Hold On

Introduction: Henry Hancock Out of our beliefs are born deeds; out of our deeds we form habits; out of our habits grows our character; on our character, we build our destiny.”

Paul started this 2nd letter to the Thessalonians by encouraging them just as he did in his 1st letter Be careful in what and who you believe. It matters what we believe right? Vs 4 “Lawless one? Have you seen the Lawless one at work? “Lawless one.” He will exalt himself and proclaim himself to be God. He will do all kinds of evil and even perform all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs, and wonders. John Piper, believes the “lawless one is alive in every generation”

Michelle Bachman, Dean of Regent University “We're in a state of crisis where our nation is literally ripping apart at the seams right now, and lawlessness is occurring from one ocean to the other. And we're seeing the fulfillment of the Book of Judges here in our own time, where every man doing that which is right in his own eyes-in other words, lawlessness.

I. Holding On is Believing the truth.

a. 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 (NIV)

b. We have been blessed, (set apart) by the work of the Holy Spirit Paul says that we should be thankful for one another as Christian brothers and sisters in the Gospel.”

“illust I know what it means to be chosen, 13 trying out for a baseball team, needed my birth certificate, mom dug it out… I handed it to the coach, “it was a black and white copy of microfiche with the important info in its right places… I went home… “MOM my Birth certificate is different from others what’s up? You were chosen…

David Jeremiah “Amid the thousands of shrill voices screaming for our attention, there is but one Voice we need to hear. The voice of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

II. Stand firm and hold on by…Guarding the truth.

a. 15 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.

b. We are to allow God to speak to us through the preaching and teaching of the Word.

c. We should never allow new ideas or theological interpretations to disrupt or shake our trust in God’s revealed Word. Handed down through the centuries, his Word is protected by his Spirit and preserved by traditional orthodoxy.

d. “illust Charles Spurgeon “ if you have a Bible that’s falling apart, you probably have a person that isn’t.”

III. Standing Firm and Holding On by Practicing the Truth

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (NIV)

16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

I read this quote and really liked it “And God's epic grace shows us how to rise above our pain and circumstances with enduring hope and faith in him.”

Conclusion:

I know that many of you are going through very difficult times right now, but be encouraged that God has given us His Word to hang on.

Psalm 119:81” My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your Word.”

Franklin Roosevelt said, “when you are at the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hold on.”