Tag Archives: hold fast

Hold Fast 7

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Today we will bring our current series of blog posts to a close.  Yet, the truth we are going to look at today could be the most important.

We must “Hold Fast to the Second Coming”.  In Jesus’ day the Jews wanted to make Him their King right then.  They wanted deliverance from the Roman rule.  Yet, Jesus did come to deliver them it was not from the iron fist of Rome.  He came to deliver them from the iron fist of the wicked one, the devil.  He came to deliver the Jews from their sin.

The sad reality is that they did not believe in Him then and they have a veil over their eyes.  The Jewish nation is still looking for Messiah to come the first time; but, He has already been here.

The reality is that He will be coming again, soon for His children.  He will return and we who know Him as Saviour will be snatched away or caught up with Him in the clouds.  The truth that Jesus is coming again is as sure as Jesus.  It is a done deal.  It is not a matter of “if”.  It is a matter of “when”.  Our responsibility is to be ready for His second coming and to help as many as will be prepared for His second coming.

Look at Revelation 2:5, “But that which ye have already hold fast till I come.”

So, how are you doing?

Hold Fast 6

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It is sad; but, we have become a people of entitlement.  We expect someone else to provide for us.  To give us what we want.  This is far too often way more than we need.  There is a deep and wide chasm between want and need.  As I progress in years I am very, very slowly learning this truth.

It has been said that within the Church that 20% of the people do 80% of the work.  I can see this.  It should not be this way though.  It should be 100% of the people doing 100% of the work.  I know, I know, dream on Preacher.  Just because it is not the reality does not negate the fact that it should be the reality.

We need to “Hold Fast to our Service”.  Look at Hebrews 12:28, “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:”  I like the phrase “serve God acceptably”.  It is not just being busy in the ministry.  It is; as Jesus said we are to be “about my Father’s business”.  He was not referring to carpentry; unless, you want to say it is carpentry to build the Kingdom of God.

We need to get back to an old fashioned Christianity where God’s people served Him with all their heart and soul.

So, how are you doing?

Hold Fast 5

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We live in a day where it is dark and turned upside down.  What used to be evil is now the normal thing to do.  We have departed from good and right.  We have left moral and we are running swiftly to amoral (no moral).

We should expect sinners to sin.  I mean really.  The rub comes in when Christians sin.  It is like we cast aside what we believe.  It is like we have not made a profession of faith in Christ.  Then it also damages the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Today I want to look at the truth of Hold Fast to our Profession.  Look at Hebrews 4:14, “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.”  The word “profession” means acknowledgement.  We need to hold on to our acknowledgement.  Sometimes we think it is easy to let go of the fact that we are Christians.  I am guilty of it and I am sure that you are too.

We have all been in situations where we let our flesh take over and “checked our Christianity at the door” so to speak.  This should not be!  We need to hold on to our profession or acknowledgement.  The writer of Hebrews also give more counsel in Hebrews 10:23, “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)”  We need to keep standing on firm ground and stop wavering.

So, how are you doing?

Hold Fast 4

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The day we live in is a dark day for sure.  One thing that brings me much sadness is how America has forsaken God.  We have forced Him out of our schools and there is a daily onslaught to remove Him from every aspect of American society.

Today I want to exhort you to “Hold Fast” to Christ.  Look at Hebrews 3:6, “But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.”  When disaster hits where do we go?  We cry out to the LORD Jesus Christ.  We cry out, “Oh God save me!”  We must get back to that attitude before tragedy strikes.

Too many people are letting go of Christ.  The great thing is that no matter if we let Him go, He will never let us go if we are His child.  This makes me extremely thankful!

People have replaced Church attendance with entertainment both inside and outside the walls of Church buildings.  We have replaced tithing with excessive spending.  We have replaced the Holy Spirit of the Living God with feelings.  In other words, we have replaced the real thing for the most counterfeit.

It is high time for you and I to get back to where the Word of God says we need to be and when we get there we need to “Hold Fast” to Christ.

So, how are you doing?

Hold Fast 3

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As we continue our series on “Hold Fast” I want to take time to look at something else that we need to “Hold Fast”.

Have you ever; like me, sat in Church and heard a great sermon?  Sure you have.  Do you remember what that sermon was?  I know.  I cannot either.  This bothers me terribly.  I mean the Pastor takes time to be in God’s Word and works diligently in his studies.  He is ever listening for the Spirit of the Living God to speak to him and as soon as the service is over it is gone.  This is bothersome to me to say the least for me and for my listeners.  At least in this blog you can go back and search it out if you are moved to do so.

So many times we are like a funnel in a negative way.  We let the truth come in and flow right on out.  Some that are in Church just sit, soak and sour.  God help us!

Look at I Corinthians 15:2, “By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.”  The word “keep” means to hold down (fast).  We need to “Hold Fast” the truth of God.  We too often let the truth slip and this is dangerous ground.

So, how are you doing?

Hold Fast 2

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There is an old saying in the realm of married men that goes, “You can be right or you can be happy.”  I am not going to go there today in this writing.  I am; however, going to continue the thought of “Hold Fast”.

We live in a world that has flip flopped.  The Bible warns us in the last days that men (and women) will call evil good and good evil.  We should not be surprised.  I guess if you neglect the reading of God’s Word then you might be surprised.

There are some things in life that are just wrong.  It does not matter if congress pass a law against it or for it.  Some things are wrong.  One hot topic I will mention is abortion.  I do not apologize for my stand on the subject.  Abortion is murder!  As one man said, “It may be legal; but, it is not lawful.”  This is right on point.

We have lost our moral compass in our day.  The sad reality is that we don’t even care.  I mean even in the Church we have lost our moral compass.  We have left off the Word of God and brought in some “version”.  We have substituted Christ-centered music for rock and roll.  We have changed worship to some emotional melting pot.

Churches are sadly giving up on righteousness.  This is sad!  It is gut wrenching.  The Church is the Bride of Jesus Christ.  He died for the Church.  We have let His Church become some unholy, unrighteous social club for saints and sinners alike where there is no difference.

We need to be like Job of old.  Look at Job 27:6, “My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.”  The words “hold fast” here mean to fasten upon, to seize.  Now there is an idea, Church.  Get a firm grip on the truth of God’s Word and hold fast or fasten upon It and seize It!

So, how are you doing?

Hold Fast

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Nearly a year ago I caught an episode of a television show, “The Woodwright’s Shop”.  I was fascinated by it.  The host Roy Underhill made beautiful wooden pieces with no power tools as we know them.  In one episode Mr. Underhill talks about something that every wood working person would need.  It is called a hold fast.

The hold fast is an amazing tool to me.  It is shaped somewhat like a shepherd’s crook and is made out of metal.  This tool was formed by a blacksmith.  The blacksmith would charge by the pound.  It is the same today.  Anything worth having must be paid for by someone.  Salvation is free to you and I; but, Jesus paid with His life.

The blacksmith will get the heat going.  The fire will be heated 100′ hotter than the melting point of the metal.  This is a hot, glowing fire.  The heat is not in the flames of the fire.  The heat is down in the coke.  Coke is actually coal with all the impurities burned off.  It is like you and I when we go through the Refiner’s fire.  Look at Malachi 3:2-3, “But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:  And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.”  The word “refiner’s” means to fuse (metal), i.e. refine (literally or figuratively).

So after the fire is banked to 100′ hotter than the melting point of the metal the piece is inserted into the coke where the highest heat will be at.  The piece is heated until it nearly sparks.  Then the piece is carried by the blacksmith in his tongs with heavy gloves on his hands to the anvil.  At the anvil; the blacksmith, will begin to shape the piece by hammering it.  The process is repeated until the desired shape is accomplished.

Dear friend, maybe you feel like your life is the furnace and that God has you shoved down into the coke.  Don’t worry, He is doing it to refine you and make you pure as gold.

So, how are you doing?