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Holding Fast

Words of Faith Final

Holding Fast

Words of Faith 11-30-2020

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2020

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

www.faithfellowshipweb.com

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Revelation 2

 [24]  Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets (I will not impose any other burden on you): [25]  Only hold on to what you have until I come. [26]  To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations-- [27]  'He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery'-- just as I have received authority from my Father. [28]  I will also give him the morning star. [29]  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

          Jesus concluded His message to the Tolerant church with a call to hold fast to the truth. To those who had resisted these false teachings, Jesus says—Hold fast. Today, we might say, “Hang in there!”

          We catch a glimpse of the source of these false teachings in the description—"Satan's so-called deep secrets." The lure of almost every cult and occult teaching is the idea that secrets are kept from you that can only be found in the false teacher. Don't give in! Hold on until the coming of the Lord.

         This is not always easy in the world of commerce. In Thyatira, everything was at stake if one did not participate in the trade guild. Today, we may feel weak when forces and issues in the culture around us are pushing for an unbiblical tolerance. It is even more difficult in business.

          What do you do if you are asked by your company to do something unethical? Am I willing to get fired to do the right thing with integrity? Or what about so-called networking while on the road? When the boss invited the traveling team out for drinks, but ends up at the sort of “Club” that you would never go to otherwise?

          Jesus calls us to not give in, and there is a strength gained by not giving in. There is a promise. To the one who conquers (overcomes) and keeps my works to the end, I will give authority over the nations. I will give him the morning star.

          The reward that comes with not quitting—hanging in and holding fast—is Jesus Himself. Revelation 22:16 - “I, Jesus, … am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” I will give you myself. Paul called it the mystery of glorious riches— Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).

           What does all this say to the church of today? Believers of today? We are not called to be intolerant of people, customs, shortcomings, and differences. We are called to scrutinize our own behavior— what we tolerate in our own lives and homes.

           We live in an age of unbridled tolerance. Tolerance has become its own idol. For some people today, tolerance is the only real virtue, and intolerance the only vice. And strangely, the “tolerance” has become absolutely intolerant of any other view.

            While the message to Ephesus warns the church about the dangers of loveless doctrine-- the message to Thyatira warns against the dangers of a 'soft' love that tolerates all things and judges none. 

          Jesus had a message for the churches of Asian Minor that resonates today. To Ephesus – Don’t lose your first love. To Smyrna – Don’t lose hope. To Pergamum – Don’t go the way of the world.  And to Thyatira – Don’t let tolerance lead you into compromise.

 

         Father God, keep me focused on You. Give me immediate discernment when I am in a place of danger. Give me resolve and clarity to say ‘No’ at the right times and ‘Yes’ at the right times. In the Mighty Name of Jesus.

 

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2020

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)       

2820 Business Center Blvd.

Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.