Hold Fast to Patience

We are holding fast here at St. Johns!  It is an important theme for our lives because life is about discerning what to cling to during seasons of change. The dynamic of change is constant and continuous.  It happens either by evolution or revolution!  The constant nature of change can be exhausting, exhilarating, and exasperating all at the same time.  Our series Hold Fast is designed to empower our spirits and hearts to find an anchor for our souls. Our sermon this week is Hold Fast to Patience.  Patience is easy for us to lose.  Every person has experienced the rising sense of frustration with people, problems, circumstances, and conflicts.  Impatience can take us places that are difficult and destructive.  Our scripture is Hebrews 10:30-39.  These believers were struggling with the adversity of persecution and hardship.  They were exhausted, and some were on the verge of giving up. They needed a patience that transformed their spirits from frustration to faith. We allow patience to become passivity but these words are filled with confidence, hope, and even joy in the face of difficulty.  God wants to empower us with this patience.  This word literally means to “stay by someone,” especially in moments of fear, doubt, and failure.  Fortunately, God in Jesus Christ showed how amazingly patience he is with all of us.  As you confront the currents of change, frustration, and fear, we pray you will wait patiently upon the Lord so that your fear will be transformed into faith and your weakness will be washed away by the rising tide of strength as you read Hebrews 10:30-39. 

Hebrews 10:30-39: For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” ³¹ It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. ³² Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. ³³ Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. ³⁴ You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. ³⁵ So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. ³⁶ You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. ³⁷ For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” ³⁸ And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” ³⁹ But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. (NIV)