Being Merciful

BEING MERCIFUL

Jude 1:20-25

Key Verse–verse 23

New Life’s Core Group–July 9, 2000

Jude 1:20-25

(NIV)

20 But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.

21 Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to

eternal life.

22 Be merciful to those who doubt;

23 snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear-- hating even the

clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

24 To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without

fault and with great joy--

25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord,

before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

(NLT)

23 Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. There are still others whom you need

to show mercy, but be careful that you aren’t contaminated by their sins.

This is why New Life exists. Sure, not only are we here to encourage one another, to see brothers and

sisters in Jesus lifted up, to enjoy His presence through worship, study of His Word and our friendships. But

New Life’s mission statement is clear:

To support the home with family-centered activities and assistance, producing healthy relationships

Providing cutting edge music, leading to hope and peace through Christ.

Remember what Jesus said in Acts 1:8: “ . . . when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive

power and will tell people about me everywhere . . . “ What has happened in the American Church today?

There are 195 million unbelievers in the United States of America. America closes 72 churches every week.

We are the third largest unreached nation in the world. I believe simply put: We have lost our focus, our

desire, His vision.

As we begin to reach people in this community, don’t think for one minute, that the more compassion

and mercy we show for lost people, the less interested the enemy of our soul will become. It doesn’t happen

that way. In order to reach people, to have mercy on them, to rescue them from the flames, to tell everybody

about Jesus, you and I must be prepared as well. Look at 1 Peter 1:13: “Therefore, prepare your minds for

action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

Peter’s instructions are simple. But how many born-again Christians follow them? Let’s look at them together

before we dig into Jude.

❶ Prepare your mind for action–Think clearly! If we dig a little deeper this morning and take our

English translation “prepare” and see another definition it may surprise us. The word “prepare” is a metaphor

derived from the practice of the Orientals who, in order to be unimpeded in their movements were accustomed,

when starting a journey or engaging in any work, to bind their long flowing garments closely around their

bodies and fastened them with a leather belt. Why? So nothing would slow them down; nothing would get in

their way; nothing would hinder them from arriving at their destination. We are to literally “bind up” our minds

with the thoughts of Christ, sew them up, and stick close to them as we walk along this journey of life.

Most of you today could give me a name, if not several, of someone who came to Christ, and began

their journey to heaven without properly “preparing” themselves. This is why we have cell group home

meetings. This is why we have “We Build People.” This is why we share friendships with Jesus loving people.

Does this mean we shun the world? Absolutely not. Where did Jesus go? He went out into the world, He

touched people out there, He met their needs out there. He told us to go out there and make disciples, to teach

them, to baptize them, to show them how to obey the commands of the Lord.

This is what makes good discipleship classes so important. Notice I said the word good. Too many

times churches have a program in place, but it really doesn’t teach, encourage and challenge the individual.

We Build People is a comprehensive class that does just that. I think many of you this morning who have

completed Class 201 or have just begun can agree. It is so important when someone receives Christ as Lord

to immediately place them into a good discipleship ministry class and to put them with good people.

❷ Be self-controlled–1 Thessalonians 5:6: “So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let

us be alert and self-controlled.” The Living Bible states: “So be on your guard, not asleep like the others.