Anchored in Christ: Finding Stability Through Scripture

Devotional

Day 1: The Reality of Jesus—Not Just a Ghost

The resurrected Jesus appeared to His disciples, not as a ghost or a figment of their imagination, but as a living, tangible person who invited them to touch Him and even ate in their presence. Despite all they had seen and experienced, the disciples struggled to believe He was truly real, showing how easy it is for us to let doubt and emotion cloud our faith. Jesus’ insistence on His reality challenges us to move beyond speculation and emotional highs and lows, and to anchor our faith in the truth that He is alive and present, not just a story or a comforting idea. [11:34]

Luke 24:36-43 (ESV)
As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.

Reflection: In what area of your life do you treat Jesus more like a distant idea or story than a living, present Savior? How can you invite Him to show Himself real to you today?

Day 2: Faith Beyond Emotions—Steadiness in the Storms

Many believers base their sense of Jesus’ reality on emotional highs or favorable circumstances, but true faith is proven when we remain steady in the midst of pain, disappointment, or unanswered prayers. The call is to know Jesus as real even on the hardest days, not just when life is going well, and to refuse to let our faith be dictated by our feelings or circumstances. When we anchor ourselves in the unchanging reality of Christ, we find a steadiness that carries us through every storm, no matter how fierce. [16:22]

James 1:2-4 (ESV)
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Reflection: When life gets hard, do you tend to pull away from God or press deeper into Him? What is one practical way you can choose steadiness in Christ today, regardless of your emotions?

Day 3: The Scriptures Reveal Jesus’ Reality

Jesus Himself used the Scriptures to reveal His reality to doubting disciples, showing that the Bible is not just a religious book but the very means by which we encounter the living Christ. If even the resurrected Son of God pointed to the Scriptures to prove who He is, then we too must turn to the Word—not for mere information or religious duty, but to truly know Him and find life. The Bible is a supernatural book, breathed by God, and when we open it with hunger and faith, Jesus meets us in its pages. [27:39]

Luke 24:44-45 (ESV)
Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

Reflection: How do you approach reading the Bible—out of habit, obligation, or genuine desire to encounter Jesus? What would it look like to open the Scriptures today expecting to meet the living Christ?

Day 4: Scripture as Our Source of Life, Peace, and Warfare

The Word of God is not just for religious routine; it is our source of life, hope, peace, and spiritual victory. In times of anxiety, fear, or spiritual attack, it is the Scriptures that steady us, bring us comfort, and empower us to stand firm. Jesus Himself used Scripture to defeat the devil, and we are called to do the same—declaring God’s promises over our lives and homes, and letting His Word become our anchor and our weapon in every battle. [36:26]

Ephesians 6:17 (ESV)
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Reflection: What is one specific worry, fear, or battle you are facing right now? Find a Scripture that speaks to it, and declare it over your life today.

Day 5: Finding Steadiness and Life in God’s Word

No matter how long you have followed Jesus or how many times you have read the Bible, the invitation remains to seek His life in the Word every day. The Scriptures are not just for checking a box or feeling religious; they are the breath of God, bringing steadiness, hope, and transformation. When you open the Bible with a heart to find Jesus, He will meet you in your sorrow, your anxiety, your questions, and your joys, and you will discover a steadiness that no storm can shake. [45:43]

Psalm 119:105 (ESV)
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Reflection: How can you make space today to open God’s Word not just for information, but to truly encounter His presence and find the steadiness your soul longs for?

Sermon Summary

The days between Jesus’ resurrection and ascension were filled with moments where He revealed Himself to people who struggled to believe He was truly alive. Even those who had walked with Him for years, witnessed miracles, and heard His teachings, found it easier to believe in a ghost than in the reality of the resurrected Christ. This struggle is not unique to the first disciples; it is a challenge that persists today. Many believers live on an emotional roller coaster, their faith rising and falling with the circumstances of life, never truly anchored in the reality of Jesus.

Personal tragedy can shake the foundations of belief. I shared my own story of loss, guilt, and anxiety after my first wife was killed by a drunk driver. Even as a Christian, I wrestled with fear, panic, and the nagging sense that God had let me down. In my desperation, I made bargains with God, thinking that religious performance—like reading my Bible every day—would somehow earn His favor or alleviate my pain. Yet, even after years of daily Bible reading, I found myself still emotionally unstable, missing the deeper reality of Christ’s presence.

The disciples’ encounter with the risen Jesus in Luke 24 is telling. Despite seeing Him, touching Him, and watching Him eat, they still doubted. Jesus didn’t perform more miracles to convince them; instead, He opened the Scriptures and showed how all of it pointed to Him. The reality of Jesus is not grounded in our emotions or experiences, but in the truth of God’s Word. If the resurrected Christ Himself used Scripture to reveal His reality, how much more should we turn to the Bible—not as a religious checkbox, but as the living, breathing Word that brings us into contact with the real Jesus?

Life will always bring anxiety, loss, and uncertainty. No amount of spiritual experience or emotional high can sustain us through every storm. But when we anchor ourselves in Scripture, we find a steadying force that transcends our circumstances. The Word of God is not just a book; it is the place where Jesus meets us, heals us, and gives us life. In the highs and lows, it is His Word that steadies us, grounds us, and proves to us that He is not a ghost—He is real.

Key Takeaways

1. The reality of Jesus must be settled beyond emotional highs and lows. If faith is only as strong as our best days, we will falter when life gets hard. True faith presses deeper into Christ, especially in suffering, refusing to let circumstances dictate our belief in His reality. [15:02]
2. Religious performance, like daily Bible reading, can become a substitute for real relationship if we approach it as a duty rather than a pursuit of Christ Himself. The life of Jesus is not found in checking boxes, but in seeking Him in the pages of Scripture with a hungry heart. [32:28]
3. Jesus Himself used the Scriptures to reveal His reality to doubting disciples. If the Son of God relied on the Word to prove who He was, we should not look for life in emotional experiences or spiritual highs alone, but in the living Word that points us to Him. [27:39]
4. The storms and anxieties of life are inevitable, but Scripture is our anchor. When we bring the Word of God into our homes, our parenting, and our personal struggles, we find peace, hope, and strength that no circumstance can shake. [42:35]
5. The difference between a life tossed by emotions and a life anchored in Christ is the revelation that Jesus is real, not just a comforting idea or a religious tradition. When we encounter Him in the Word, we are steadied, transformed, and able to endure both the mundane and the tragic with unwavering faith. [44:31]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:08] - Series Introduction: Resurrection to Ascension
[00:48] - Personal Story of Loss and Wrestling with God
[03:08] - Bargaining with God and the Golf Story
[06:23] - The Road to Emmaus: Encountering the Risen Jesus
[09:02] - Jesus Appears: “I’m Not a Ghost”
[11:06] - The Struggle to Believe Jesus is Real
[12:22] - Emotional Faith vs. Real Encounter
[15:02] - Faith in the Highs and Lows
[20:17] - Jesus Teaches: Reality Not Based on Experience
[23:48] - Jesus Proves His Reality: Hands, Feet, and Food
[27:08] - The Power of Scripture to Reveal Christ
[29:17] - The Bible: More Than a Book
[34:28] - The Roller Coaster of Life and the Steadiness of the Word
[39:36] - Sharing Faith and Scripture with the Next Generation
[42:35] - Practical Encouragement: Bringing the Word into Daily Life
[44:31] - Living Steady: Anchored in the Word
[45:01] - Prayer and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

In Luke 24, what are some specific things Jesus does to show the disciples He is not a ghost?
According to John 5:39-40, what does Jesus say is the true purpose of the Scriptures?
In the sermon, what personal story does the pastor share to illustrate how tragedy can shake someone’s faith?
What does 1 Peter 5:7 instruct believers to do with their anxieties and cares?

Interpretation Questions

Why do the disciples still struggle to believe Jesus is real, even after seeing and touching Him and watching Him eat? What does this reveal about the nature of faith?
The pastor describes a long period of reading the Bible daily but still feeling emotionally unstable. What does this suggest about the difference between religious performance and real relationship with Jesus?
Jesus chooses to use the Scriptures to reveal Himself to the disciples rather than performing more miracles. What does this say about the role of God’s Word in building faith?
According to the sermon, how does anchoring oneself in Scripture help believers face the inevitable storms and anxieties of life?

Application Questions

The pastor shares that after his wife’s death, he tried to bargain with God and relied on daily Bible reading as a way to earn God’s favor, but it didn’t bring lasting peace. Have you ever tried to “earn” God’s favor through religious habits? How did that affect your relationship with Him?
When life gets hard or you experience loss, do you find your faith rising and falling with your emotions? What are some ways you can anchor your faith in the reality of Jesus rather than your circumstances?
The sermon says that reading the Bible as a “checkbox” can leave us unchanged, but seeking Jesus in the Scriptures brings life. How do you approach your Bible reading? What could you do differently to seek Jesus Himself, not just information or routine?
The pastor encourages parents to bring the Word of God into their homes and over their children. What are some practical ways you could do this in your family or household this week?
The difference between a life tossed by emotions and a life anchored in Christ is the revelation that Jesus is real. What is one area of your life right now where you need to be steadied by the reality of Jesus? How can you invite Him into that area through His Word?
The sermon mentions that anxiety and cares will always be present, but Scripture is our anchor. What is one specific anxiety or care you are carrying right now? How could you practice “casting” it on Jesus this week?
The pastor says, “When you open [the Bible] up and you dare believe that it’s real, he will find you in the pages.” Have you ever experienced God meeting you in Scripture during a difficult time? Would you be willing to share that with the group?

Sermon Clips

Many believers never arrive at a depth of understanding about Jesus because often belief is not much more than a speculation that is coupled with emotional highs and lows. They never know the real Jesus. [00:12:11]

It's easier for many Christians to believe that Elon Musk is the Antichrist than Jesus is truly real. It's easier to believe in Bigfoot than the reality of Jesus. It's easier to believe that the earth is flat or round and nefilm and demons and conspiracy theories and whether Oswald really shot JFK. [00:12:49]

Jesus understood if you do not settle the fact that I'm real, you will never make it. I am not a figment of your imagination. I'm not here for your emotional highs and lows. I am the resurrected Christ. [00:13:33]

Because if he's truly real to you, at your lowest point of life, you would press deeper into him than run. If he's truly real to you, when someone hurts your feelings, you don't tap out. You draw closer to him. [00:15:20]

I wish it were not true, but much of this thing called Protestant Christianity is nothing more than people living highs and lows emotionally posting how good God is on their good days and how the devil's attacking them on their bad days. [00:15:54]

If he's real, suck it up. Because he's real, I should be able to deal with my little emotional whims of getting my feelings hurt. I'm not talking to you. I'm talking to me. [00:16:46]

Many Christians are more concerned with your own happiness than whether or not he's happy. You're concerned with your own will and not his because the only reason you're asking for his will is so your life will go better. [00:17:27]

But the reality is he had already done those things and they still didn't believe. He had already done miracles that no human could do. So, how if you've done everything you can do, if you've done miracles that aren't the norm, if you've gone beyond logic into the realm of the supernatural, if you're standing in front of them supernaturally and they're touching you naturally and you're eating and they still don't believe, what do you do to convince them? [00:26:31]

The way Jesus convinced a bunch of disbelieving people is Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the resurrected son of God who bought the sins of all humanity and did more miracles than the Gospel of John said we could even write down, picks up the scriptures and uses the scripture to prove to them, I'm real. [00:27:12]

If you serve him off of experiences and emotions alone, you will not be a strong disciple. You will be out of the game as soon as life gets hard. But he knew if I can convince you from this that I am real, those who truly hunger and thirst and dig for me will find me. [00:30:47]

You want to know if he's real, get in the Bible. He'll prove himself real to you. Even Jesus says this in the Gospel of John chapter 5. You search the scriptures because you think they give you eternal life, but these scriptures point to me and yet you still refuse to receive life. [00:31:17]

Because in my reading scripture to check my box to make him happy, I miss the reality of Jesus. I miss the life of Jesus. And I knew it was going that way for this because after I'd been reading a while, this is how my Bible reading would go. [00:32:34]

When you open it up and you dare believe that it's real, he will find you in the pages. He will find your sorrow in here. You will find your hurt in here. You will find your suffering in here. You will find your hope in here. You will find your joy in here. [00:35:38]

His words are life. They're a light unto my feet and a lamp unto my path. His words are my medicine. Proverbs 4. His scriptures. Jesus fought a spiritual warfare. The devil said, "If you really are the son of God," he said, "the scriptures say Jesus used scripture to defeat the devil." [00:36:14]

If you'll bow your head, as much as I love all of you, I would counsel you for free. I'd listen to your struggles, and I would help you. You would owe me nothing for it. But at the end of the day, I can't fix you. Neither will alcohol or anger or running. [00:41:05]

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