UNLESS WE BUILD UP OUR FAITH, WE CANNOT ENDURE

SCRIPTURE:

“But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18 They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” 19 These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.  20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.  22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.  24 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.” (Jude 1:17—25)

OBSERVATION:

            Jude wrote this letter to friends in the faith to persevere.  Perseverance and endurance are the most challenging yet vital reality of the life of faith.  Jude wrote telling them to REMEMBER what the apostles of Jesus foretold.  In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.  We as believers must not be surprised when we encounter scoffers who ridicule and put down our faith.  Scoffers will come.  Scoffers will bring division.  They follow their own ungodly desires and mere natural instincts.  Unless a believer learn how to persevere and endure, they will fall in the ways of scoffers.  Believers will not be able to stand against human reasoning and the pull of human desires espoused and introduced by scoffers. 

            How can we learn to endure and persevere?  Jude gave some direction on how to persevere.  Firstly, we endure BUILDING our most Holy Faith.  Building up faith is critical for perseverance and endurance.  Without strong healthy faith, no believer can endure the onslaught of ungodly desires and natural instincts.  How does one builds faith?  By remembering and hearing the word of God. 

            Secondly, by PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT.  Praying in the Spirit is to allow us to be guided by Him in every way.  Praying in the Spirit activates the power of his life in us to withstand ungodly desires that works against us.  Pray in the Spirit allows him to speak truth into every situation I face.  Thirdly, to KEEP ONSELF IN GOD’S LOVE.  I must learn to keep myself in God’s love, and not be led by fear of life’s happening.  The perfect love of God cast away fear.  The perfect love of God gives strength to endure and persevere.  Keeping myself in the love of God keeps me secure and immovable by fear of scoffers and their ungodly desires. 

            I also must learn how to be merciful to those who are doubting in their faith.  I must learn to be gracious to others who are unable to endure and persevere.  Jude gave a beautiful doxology to his letter saying; To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen

APPLICATION:

            To truly persevered through all of life’s challenges, all glory to God who is able to keep me from stumbling, to present me before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy.  I must learn to keep myself in God’s love at all times.  He has the power, the authority through Jesus Christ to make me persevere and endure until he comes.  I will continue to build my faith daily.  I will continue to pray daily, keeping myself in God’s love and be merciful to those who are doubting their faith so they too can endure and persevere under difficulties.    

PRAYER:

            Father, thank you for reminding me through Jude to learn endurance and perseverance.  Help me to build up my faith in you.  Teach me how to pray in your Spirit.  Help me to keep myself in your love.  I thank you for keeping me from stumbling and moments of doubting.  I thank you for presenting me before you without fault but with great joy through Jesus.  I look to you daily to lead and guide me.  Help me to remember you in times of troubles.  In Jesus, Amen!