STAND FIRM AND HOLD FAST

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.

2 Thessalonians 2:15

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Have you ever been out in the elements when a strong wind blew?

I know I have and even if you haven’t, you may have watched a weather channel as brave meteorologists reported live as hurricanes were making landfall. In either instance, whether through personal experience or witnessing someone else go through it, we have learned that the force of such high winds made it hard to walk toward its direction or even try to remain in place as its power sought to move you backwards, often times succeeding. People in the midst of the storm desperately seek to brace themselves or find something immovable to hold onto.

You know, the difficulties we go through in life can be a lot like these mighty storms with their associated mighty gusts. They come against us with such force that we are moved from the place of safety we once were in and we urgently (and sometimes frantically) try to keep our footing or grab a hold of something to keep from being swept away.

After Paul left the church in Thessalonica to continue his missionary work in other locales, he held a concern that his brothers and sisters in Christ might come under siege from outsiders who would attempt to churn up storms to damage the Gospel work that he had started. We know through our study of the two letters to the Thessalonians that persecution was happening as well as false teaching regarding the return of Jesus.

And so into these forays to stir up the strong winds of confusion and deception, Paul writes these words to his brothers and sisters in Christ, words that still resonate with believers today:

So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. 2 Thessalonians 2:15

Stand firm and hold fast.

This was Paul’s exhortation which we see is given in the form of a command. He doesn’t say, “You should try to stand firm and hold fast” or “I suggest that you make every attempt to stand form and hold fast.” No, the Apostle is giving an order to the Thessalonian believers.

Stand firm and hold fast.

Note that he then tells them what they are to stand firm on and hold fast to.

Stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you

What were those teachings?

We know that they were Gospel-centric which means that the people knew about God’s plan for redemption and salvation for all people, the new covenant He put in place through the life, death, and resurrection of His Son Jesus. The Thessalonians would have been fully aware of how they were saved and the critical role of God’s love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and pardon in the process. They also would have known the rich inheritance they had gained as a result of their decision to believe in Jesus as Savior.

This would have been the main teaching Paul and his fellow missionaries would have passed onto the members of the church in Thessalonica. They are also the teachings we should be standing firm and holding fast to today.

Now, we have an even greater benefit than the Thessalonian Christian had because we have access to the entirety of God’s holy Word at our disposal, a Word that offers us additional encouragement to support the commands Paul gave that form the framework for this message. Consider this from the Book of Isaiah, chapter 33:

The Lord is exalted, for He dwells on high... He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure. Vv.5-6

When the winds from the storms of hardship rage against us, we need to stand firm in the Lord for indeed He is our sure foundation that won’t be moved as we see in 2 Timothy, chapter 2:

God’s solid foundation stands firm. 2 Timothy 2:19

Solid and always firm. When we anchor ourselves to God, we will not be moved or shaken.

He is also the One who holds us fast when we need to get a grip to stand firm against the raging winds of trial and tribulation. Look at these words from David:

Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?

If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast. Psalm 139:7-10

God is always with us and this truth offers us the comfort and assurance we need to ever stand firm and hold fast. I’ll close this message with these words from the 46th Psalm, words I pray you will write on your heart:

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

The Lord Almighty is with us. Vv.1-3, 7

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.