Latest / The Daily Word / May 18 – Stand Firm and Hold Fast
Transcript
- Robert Rosales: Hey, good morning, Lakeshore family. Welcome to the Daily Word podcast. I'm Robert Rosales and alongside my wife Yolanda, we have the honor of serving as campus pastors at our Gastonia location. This podcast is a simple space where we share each day to slow down, open God's Word, and pay attention to what he's saying. As a church family, we're committed to meeting with God daily, not out of a religious routine. but out of a heart of relationship through scripture, through prayer, and by capturing what the Holy Spirit is stirring in our hearts and how it connects to our everyday lives. We're walking together through the Life Journal reading plan, and today we'll be focusing on the New Testament portion from that plan. Now, when I invest time with the Lord, I try to keep things uncluttered. I bring my Bible, my journal, something to write with, and a highlighter. to mark out what stands out in my Bible. At times I'll also lean in on a couple of trusted study tools to help me get a little deeper and stay grounded in the context. I don't use those to replace God's Word, but to help me go deeper and listen more closely. We also follow the SOAP method, Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. Those of you who use that, you know it's a practical way not just to read God's Word, but to respond. to God through the reading of His word. Now, before we jump into today's passage, come on, lean in with me. Let's do a quick prayer and ask the Lord to speak to us as we listen. Lord, as we open your word, we ask that you would open us. By the Holy Spirit, we ask that you would make your truth come alive in us. Give us ears to hear and hearts to receive and courage to respond in faith. Speak to us, Lord. We are listening. In Jesus name, Amen. Well friends, today's passage for May 18th comes from 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and I journaled from verse 15. Let me read it to us out of the NIV. So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. Notice he says, Stand firm and hold fast. The easy to read version puts it this way. So brothers and sisters, stand strong and continue to believe the teachings we gave you. The title of my journal entry is this. Stand firm and hold fast. Come on, say it with me. Stand firm and hold fast. Here's some things that I observed. First, the words stand firm. These words mean to be steady, unmoved, planted. It comes from the Greek word steko, S-T-E-K-O. That was often used in military language, like a soldier holding his ground in battle. It carries the idea of not being pushed off position, not giving ground under pressure, remaining anchored when forces are trying to move you. In our context today, when culture shifts, you don't drift. When teachings get distorted, you don't waver. When pressure comes, we don't collapse. Stand firm is about posture. It's where you plant your feet. Now, the words hold fast. These words mean to grip tightly. cling to, not let go comes from the Greek word krateo, K-R-A-T-E-O. Krateo means to seize, to retain, to keep a firm grasp on something valuable. It's more active than stand firm. It carries the idea of guarding what you've received, refusing to let truth slip away, clinging tightly even when it would be easier to loosen your grip. In our context, it means don't dilute the truth. Don't forget what you've been taught and don't trade it for something more comfortable. Think about it this way. Hold fast is about your grip. It's what you refuse to let go of. So we put them together. Stand firm. Don't move, hold fast, don't let go. Plant your feet and grip the truth. Come on, somebody say amen. I go on and I wrote this, Paul categorically denies that the day of the Lord had already come. He encourages the church, don't be shaken by these claims. Before the day, there will be a falling away or a rebellion. Paul goes on to say that, Evil is already at work and the lawless one or antichrist will be revealed and come with deceptive power and mislead those who reject or don't know the truth. But his end is certain. Christ will overthrow him. In contrast, believers are chosen, set apart and called through the gospel. So instead of being unsettled, They are to stand firm and hold fast to the truth they've heard from Him. Friends, no matter what we are about in our days, our feet are to be planted, we're to be refusing to be moved, and we're to hold tight to God's Word of Truth. So, know the truth, memorize the truth, and meditate on the truth. So how does this apply to my life? This is what I wrote. Today, we live in the middle of conspiracy theories, loud voices of uncertainty, and worldwide talk of end times. In addition, we have widespread cultural instability, lawlessness, deception, false teaching, and emotional roller coasters. We must make a firm decision to stand firm and hold fast. We must choose to plant our feet Be immovable and hold on to the truth of God's word and not let it go. When voices are loud and opinions are endless, I will not be shaken. We must remember that God has not called us to chase after every new idea, but to hold tightly to what we've been taught and to trust Him and His word. Even when we don't understand everything that's happening around us, we must remember that God is in control, no matter what. I will stand firm and hold fast. Come on, would you pray with me? Father God, thank you for speaking to us today through your word. Holy Spirit, help us to live this out. Give us discernment in a deceptive world. Give us the courage to stand when others drift. Give me a love for truth that guards my heart from lies and deception. Even when we don't understand everything happening around us, Remind us that you are in control. Today, we choose steadiness over fear, truth over confusion, and faithfulness over compromise. We will stand firm and hold fast. We ask these things in Jesus' name, amen. Lakeshore family, as you go into your day, my prayer is that you'll develop a hunger for God and His word like you've never had before. As you do, God will open your eyes to the riches of His Word, giving you revelation and life-changing insight that will help you become everything God has called you to be, fulfilling your mission, purpose, and plan for our great Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thanks for joining me today on the Daily Word Podcast. I hope this encourages you to stay faithful in the Word and sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading. God bless you. and we'll catch you again tomorrow.