Key Verse: Hebrews 6:19‘’We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.’’

W E E K 1 :H O P E V S . F E A R

D E V O T I O N A L

How to use this study guide:This devotion / study guide is part of the Nairobi Chapel Personal and Family Worship Package. It will be provided on a weekly basis. For you to get the best out of it, here are a few catch words to make it fun and relatable and some guidelines to follow:

Instructions1. You will need a Bible, notebook and pen.2. Pray before you begin the study.3. Read the indicated Bible verses. Listen carefully to what God may be saying to you.4. Use the questions to help you look inwardly and begin thinking about what you will do with

what you will learn each day.5. Say the prayer at the end of each day.6. Memorize the key verse. The key verse for this study is taken from Hebrews 6:19, ‘’We have

this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.’’

Definitions:• Hook – This is a fun way to begin the study that aims at catching your attention• Book – Refers to the Bible passages related to the lesson for the day• Look – Helps you to begin connecting the ‘hook’ and the ‘book’ and also gives you an

opportunity to look inwardly in reflection in order to draw out personal key lessons.• Took – Helps you take responsibility over what you are going to do with the lessons learnt

each day.

MONDAY: Firm Foundation

HOOK: Take hold of a pillar in your house or a building and shake it. Why is it impossible to shake or cause it to fall?

BOOK: READ 1 Corinthians 3:11 ‘’For no one can lay any other foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.’’

LOOK: Buildings are built on foundations. The foundation of a building determines how firm and strong the building or structure will be. There are incidences where houses and other buildings have been swept away by floods. Let us explore some reasons why this could be possible:

Shaky grounds (READ: Matthew 7:26-27)What was the difference between the wise and foolish man’s house?

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____________________________________________________________________________Are you living your life according to God’s word/truths? How?

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Shallow grounding & structural weakness (READ: 1 Corinthians 3:12-13)What are some things you do that make you weak in the faith (What weak materials are you using to build)?_____________________________________________________________________________

In what ways can you grow deep in your faith? _________________________________________

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As Christians, our foundation stands firm because we are built and firmly rooted in Christ (Colossians 2:7). For this reason, we have hope in God’s deliverance from any storm that comes our way. God holds us firmly and therefore we will not be shaken in tough times.

TOOK: What did I learn today? _____________________________________________________________________________

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PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I recognize You as the firm foundation that will not be shaken even in tough times. I therefore choose to be anchored and rooted in You always. I will fear no evil for my faith is firmly established in You. Amen!

TUESDAY: Unseen reality

HOOK: Take a deep breath, then breathe out gently into your hands. (Ensure you wash your hands or sanitize before and after this exercise). Try to NOT breath for the longest duration you can hold your breath. After breathing out, can you see the air that you have just let out? What about when you are holding your breath, can you see the air that you are letting in? How long can you go without breathing? This is the same way faith operates. We may not see oxygen but we believe we breathe in oxygen, just as faith is the hope of things unseen, our senses help us to identify things.

BOOK: READ Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

LOOK: Reflect on the verses and questions below:

READ: John 20:29 The inability to hold the air we breathe in our hands does not disqualify its very presence. What does Jesus tell Thomas in this verse? ____________________________________________________________________________

READ: Romans 10:17 How is our faith is developed? ___________________________________

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Reading and studying God’s word causes us to grow in our faith. This will give us the ability to be certain that God is with us through everything we face, even though we may not see Him. The truth is that God is still with us and He will not leave us to fall or be harmed. This is our faith, this is the unseen reality and this is where we find our hope.

TOOK: What did I learn today? ____________________________________________________________________________

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PRAYER: Abba Father, I thank You for your blessings upon me and my family. I pray that You may help our unbelief so that we will believe the unseen and share our faith with those who do not believe. Amen!

WEDNESDAY: Source of SecurityHOOK: Have you ever left your room unlocked? How did it feel being away when your room was unlocked and you were not sure whom may have accessed it? Perhaps, you were so unsettled and you couldn’t wait to get back home!This is the same uncertainty that unbelievers have in time of calamity. They are not sure where to run to at such times hence they run aimlessly looking for help.

BOOK: Hebrews 6:19 ‘’We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the

inner sanctuary behind the curtain.’’

A ship’s anchor is not attached to the ship by Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity but it has a chain that joins the ship to the anchor. Without this chain, the ship won’t dock.

LOOK: Anyone who has confessed Christ as Savior and Lord of their life is assured of:

Safety (READ: Psalm 121:3-4)What is God doing for us according to this reading? ____________________________________

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Serenity (READ: Mark 4:35-38 & Philippians 4:7)

What was Jesus doing amidst the storm? ____________________________________________

If you had such peace that transcends all understanding, how would you live your life differently?

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God is our anchor and wants us to be at peace in moments of turmoil-both inwardly and outwardly. He has the whole world held in His hands and therefore nothing happens without His consent. If that be so, how much more has He held those who love Him, who are called by His name? (Psalm 33:18)

TOOK: What did I learn today?

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PRAYER:Father, we thank You because in Your arms we are safe and secure. You have upheld us in Your mercies and You are always concerned about our well-being. May You cast out every fear that may engulf us to cause us to doubt your presence in the storm. Amen!

THURSDAY: The OvercomerHOOK: Try fetching rain water in a bottle and let it rest for a while. Take the bottle and shake it. You will notice some particles in the bottle when you shake it but when the rain water is settled, the water is clean and you can sieve it for use.

BOOK: John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”What if fear sets in; should we give up our faith and lose our hope as well?

LOOK: The presence of faith does not guarantee absence of threats. There are things that will come to shake our faith and leave us hopeless as long as we are in this world. Jesus made His disciples aware of this fact in John16:33.

What is your greatest fear? What makes you anxious and/or afraid? _________________________

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READ: Psalm 119:105What sources of information (people, things or other media) instill fear and shake you?

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According to Psalm 119:105, what is the best source of information?

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READ: Hebrews 6:20

Who is a forerunner? ____________________________________________________________

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Jesus is not just a mere speaker of the word but a doer of it. According to Hebrews 6:20, Jesus already went ahead of us, conquered and came back with victory assured. We are assured of victory over fear because our forerunner has already overcome.

How does it make you feel knowing that Jesus has already overcome for us? ___________________

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Let us walk in the confidence of our faith that because Jesus lives so shall we live. The fears, anxieties and stress that life pushes our way should not push us away from faith. Instead, our faith should push them away. We shall overcome by the word of God and our faith shall become stronger rather than being weakened in the eye of the storm. This will result in our hope remaining alive.

TOOK: What did I learn today?

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PRAYER:Lord Jesus, we appreciate You for laying down Your life for our sake. You did not hold on to Your throne but love drove You to us on earth, to save us and You overcame. Our faith is built on You alone and because You hold our future, we are assured of facing tomorrow. Amen!

FRIDAY: Our Advocate HOOK: Did you know that in a court of law, no one approaches the judge without permission? Often times the accused or the witness may not approach but only the members of the bar (‘learned friends’), do.

BOOK: Hebrews 5:1 “Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins”

LOOK: Christ is a forerunner (Hebrews 6:20) and a High priest (Hebrews 4:15-16), appointed by God Himself to represent us.

READ: Romans 8:34Jesus died and was raised to life and is at the right hand of God doing something special for us. What is this? _____________________________________________________________________________

READ: James 1:15 and Hebrews 10:11-12According to James 1:15, human nature is sinful and its repercussion is death but according to the second reading, Christ was the final priest and is seated at the right hand of God. What did Christ do

for us once and for all? ____________________________________________________________________________

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How does understanding the sacrifice Jesus made at the cross make you feel and warrant you to live your life?_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________Having such a great intercessor, we ought to surrender our lives to Him. Laying down our lives by being dead to sin and alive in God (Romans 6:1). This is the greatest gift we can give to Him who gave it all for us. We need to be super-active in connecting others (more so our friends) to this great High Priest so that they too may have the privileges experienced by those in Him. Whoever connects with this High Priest will possess faith and have hope in Christ Jesus.

TOOK: What did I learn today?

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PRAYER: Master, we thank You for the great sacrifice You made for us and linked us to the Father. Grant us the grace and confidence to reach out to the lost and direct them to You the Giver of real joy and real life. Amen!