us how loose or tight the CONNECTION will be.
  Having too much slack in the line can have DEVASTATING results. Keep close and keep connected.
  

1. Heaven is Nearer than it SEEMS.


Jesus said in Mark 1:15: The kingdom of God is near.

Remember the rear-view phrase: objects in mirror are CLOSER than they appear. The more we are filled with the Spirit, the closer the reflection of Jesus will be in our lives.

2. Illuminate Your Heart with the TRUTH.


When you are discouraged or devastated, it becomes easy to believe lies, and easy to be
tempted. Belief is the REMEDY to losing heart!


We must be intentional to comfort ourselves with the presence and promise of the resurrection. 3. 

3. Assemble with God’s PEOPLE.

Lions are the only social cat. Their strength comes from the “pride” (the group). If you mess with one, you have to take on them all. There is no greater way to reel the anchor in than to do it together.

Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. - Psalm 92:13

4. Hold On

Yet, though he slay me, I will trust Him. - Job 13:15

No matter how hard it gets, no matter how bad it hurts, hold onto the rope. It can hurt so bad - but don’t think of it in years, think of surviving one minute at a time. One hour at a time. One person at a time.

In these moments, the most important thing is to keep the SLACK out of your rope. 

#ThroughTheEyes