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, media, society and even some churches. Jude calls on all Christians to remain faithful.

I. Remember we are warned there shall be mockers. Mockers were predicted by the apostles. Jude 1:17 (NKJV) But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: 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 more 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, serving and ministering for Christ forever in a new heavens and earth is ridiculed and mocked. We see a total disregard for anything concerning God! The devil has blinded their eyes. His favorite devise is to keep them ignorant and unconcerned about spiritual truths. These scriptures give us three characteristics of mockers! a. They are sensual. Jude 1:18 (NKJV) how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. Mockers are sensual (fleshly) and worldly minded. 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. They walk after their passions. They think and act as natural fleshly men. 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. b. They cause divisions Jude 1:19 (NKJV) These are sensual persons, who cause divisions. 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, social media, news media, different religions. 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 has never been successful. c. They do not have the Spirit Jude 1:19c (NKJV) not having the Spirit. All these evil actions that people do is because they don't have God's Spirit in them. Romans 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. They have never been saved. They are ignorant to the results of this kind of lifestyle, that leads not only to physical death, but also spiritual death. 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. Many are turning away from the faith that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Even though mockers are all around us we are to remain faithful to our calling for there is no other way to unity and heaven but by Jesus Christ. a. By building upon our "most holy faith." Jude 1:20 (NKJV) But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith. We were called to be God's children. We were called to one day rule and reign with Christ. We are to keep assembling ourselves together as Heb. 10:25 says so we can help each other build up 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 and salvation thru Jesus only. John 14:6 Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 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 the holy bible, God's word. We are to read, study, memorize it and live it. We are to preach and teach it as long as we are able. b. We are to remain faithful By praying in the Holy Spirit. Jude 1:20b praying in the Holy Spirit, 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. Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groaning (0r moaning) which cannot be uttered. 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 and with the help of the Spirit. c. We are to remain faithful by keeping ourselves in the love of God. Jude 1:21 (NKJV) keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Jude is telling us to keep ourselves in a place where God can actively bless us, and to keep ourselves away from all that is unlike Him, and those things that would drag us down spiritually. In other words, we don’t keep ourselves saved, but we keep ourselves safe in His love. That includes denying ourselves and embracing what God has for us. If we get out from under God's love, the devil will be waiting to make our lives miserable.

Conclusion: By doing these things we will keep ourselves safe in God's love. We must remain faithful in the midst of this crooked and perverse generation and shine as lights in a dark place. We are to be salt of the earth and light of the world as Jesus said.

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.