Sermon 18 in Series on Jude--(Also Attached In WordPerfect 9.0 Format)
Posted by: jnthrower <jnthrower@...>
CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH
THE BOOK OF JUDE
WALKING IN THE KEEPING POWER OF GOD
JUDE 24-25
INTRODUCTION
This is the conclusion of Jude's short letter. Note that this is a benediction upon believers.
It is one of the most well known benedictions by Christians all over the world.
Note the great message on the source of the believer's security.
What is the source of the believer's security?
Who is it that keeps the believer secure while he walks upon the earth?
It is the Lord—The Lord's keeping power.
I. THE LORD IS ABLE TO KEEP US FROM FALLING.
"keep" comes from Greek word which means "to watch or to be on guard."
"from falling" comes from a Greek word which means "not stumbling."
In Jude 21 we are told that we are to keep ourselves in the love of God.
Here we are told that God keeps us. What is the difference?
We must watch that we stay close to the Lord, but only He can guard us so that we do not stumble.
God alone has the power to keep (to watch or guard) us from falling (stumbling) in a world that has so much corruption and false teaching.
Proverbs 24:16--For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
But for God to keep us, we must draw near Him and stay in touch with Him. How?
A. We Are Kept By The Fulness Of The Holy Spirit.
1. We are commanded to be filled with the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 5:18)
2. We are told of the benefits of being filled with the Holy Spirit. (Gal. 5:16)
3. We see the lives of those who were filled with the Holy Spirit.
a. They were chosen for special service. (Acts 6:3, 8)
b. They were able to withstand persecution. (Acts 7:55)
c. They were able ministers for God. (Acts 21:19-26)
A. We Are Kept By The Fulness Of The Holy Spirit.
B. We Are Kept By The Word Of God.
John 17:17-- "Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth."
Psalm 119:9- "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word."
Psalm 119:11-- "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."
Psalm 119:105-- "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."
Psalm 19:7-11
C. We Are Kept By Privilege Of Prayer.
Luke 11:4-- And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
1 John 5:14-15--And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
1 John 3:22-- And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
John 15:7-- If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
D. We Are Kept By The Fellowship Of The Church. (Romans 12:3-8)
1 Corinthians 12:7--But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
Ephesians 4:7-- But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
1 Corinthians 14:12-- Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church."
1 Corinthians 14:26--. . .Let all things be done unto edifying.
1 Peter 4:10-11
By the power of the Holy Spirit, through daily Bible study and prayer, and by walking in fellowship with the saints of God, we are kept from falling or stumbling into error.
I. THE LORD IS ABLE TO KEEP US FROM FALLING.
II. THE LORD IS ABLE TO PRESENT US FAULTLESS.
"faultless" means "unblemished or to be spotless and pure, without any defilement whatsoever."
God is able to accept us in Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb of God.
Revelation 21:27-- "And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life."
2 Corinthians 5:21-- "For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
Ephesians 5:25-27; Colossians 1:21-22, 28;
Philippians 1:6-- "Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."
III. THE LORD IS ABLE TO INFUSE US WITH TRIUMPHANT JOY.
Right now, "we rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Romans 5:2
Think of that glorious day that we meet Him face to face.
There will be so much to excite and cause our hearts to joy and rejoice in that day:
1. the glory of God's presence and of heaven.
2. the glory of Christ and of seeing Him face to face.
3. the transformation of our bodies into perfection.
4. the joy of being reunited with our deceased loved ones in the Lord.
5. the unbelievable exaltation of being made kings and priests to rule and reign with Christ.
6. the unbelievable exaltation of being assigned the duty of serving God and Christ forever and ever.
All of this and so much more will stir our hearts to joy and rejoice in Christ for ever and ever.
IV. THE LORD IS THE ONLY WISE GOD AND HE IS OUR SAVIOUR.
The idea is that He is the only living and true God:
He is the only God who could ever plan and create the world and man.
He is the only God who could bring about the salvation of man after man had made such a mess of things.
God is not only wise, He is the Savior. He alone has the wisdom and power to save man from this corruptible world of sin and evil, disease and accident, death and judgment.
V. THE LORD ALONE IS THE GOD WHO DWELLS IN GLORY AND MAJESTY AND DOMINION AND POWER.
1. He alone is the Supreme Glory and Majesty of the universe.
2. He alone is the Supreme Dominion and Power of the universe.
Therefore, the only thing left for us to do is to shout the praises of Him who alone has saved us.
Conclusion
Jesus is able to give us the strength we need to make it here--Holy Spirit, Word of God, Prayer, and the Local Church.
Jesus will give us the security we need to make it there.
Jesus will bring us to total satisfaction in our lives:
1. We are His purchased possession.
2. We are his precious bride.