Have Compassion Make A Difference

Jude 17–25 (KJV 1900)

17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. 20 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.

I want you to understand this morning that you all are Making A Difference.

You say, Pastor James there is so often that it does not seem like I am making a difference. It does not seem that much is going on in the lives of these young people and these adults. It does not seem like we see much in the way of change in their home situations or their lives.

But I will tell you this morning,

“You are making a difference.”

Let’s read Jude 17-25

I am going to show you this morning several reasons why you are making a difference and that you might be encouraged this morning. But before I outline those reasons let me admonish you first.

Notice the instructions given by Jude for the “difference makers” spoke about in this passage.

In verse 18,19, Jude speaks about the Ungodly and these are contrasted with those that are Godly.

Verse 20 gives us those instructions for “Difference Makers”

A. A Difference Maker - builds themselves up on Holy Faith.

The word ‘holy’ used here properly signifies purity, sacredness, and right. We could use the word “separated.”

The foundation of this ‘building’ is the of course our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 3:11

This speaks about our vibrant fellowship and personal walk with the Lord. Being men and women of this blessed book, the Bible; passionately following after the Lord Jesus Christ. Being built up in the things of the Lord.

To be a difference maker, we must diligently labour in our personal walk with the Lord, yielding ourselves to Him daily.

That means there must needs be a daily devotional time we spend with the Lord.

B. Secondly, difference makers are men and women who pray in the Holy Ghost.

What does it mean to pray in the Holy Ghost?

Ephesians 6:17-18 “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

To pray in the Spirit or to pray in the Holy Ghost simply means that we are yielded to God in our prayers.

These are no mere carnal prayers, where the center stage is all about me. Praying in the Holy Ghost means that we are yielded to Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His will.

Rom 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.”

C. Thirdly, “Difference Makers” are “in the love of God”

This is not a statement by Jude to assert that God changes, because God is immutable and cannot change. The fact remains that God loves us and that love cannot be lost.

But our Love toward God and toward our Lord Jesus Christ can grow cold.

The church at Ephesus had grown cold in their love for the Lord.

Rev 2:4 “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.”

A difference maker is one that passionately in love with the Lord Jesus Christ. This is at the center of all he/she does. It is the love of Christ that constraineth us.

This of course is bore out of the above 2 mentioned points. For how can one abide in His love and spend no time listening to Him from His word. Or how can one say they love the Lord and never speak to Him whom they love. This is not a formal empty mechanical religion, but rather a personal fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

D. Fourthly, “difference makers” are those looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This has a past, present and future aspect to it.

We understand most certainly “We love him, because he first loved us.” I John 4:19

This speaks of the mercy the Lord Jesus has had for us in eternity past, being slain before the foundation of the world.

We also presently understand looking toward our Lord Jesus Christ for His mercy. For the act of prayer is one of seeking the Lord’s grace and mercy in our present estate. “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

But we also understand that the Lord Jesus Christ is coming again. And we are certainly looking for the appearance of our Lord and Savior at any moment. “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13

A Christian that lives his/her life looking for the appearing of our Savior will live differently then one that is not walking in that hope.

So how is it that you are making a difference as I said at the beginning of this:

You have compassion.

The word that is used here for compassion, does not so much have to do with emotions. But it means that you are able to have empathy. This is looking out and having pity on the situation of the sinner, noting that the only difference between you and them is Jesus Christ.

You may not be able to identify exactly with their life struggles per say, their home life or any number of things. But you can certainly have empathy of the common plight of humanity and that is being a sinner in need of a Savior.

It means to be merciful or to have pity on. You all are making a difference because you have compassion.

How do I know you have compassion? Because you are here this morning. You are going to ride a hot bus and pick up some kids and adults that need to come to church to hear about the Lord Jesus Christ.

You are going to take them home while everyone else is already gone for the afternoon.

You are going to labour on weekdays and weekends to reach other adults and kids.

You are going to spend your efforts maintaining these buses and the van.

You are going to do the hard work necessary for all of this to take place.

There are many today that just do not have compassion. The Bible says that as time moves on there will be less and less that will have compassion.

The Bible says in Matthew 24:11,12 when the Lord Jesus began speaking about the end days he stated, “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”

We are certainly living in days when love is waxing cold.

2. You are making a difference because many have been and will be saved.

Here in our text is says of some have compassion, making a difference, and then other save with fear.

It seems there is an allusion to some being saved by the meek and kind words of sharing the Gospel that are in a place to receive Jesus Christ, while others are save through the preaching of fire and brimstone. Either way Souls are being saved and lives are being changed.

How many have come the Lord Jesus Christ and been saved because they got on these buses or this van one day?

How many have sat under the preaching of the Word of God and heard about the truth that there is a Heaven that is real and there is a Hell that is hot and received Jesus Christ?

And the truth is there is no way for us to know just how many.

But then we fail to realize the principle of the seed and the sower and multiplication that continues.

Johnny gets saved… And one day he tells others and they get saved. And those others tell others and they get saved… And down the line we go.

I often think about the ministry of the Apostle Paul or Peter or John and today… the law of sowing and reaping is still producing a harvest that begun thousands of years ago.

Then thirdly,

3. You are making a difference because Christians have an opportunity to learn and grow.

Many that ride in on these buses come from various backgrounds and home situations that would make it very difficult for them to grow and thrive as a Christian.

This short amount of time that they are able to be at the church house and be around godly brother and sisters in Christ will produce dividends in their lives.

Oftentimes these small investments are not seen till later in life, but these investments are not in vain.

I would like to close with a Bible passage out of the book of II Timothy that Paul wrote to Timothy,

“Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

Keep up the excellent work labouring for the Lord Jesus Christ being a “difference maker”