Being Presented Faultless

-Last week we began a two-part look at the book of Jude

-We saw in the early part of the book that we are to contend against apostasy

-Tonight, we are going to look at the latter part of the book

-Here, we will see some instruction for those who desire to be presented faultless before God on the day of judgement

-What would it be like to be presented faultless before God?

-Jude 1:20-25

-This passage gives us six keys to being presented faultless before God

I. Build Yourself Up In The Faith (vs. 20)

-We looked at this a little last week

-There’s a little bit of overlap here

-But, let’s look at it a little more in depth tonight

-It’s like Spiritual Bodybuilding

A. Knowing what you believe

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B. Knowing why you believe

C. Acting on your beliefs

II. Pray In The Holy Spirit (vs. 20)

-Again more overlap here

-But, let’s look at other passages that can help us understand this a little better

-Romans 8:26

-I Corinthians 14:14-15

-Ephesians 6:17-18a

-When we are fully given over to God, His Spirit reigns supremely in us

-When God’s Spirit reigns supremely in us, He will make the intercession for us

-Why do we want the Spirit to intercede for us?

A. Because of His supreme wisdom

-He knows more than we do, believe it or not

B. Because of His supreme power

-He can do all things

-His power is limitless

III. Keep Yourself In God’s Love (vs. 21)

-This means it requires effort on our part

-The Greek here for “keep” has the idea of “attending to carefully”

-Note: This does not mean that God’s love towards us ever changes

-Nothing we could ever do could change His love for us in any way (good or bad)

A. Living in the light of His love

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B. Adjusting course from time to time

-We tend to drift, ever so slightly sometimes

IV. Look For God’s Mercy (vs. 21)

-Mercy Definition

-Not getting what we deserve

-Just like God’s love, God’s mercy never changes or moves

-Here’s the good part about God’s mercy, it is extended to us for eternal life

A. We may have let something get in the way of our viewpoint

-They may not even be evil things

B. We may have turned our back on it

1. In forgetfulness

-That is why moments of remembrance are important to us

2. In apathy

-Thinking it not that important

V. Hate Garments Defiled By The Flesh (vs. 22-23)

-We become pros sometimes at allowing the effects of evil still exist

-Q: Who would like to own the following?

-JFK’s car from Dallas shooting

-Monica Lewinski’s dress

-Neverland Ranch

-In the OT we often read of prophets and others tearing down pagan shrines and Ashtoreth poles

-Yet, in our society, we simply try to “sanctify” such places

-Churches meeting in former strip clubs

A. Your own sin stains on your life

-Sin is much worse than leprosy

-We should treat it as such

B. The sin stains of others

VI. Allow God To Keep You From Stumbling (vs. 24)

A. Let Him guide your feet

-Likewise, I’ll not go where you do not want me to go

1. For service

-Ministry, etc. . .

-Everyone is a minister

2. For obedience

B. Let His focus your eyes

-What does He want you to observe?

-Plight of the helpless

-Sinfulness of unbelievers

-Needs in the church

-Truth in His Word

C. Let His guard your mind

1. From evil

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2. Towards holiness

CONCLUSION

-Let’s all strive to be people who on the judgement day can be presented as blameless before God