A Call to Remain Faithful

 

Scripture Text

Jude 17-21

Intro: We Christians are under persecution daily by those who don't know Christ. We are being mocked for our belief in Jesus Christ. These mockers are in our government, society and even some churches. Jude calls on all Christians to remain faithful.

I. Remember we are warned there shall be mockers. (v.17-18) Jude 1:17 -18 (NLT) ¹⁷  But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said. ¹⁸  They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. Mockers were predicted by the apostles (v.17) What we see today shouldn't surprise us. We are warned in the bible that this would happen. There are mockers in and out of the church. They are in every aspect of life. Christianity is foolishness to them. They mock things they don't understand. The idea of a spiritual world that is as real and alive as the physical world is questioned. The idea of levels of authority, of principalities and powers and rulers in a spiritual world is mocked. The idea of Christ being exalted to the right hand of God is laughed at. The fact of believers someday ruling and serving and ministering for Christ in a new heavens and earth is ridiculed and mocked. We see a total disregard for anything concerning God! They walk after their passions (v.18) These people couldn't care less about God or Christ but live their lives only after their own lustful passions. They think only of themselves and what they want. They hate people who disagree with them. Jude 1:16 (NLT) These people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their desires. They brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want.                                                                                           

a. They cause divisions. Jude 1:19a (NLT) These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They cause divisions every where they go. As we look at our world today we see divisions everywhere in and out of the church, in the nation & government. Divisions come when people turn from the source of unity which is the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit ruling in the hearts of men there can never be peace. Man has tried since the beginning to bring peace but have never been successful.

  b.  They are sensual and worldly minded. Jude 1:19b (NLT) They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them. They don't ever think of spiritual things. Their mind is set on the things of this world and satisfying the desires of the flesh. They are like brute beasts. Jude 1:10b (NLT) They do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction.

  c. Reason they act this way: They do not have the Spirit (v.19c) All these evil actions that people do is because they don't have God's Spirit in them. They have never been saved. This is why the church is so important. We can't stop using every method at our disposal to reach people for Christ. He is the only hope for the world.

II. We are called to remain faithful. Jude 1:20- 21 (NLT) ²⁰  But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, ²¹  and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love. Many are turning away from faith. 

a.  By building upon your "most holy faith" (v.20a) Even though mockers are all around us we are to remain faithful to our calling. We were called to be God's children. We were called to one day rule and reign with Christ. We are to build each other up on our “most holy Christian faith.” Holy means separate, set apart, different. Our holy faith is far different from all other faiths. It is a faith that is not based upon opinion, speculation, works and imaginations of men. It is a faith of grace. It is faith that has been separated and set apart from man's ideas about God and life. It is a faith that is set apart by God Himself, it comes from God. Our holy faith is based on God's word. We are to read, study, memorize it and live it. We are to preach and teach it as long as we can.

 b.We are to remain faithful By praying in the Holy Spirit. (v.20b) We communicate with the Father in prayer letting our request be made known to Him.  We pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, asking and depending upon the Holy Spirit to cleanse our requests and make sure that what we ask is according to the will of God. We set time aside time every day in prayer before God for the needs of loved ones and for the needs of God's people and for the world—all in the Spirit.

 c. We are to remain faithful By looking for the mercy of Christ when He returns. (v.21b) We are to wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, looking for that glorious day of His return to take us home. Jesus Christ has made it possible for God to have mercy upon us now: God has forgiven our sins. But the day of redemption, the glorious day when God's mercy will be fully known, will not take place until the return of Christ. It is at His return that our bodies will be transformed into His image of perfection and glory.

Conclusion: We believers must keep ourselves in the love of God by building each other up in our holy faith, by praying in the power of the Holy Spirit and by awaiting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ when He returns. We must remain faithful in the midst of this crooked and perverse generation and shine as lights in a dark place.

Invitation: Have you responded to God's call to be saved from hell and to be saved for Heaven? If not the bible says now is the time, today is the day of salvation for all who confess their sins to Jesus and ask Him for forgiveness.

What Can the Righteous Do?

Intro: Today our nation’s foundations of God and His word, truth, morality and the Christian faith are being undermined and destroyed. From today's scriptures we find the answer to what the righteous can do about keeping our foundations from being completely destroyed. Jesus promised us in Matthew 16:18b that “all the powers of hell will not conquer the church.”

I. First thing we can to do is keep our faith in God. Psalms 11:1-5 (NLT) I trust in the LORD for protection. So why do you say to me, “Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety! ²  The wicked are stringing their bows and fitting their arrows on the bowstrings. They shoot from the shadows at those whose hearts are right. ³  The foundations of law and order have collapsed. What can the righteous do?” ⁴  But the LORD is in his holy Temple; the LORD still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth. ⁵  The LORD examines both the righteous and the wicked. He hates those who love violence. David contrast’s the problems on earth with the exalted position of the Lord in heaven. “What can the righteous do?” the fainthearted had asked (v. 3). David responded that the righteous can trust in the real Source of secure government whose throne is exalted in the heavens. The Lord who is in His holy temple still rules over the affairs of men, and Because He in His sovereignty is ruling over the earth, He sees and thoroughly investigates the activities of all mankind. We are to remember to count only on God’s power over all as David did in (Psalm 44:4-8 NLT) ⁴  You are my King and my God. You command victories for Israel. ⁵  Only by your power can we push back our enemies; only in your name can we trample our foes. ⁶  I do not trust in my bow; I do not count on my sword to save me. ⁷  You are the one who gives us victory over our enemies; you disgrace those who hate us. ⁸  O God, we give glory to you all day long and constantly praise your name.

II. We can pray. 2 Chronicles 7:13-15 (NLT) ¹³  At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. ¹⁴  Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. ¹⁵  My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. God encouraged Solomon by the promise that if His judgment should fall on the nation for their sin, they need only turn to the Lord in earnest humility and repentance and they would find forgiveness and restoration. This promise is good for us today because we are His people. We can pray for our nation because we have been invited to by God Himself. We pray because we can’t solve our problems and we have needs that only God can provide. No man or political party can meet our needs. That’s why we need to pray and open up to God. Man without the Lord will always go the wrong way.

III. We can look unto Jesus. Hebrews 12:1-2 (NLT2)
¹  Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. ²  We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. This great cloud of witnesses that surrounds us are the people of faith who believed God and stood fast for God. They stood fast against all kinds of trials, temptations, opposition, death and evil governments. Their great faith and endurance should stir and inspire us to endure in our belief. They never buckled or crumbled in their faith when times got hard. We are to strip off Every “weight.” That means get rid of those things that hold us back, such as use of time, some forms of entertainment, or certain relationships and putting other things or people before God. It is especially important to get rid of all sin because it hinders our spiritual progress and brings God's judgment on our families and nation. Sins of any kind can cause believers to drift off spiritual course. We must run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by looking unto Jesus at all times and in every situation and circumstance. He is our example! We read God's word, pray daily and walk in obedience to Him and His way as Jesus did. We can make a tremendous difference.

Conclusion: It's time to get serious about our faith. There is much we who are righteous in Christ can do. It is time for us to wake up and begin to do these things listed above because our nation’s foundations are being destroyed. Our way of life as we know it is in the process of changing. We must fight the good fight of faith and continue steadfast in what we believe no matter what.

Invitation: Because of these trying times, we must be prepared to stand up for what we believe no matter what. So now is the time to “Make your calling and election sure.”

If you have never confessed your sins to Jesus and called on Him to forgive your sins, now is the time. The return of Christ is very near, so don’t put off making sure of your salvation, time is short.