He's a Keeper!

He’s a Keeper

Scripture: Jude 24-25

There is a commercial about life alert; many of you may have seen it. Most of the people in this commercial have fallen, and they have this button around their neck. They can push this button to alert the authorities that they need help because they have fallen.

· They do not need to fear because they are not alone.

· We live in a world where many have fallen and are in need of help.

But there is an enemy greater than a physical fall that makes living alone dangerous.

· Some dangers are greater than high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes.

There is an enemy called disbelief, or faithlessness.

· What you see with your eyes is different from what God's word says.

The question is, what do you do with times like these?

There is good news found here in the scriptures this morning in Jude 24-25.

· That in Christ, we all have a life alert that connects us to a 24-hour life alert system.

· That God in heaven is constantly monitoring your life, this text is designed to teach us that only God can protect us from our human weaknesses.

· We need God to place a shield around our faith

· You need God to protect you from you

Jude fulfills his heart’s desire of writing in the most joyful terms (Jude 3), for in Christ, there is hope in victory, which gives believers joy and confidence.[1]

He concludes this chapter Now unto Him

· He’s saying God is able to keep you from falling

The old Nursery rhyme “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty dumpty had a great fall. All the kings’ horses and all the kings’ men could not put Humpty back together again.” the only thing… he could not get up.

· But one thing about God is He is able to keep you from falling

But here the writer is saying when he uses the word falling that God can keep you from falling away in your faith

· Falling was a real danger for the people in this passage and is a real danger for you and me

· I’ve heard people say that I’ll never give up on God

· And some say that they had lost all faith in and questioned if God existed

So, he was telling the people that they were in great danger of falling away because of the false prophets that were among them.

Even you and I are in danger of falling

· They are consequences that can cause you to fall

· Some hardships can push you into falling away

· Some tragedies can push you into falling

· It’s a strong possibility for you to be tempted into falling

Before you tune into CNBC, CNN, ABC, Fox, or NBC, tune in to God’s heavenly news anchor

Tuned into GOD’S divine network, tune into FM side and not Am side

· FM is the Father’s Message

· AM is the Adversaries Message

· Be sure you are tuned into God’s network!

· Not only are there things threatening to take your faith away, but they want to take your breath away

The news of this verse is that God

· God is able to keep you from falling

· We serve a God who will keep you in while everything else seems to be falling apart

When you think about some of the places you have been and some of the things you’ve done

· That even in your sin, He kept you and protected you from falling and pulled you back

Let me tell you what I’ve learned

· That no matter how I feel sometimes… I’m still saved

· Even if you slip and cuss sometimes…. You’re still saved

· If you feel like giving up on God…. You’re still saved

· If you feel like throwing in the towel… you’re still saved

· Life hurts sometimes… but you’re still saved

· You may disappoint God from time to time… yes, but you’re still saved!

· Your enemies attack you and accuse you sometimes? Yes… but you’re still saved!

· If you lose everything you have, and your family turns your back on you… you haven’t lost everything because…you’re still saved!

This text not only tells us of God preserving power, but it also talks about God’s perfecting power! (Watch this)

Look at verse 24 (KJV):

24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to present youfaultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25 to the only wise God our Saviour, beglory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.[2]

The Christian Standard Bible says:

24 Now to him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of his glory, without blemish and with great joy, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now and forever. Amen. [3]

· The first part says: “Now unto Him, that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless… to present us

· In other words, although you and I are fallen, God can make us to stand up in the presence of His glory, without sin

· He can present us faultless

· We are called to stand in the presence of His glory in the O.T.

God said to Moses in Exodus 33:20-23

· 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.”

· 21 And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock,

· 22 and while my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by.

· 23 Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.” [4]

Turn with me to Ezekiel 3:23:

· 23 So I arose and went out into the valley, and behold, the glory of the Lordstood there, like the glory that I had seen by the Chebar canal, and I fell on my face. [5]

Isaiah 6:4-5 (pause)

· 4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.

· 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” [6]

This vision of God’s majesty, holiness, and glory made Isaiah realize that he was a sinner. When Ezekiel saw God’s glory, he, too, responded with humility.[7]

Here it is:

· Every human being is made to bow down in the presence of God, but God has allowed you and me to stand in the presence of His glory that although we are not sinless, we are blameless in His presence.

· You ought to thank God you are not what you used to be

· You ought to thank God that there has been a change taking place in your life!

· You ought to thank God for the new direction in your life!

· Thank God we don’t look like what we have been through

God is perfecting you!

· God is going to do this thing with exceeding joy!

Jude spoke this text with urgency:

· Now unto Him!

I know you may get a little tired but:

· Now unto Him!

I know things may not be going the way you want them to go!

· But… Now unto Him

I know the future may seem uncertain but:

· Now unto Him

You may have had some long days and some long nights, but:

· Now unto Him

In other words, we should be giving God glory no matter how we feel or what it looks like!

24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling,[8]

Not only should we celebrate God’s preserving power and his perfecting power!

· But we should celebrate God because of His personal power!

In other words, if you don’t have anything else to thank God for:

· If it’s not a new house

· If it’s not a nice car

· Not your kids acting right

Here is something that you can give God glory for, look at vs25:

· 25 To the only wise God- Praise Him for his exclusivity

· Our Saviour- Praise Him because of his (proximity)- because of our relationship

· Be glory- thank Him for His presence!

· And majesty, dominion, and power – means God has the power to do anything and authority to use His power! We will never face a problem that God can’t handle.

o There’s no sickness that He can’t control

o There’s no financial situation that He can’t solve

o Even when you face death, you don’t have to worry then!

o If He could walk on water surely, he can pay your bills

o If He could heal the sick, surely, he can take care of you!

God has the power and authority to keep you from falling!

· Both now and ever. Amen.[9]

He’s a Keeper

24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,

And to present you faultless

Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,

25 To God our Savior,

Who alone is wise,

Be glory and majesty,

Dominion and power,

Both now and forever.

Amen.[10]

[1]Edward C. Pentecost, “Jude,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 924. [2] The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Jud 24–25. [3] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Jud 24–25. [4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ex 33:20–23. [5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eze 3:23. [6] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Is 6:4–5. [7] John A. Martin, “Isaiah,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 1045. [8] The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Jud 24. [9] The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Jud 25. [10] The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Jud 24–25.