WRESTLING FOR OUR FAITH

The title of my sermon today is wrestling for our faith. In one of our Gideons’ Army graduation classes it was said that Christianity is always a generation away from extinction. since the days of the apostles to today christianity is always one generation away from being removed from the face of the earth, and that is because if one generation misses to pass the right baton the next generation will be in jeopardy of extinction.

so Paul told Timothy in You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

that is how God has designed Christianity to move from one generation to the next- the one generation of faithful men and women pass it on to the next generation who then pass it on. If one generation was to miss it completely then we are in danger of losing the whole thing, BUT GOD!!

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus,

as I have grown up I have had an increasing concern that we might be that generation that might miss it if we are not careful to hear the Holy Spirit and also to discern the times we are living in. we might be that generation that has nothing to pass to the next generation.

our previous generation our fathers and their fathers were an generation.

in The Holy Spirit fell upon the believers on the day of pentecost and the crowd is amazed but some say that the believers are drunk and then Peter stands up and says Men of Judea this people are not drunk as you suppose…

but this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel that in the last days God says, I will pour out my spirit on all flesh and your sons and daughters shall prophesy.

you see the reason Peter could quote the scriptures like that is because the crowd too was familiar with the scriptures, they knew them, they knew thats what Joel had said,

they had a general knowledge of the scriptures. our previous generation had a general knowledge of the scriptures,

most of us growing up in school we quoted the Lords prayer, most of us knew psalm 23- The Lord is my shepherd, we were conversant with most of the stories of the bible, creation, Noah and the ark, Samson and Delilah, David and Goliath.

we knew . but that has been lost…the generation we are living in is an generation

2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

English Standard Version Chapter 17

Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was gprovoked within him as he saw that the city was hfull of idols.

17 So ihe reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there.

18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, j“What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”—because khe was preaching lJesus and the resurrection.

19 And they took him and brought him to mthe Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this nnew teaching is that you are presenting?

20 For you bring some ostrange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.”

21 Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new.

w See ch. 1:2

to the greeks, the epicurean and stoic philosopher, Paul was a babbler, as knowledgeable as he was of the scriptures to them he was bringing some strange things to their ears. This is where this generation is.

we live in a time of myriad ideas, multiple opinions, so many voices, so many gods and this generation is not as familiar with the scriptures as the previous generations,

they don’t know the scriptures we do. to them sometimes we are babbling.

sociologists are now telling us that by 2050 Islam will be the largest religion in the world.

the other largest growing sector in the world is those who claim no religious affiliation at all.

in a world where christianity has been the largest religion for the last 19 centuries.

Christianity is being invaded from every corner from educated minds in the western world, from eastern religions, from Islam, from our African religious cultures and every man and woman do what they think is right to them.

x See

Now these were the times Jude was living in where Christianity was facing imminent threats from within and without.

y ch. 1:13

false teachers were infiltrating the church and propagating a false gospel, false teachings.

This teaching which was an early form of Gnosticism went something like this that everything that is spiritual is good and everything that is of the physical is bad. Therefore Jesus could not have come in the flesh because then he would have been evil and a further expansion of this teaching said since only what is spirit is good what is done in the physical is inconsequential. So Jude writes and describes what these teachers were and he shows that they were deceived in 2 areas

This teaching which was an early form of Gnosticism went something like this

1 The Greek word anthropoi can refer to both men and women, depending on the context

everything that is spiritual is good and everything that is of the physical is bad. Therefore Jesus could not have come in the flesh because then he would have been evil

a []

a further expansion of this teaching said since only what is spirit is good what is done in the physical is inconsequential. So Jude writes and describes what these teachers were and he shows that they were corrupt in 2 areas

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), .

they were corrupt in their doctrine and they were corrupt in their desires

what was corrupt in their doctrine?

I) THEIR DOCTRINE PERVERTED THE GRACE OF GOD. vs 4

English Standard Version Chapter 1

For hcertain people ihave crept in unnoticed jwho long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert kthe grace of our God into sensuality and ldeny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

EXPLAIN THE TEXT

for certain people have crept in unnoticed/ secretly/ by stealth/ they wormed their way into the churches- now how did they creep in unnoticed? no one in the church detected them.

ungodly people who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality- in other words they took the grace of God and turned it into a license for immorality-

I know God needed me to teach this when pastor Ekelemu Ewomazino started off his sermon yesterday by saying you cannot use God’s grace as justification for your sinning.

I just said Thank you Jesus you have confirmed for me what i need to teach today. these false teachers were perverting the grace of God into a license to sin.

they said since what is spiritual is what is good and what we do in the body is inconsequential we can do what we want to do. sex is for the body and the body is for sex, food is for the body and the body is for food. it was the same teaching that Paul was fighting in Corinth where they were saying all things are permissible for me, all things are lawful for me. Paul tells them but not all things are beneficial. Food is the for the stomach and the stomach is for food but God will destroy them both.

they said since what is spiritual is what is good and what we do in the body is inconsequential we can do what we want to do.

and what we do in the body is inconsequential we can do what we want to do. sex is for the body and the body is for sex, food is for the body and the body is for food. it was the same teaching that Paul was fighting in Corinth where they were saying all things are permissible for me, all things are lawful for me. Paul tells them but not all things are beneficial. Food is the for the stomach and the stomach is for food but God will destroy them both.

sex is for the body and the body is for sex, food is for the body and the body is for food.

it was the same teaching that Paul was fighting in Corinth where they were saying all things are permissible for me, all things are lawful for me. Paul tells them but not all things are beneficial. Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food but God will destroy them both.

or like we are hearing today since we are saved by faith alone and not by works then faith keeps us we don’t need the moral law of God, so we can do anything we want to do. Our sins were forgiven, are forgiven have been forgiven so we can live however we want. This teaching was called antinomianism in the 1st century and it is still here with us today under different names. there is nothing new under the sun.

Or since we are saved by faith alone and not by works then faith keeps us we don’t need the moral law of God, so we can do anything we want to do. Our sins were forgiven, are forgiven have been forgiven so we can live however we want. This teaching was called antinomianism

CONTEMPORIZE THE TEXT

or like we are hearing today since we are saved by faith alone and not by works then faith keeps

us we don’t need the moral law of God, so we can do anything we want to do.

Our sins were forgiven, are forgiven have been forgiven so we can live however we want.

This teaching was called antinomianism in the 1st century and it is still here with us today under different names. there is nothing new under the sun.

but not only did this people pervert the grace of God but they

II THEIR DOCTRINE DENIED THE LORD AND MASTER, JESUS CHRIST vs 4

A) EXPLAIN THE TEXT

These false teachers stated that since all physical existence is evil and only the spiritual is good.

Christ could not have come in the flesh otherwise he was evil too and in doing this

they denied the virgin birth of Christ,

they denied the humanity of Christ,

they denied the crucifixion and they denied the resurrection. if you deny that Christ came bodily, physically you have denied everything about Christianity. they denied Christ completely.

B) CONTEMPORIZE THE TEXT

In many a church Jesus is a silent topic, he is rarely preached or taught, Yes we quietly agree that he is Lord, we quietly agree that he is savior but a whole lot of other teachings have come that dilute, digress or displace Christ from his church. But without Christ the entire bible is a sham, there is no purpose plan or program of God without Christ. He is the central point from Genesis to Revelation. The OT was a shadow of him, the NT is his reality….everything points to Christ, ; . you know the issue is not God, everybody believes in God..all around the world we all believe in God, Christ is the problem. !

In many a church Jesus is a silent topic, he is rarely preached or taught,

Yes we quietly agree that he is Lord, we quietly agree that he is savior

but a whole lot of other teachings have come that dilute, digress or displace Christ from his church.

But without Christ the entire bible is a sham, there is no purpose plan or program of God without Christ.

He is the central point from Genesis to Revelation. The OT was a shadow of him, the NT is his reality….everything points to Christ, ; .the centrality of christianity, the centrality of all that God has done, is doing and will do is CHRIST. he is the plan, the purpose and the program of God. and do you know that the problem is not God — all around the world we all believe in God, Christ is the problem. !

C) ILLUSTRATION

ILLUSTRATION of the grammy awards, - I just want to thank God and my family …its cool until one artist came and said I want to thank Jesus Christ the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, the soon coming one and my savior.

of the grammy awards, - I just want to thank God and my family …its cool until one artist came and said I want to thank Jesus Christ the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, the soon coming one and my savior.

their doctrine denied the grace of God, their doctrine denied Jesus Christ

III) THEIR DOCTRINE GOT ITS AUTHORITY FROM DREAMS Vs 8

8 In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and tblaspheme the glorious ones.

EXPLAIN THE TEXT

Their authority- to do what they did came from their claim of authority from their dreams.

3 In their greed these teachers will exploit youy with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.

CONTEMPORIZE THE TEXT

Now I know that God can speak to us in dreams and visions and all of that- but even those have to be brought under the scrutiny of the scriptures and if they are in contradiction to the word of God, it doesn’t matter how real the experience was it is false and a lie. when I find someone who isnt so keen on the word as they are on the dreams they get i get suspicious. they dont outrightly say it but they know that they give more credit to the dreams they have then the word of God. i get cautious.

Now I know that God can speak to us in dreams and visions and all of that-

but even those have to be brought under the scrutiny of the scriptures and if they are in contradiction to the word of God,

it doesn’t matter how real the experience was it is false and a lie.

when I find someone who isn't so keen on the word as they are on the dreams they get I get suspicious.

they don’t outrightly say it but they know that they give more credit to the dreams they have then the word of God. I get cautious.

But this people discarded the authority of the word and gave it to dreams.

IV) THEIR CORRUPT DOCTRINE LED TO CORRUPT DESIRES

As a result of their corrupt doctrines- it led to corrupt desires. What we teach that’s what we will believe, what we preach that is what we will practice.

They degraded their bodies vs 8

They rejected the divine authority vs 8 b

They took the way of cain- if they don’t get their way, they will have someone taken out- either physically or sideline them

VS 11 They have taken the ministry as a profit racketeering industry vs 11

VS 11 They have taken the ministry as a profit racketeering industry

VS 12 They are shepherds feeding only themselves, the word there is poimano- from where we get the word pastor- instead of feeding the sheep they are fleecing the sheep. Clouds without rain- there is the promise of spiritual nutrition, they are clouds, but no rain ever comes- possibly mentally entertaining but spiritually deficient- stimulating the mind, but starving the heart.

VS 12 They are shepherds feeding only themselves, the word there is poimano- from where we get the word pastor-

instead of feeding the sheep they are fleecing the sheep.

Clouds without rain- there is the promise of spiritual nutrition, they are clouds, but no rain ever comes-

possibly mentally entertaining but spiritually deficient-

stimulating the mind, but starving the heart.

corrupt in their doctrine and corrupt in their desires. so Jude then says, what is the response to all this? how should the church counteract. notice that this false teachers first started with a false doctrine.

jude says we have to

so what is the response to all this? How are we to reverse this situation and stem the tide, Jude gives us a wonderful response

V) WRESTLE FOR OUR FAITH Vs 3

English Standard Version Chapter 1

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our fcommon salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you gto contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

EXPLAIN THE TEXT

in this world where false teachers have crept in with corrupt doctrines and corrupt desires. in this world where the modern generation is an generation. they have no understanding of the bible and we have competing voices and all manners of attacks are coming on the church. the Holy Spirit is saying we have to contend for the faith.

the word contend there is the word EPAGONIZOMAI- from the root word AGONIZOMAI- to agonize-

the word contend there is the word EPAGONIZOMAI- from the root word AGONIZOMAI- to agonize- it was used in the greek olmpice games for contests, wrestling where the constestants agonized trying to throw one another to the ground as in wrestling. jude says we have to agonize for our faith.

it was used in the greek olympic games for contests, wrestling where the contestants agonized trying to throw one another to the ground as in wrestling. Jude says we have to agonize for our faith.

Now the word faith is used a couple of ways in the scriptures and especially in the NT. The most common way faith is used is the act of believing, the act of trusting based off of the evidence presented. That is how uses faith- it is the act of trusting, the act of believing. However faith is also used as the sacred deposit of christian truth handed down to the saints by the Holy Spirit through the apostles. It is the doctrines of the faith and the word of God in general that has been given by the Holy Spirit down through the apostles to the church. This is what Jude is speaking of here. He is saying contend for this sacred deposit of truth, the doctrines of the faith that have been handed down to us. Now notice what else he says about this body of doctrine, it has been once for all delivered to the saints. the word delivered there is the word entrusted. Christ has entrusted us with this precious word, he could have given it to angels, he could have given it to kings, NO he entrusted his precious word, the doctrines of the faith to us and said here

Now the word faith is used a couple of ways in the scriptures and especially in the NT. The most common way faith is used is the act of believing,

the act of trusting based off of the evidence presented. That is how uses faith- it is the act of trusting, the act of believing.

However faith is also used as the sacred deposit of christian truth handed down to the saints by the Holy Spirit through the apostles.

It is the doctrines of the faith and the word of God in general that has been given by the Holy Spirit down through the apostles to the church.

This is what Jude is speaking of here. He is saying contend for this sacred deposit of truth, the doctrines of the faith, the apostles teaching that have been handed down to us.

Now notice what else he says about this body of doctrine, it has been once for all delivered to the saints.

the word delivered there is the word entrusted, it has been given as a sacred trust once and for all.

There is no new revelation there is no new book added to the scriptures; the canon of the Bible is closed. If someone claims a new revelation that is above and beyond the scriptures it is false and a lie from hell. If it is new it is not true and if it is true it is not new. Everything is in the scriptures;

There is no new revelation there is no new book added to the scriptures; the canon of the Bible is closed.

If someone claims a new revelation that is above and beyond the scriptures it is false and a lie from hell.

If it is new it is not true and if it is true it is not new. Everything for our life and godliness is in the scriptures.

CONTEMPORIZE THE TEXT

NOW YOU MAY ASK WHAT ABOUT THINGS IN MY PERSONAL LIFE- MAYBE A NEW JOB, OR THAT RELATIONSHIP, OR THAT BUSINESS DEAL.

the Holy Spirit can speak to you apart from the scriptures but never in contradiction to the scriptures.

yes he can lead you and show you which way to go. a Job in Mombasa is not in the scripture and the Holy Spirit can lead you in that way, but the Holy spirit will never lead you in contradiction to the scripture.

you see even for that leading, we have examples of people who were led like that in the scriptures.

Philip was led like that to the Ethiopian in the book of Acts, Peter was led like that, Paul was led like that.....

you see we have examples…so everything we do in our lives has to have some precept, principle or practice from the scripture. it cannot be something totally new we have never seen or heard that’s not in the bible

If it is new it is not true and if it is true it is not new. this body of doctrine has been delivered once and for all.

RE-EMPHASIZE THE TEXT

Jude earnestly urges his readers to contest for this body of doctrine. Because if we lose this battle the entire war is lost.

ILLUSTRATION

an article by Stephanie Martin of September 19, 2018 had the question. Is God male? Why some clergy are changing their language. The article went on to quote several church ministers who feel that the church needs to amend the use of references to God as male because it alienates people.

Language used in churches should mirror the more gender-balanced language now used throughout society, says the Rt. Rev. Dr. Jo Bailey Wells. Her solution is to use “both male and female imagery” and to “[avoid] the need to say ‘his’ or ‘him’ too often”—while not completely abandoning male pronouns.

Once you abandon referring to God as Father or Son because those are male references.

Once we abandon using him or his as male pronouns when referencing God what are we left with.

The whole of the Bible disintegrates. Jude says Fight for the faith- fight for this body of doctrine that has been handed down to us.

ILLUSTRATION

“I say this with all respect so that it don't upset you too bad, but I say it anyway. When I read in the Bible where He [Jesus] says, 'I Am,' I just smile and say, 'Yes, I Am, too!'” Kenneth Copeland, “Believer's Voice of Victory”, broadcast on TBN, recorded July 9, 1987.-

That is a preacher who is subtle denying the uniqueness of Jesus as the Son of God and also subtly saying that he is God.

The fight of our times is to maintain this doctrine of the scriptures that was handed down to us.

corrupt doctrines and they eventually lead to corrupt desires.

Jude says contend for the faith, the body of doctrine that has been handed down to us, maintain its purity, do not change, amend or twist it. agonizomai for it.

But you may say Pastor Michael how do we contend for this faith.

BUILD YOURSELVES UP IN THE MOST HOLY FAITH Vs 20

English Standard Version Chapter 1

But you, beloved, wbuilding yourselves up in your most holy faith and xpraying in the Holy Spirit,

21 ykeep yourselves in the love of God, zwaiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

22 And have mercy on those who doubt;

23 save others by asnatching them out of bthe fire; to others show mercy cwith fear, hating even dthe garment7 stained by the flesh.

But you, beloved, wbuilding yourselves up in your most holy faith and xpraying in the Holy Spirit,

EXPLAIN THE TEXT

21 ykeep yourselves in the love of God, zwaiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.

22 And have mercy on those who doubt;

23 save others by asnatching them out of bthe fire; to others show mercy cwith fear, hating even dthe garment7 stained by the flesh.

w See

x ; []

y ; []

22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire;d to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.f e

z ;

a ;

b See

c []

Build yourselves up in the most holy Faith- remember the context of Faith in Jude. It is the body of doctrine handed down to the church- the word of God.

d ; []

7 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016), .

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2016),

Build yourselves up in the most holy Faith- remember the context of Faith in Jude. It is the body of doctrine handed down to the church- the word of God. So building ourselves up in this we have to study to show ourselves approved unto God- we have to

So building ourselves up in this we have to study to show ourselves approved unto God-

you see the generation we know or at least are conversant with these doctrines, we have heard them preached over and over again, but the generation does not know any of these doctrines of the faith and

so sometimes we may run from scripture to scripture and we leave them at the lights and progressively they seek other pastures and this is where islam is so strong

because islam teaches them verse by verse, line by line, precept by precept…it is false yes but they are doing such a wonderful job at it.

we have to Get to know this body of faith- get to know the doctrines of the faith or as one brother says the DIDASKALOS of the faith

we have to Get to know this body of faith- get to know the doctrines of the faith or as one brother says the DIDASKALIA of the faith. the instructions of the faith. if we are going to pass the baton to the next generation at some point we have to know and teach

The doctrine of the word of God

The Doctrine of Christ

The Doctrine of God

The Doctrine of salvation

The Doctrine of the plan and the program of God

The Doctrine of the church

These are some of the doctrines that would add immense mileage to your knowledge of God and his word-

every deviation of scripture by some individual, every degradation by these false teachers always started from a distortion of one of these doctrines

SECONDLY IN BUILDING OURSELVES IN THE FAITH WE KEEP GOD’S WORD ABOVE EXPERIENCE

Secondly- keep the word of God above your experience-

don’t judge God’s word by your experiences, judge your experiences by God’s word.

Just because something works doesn’t mean its of God. Even the works of witch doctors work but they’re not of God. Keep the word of God above cliches. We live in the sound bit generation. If something is longer than a tweet we get lost and lose focus. Today God’s word is tweeted in sound bits , but also proverbial sayings from eastern religions, Confucius, buddhism, hinduism and others and since we are not conversant with the word of God we swallow them hook line and sinker. I am a child of the universe! Everything that you are believing for will come your way as you tap into your inner child. The force of the love in the universe is with you child of God. Build yourself up in the word of God my beloved and pray in the Holy Spirit. - speak God’s word in your prayers, confess the scriptures in your prayers you are stating what you believe, log into the Holy Ghost and if God has given you a prayer language pray it. Build yourself up in the doctrine of God’s word and pray in the Holy Spirit.

we keep doing God’s word even when it doesn't seem to bring any experiences or it doesn't seem to work.

it is the word of the LORD, we keep at it. that is the inference i was getting from Ekelemu’s sermon yesterday.

work that faith even when it doesn't seem to be working, keep at it. God watches over his word, not our experiences to perform it.

THIRDLY IN BUILDING OURSELVES IN THE FAITH WE HAVE TO KEEP GOD’S WORD ABOVE CLICHES

Keep the word of God above cliches. We live in the sound bit generation.

If something is longer than a tweet we get lost and lose focus.

Today God’s word is tweeted in sound bits , but also proverbial sayings from

eastern religions, Confucius, buddhism, hinduism and others and since we are not conversant with the word of God

we swallow all these other sayings and put them on the same level as God’s word.

I am a child of the universe!

Everything that you are believing for will come your way as you tap into your inner child.

The force faith of the love in the universe is with you child of God.

i believe that prayer is our powerful contact with the greatest force in the universe.

these are cliches that we will unknowingly tweet and yet come from eastern mysticism, buddhism, hinduism and we mix it all with christianity.

Build yourself up in the word of God my beloved and pray in the Holy Spirit. - speak God’s word in your prayers, confess the scriptures in your prayers you are stating what you believe, log into the Holy Ghost and if God has given you a prayer language pray it. Build yourself up in the doctrine of God’s word and pray in the Holy Spirit.

PRAY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT Vs 20

speak God’s word in your prayers, confess the scriptures in your prayers you are stating what you believe, log into the Holy Ghost and if God has given you a prayer language pray it.

Build yourself up in the doctrine of God’s word and pray in the Holy Spirit. as you do this the word of God, the doctrines of the faith start moving from your mind to your heart, the Holy Spirit using you to intercede for the saints in accordance with the will of God.

the word of God the food for the spirit, and the Holy Spirit the water for your spirit, the spirit man grows. fed in the milk and the meat of God’s word growing to a mature man in Christ we then pass this on to the next generation who can then successfully and faithfully contend for the faith in their own generation and as we do this Jude then tells us

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Jude

keep yourselves in the love of God, awaiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

22 And have mercy on some, who are doubting;

23 save others, asnatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, bhating even the garment polluted by the flesh.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Jude

24 aNow to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to bmake you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with cgreat joy,

25 to the aonly bGod our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, cbe glory, majesty, dominion and authority, dbefore all time and now and 1forever. Amen.

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