Download HOW TO HOLD FAST

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THEME FOR 2012: “HOLD FAST UNTO
YOUR CONFIDENCE”
TOPIC: HOW TO HOLD FAST ON TO YOUR
CONFIDENCE
Hebrews 10:35
Cast not away therefore your confidence,
which hath great recompence of reward.
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TO UNDERSTAND THE PRINCIPLES OF
HOW TO HOLD ON TO YOUR
CONFIDENCE, ONE HAS GOT TO BRIEFLY
REFLECT ON HOW IT IS SO EASILY LOST OR
THROWN AWAY.
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The Greek word for the above is “apoballo”
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It means: “to throw away” or to “lose”.
The term is found here (Heb. 10:35) and in
Mark 10:50.
Mark 10:50
And he, casting away his garment, rose, and
came to Jesus.
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The reference is to cowardly soldiers, who
throw away their weapons and flee
from battle.
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“...casting away his garment...”
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Compare this scenario with that of the
disciples – full of the Holy Spirit:
Acts 4:13
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter
and John, and perceived that they were
unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled;
and they took knowledge of them, that they
had been with Jesus.
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The Greek word for boldness is: “parrhesia”
It means: “outspokenness”
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When translated it encompasses:
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Boldness of speech (2 Cor. 7:4)
2 Cor. 7:4
Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great
is my glorying of you: I
am filled with comfort,
I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.
 Plainness of speech (2 Cor. 3:12)
2 Cor. 3:12
Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great
plainness of speech:
 Freely (Acts 2:29)
Acts 2:29
Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of
the patriarch David, that he is both dead and
buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
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Openly (Mark 8:32; John 7:4,13; John 11:54; John 18:20;
Col. 2:15)
Mark 8:31-33
And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must
suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the
chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days
rise again. [32] And he spake that saying openly. And Peter
took him, and began to rebuke him. [33] But when he had
turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter,
saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest
not the things that be of God, but the things that be of
men.
 Boldly (John 7:26; Ephes. 6:19; Hebrews 4:16)
John 7:26
But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto
him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very
Christ?
 Boldness (Acts 4:13,29,31; Ephes. 3:12; Phil. 1:20;
1 Tim. 3:13; Hebrews 10:19; 1 John 4:17)
Acts 4:29
And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant
unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may
speak thy word,
 Confidence (Acts 28:31; Hebrews 3:6;
Hebrews 10:35; 1 John 2:28; 1 John 3:21; 1
John 5:14)
Acts 28:31
Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching
those things which concern the Lord Jesus
Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding
him.
 SPECIAL CASE OF PETER AND JOHN – THE
BOLD “ILLITERATES”
Acts 4:13
Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and
John, and perceived that they were unlearned and
ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took
knowledge of them, that they had been with
Jesus.
 They were indeed “...unlearned and ignorant
men...” - Without the higher education of
Judaism;
 KNOWLEDGE: - Uneducated, Uninformed,
Ignorant, Not Conversant, Untaught...
 DECORUM: - Rude, Crude, Uncouth,
Uncultured, Uncivilized, Uninitiated,
Untrained, Unschooled, Unlettered...
- Unprofessional men—men of the rank and
file of the Jews.
 But they were not destitute of knowledge
for they had divine knowledge.
 They however “...took knowledge of them,
that they had been with Jesus...” - They
recognized them to be followers or
companions of Jesus of Nazareth.
 STAY IN THE CAMP – Keep to your own ranks (2
Cor. 6:14 )
 BE LED BY THE SPIRIT (Luke 4:1; Rom. 8:14)
 LIKE JESUS, APPLY AUTHORITY (Matt. 7:29)
 EXERCISE THE GIFTS – Especially MIRACLES,
Note that 3 great miracles forced the Sanhedrin
to take a final decision to destroy Jesus: A/ Healing the impotent man on the Sabbath
B/ Healing the blind man on the Sabbath
C/ Raising Lazarus from the Dead! (Jn. 11:53)
 BEHAVE YOURSELF!
John 7:4
For there is no man that doeth any thing in
secret, and he himself seeketh to be known
openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to
the world.
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SPEAK OPENLY – No gossip, Back-biting,
Lying, Rumour-mongering, Murmuring,
Cursing etc. (Matt. 12:34; Jn. 7:12-13)
WALK OPENLY – Jesus “walked openly” until
He had to keep a low profile to complete His
Ministry and Mission. (Jn. 11:54)
THINK OPENLY – “Let this mind be in you...”
(Phil. 2:5; 4:8)
WORK OPENLY – Do it for the Lord only!
(Matt. 25:21; Eph. 6:6-8)
THANK YOU
 THERE IS ARE REWARDS
Galatians 6:7-9
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for
whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also
reap. [8] For he that soweth to his flesh shall of
the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to
the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life
everlasting. [9] And let us not be weary in well
doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we
faint not.
 TIMING FOR THE REWARD IS LEFT TO GOD
ALONE – THIS DOES NOT UNDERMINE THE
FACT THAT IT SHALL COME TO PASS!
 THE NAGGING QUESTION
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Mark 10:28
Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have
left all, and have followed thee.
PETER (SPOKESMAN) AND THE OTHER
DISCIPLES WERE “JUST WONDERING” –
WITHOUT HAVING THE BOLDNESS TO ASK
JESUS: “WHAT’S THE PAYOFF?”, “WHAT’S
IN IT FOR ME?”
 THE ULTIMATE REWARD OF HOLDING FAST
Mark 10:29-30
And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto
you, There is no man that hath left house, or
brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife,
or children, or lands, for my sake, and the
gospel's, [30] But he shall receive an hundredfold
now in this time, houses, and brethren, and
sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands,
with persecutions; and in the world to come
eternal life.
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GOD IS FAITHFUL – A FAITHFUL
TASKMASTER, EMPLOYER AND CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER.
JESUS CONSISTENTLY GAVE HIS
DISCIPLES, AND GIVES US ALSO,
ASSURANCES ABOUT WHAT THE FATHER
HAS IN STORE FOR US.
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JESUS HIMSELF ALSO FED ON THAT
ASSURANCE (HEB. 12;2)
THE HOLY SPIRIT MINISTERS COMFORT
INTO OUR HEARTS WHEN WE FEEL THE
HEAT – WHEN WE FEEL LIKE “FAINTING”
PAUL DESCRIBES SOME OF THE
REWARDS OR “PAYOFF” FOR BELIEVERS
Ephes. 1:3-14
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in
heavenly places in Christ: [4] According as he hath
chosen us in him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and without blame before him in
love: [5] Having predestinated us unto the adoption of
children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the
good pleasure of his will, [6] To the praise of the glory of
his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the
beloved. [7] In whom we have redemption through his
blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of
his grace;
[8] Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all
wisdom and prudence; [9] Having made known
unto us the mystery of his will, according to his
good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
[10] That in the dispensation of the fulness of
times he might gather together in one all things in
Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on
earth; even in him: [11] In whom also we have
obtained an inheritance, being predestinated
according to the purpose of him who worketh
all things after the counsel of his own will:
[12] That we should be to the praise of his
glory, who first trusted in Christ. [13] In whom
ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of
truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom
also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with
that holy Spirit of promise, [14] Which is the
earnest of our inheritance until the redemption
of the purchased possession, unto the praise of
his glory.
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BECAUSE SO MUCH OF THE REWARD LIE IN
THE FUTURE - IN ANOTHER MODE OF
EXISTENCE - THE LANGUAGE, TO US, SEEMS
ABSTRACT, STRANGE AND HARD TO
UNDERSTAND.
BUT (IN VERSE 11) HE CLEARLY MENTIONS
AN INHERITANCE THAT IS COMING TO US!
WHAT IS IT THAT WE ARE GOING TO INHERIT
IN CHRIST? - SIMPLY THIS: ALL THAT GOD
HAS PREPARED FOR CHRIST IN “THE
FULLNESS OF TIMES” SHALL BE OURS AS
WELL. (Rom. 8:15-17)
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THIS IS NOT WISHFUL THINKING, GOD IS
ALREADY GIVING US GLIMPSES OF THAT
INCONCEIVABLE FUTURE.
THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVES IN US AS A
GUARANTEE OF THINGS TO COME (VERSE
14).
HE “SEALS” US, ASSURING THAT WE
REMAIN IN GOD’S FAMILY SO THAT WE DO
NOT LOOSE OUR INHERITIANCE
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AND WHILE WE MOVE TOWARD THAT
DAY, HE WORKS WITHIN OUR LIVES TO
MAKE US LIKE CHRIST. (EPH. 4-6)
IN FACT HE HAS ALREADY SET THESE
THINGS “IN MOTION” FOR US:
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AND WHILE WE MOVE TOWARD THAT
DAY, HE WORKS WITHIN OUR LIVES TO
MAKE US LIKE CHRIST. (EPH. 4-6)
IN FACT HE HAS ALREADY SET THESE
THINGS “IN MOTION” FOR US:
 Nine Things that God Has Done for Us
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
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He has blessed us (Ephes. 1:3).
He has chosen us (Ephes. 1:4).
He has predestined us (Ephes. 1:5,11).
He has made us accepted (Ephes. 1:6).
He has redeemed us (Ephes. 1:7).
He has abounded toward us (Ephes. 1:8).
He has made known unto us (Ephes. 1:9).
He has given us an inheritance (Ephes.
1:11,14).
9. He has sealed us (Ephes. 1:13).
AMEN!
AMEN!