Next generation apostolic leader: Hold on! Hold fast! That’s an old English phrase for “Please do not let go!” Keep a tight, firm grip. Remain strong in the faith. Don’t allow anyone or anything to distract you. There are plants that hold fast to objects like rocks. The root system is called “holdfast.” Consider seaweed on a rock. Typically seaweed can literally be torn apart before forcing the holdfast loose. “Hold fast to what?” Jesus is the Rock (Matthew 16:18; 1 Peter 2:4; Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalms 118:22; Isaiah 8:13-15; Isaiah 28:16). Strive to hold fast to the following:
To the Name
“And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith…” (Revelation 2:13).
To the Hope
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23-24).
To the Lord
“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession” (Hebrews 4:14-15).
“Now that we know what we have — Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God — let’s not let it slip through our fingers” (MSG)
To what We Believe
“So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe” (Hebrews 4:14-15,NLT).
“Having then a great high priest, who has made his way through the heavens, even Jesus the Son of God, let us be strong in our faith” (Hebrews 4:14-15, BBE).
To the Confidence
“but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end” (Hebrews 3:6).
“Now, if we can only keep a firm grip on this bold confidence, we’re the house! 7 That’s why the Holy Spirit says” (MSG)
To the Word
“Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you — unless you believed in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:1-2).
To the Good
“On the other hand, don’t be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what’s good. Throw out anything tainted with evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22, MSG).
“Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22).
To Integrity
“Then his wife said to him, ‘Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!’” (Job 2:9).
To the Commandments
“But take careful heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul” (Joshua 22:5).
“For if you carefully keep all these commandments which I command you to do — to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, and to hold fast to Him — then the Lord will drive out all these nations from before you, and you will dispossess greater and mightier nations than yourselves” (Deuteronomy 11:22-23).
Hold fast; how long? Jesus says, “But hold fast what you have till I come. And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations” (Revelation 2:25). “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown” (Revelation 3:11).
I know! There has been a constant pulling away in every generation. Count on it. But don’t fall for it! It is not only important to know what you believe; know why you believe it. Have a ready answer for the hope that lies within. Sometimes the questions will come from within your own heart. Have a ready answer. Sometimes the questions will come from the devil. Have a ready answer. Sometimes the questions will come from a hurting, inquiring world. Have a ready answer. To have an answer you must know the Word and know what the Word has done in your life. People have difficulty arguing with your experience. Experience Him until you can express Him!
photo credit: Mark J P via photopin cc
James Poitras 