Up Holding the Faith. Disciple 2

We take a lot of things for granted.   We take electricity for granted.   Imagine getting up in the morning on your trip to the bathroom and flipping on the light and have no electricity for that light.  Imagine turning on the water faucet and having no water come out?  We take those things for granted.  We even take God for granted.  

God is the source of our faith.  If we aren’t seeking and plugged into him we aren’t living by faith.    We might as well have stayed in bed if we haven’t sought and placed ourselves in his hands that morning.   A person cannot uphold the faith and stand in the faith unless they are earnestly, sincerely, seriously contending, asserting, and maintaining in the faith.   God doesn’t have an off and on switch but we do (it’s called choice).  We have a choice to seek God or not seek God. 

You and I have been chosen and entrusted by our Holy Father to live and carry out in the faith in obedience, submission, and holy reverence towards God and in God.   Only in the holy faith of our God do we not fall into compromise of others or ourselves and lose the holy convictions God has given us.  We were created and chosen to glorify God and things don’t go so well for others or us if we don’t plug into God.  Instead of God’s goodness and godliness coming out something that should had stayed out of view and out sight comes out instead (your flesh).   If we aren’t focused, plugged into God, our flesh can be manipulated by those around us and situations around us.  That is why is so important to be mindful of God and have a heart full of God. 

Jude 1:3-25

“Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share.  But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people.  I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives.   The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.  I want to remind you, that Jesus first rescued the nation of Israel from Egypt, but later he destroyed those who did not remain faithful.  And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged.   God has kept them securely chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the great day of judgment.  And don’t forget Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were filled with immorality and every kind of sexual perversion.   Those cities were destroyed by fire and serve as a warning of the eternal fire of God’s judgment.  In the same way, these people- who claim authority from their dreams- live immoral lives, defying authority and scoff at supernatural beings.  But even Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels, did not dare accuse the devil of blasphemy, but simply said,  “The Lord rebuke you!”  (This took place when Michael was arguing with the devil about Moses’ body.) But these people scoff at things they do not understand.  Like unthinking animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their own destruction.  What sorrow awaits them!  For they follow the footsteps of Cain, who killed his brother.   Like Balaam, they deceive people for money.  And like Korah, they perish in their rebellion. (Numbers 16:19-49, 26:9-10)  When these people eat with you in your fellowship meals commemorating the Lord’s love, they are like dangerous reefs that can shipwreck you.   They are like shameless shepherds who care only for themselves.   They are like clouds blowing over the land without giving any rain.  They are like trees in autumn that are doubly dead, for they bear no fruit and have been pulled up by the roots.  They are like wild waves of the sea, churning up the foam of their shameful deeds.  They are like wandering stars, doomed forever to the blackest darkness.”

“These people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their desires.  They brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want. But you, dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said.  They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers who purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires.  These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you.  They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them.    But you, dear friends must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life.  In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.   And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering.  Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.   Now all glory to God, who is able keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.  All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord.  All glory, majesty, power and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.”  Jude 1

We aren’t to make excuses.  We have either sought God or haven’t sought God. 

“No, O people, the LORD has already told you what is good and this is what he requires: “to do what is right, to love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”  Micah 6:8

 Proverbs 6:16-19

“There are six things that LORD hates- no seven things he detests: haughty eyes, (stuck up, lofty, exalt, magnify oneself, to think of ones self to be too highly to humble and help someone else.) a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent, a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong, a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord among believers.” 

A person who sows discord among believers are conspirators, gossipers, grumblers and complainers.  They are also those who are stuck up and think too highly of themselves.  They are on the same list as murders and thieves and whatever else is defined as feet that race to do wrong.

We have to understand that the reason God hates those things because he knows it’s not just the big things that destroy but the small things as well.

James says, “In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.  But a tiny spark can set a great forest fire.” James 3:5

1 John 5:4-5

“For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.   And who can win this battle against the world?   Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.”

Why do I mention this?  I mention all this to stimulate and warn you and to build a fortress of God words in your heart and mind.   So when the savages and pirates and slaves and beasts of compromise and temptation come to raid and pillage they will find an invincible, impregnable fortress of conviction built by God’s everlasting wisdom and love.   You will be able to stand without fear for the source of your strength will be God himself.   You will be a beacon of light; you will glorify Him and uphold the faith God has entrusted.  You will then pass this on (in action and word) to others to build up their faith in Jesus Christ.

Why do I mention this?  I mention all this to stimulate, remind and warn you and to build a fortress of God's words in your heart and mind.  So when the savages and pirates and slaves and beasts of compromise and temptation come to raid and pillage they will find an invincible impregnable fortress of conviction built by God's everlasting wisdom and love.  We will be able to stand without fear for the source of our strength will be God himself.  You will be a beacon of light of God's goodness; you will glorify Him and uphold the faith God has entrusted.  You will then pass this on (in action and word) to others to build up their faith in Jesus Christ. 

God is our source.  We are to be hooked to him and he empowers what comes out.

Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.  You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you.  Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch can not produce fruit if is served from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me.  Yes I am the vine; you are the branches.   Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.  For apart from me you can do nothing.  Anyone who parts from me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers.  Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.  But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask of any request you like, and it will be granted! My true disciples produce much fruit.  This brings great glory to my Father.”  John 15:1-8