Scripture Reading: Jude 1:17-25
Text: Jude 1:20-23

Intro: Jude spends the majority (about 70%) of his short letter warning his readers of false teachers, and identifying for his readers these false teachers.

In verse #3 Jude calls on his audience to “earnestly contend for the faith.”

Here in the conclusion of his letter Jude draws his full attention to the life of the beloved, the called, the preserved, and the sanctified with this phrase… “But ye, beloved” and then he goes on to give the beloved 5 directives:

I - BUILD
“...building up yourselves on your most holy faith…”

A - Every true believer here today has a foundation – it is the foundation of your new life. The foundation is Jesus Christ and your faith in him.
B - The reason a foundation is laid is to build upon.

-Foolish to lay a foundation and not build
-We are not saved for eternal purposes only
-1Cor. 3:9-15, Luke 14:27-30

A - We must avail ourselves of this great tool that we have been given – prayer!
B- There are several problems that I see with our prayer life

Slackness – we just don’t pray

1 - ye have not because ye ask not (Js. 4:2)
2 - hitherto ye have asked nothing in my name (Jn. 16:24)

Shallowness – we only pray for Bob’s bunions and our breakfast burrito!

1 - Ephesians 6:10-19

Selfishness – all about making you happy

1 - ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts (Js. 4:3)
2 - How about praying for things that would please God & make Him happy?

Spiritless – prayers in the flesh

1 - praying in the Holy Ghost
2 - praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit (Eph. 6:18)
3 - Romans 8:26-27

A - This directive means to keep us close to the love of God as well as keep us in love with God!
B - A good love relationship must be maintained (keep yourselves)
C - Many today (even in this room) have drifted from that love relationship.

-because iniquity shall abound, the love of any shall wax cold (Matt. 24:12) -Rev. 2:1-5

A - The mercies of God can be classified into 3 categories:

Past mercies – the greatest = salvation (cross)
Present mercies – intercessor / mediator
Future mercies – the greatest = eternal life

B - We have already partook of past mercies, we are partaking of present mercies, and we are looking for the future mercies!
C - Titus 2:13 & 2 Peter 3:10-14

A - We need to be busy pulling people from the fire!
B - Some need compassion!
C - Some need the fear of God, Judgment, and Hell put in them!