HOLDING ON or HOLDING FAST

Colossians 2:19  (KJV) “And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of GOD.”

I remember back when I was youngster and we would be making a trip somewhere, either up here to LaFayette to see my mother’s people, or either on a trip to Florida to see my oldest brother while he was still in the Navy, or on a trip to see my sister who was in Savannah, Georgia. During the trips I and my brother Walter were always asking the question that most young children ask when on a trip with their parents, “are we there” or “when are we going to get there” and I can remember the answer that my mom would give us everytime. She would say “we’ll be there in a little while, just “HOLD ON”. Dad would not say much till we kept on, and kept on, and kept on asking the same question “are we there yet”. Then dad would say, with that low gruff voice of his “you heard what your mama said, now mind her and just “HOLD ON” and we’ll be there soon enough, so quit squriming around back there and do what we say and “HOLD ON”. Now I don’t want you to get the idea that I am saying “HOLD ON” meaning that we are holding on to GOD, for I am not saying that at all, because, of course, we don’t hold on to GOD, but HE FIRMLY holds onto us! I am sure you are familiar with John 10:27-29  (KJV) “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”  

I am thinking about verses of scripture such as Hebrews 10:23 (KJV) where it says “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)” and

Hebrews 4:14 (KJV) “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.” Jesus and the Father are not going to let go of you and no one, not even you can PLUCK you out of their HANDS, THANK YOU JESUS!!!!

Listen please, just like Peter said in his 2nd epistle in the 3rd chapter and the 9 verse: (KJV) “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” He’ll still be holding onto us in that day, and we will still be with HIM! Please remember HE said: “…I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” and HE meant it.

Now what Paul was saying to those Christians at Colossae was “don’t listen to any man, or any teacher that is not teaching “SOUND DOCTRINE. Are the people teaching you, “HOLDING FAST” to the things that Paul taught. Remember what Paul taught to Timothy and Titus.

 As an example let’s look at Titus 2:1-15 (KJV) “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works; in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.”

So I would like to reiterate what I said a little while ago and in other sermons, let’s stay knitted together as the BODY of CHRIST and  let our part of the BODY be busy about our HEAVENLY FATHER’S business that supplies our SPIRITUAL strength and efforts so that the progression of CHRIST’S KINDOM will continue on and so that those that are lost and doomed for a devil’s HELL will SEE our LOVE, will FEEL our LOVE and will HEAR our LOVE and come to know JESUS of NAZARETH as their PERSONAL SAVIOR and be “BORN AGAIN”.

“GOD LOVES US WITH AN EVERLASTING LOVE”