Hold To God's Unchanging Hand A Specific Request Hold To God's Unchanging Hand Text: Phil. 2:14-16; Js. 4:14 “Time is filled with swift transition, Naught of earth unmoved can stand, Build your hopes on things eternal, Hold to God’s unchanging hand.” “Hold (to His hand) to God’s unchanging hand, Hold (to His hand) to God’s unchanging hand; Build your hopes on things eternal, Hold to God’s unchanging hand.’” By Nathan L Morrison All Scripture given is from NASB unless otherwise stated "Hold To God's Unchanging Hand" by Mary Jane ("Jennie") Bain Wilson Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

Intro A Specific Request Phil. 2:14-16 14. Do all things without grumbling or disputing; 15. so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, 16. holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. Mankind constantly seeks ways to preserve life, to live longer (Life is but a vapor! – Js. 4:14) Material (fleshly) things are not eternal! God has prepared a way for man to live eternally when this life is over (Rom. 2:5-8; Js. 1:21) Phil 2:16: God’s word is called “the word of life.” (Acts 5:20: Apostles to preach “this Life”) – God’s word is eternal! (I Pet. 1:25; Jn. 12:48) Mt. 25:41, 46; II Thess. 1:9: God has also prepared a way for wicked man to live eternally, though not in “life” but in torments, “fire,” and “punishment.” Hold To God's Unchanging Hand Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

Intro Mary Jane ("Jennie") Bain Wilson (1856-1913): A Specific Request Intro Mary Jane ("Jennie") Bain Wilson (1856-1913): “Hold to God’s Unchanging Hand” (1904) Daughter of a farmer in Cleveland, IN. Her father died while she was an infant. She became an invalid at the age of 4 and was wheelchair-bound the rest of her life. She was self-taught and became a hymn writer and poet. She was baptized in 1881 after being carried into the water on a chair! “Hold To God’s Unchanging Hand” was written in 1904 and published as a hymn in 1906 by Franklin Lycurgus Eiland (1860-1909), whose tune “Unchanging Hand” was so popular that after he died a downward hand was carved into his gravestone. Read the article on Mary Jane ("Jennie") Bain Wilson Sources: http://hymnstudiesblog.wordpress.com/2014/05/21/hold-to-gods-unchanging-hand/ http://www.hymntime.com/tch/bio/w/i/l/s/wilson_j.htm / The “word of life” identifies the gospel of Christ (Rom. 1:16), and we must hold fast to it! Hold To God's Unchanging Hand Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

Hold Fast by Proclaiming A Specific Request Hold Fast by Proclaiming Phil. 1:18 18. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, Phil. 1:18: Regardless of the motives (Phil. 1:15-17), Christ needs to be proclaimed! II Tim. 2:24: Saints (bond-servants of Christ) must be able to teach! (“Apt to teach”) Christ is to be proclaimed (Phil 1:18) for it is He who has the words of life – Jn. 6:66-69 Jn. 10:10: Jesus came to give men the “abundant life.” Jn. 3:16; 8:31: Men obtain life through belief of and obedience to the word of Christ. Hold To God's Unchanging Hand Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

Hold Fast by Proclaiming A Specific Request Hold Fast by Proclaiming I Cor. 15:1-2 1. Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2. by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. If men are to believe the word they must, by teaching & personal study, hear the word Mt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15: Teach/preach the gospel (word of life). Rom. 10:13-17: The gospel must be preached! I Cor. 15:1-2: The gospel saves “if” one holds fast to it! (Jn. 12:48) By teaching the word of life to others, we obey Christ, and hold fast to His word! Hold To God's Unchanging Hand Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

Hold Fast by Conduct Phil. 1:27 Phil. 1:27: A Specific Request Hold Fast by Conduct Phil. 1:27 27. Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; Phil. 1:27: It is not enough to preach the word, but also must live it – Be examples (lights – Phil. 2:15), and in our conduct, live in a “manner worthy of the gospel of Christ! Jesus used the light metaphor in Mt. 5:14-16 to describe the conduct of believers Mt. 5:14-16: Jesus said, “Let your light shine.” (Phil. 2:15; Eph. 5:8: “Walk as children of light”) Hold To God's Unchanging Hand Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

Hold Fast by Conduct Phil. 1:27 A Specific Request Hold Fast by Conduct Phil. 1:27 27. Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; Phil 1:27: The “conduct” of the Christian is to be “worthy of the gospel of Christ” Eph. 4:1-3; II Thess. 1:11-12: The aim of the Christian is to be found by God, “worthy of your calling.” (I Jn. 1:7: “Walk in the light!”) Titus 2:10: Saints are to “adorn” the word of God Note: “adorn in every respect”! Adorn is to put on (Gal. 3:27: “Put on” – NKJV). Peter discussed the power of example to influence a non-believer (I Pet. 3:1-2: Wives). In living faithfully, we show others how to “hold fast” the word of life! Hold To God's Unchanging Hand Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

Hold Fast in Defense Phil. 1:15-17 Phil. 1:15-17: A Specific Request Hold Fast in Defense Phil. 1:15-17 15. Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; 16. the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; 17. the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. Phil. 1:15-17: Paul went to the places he went and suffered what befell him because he was “appointed for the defense of the gospel.” Jude 3: It is the appointment of all saints to defend the truth, to “contend earnestly for the faith.” The Apostles and early Christians (& since then) were willing to give up everything in defense of the gospel (Mt. 19:27): In Jn. 9 the healed blind man sacrificed everything in defense of the truth (Jn. 9:22, 34) Hold To God's Unchanging Hand Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

Hold Fast in Defense II Tim. 3:12 A Specific Request Hold Fast in Defense II Tim. 3:12 12. Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Sacrifices are a consequence for defense of the truth II Tim. 3:12: Faithfulness to the “word of life” will bring opposition from the world. Heb. 10:32-39: Saints suffered greatly; imprisonment, property seizures The opposition from the world makes a defense of the gospel necessary Gal 1:6-9: Paul defended the gospel from perversions of it. Acts 20:28-30: Attacked from enemies without and within! (Phil. 3:18) Hold To God's Unchanging Hand Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

Hold Fast in Defense II Tim. 4:2 A Specific Request Hold Fast in Defense II Tim. 4:2 2. preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. Timothy was charged with standing firm and defending the gospel, and so must we! I Tim. 4:1: False doctrine would come from within the “faith.” II Tim. 4:1-5: Not to compromise but to “preach the word.” Rom. 1:16: God’s people must never be ashamed of the gospel Saints must not be afraid to preach the gospel even in the face of ridicule and opposition! By defending the faith we strengthen our hold on the word of life! Hold To God's Unchanging Hand Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

Conclusion Phil. 2:16: Men need the word of God because it is the A Specific Request Phil. 2:16: Men need the word of God because it is the “word of life” Eph 2:1-3: Without this word men must abide in the realm of spiritual death! Eph. 1:13: This word delivers men from spiritual death (Eph. 2:1-3: Lives in sin are dead) James 1:18, 21; I Peter 1:22-23: This word gives new life. Makes new creatures! This “word of life” offers the promise of “life to come” (eternal life) I Tim 4:8: Godliness is gain for this “present life and also for the life to come Hold To God's Unchanging Hand Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

Conclusion God’s people are charged with the responsibility of A Specific Request Conclusion God’s people are charged with the responsibility of “holding fast” the word” Heb. 3:6, 14; 4:14; 10:23: The promise of life is made “if” we hold fast our hope! Hold fast Christ’s name (Rev. 2:13); Hold fast what you have! (2:25; 3:11) We are to “hold fast” the “word of life” by proclaiming it, living it, and defending it! Hold To God's Unchanging Hand Prepared by Nathan L Morrison / 05-14-06

“What Must I Do To Be Saved?” Hear The Gospel (Jn. 5:24; Rom. 10:17) Believe In Christ (Jn. 3:16-18; Jn. 8:24) Repent Of Sins (Lk. 13:35; Acts 2:38) Confess Christ (Mt. 10:32; Rom. 10:10) Be Baptized (Mk. 16:16; Acts 22:16) Remain Faithful (Jn. 8:31; Rev. 2:10) For The Erring Child: Repent (Acts 8:22), Confess (I Jn. 1:9), Pray (Acts 8:22)