“Holding the Master’s Hand”

For a few moments of your time on today I want to call your attention to the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Rome. It is here in Romans the 8th Chapter starting at the 35th verse and ending with the 39th verse. And from these five verses I’d like to preach from this thought: “Holding the Master’s Hand”

Allow me to take my time on today and walk through this text and pull out some nuggets that will encourage each and every one of us.

The Apostle Paul starts out Chapter 8 by telling us that there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit. He then goes on to tell us that all things work together for good to them that love God and called according to his purpose. The chapter closes out here in our text where Paul concludes with telling us that there is no separation from the love of Christ.

It’s here in these 5 verses Paul begins to go down the list of things that could possibly, if were not careful, cause’s us to pull away from Christ’s love and ultimately cause us to stop “Holding the Master’s hand.”

Paul who starts out by asking a rhetorical question: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?”

And the word separate means: “move or come apart; make or become detached or disconnected.” So the question is what person or what thing will we allow to cause us to become disconnected from the love of Christ?

For if something or someone can get you to disconnect yourself from Christ love then that thing can ultimately get you to stop “Holding the Master’s Hand!” (Peter walking on the water)

And the second part of verse 35 says: “shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”

The Apostle Paul mentions everything imaginable here. Is it possible that “tribulation” or trouble can separate us? That is a question that each and every one of us must answer for ourselves. For we each know our condition and our situation that we must deal with but the questions is will you allow your current state to determine if you keep “Holding the Master’s Hand?”(Job)

Will we allow the persecution of others against you to cause to stop: “Holding the Master’s Hand?” (Hebrew Boys)

Paul is telling us that through his experience that he hasn’t allowed anything to separate him from the love of Christ which as a result he can keep “Holding the Master’s Hand”.

Then Paul comes to us in the next verse by quoting Psalms 44:22 “For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

And as Christians it costs us a lot to stand up for Christ and to “Keep Holding the Master’s Hand”! Christians are constantly being persecuted by the World. But I just stopped by on today to let you know don’t be discouraged because of persecution but just simply “Keep Holding the Master’s Hand.”

Then Paul says in verse 37: “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us”

I’m sure you’re wondering on today “What does it mean to be more than a conqueror?”

Well I’m so glad that you asked for it simply means: “to have assistance from another who gets the victory for us, who never lets us be defeated.” For you do know don’t you that the victory belongs to Christ; not to us. And because he has the victory we are able to “Keep Holding the Master’s Hand!”

The Apostle Paul is telling us on today that in spite of it all that we have to go through we can’t let anything or anyone separate us from the Love of God. I’m glad to know on today that as long as I keep my hand wrapped in the Masters hand then everything will be all right.

Paul tells us here in the last two verses of our text and at the close of this chapter:

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul starts of the 38th verse by saying: “For I am persuaded” which means: that he knows

“Death” cannot separate us—in fact, it will take us into His presence. The response of many of the early Christian martyrs when they were threatened with death was, “Thank you, you will transport me right into the presence of my Savior.” You can’t hurt people like that.

Then the next part of verse 38 deals with life: And “Life”—often times is more difficult to face than death it self. But life’s temptations, failures, disappointments, uncertainties, and sufferings will not separate us from the love of God that is in Christ our Lord. And as a result it will allow us to “Keep Holding the Master’s Hand”!

Then he goes on to talk about “Angels”:—and I think he means fallen angels—“principalities and powers” are spiritual enemies of the believer.

Then the rest of the verse reads as such: nor things present, nor things to come,

Let’s look at that first part as I hurry to my close. The first part says: “Things present” means present circumstances, which is anything that we may be going through or that may be going on around us. “Things to come” refers to the future.

In other words all those situations that may arise in our future we can’t let it stop us from “Holding the Master’s Hand”

Paul closes this chapter by stating that: Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The first part of hits verse says: Nor height, nor depth which may refer to the space age in which we live. Then it says: “Any other created thing” which includes anything else you want to mention.

We can’t allow anyone or anything to separate us from the Love of god and cause us to stop “Holding the Master’s Hand”! Allow me to encourage the Pastor on today for a few moments of your time before I close this message out. Pastor I just want to encourage you on today to keep “Holding the Master’s Hand.”

I know sometimes when you look around and realize that you have the support form the members and officers that you used to have and that you don’t have the help that you may have had and one point and time but what ever you do “Keep Holding the Master’s Hand”!

For the Prophet Isaiah says in the 40th chapter and verses 28-31: turn there with me if you will and it reads like this Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding. 29He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30Even the youths shall faint and be weary and the young men shall utterly fall:

This is want to encourage the Pastor and the Church with on today

31But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Well as I take my seat on today I just stop by to encourage this church to “Keep Holding the Master’s Hand.” For his hands are mighty good hands to hold on too.

For I heard the song writer say: Time is filled with swift transition, Naught of earth un-moved can stand, Build your hope on things eternal, and Hold to God’ unchanging hand!

Hold to his hand, God’s unchanging hand! Hold to his hand, God’s unchanging hand! Build your hope on things eternal and Hold, Hold, I said Hold to God’s Unchanging God! Saints I came by to tell you to “Keep Holding the Master’s Hand!”

Is there anybody here on today that’s going to “Keep Holding the Master’s Hand?” If so let me here you Say Yes, Say Yes, Somebody lift your hands and Say Yes!!!!!!!!!