Quote from Forum Archives on June 2, 2002, 3:56 pm

Posted by: jnthrower <jnthrower@...>

CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH

THE BOOK OF JUDE

JUDE 3-- JUDE'S COMPULSION--"IT WAS NEEDFUL FOR ME." 

INTRODUCTION

"Compulsion" means being forced or constrained to do something. "Have to do it"

"Needful" --constraint; to bear down upon; to compress.

God literally pressured Jude to write this.

It is not popular to deliver messages about apostasy in times of apostasy. It was not what Jude wanted to do.

Jeremiah was called to deliver a message to an apostate nation.

Jeremiah 1:5-10

Jeremiah 20:7-13

Jeremiah opened his heart to God and expressed the depth of his inner emotions.

He felt that God had deceived him by letting him be ridiculed by the people for his message.

He had faithfully warned them of the coming violence and destruction; but his reward was only their insults.

Discouraged, Jeremiah considered withholding God's Word to avoid persecution, but he could not.

Some of the prophets speak of the "burden" of the Word of the Lord.

2 Peter 1:20-21; Proverbs 30:5-6

1 Peter 3:15--But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Psalm 119:46--I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.

There ought to be a compulsion (a driving force) with regard to contending for the faith:

I. THE COMPULSION OF OUR STEWARDSHIP. (1 Cor 9:16-18)

A. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR STEWARDSHIP--MINISTRY.

( 1 Peter 4:10)

1 Peter 4:10--As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

B. THE REQUIREMENTS OF OUR STEWARDSHIP--FAITHFULNESS.

(1 Corinthians 4:1-2)

1 Cor 4:1-2-- Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

C. THE REALIZATION OF OUR STEWARDSHIP--OBEDIENCE.

(Acts 4:17-20; Acts 1:8; Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 1:14)

Romans 1:14-- "I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise."

Is the gospel to everyone? Is it in our possession? Have we been sent to give it?

If it is in our possession and it belongs to everyone, we are in debt to those who

haven't heard it.

D. THE REPORTING OF OUR STEWARDSHIP--REWARD OR REBUKE.

(Rom 14:12; 1 Cor 3:10-15)

Romans 14:12--So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

II. THE COMPELLING LOVE OF OUR SAVIOUR.

A. THE SAVIOUR'S SACRIFICIAL LOVE FOR ALL SINNERS.

(2 Cor. 5:14; 2 Peter 3:9)

2 Peter 3:9--The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

B. THE BELIEVERS' SACRIFICIAL LOVE FOR THE SAVIOUR.

(2 Cor 5:14-15; John 21:15-17; 1 John 4:19; Luke 7:36-47)

1 John 4:19-- "We love him, because he first loved us."

C. THE SAVIOUR'S SPECIAL LOVE FOR ALL THE SAINTS.

(Hebrews 6:10; Eph 3:17-19)

Hebrews 6:10--For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

CONCLUSION

How compelled are you to stand for "the faith?" Do you understand what it means to be a steward of "the faith?" Do you know what "the faith" is? Do you only stand for it in the Church or around the saints or do you stand for it wherever you are?

Are you motivated as you should be "to earnestly contend for the faith?"