For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. 

For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?

1 Thessalonians 3:8-10

I want to encourage you today to “stand fast” in faith. To stand fast is to refuse to abandon your belief in Christ. To stand fast is to not let yourself wander from your Shepherd and Savior, Jesus.

It is to embrace him by faith wherever you are reading this. It is to recognize that he has called you out of false identities and broken relationships to be his own.

To stand fast is to hang on to him even when you disagree with him. To stand fast is to turn to him even after a really dark or rebellious sin.

And sometimes standing

fast means kicking and screaming

when he picks you up off the

floor to bring you to his hospital,

but falling asleep in his arms on the way.

Finally, standing fast is humbling yourself to receive his forgiveness and compassion. It is refusing to make your relationship with him transactional.

To the members of All Souls Church, I want to say thank you for standing fast with me in this physically beautiful, but spiritually dark city. We’ve gotten this thing off the ground and if we continue in dependance and faith he will lead us on. Paul says to the Thessalonians, “For now we live,” talking about himself and his traveling companions. I really “live” when I see you all walking in faith and serving God with your lives.

To those getting baptized in a couple weeks, you should know that baptism is a critically important step in the Christian’s journey. It is public identification with Jesus and his Church. Getting baptized is an act of literally “Standing Fast in the Lord.” I am so excited for you! 

To the attendees of All Souls, thank you for being with us on Sundays. You are an encouragement to our little church. I would ask you, what is your next step in following Jesus? Perhaps it’s baptism, catechism, church membership, or just faithful Sunday attendance?

To ALL of you, like Paul praying for the Thessalonians, I pray for you constantly and consistently, systematically and organically. And like Paul, I really do long to “see your face and supply what is lacking in your faith.”

I am here to pastor you on your journey. A pastor is primarily a spiritual leader and He will give an account to God for your soul. But a pastor is also a human who is rooting for health in your spiritual journey.

I’m not here to parent anyone or monitor anyone, or criticize anyone.

I am here to pass on to you

the same grace that I myself need.

So never be shy if you need someone to listen, a shoulder to cry on, spiritual advice or anything else within that realm. Reach out or at least be as honest as you can when I ask how you are doing.

I pray for each of you regularly and I am almost giddy to see who is there on Sunday! See you soon!

Grace and peace,

Pastor Harvey

P.S. - The sermon this Sunday is on “sexuality” and Catechism this week is a Q & A on sexuality. Please pray for me. Christian sexuality is often seen by our city as oppressive and dangerous because it narrows who you should have sex with to one person for a lifetime.