Naught was a babe in arms. He gave no trouble. Whenever he appeared you just “carried” him.
Text: Phil. 2:14-16; Js. 4:14 “Time is filled with swift transition, Naught of earth unmoved can...
-
Upload
scott-pearson -
Category
Documents
-
view
218 -
download
1
Transcript of Text: Phil. 2:14-16; Js. 4:14 “Time is filled with swift transition, Naught of earth unmoved can...
Text: Phil. 2:14-16; Js. 4:14
Hold To God's Unchanging Hand
“Time is filled with
swift transition,
Naught of earth
unmoved can stand,
Build your hopes on
things eternal, Hold
to God’s unchanging
hand.”
“Hold (to His hand) to God’s unchanging hand, Hold (to His hand) to God’s unchanging hand;Build your hopes on things eternal, Hold to God’s unchanging hand.’”
Hold To God's Unchanging Hand
Intro
Mankind constantly seeks ways to preserve life, to live
longer (Life is but a vapor! – Js. 4:14) Material (fleshly) things are not eternal!
Phil. 2:14-1614. Do all things without grumbling or disputing;15. so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God
above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,
16. holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.
God has prepared a way for man to live eternally when
this life is over (Rom. 2:5-8; Js. 1:21) Phil 2:16: God’s word is called “the word of life.” (Acts 5:20:
Apostles to preach “this Life”) – God’s word is eternal! (I Pet. 1:25; Jn. 12:48)
Mt. 25:41, 46; II Thess. 1:9: God has also prepared a way for wicked man to live eternally, though not in “life” but in torments, “fire,” and “punishment.”
Hold To God's Unchanging Hand
Intro Mary Jane ("Jennie") Bain Wilson
(1856-1913):“Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand”
(1904) Daughter of a farmer in Cleveland, IN. Her father died while she was an infant. She became an invalid at the age of 4 and was
wheelchair-bound the rest of her life. She was self-taught and became a hymn writer and
poet. She was baptized in 1881 after being carried into
the water on a chair! “Hold To God’s Unchanging Hand” was written in
1904 and published as a hymn in 1906 by Franklin Lycurgus Eiland (1860-1909), whose tune “Unchanging Hand” was so popular that after he died a downward hand was carved into his gravestone.
The “word of life” identifies the gospel of Christ (Rom. 1:16), and we must hold fast to it!
Hold To God's Unchanging Hand
Hold Fast by Proclaiming
Phil. 1:1818. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is
proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,
Phil. 1:18: Regardless of the motives (Phil. 1:15-17), Christ needs to be
proclaimed! II Tim. 2:24: Saints (bond-servants of Christ) must be able to
teach! (“Apt to teach”)Christ is to be proclaimed (Phil 1:18) for
it isHe who has the words of life – Jn. 6:66-
69 Jn. 10:10: Jesus came to give men the “abundant
life.” Jn. 3:16; 8:31: Men obtain life through belief of
and obedience to the word of Christ.
Hold To God's Unchanging Hand
Hold Fast by Proclaiming
I Cor. 15:1-21. Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also
you received, in which also you stand,2. by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you,
unless you believed in vain.
If men are to believe the word they must, by teaching &
personal study, hear the word Mt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15: Teach/preach the gospel (word of life). Rom. 10:13-17: The gospel must be preached! I Cor. 15:1-2: The gospel saves “if” one holds fast to it! (Jn.
12:48)
By teaching the word of life to
others, we obey Christ, and hold fast to His word!
Hold To God's Unchanging Hand
Hold Fast by Conduct
Phil. 1:2727. Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that
whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Phil. 1:27: It is not enough to preach the word, but also must live it – Be
examples (lights – Phil. 2:15), and in our conduct, live in a “manner worthy of the gospel of Christ!
Jesus used the light metaphor in Mt. 5:14-16
to describe the conduct of believers Mt. 5:14-16: Jesus said, “Let your light shine.”
(Phil. 2:15; Eph. 5:8: “Walk as children of light”)
Hold To God's Unchanging Hand
Hold Fast by Conduct
Phil. 1:2727. Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that
whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Phil 1:27: The “conduct” of the Christian is to be “worthy
of the gospel of Christ” Eph. 4:1-3; II Thess. 1:11-12: The aim of the Christian is to be
found by God, “worthy of your calling.” (I Jn. 1:7: “Walk in the light!”)Titus 2:10: Saints are to “adorn” the word of God
Note: “adorn in every respect”! Adorn is to put on (Gal. 3:27: “Put on” – NKJV).
Peter discussed the power of example to influence a non-believer (I Pet. 3:1-2: Wives).
In living faithfully, we show others how to “hold fast” the word of
life!
Hold To God's Unchanging Hand
Hold Fast in Defense
Phil. 1:15-1715. Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also
from good will;16. the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the
gospel;17. the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives,
thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment.
Phil. 1:15-17: Paul went to the places he went and suffered what befell him
because he was “appointed for the defense of the gospel.” Jude 3: It is the appointment of all saints to defend the truth, to
“contend earnestly for the faith.”
The Apostles and early Christians (& since
then) were willing to give up everything
in defense of the gospel (Mt. 19:27): In Jn. 9 the healed blind man sacrificed
everything in defense of the truth (Jn. 9:22, 34)
Hold To God's Unchanging Hand
Hold Fast in Defense
II Tim. 3:1212. Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
Sacrifices are a consequence for defense of the truth
II Tim. 3:12: Faithfulness to the “word of life” will bring opposition from the world.
Heb. 10:32-39: Saints suffered greatly; imprisonment, property seizures
The opposition from the world makes a defense
of the gospel necessary Gal 1:6-9: Paul defended the gospel from perversions
of it. Acts 20:28-30: Attacked from enemies without and
within! (Phil. 3:18)
Hold To God's Unchanging Hand
Hold Fast in Defense
II Tim. 4:22. preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with
great patience and instruction.
Timothy was charged with standing firm and defending
the gospel, and so must we! I Tim. 4:1: False doctrine would come from within the “faith.” II Tim. 4:1-5: Not to compromise but to “preach the word.” Rom. 1:16: God’s people must never be ashamed of the gospel
Saints must not be afraid to preach the
gospel even in the face of ridicule and opposition!
By defending the faith we strengthen
our hold on the word of life!
Hold To God's Unchanging Hand
Conclusion
Phil. 2:16: Men need the word of God because it is the
“word of life” Eph 2:1-3: Without this word men must abide in the realm of
spiritual death! Eph. 1:13: This word delivers men from spiritual death (Eph. 2:1-
3: Lives in sin are dead) James 1:18, 21; I Peter 1:22-23: This word gives new life.
Makes new creatures!This “word of life” offers the promise of “life to
come” (eternal life) I Tim 4:8: Godliness is gain for this “present life and also for the
life to come
Hold To God's Unchanging Hand
Conclusion
We are to “hold fast” the “word of life” by proclaiming it,
living it, and defending it!
God’s people are charged with the responsibility of “holding fast” the word” Heb. 3:6, 14; 4:14; 10:23: The promise of life is made “if” we
hold fast our hope! Hold fast Christ’s name (Rev. 2:13); Hold fast what you have!
(2:25; 3:11)
“What Must I Do To Be Saved?”Hear The Gospel (Jn. 5:24; Rom.
10:17)Believe In Christ (Jn. 3:16-18; Jn.
8:24)Repent Of Sins (Lk. 13:35; Acts 2:38)Confess Christ (Mt. 10:32; Rom.
10:10)Be Baptized (Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16)Remain Faithful (Jn. 8:31; Rev. 2:10)
For The Erring Child: Repent (Acts 8:22), Confess (I Jn. 1:9),
Pray (Acts 8:22)