A Prayer to Stand Fast with Will Irvin, Guest Host

In this episode of the PRESS Movement Podcast, with guest host Will Irvin, we dive into 1 Thessalonians 3—a powerful reminder that standing strong in faith is rarely easy, but it is always worth it.

Paul writes to believers who are facing pressure, persecution, and opposition simply because they chose to follow Christ. Instead of pretending hardship won’t come, Paul encourages them to stand fast, remain rooted, and remember they are not alone.

One of the most moving themes in this episode is the importance of spiritual community. Paul sends Timothy to check on them because faith was never meant to be fought in isolation.

This episode also delivers a powerful challenge for today’s generation: how do you stay settled in God when culture pulls in the opposite direction?

The answer is found in relationship, conviction, and remembering what God has already done.

One standout line from the episode says it all:

“Why die for a penny when you’ve found something priceless?”

If you’ve ever felt alone in your faith… pressured to compromise… or tired of standing out because you stand for Christ—this episode is for you.

Stay encouraged.
 Stay rooted.
 Stand fast.

Because love makes a difference.
 Prayer makes a difference.
 God hears when we call.

#PressToPray #PrayerReachesEverySingleSituation #ChristianPodcast #StandFast #FaithUnderPressure #1Thessalonians #YouthForChrist #ChristianEncouragement #PrayerLife #FaithCommunity

Follow us on Facebook or Instagram or enjoy our blogs and even more episodes at www.presstopray.com!

Transcript

Press means to apply force. When God said press, prayer reaches every single situation. He gave us permission to apply force to every situation that we will go through.

And in this podcast, we are going to learn to apply force to what's applying pressure to us. Hey everybody, welcome to the Press Movement Podcast. I am so grateful to be alive, well, and able to dive into the word of the Lord one more time.

It is always a blessing to study anything and learn about God. If you've not been listening, let me tell you, go back. We're almost through the entire Bible.

I think we're T minus 10 episodes away from finishing every prayer in the Bible. And so today I have a special guest in the studio. It's actually my first time going to hear him speak.

So go figure, we're going to do it with you guys. But he's been helping assist and lead the press club at Morris North High School. And when I called his pastors, because before I okayed that, I called his pastors.

He doesn't even know this. He's over there laughing. And I said, okay, do you think he can do this? And they had every confidence in this young man.

And so I do too. So welcome to the podcast, Will. How's everybody doing? So Will's going to take us to the book of First Thessalonians and take it from here.

So we're going to be coming out of First Thessalonians. The main chapter is chapter three, but just to give you all context. So it's Paul, and he's writing a letter to the Thessalonians.

And so he's writing a letter to them, pretty much giving them like an encouragement and things and how he's just, you know, happy as far as how far they have came. As we're reading, you know, we begin to see that Thessalonians, that they kind of went through a lot, a lot of persecution and things that sort of for holding on to the truth. A lot of people, they didn't really like what they were believing in and trusting in God, but yet they held strong.

And so Paul, he's writing a letter to them, again, continue to encouraging them and to just, you know, help them as far as their journey. So as we go to chapter three, the first verse, we could no longer forbear. We thought it good to be left at the ends alone and sent Timotheus, our brother and minister of God, our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ to establish you and to comfort you concerning your faith.

And so right here, you know, they sent Timotheus because they were a little bit worried, you know, they were seeing that they were going through so much and things of that sort. And so they just wanted to go check on them. And, you know, even tying it back into the natural, we have to realize that, you know, we go through so much, especially as believers and people of Christ.

And so it was going to be times where we're faced with a lot of things, we're faced with a lot of trials and things of that sort. And so it's important that we have, you know, people to come in and check on us to make sure that we're doing good, you know, witnessing and things of that sort, just to help us keep our minds on the right track and to give us that confidence and courage and things to continue and follow this journey. But, you know, again, we see right here that Paul is sending Timotheus out to help.

And so we go on to verse three, it says, that no man should be moved by these afflictions. For yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. For therely we are with you.

We told you before that we should suffer tribulation, even as it came to pass. And so, again, it's showing that we're going to face some things, but that we're with you. And I feel like that's so important to know that you have people with you.

It's hard to, once you feel alone and things of that sort, to feel like, you know, you're fighting, you have nobody else to help you there. But he's letting you know that, you know, they're there with you, they're encouraging you, they're going to help support you. And so we're going to verse five where it says, for this cause, when I could no longer offer bear, I sent to know your faith, at least by someone means the temper have tempted you and our labor be in vain.

But now when Timotheus came from you unto us and brought us good tiding of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance, for us always desiring greatly to see us as we also see you. So when Timotheus came back with the news, you know, again, they were nervous. There was a little worry that maybe they got, you know, they got knocked off, that they were probably facing with too much things.

They probably fell off the wrong track. But when he came back, he told that it was good news that they're still standing strong. And what was so special to me about this is that they rejoiced.

And so it's just good to know that, you know, once we're hearing that people are standing strong, it's one of the most beautiful things to hear. I know me personally, when I see people getting saved, I see people walking in the light of God. Like it makes me so happy, especially knowing that where they came through the trials that they faced, it just, you know, just brings a smile to my face that, you know, like, wow, like, look at God and all he's doing.

So we're going to verse seven where it says, but now, therefore, brethren, we were confronted over you and all your afflictions and distress by your faith. For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. And so it's important that again, we stand fast in the Lord, despite what all may be going on around us, that we stand fast with the Lord, that we continue to follow him, that we make him not only the first priority, but we have him centered as well.

So we're going to verse nine. For what things can we render to God again for you? For all the joy we're with, we joy for your sakes before our God. Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith.

So again, they're rejoicing to God. And another thing that's so important is that, you know, when we start to see good works that we don't just give praise unto man, but that we praise God for it because it's truly because of him that, you know, all these things are happening. And so it's important that we remember him, that we thank God first for everything.

And so go on to verse 11, where it says, now God himself and our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ direct our ways unto you and the Lord make you increase and abound in love one toward another and toward our men as we naturally do towards you. To the end, he may establish your hearts unblamingly in holiness before God, even our Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. So again, he's just giving them words of encouragement to help them so that God has them.

God's going to continue to just help them that their hearts stayed with him. And so reading this overall, I would say the main message is, you know, to stand fast in the Lord, especially in the society that we live in. It's so easy for people to disregard you.

Whenever you're a believer, a lot of people are, unfortunately in this world, they may not be. And so they're going to do things of the world. And once they see you not doing that, they may judge you.

They may look at you differently, especially being in high school. It's so many things that you're exposed to and can sometimes kind of be hard, you know, you kind of want to live in a shell and things of that sort are, you don't want to, you don't want to be the odd one out, you know, it can definitely be hard. But to know that we have a God that loves us and especially that we have our family, you know, not just any family, but a faith family of people of God around us to help support us.

It definitely helps give you that push to know that, you know, you're not alone. You have other believers with you. Now you have a God that is going to help you, even in spite of the trials and tribulations that He's going to continue to push for you, He's going to continue to show His love for you and extend His hand out for you.

That's just the best thing ever, you know, to know that people in the world, they may not like you. Again, they might disagree with you, but we serve a God who is just so good and wonderful that, you know, He's just there with us. So, you know, it definitely stood out to me reading this chapter and things and it was just powerful.

And it really was. And I love how you're just pointing out the love that Paul had in writing it to the people of Thessalonians that all he cared about, what he based his life on, according to what you read, for now we live if you stand fast in the Lord, basically saying, hey, if you continue, my life continues. That is a kind of love that I think can only really come from God in some ways.

Definitely. And so I love how you pointed out the love for one another, the caring for one another. In this day and time, there's so much division.

Right. I can see where we need this prayer again. Oh, yeah.

How do you carry it forward in your generation? How do you feel we can learn to really unite and seek God together? What's the key to that? I mean, I would say to just help unite and just bring people closer to God. I mean, kind of step out of that shell and begin to help others. Because I know where I come from, there's definitely moments where I felt alone and I felt like I needed that word of encouragement.

And so I know if I felt it, I'm sure a lot of people else in the world have felt it too, whether I've said it or not. So just to step out that way and say, whether it may be a prayer or just to give them a word of encouragement, just like Paul's doing right here, just to help them, it kind of shifts momentum. It kind of shifts everything because one person, they can be viewed in so many ways.

And again, they go through so much that nobody knows about, but to just know that somebody's there, they care for them. Once they see that, they kind of want a glimpse of that. They kind of want to hold on to that.

Why are you doing this? Why are you being so loving? Why are you being so kind? What made you want to come to me? And so right there, that's just an opportunity to just witness, just bring them closer to God. And once they realize what God is doing for so many people, they want that for themselves. And I know me personally, I never want to gatekeep His love.

I never want to gatekeep what He's done for me. And so I love to share. I love to teach people about Him so they can get, stand fast in that as well, so they can get a hold of that as well.

So I would say definitely just stepping out of your comfort zone, but knowing that you're not just doing it for yourself, you're doing it for God, to bring people to His kingdom. We have to realize this life is not about ourselves, but it's truly to serve Him. So once we're able to do that, people are definitely going to see it.

Whether they're, I don't know, but just whatever may be going through their mind, it's definitely going to be something about it that's going to kind of stick to them. It's going to give them a why, like, why are you like this? And once they realize and understand that why, it's because of God, then it's going to bring them closer. And then it's like the nominal effect continues, and they want to help people.

They want to help people, and it's a continuing effect. What you're describing is what I believe Paul was praying for when he said his prayer was that their hearts be established, that it be settled, that it not waver. Looking at that word, it means to place in a firm place, consistent, constant.

Tell me this, and I truly don't know the answers to this, guys. This is my first real long conversation with Will, so I'm putting him on the spot. How did you get to the place where you felt settled in God? Definitely so.

I mean, I say I felt settled once I realized that pretty much that the world offered, it had nothing for me. Again, I've been saved for going on three years now in October. Me having a past, things of that sort, and compared to me being saved, I realized that I don't want to live in a world.

I don't want to know the feeling of being unsaved again. And so once you continue to follow God, you start to see He's doing so much for you, and He's bringing you to a peace. And then those times when you may have backslid or went back, you realize that this is a place where you don't want to be.

And I would say one of the worst feelings in the world is feeling disconnected. It's heartbreaking. It's worse than anything, any physical pain, any natural pain, whatever.

But once you feel disconnected, it's an unbearing type of pain. And so that's the place where I never want to go back to. So really realizing again that the world offers nothing, despite what other people may think and things of that sort.

I know that I want to be with God. I want to be in eternal peace. I want to be in eternal joy.

And so once I start to realize that, it kind of just helped me stay affirmed that it's okay to reject things in the world, to just tell somebody no, to walk away from it, to be bold. And so once I realized that again, it was just like, this is where I want to be. This is where I want to stay.

And then definitely those moments, I would say also having a relationship and a history with God, having those moments that only He can enlighten you, only He can bring that type of feeling, only He can bring that type of love. It's like, I don't want to be anywhere else. Those moments where you're alone at the altar in your prayer closet and you're just crying out for Him.

It's like a peace. I always think about it too. Every time I'm praying, I'm crying.

It's like, I feel like it's a cleansing as well. And it's just a beautiful feeling. It's truly nothing like any other.

So once you start to realize all that goodness, it's like, why go back? I always think about like, why should I die for a penny? You got something so perfect. So why go to something that's worthless? So definitely that, once you have that history and understanding and things, that's where it's like, you don't want to go back. You know where you're at.

You know where you want to be. Don't be surprised if you see that on the post for this episode. Why die for a penny? I think the brother just preached over here.

But it makes so much sense because sin is worthless. And yet it kills you. So I love that.

And I love that what you're sharing and your passion for the souls, for loving one another. And just the encouragement that I feel sitting and listening to you, one for a generation, but two for who you are, because you can tell the sincere. And so I encourage everybody listening today, go back, look at 1 Thessalonians 3. I always tell y'all, there's no way we can cover everything in these short podcasts, but prayerfully you are as encouraged as I am today that love makes a difference.

Prayer makes a difference. And God hears us when we call him because prayer reaches every single situation. Be blessed.

Join the movement, join the community, like, share, and subscribe to this podcast. Visit us at PressToPray.com or find us on Instagram or Facebook. Did you know that when you are quiet, your voice is missing to God's ears? I know some of us have prayed and were wondering how long should I pray about this? Why should I pray if God already knows? How will I know God is answering? And what do I do when I feel like God's not listening? But God is listening for your voice.

It's too quiet in this world for the troubles we have. You have to raise your voice and God wants to hear from you. It's Too Quiet, a book about prayer, is designed to answer your prayer questions and build your faith.

Visit PressToPray.com.