“But Ye Beloved...”
Jude 1:20-25 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Introduction: Jude instructs the Beloved at the end of his letter of the occupation and emotions displayed during these days of contending, “creeps”, and complainers in light of our Only Wise God and Saviour! Christian friend, let us explore the several ways here described where our lives should bear a stark contrast to the lives of the lost around us!!!
I. Four Occupations of the Beloved: (vs 20-21)
Luke 19:13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
A. Building up yourselves~ Diligent Growth
2 Peter 1:5-11 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
B. Praying in the Holy Ghost
1. Infirmity in Prayer
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
2. Instructor in Prayer
Luke 11:1 And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
1 Corinthians 2:12-13 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
Also Romans 8:26 “The Spirit also helpeth...maketh intercession for us..”
3. Indicators of Proper Prayer:
a. Submission to the Spirit of God
James 4:1-10 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
b. Synced to the Scriptures
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: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
C. Keeping yourselves~ Careful Watching
This is not implying that the Christian has any influence upon the love of God, rather it is spekaing of the Christian's influence upon HIMSELF and his own LIFE... Keep Yourselves In the Love of God!
1.The unchanging constant~ the love of God
Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
2.The problematic variable~ ME!!!!!
D. Looking for the Mercy~ Upward Looking!
The child of God in this day and age is not looking for the judgment of God, but rather the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ!
1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
II. Three Emotions of the Beloved:(vs 22-23)
A. Compassion(translated: compassion, mercy)
Strong's Greek Dictionary
eleeo el-eh-eh'-o from 1656; to compassionate (by word or deed, specially, by divine grace):--have compassion (pity on), have (obtain, receive, shew) mercy (on). See: Matt 18:33
1.The Compassion that MOVED the Master
Matthew 9:36, Matthew 14:14, Matthew 15:32, Matthew 20:34 ~ What Moved Jesus...
Strong's Greek Dictionary
splagchnizomai splangkh-nid'-zom-ahee
middle voice from 4698; to have the bowels yearn, i.e. (figuratively) feel sympathy, to pity:--have (be moved with) compassion. ~ This is something that comes from WITHIN the bowels of my Saviour!
2.The Compassion the should MOLD and MODIVATE ME His servant!
Matthew 18:33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
B. Fear (translated: fear, terror, afraid)
Strong's Greek Dictionary
phobos fob'-os
from a primary phebomai (to be put in fear); alarm or fright:--be afraid, + exceedingly, fear, terror.
1.Fear Motivated the Prayer of Abraham
Genesis 18:20-23 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; 21 I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know. 22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD. 23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? ~ Abraham prayed for the CITY!
2.Fear Motivates the Persuading of Men
2 Corinthians 5:9-11 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
C. Hate
Strong's Greek Dictionary
miseo mis-eh'-o
from a primary misos (hatred); to detest (especially to persecute); by extension, to love less:--hate(-ful).
Psalms 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
Psalms 119:104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
Psalms 119:113 SAMECH. I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.
Psalms 119:163 I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.
Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
Romans ch 7 ~ Paul HATED his old nature and sinful ways!
(Oh wretched man that I am!!)
Revelation 2:6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
Revelation 2:15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.