Hold On

You are still in the plan of God. It's not yet over. Your life has not been written off.

We are triumphing in Christ because He is in us, and He makes us triumphant. That is why we cannot afford to lose hope. That is why we have to hold on.

Hold on to the unshakable fortress, Jesus. Do not with that it was easier; wish that you were better. What has come your way has come to make you better. Holding on to Christ ensures that you remain triumphant, and accomplish God's purposes. It ensures that you make the most out of everything that comes your way. All other ground is sinking sand, on Jesus the solid rock we should stand.

Psalm 46:1-11
God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah 

4 There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. 6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah 

8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, Who has made desolations in the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire. 10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

In fiery times, the Lord God remains our refuge. In times when we feel like we are walking on hot coals, we should remember that we have God, our fortress. We have a responsibility of holding on to the firm and stable refuge. When nothing else will stgand, God's promises and His word endure forever, being true and amen. When it's darkest in the morning, daylight is just about. 

Romans 8:18-19

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.

After all the shame and suffering Jesus went through, He is still the One we bow to, and is the firstborn from the dead. A student is not above the teacher (Luke 6:40, John 15:20); if He went through it all, what we go through is small compared to the glory and promises that await us. There is nothing too hard for the Lord. 

The trials and tests we have gone through in January and February were just to distract us from the glory that God had prepared for us. If you are sure that there is nothing that's too hard for God, hold on to Him who is able. Hold on in faith. 

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

At the end, we will be glorying on that which is on the inside, that is being renewed day by day. Do not focus on that which is perishing. Focus on that which lasts. Our waiting preepares for us the awaiting glory. What God is and has been preparing will last for eternity. Do not sacrifice the permanent and inherit the perishable. You cannot lose the permanent. Whatever is temporary is not worth your attention. 

Psalm 34:19

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.

Psalm 30:5

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

The afflictions may be there, but the fact is, they are temporary. Your joy has come. NOW is your morning. Do not lose heart. 

Isaiah 26:4

Trust in the Lord forever, for in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength.

Psalm 78:35

Then they remembered that God was their rock, and the Most High God their Redeemer.

Psalm 46:1

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Let us appreciate Him as our refuge and strength. Everything else will fail, but God is our refuge and will remain so forever. Run to Jesus and hold on to Him. 

Fear not. The devil is using fear to make us think that the world has come to an end. Fear is the opposite of faith. Have faith in God, hold on to Christ. Fear not. 

Be still and know that He is God. 

Psalm 46:10

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

Nothing in hell can stop you, when you stand on the revelation of who Christ is, and Who He is to you. 

Matthew 16:17-20

Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

20 Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.

At all times, remember and keep in mind who you are, Whose you are and Who He is. .

1 Peter 2:4
Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious...

Hold on. 

Amen. 

-- Pastor Mary Mugo. 

23/02/14 Sunday service sermon, Teaching Transformation Ministry. 

Pastor Mary Mugo is the Senior Pastor at Teaching Transformation Ministry. We are located along the Thika-Ruai Flyover Junction (at the Thika Rd./ Bypass intersection), Next to Eastgate Restaurant.