Prayer of Preservation
Notes
Transcript
Prayer of
Preservation
1 Peter 5:6-11
Background
1. Jude: Brother of James (also, humbly, the halfbrother of Jesus); not an apostle, but an itinerant
minister
2. Audience: All Christians everywhere (“to those
who are called,” v. 1)
3. Purpose: An Appeal: “Contend for the Faith that
was once delivered to the Saints” (v. 3).
4. Method: Verses 20-25 answer the question of how
we are to avoid the errors described in verses 419.
Jude’s Outline
• Encouragement for those Inside the Church: Keep
yourselves in the love of God by (a) building, (b)
praying, and (c) waiting.
• Encouragement for those Outside the Church:
Help others who are (a) doubting, (b) slipping
away, and (c) almost totally gone into error.
Encouragement for those Inside the
Church
• Command: Keep yourselves in the Love of God
1. Definition: guard; preserve; set aside for special use
2. The Love of God:
a. God’s Love for Us: God’s very essence (1 John 4:8) that
indwells us by the Spirit (2 Thessalonians 3:5) and creates
an inseparable bond (Romans 8:39). God’s love is
perpetually demonstrated by gospel reminder (1 John
4:9).
b. Our Love for God: reciprocated affection (1 John 4:10) that
results in holy living (1 John 2:5; 5:3) and love for God’s
people (2 Corinthians 13:11; 1 John 4:11)
Encouragement for those Inside the
Church
• Methods: How do we keep ourselves in the Love of
God?
1. By Building: we have the gospel as our foundation, now
we are constructing the walls of our house/temple (see
Ephesians 2:20); we much encourage each other in the
objective faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3)
2. By Praying: plural praying – by all of you praying.
3. By Waiting: special word the for expectant waiting of an
assured outcome (like telling the kids they need to wait
to open their Christmas presents); awaiting “mercy,” a
special word that sets up the following three commands.
Encouragement for those Outside the
Church
• Three Categories of People Needing Encouragement
1. Those who Doubt: these need our “compassing in
action;” and the command is shared by all (not just the
clergy)
2. Those who are Unsaved: these are presently under the
wrath of God and need our immediate action – seize is
an abrupt (even violent) word.
3. Those who are Far Gone: there is another category of
the unsaved – those who indulge and celebrate their sin
to such a degree that we must be extraordinarily
careful in reaching them.
Prayer Conclusions
• Let us pray collectively.
• Let us pray with great interpersonal awareness.
• Let us pray evangelistically with specific
emphasis on our personal role in the salvation of
others.