From Clochr Valley in County Tyrone we present Let the Bible Speak. It's good to have you join us as Gospel Minister the Reverend Peter McIntyre is here to let the Bible speak and preach Christ in all his fullness. I would like to read some verses to you from Hebrews chapter 6 beginning at the verse 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 which hope we have as an anchor of the soul both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil, whether the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made in high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. We know that God will bless the reading of his word to our hearts. Today I would like to talk to you about Christian hope. In Hebrews chapter 6 in the verse 19 we read, which hope we have as an anchor of the soul. Let's think about Christian hope and what it is. The hopes of this world are fickle. They are prone to failure. Not so Christian hope. Christian hope is not an illusion. It's not a mirage in the desert. In the book of 1 Corinthians chapter 13, Christian hope is united to faith and to love. faith, hope and charity. And the greatest of these is charity, the greatest of these is love. And it is faith ultimately that gives our hope reality. Because we have our faith resting in Jesus Christ and because Jesus Christ died and rose again, the hope of the Christian is always real. It is indicative of something that will always come to pass. because it is united to Christ. So as certainly as Christ is real, the Christian hope is real. In the book of Romans chapter 4 and the verse 18 we read about Abraham who against hope believed and hoped that he might become the father of many nations. According to that which was spoken so shall thy seed be. Abraham was given this promise that he would have a family. And yet he was an old man, his wife was an old woman. They never had a family. God said you're going to have a family. They're going to be more numerous than the stars of the sky or the sand upon the seashore. It seemed the most unlikely thing. against hope, even though all the circumstances argued against it, he believed in what God had said. And so it is today. We believe in the authority of God's Word. We believe in Christ who's revealed in the Word. We believe in the fact of Christ's life, we believe in all the promises of God and we believe that we have a great God, a remarkable God, a wonderful God who will never fail and who will keep his word and keep his covenant. Indeed in Hebrews chapter 6, the passage that I've just read to you, the writer of the Hebrews, the Apostle Paul, he talks about the covenant. He says, by two immutable things in which it was impossible for God to lie. Two unchangeable things, it's impossible for God to lie. Because we've got his covenant, we've got his promise. Whenever you make a covenant, you're not going to break that bond. It is more than a promise, it is an oath. And we're actually told that God has sworn by himself, God has made a vow by himself on his own honour that he will maintain his word and maintain his promises and so our Christian hope is built upon all of this. God's word, God's promises, God's Son. That is why we must hold on to Christian hope and believe it and if you don't know Christ today, you have no hope. Oh how we need hope and how we need the Christian hope. We don't need the fickle hopes of this world that will fade away. We need a hope that is substantial. We live in a world of suffering, that's why we need hope. This is a suffering world. It is a world that has pain, it is a world that we cannot live for this world because in this world we're heading down to the grave. We feel it every day, the onward march of life. The graveyards are filling up, the undertakers are busy, the grave diggers are at their work because ultimately we live in a world of death and in this world of death we need, we must have, hope and that hope is found in Jesus Christ. There is no other hope and the Christian hope is an eternal hope. It is a hope that teaches us that we're only here for a little time and then one day we're going to be in heaven. Heaven, is that a real place? Is it a myth or is it something that will take place? Is there such a place as heaven? Well, Christ said there was, he said, let not your heart be troubled, oh how we need that. We live in a troubled world. Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions, if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And in Colossians chapter one and the verse five, Paul's talked about the hope that is laid up for you in heaven. There's a hope laid up. There's a hope prepared. Because ultimately we live in a world of death, and in this world of death, We need, we must have hope and that hope is found in Jesus Christ. There is no other hope. And the Christian hope is an eternal hope. It is a hope that teaches us that we're only here for a little time and then one day we're going to be in heaven. Heaven, is that a real place? Is it a myth, or is it something that will take place? Is there such a place as heaven? Well, Christ said there was. He said, let not your heart be troubled. Oh, how we need that. We live in a troubled world. Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And in Colossians chapter one and the verse five, Paul's talked about the hope. that is laid up for you in heaven. There's a hope laid up. There's a hope prepared. Christ has prepared this place. Christ has made this place ready for us who are troubled in this world in order that we might have hope. In the book of Hebrews chapter 12, the Apostle Paul, he talks about the metaphor for Christian hope. is an anchor which hope we have, he says, as an anchor of the soul. Whenever you think of an anchor, you think of something that is secure, something that represents perseverance and steadfastness. The anchor can steady the vessel in stormy seas. The anchor can keep the vessels moored to the refuge. The anchor prevents the vessels from being lost or wrecked. An anchor is a lifesaver. An anchor gives assurance. We are in stormy seas. It's a troublesome and turbulent world. This hope is our anchor. The world can't give you that hope. Our hope is not in this world. Our hope is in the world to come and in the Christ who has prepared a place for us in heaven. Now an anchor must always be suited to the task. You wouldn't put an anchor for a small ship in a large ship. An anchor must be suited to the vessel. And this anchor of the soul, it is suited for the task of keeping the soul safe. It will hold us. It will prevent us from being unstable. It is an anchor that gives us confidence. It is an anchor that enables us to be patient. It is an anchor that gives us assurance. It is an anchor that gives us peace. We have all of these things because of this great anchor. But finally, let me share with you a few thoughts about the origin of this Christian hope. Where does it come from? Is this Christian hope grounded upon the philosophy of a church? Is this Christian hope founded upon the ideas of a man? Is this Christian hope grounded upon the thinking of some great author or preacher? No. Romans 15, 13 talks about the God of hope. This hope begins with God himself. That's the beauty of it. That's the glory of it. It is God's hope that he has made for us. And here in Hebrews chapter 6 we read about Christ entering into a veil. The high priest in the Old Testament went behind the veil every year and he carried his blood. And he presented the blood to God and the Holy of Holies in order that the people might be accepted. And we have a great picture here of Christ. He's entering into the veil. The veil is being parted and he's presenting his blood. It is the precious blood of Christ that gives us hope. The hymn writer wrote, I have no other argument, I need no other plea. It is enough that Jesus died and that he died for me. You can have hope today in this hopeless world. It's a dreadful thing to be without hope. If you have untrusted Christ as your saviour, You have no hope but come to Him today and you can have hope forever. Please consider these words and turn to the Lord Jesus and find new life in Him. I thank you so much for listening. you've been listening to Let the Bible Speak if we can be of any further spiritual help or if you would like to receive some free gospel literature we invite you to write to us our mailing address is Let the Bible Speak Rev. Peter McIntyre 13 Willand Crescent, Five Mile Town, County Tyrone BT 75 OQL that's Let the Bible Speak Rev. Peter McIntyre Thirteen, Willand, Crescent, Five Mile Town, County Tyrone, BT75, OQL. You may hear Mr. McIntyre preach each Lord's Day here in Clocker Valley Free Presbyterian Church at 11.30am and 7pm. For further information you may phone us at 028 8952 1611. 028 8952 1611. We assure you of a very warm welcome at all the services and look forward to having you visit with us. Thank you for listening today, may the Lord richly bless you, and don't forget to tune in on this same station at the same time next week, when once again we turn to the scriptures and let the Bible speak.