Introduction

Good morning, beloved family of God. Isn't it a joy to gather together in this sacred space, bound by our shared love for the Creator, and warmed by the fellowship of our brothers and sisters in Christ? Our hearts are full and our spirits are eager as we prepare to engage with the Word of God anew.

Today, we turn our attention to the profound words of Jude, specifically Jude 20-21. Allow these words to wash over you, to seep into the deepest corners of your being, and to stir within you a renewed commitment to our faith. "But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life."

What a powerful call to action Jude gives us! To build ourselves up in our most holy faith, to pray in the Holy Spirit, and to keep ourselves in God's love as we await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. Isn't this the essence of our Christian journey? Isn't this the very foundation upon which we construct our lives of faith?

As we contemplate these verses, I am reminded of a quote by the renowned preacher Charles Spurgeon. He once said, "To be a Christian is to be a warrior. The good soldier of Jesus Christ must not expect to find ease in this world: it is a battlefield." We are not promised an easy path, but rather, a meaningful one. A path that may be strewn with challenges and trials, but also with abundant blessings and divine revelations.

As we prepare to delve deeper into these compelling themes, let us bow our heads in prayer. Dear Lord, we thank You for bringing us together today. As we open our hearts and minds to Your Word, may we be like fertile soil, ready to receive the seeds of wisdom and understanding. Guide us as we seek to build ourselves up in faith and become better followers of Christ. We ask for Your divine guidance and illumination as we seek to understand and apply these profound truths in our lives. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

So, let's begin, dear friends. Let's open our hearts and minds as we seek to understand and live out the wisdom in Jude 20-21. Let's build, pray, and become. Let's be the warriors that Spurgeon spoke of, the warriors that Christ calls us to be.

Building Believers

In the heart of the Scripture, we find the call to fortify our faith, to strengthen our spiritual foundations. Quick Illustration: This is like a builder laying brick upon brick, creating a robust structure that can withstand the elements. Our faith, too, must be constructed with care, with intention, with perseverance.

The first brick in this spiritual structure is knowledge. We must strive to know God, to understand His Word, and to grasp the teachings of Jesus Christ. This knowledge is not merely intellectual, but deeply personal and experiential. It's about knowing God in the quiet moments of prayer, in the shared joy of fellowship, in the beauty of creation. It's about seeing His hand in our lives, recognizing His voice in our hearts, and experiencing His love in our interactions with others.

Yet, knowledge alone is not enough. It must be coupled with understanding. Understanding is the mortar that holds the bricks of knowledge together. It's the ability to see the bigger picture, to connect the dots, to see how the teachings of Jesus apply to our daily lives.

But even knowledge and understanding must be complemented by wisdom. Wisdom is the ability to apply our knowledge and understanding in practical ways. It's about living out our faith, not just talking about it. Wisdom is the practical expression of our faith, the visible manifestation of our spiritual structure.

Finally, the capstone of our spiritual structure is love. Love is the ultimate goal of our faith, the highest expression of our belief. It's about loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving our neighbor as ourselves. Love is the glue that holds everything together, the force that gives meaning and purpose to our faith.

Transition. So, let's commit ourselves to this process of building. Let's strive to know God more deeply, to understand His Word more fully, to apply His teachings more consistently, and to love Him and others more fervently. Let's be builders of faith, architects of belief, constructors of a spiritual structure that can withstand the storms of life and stand as a testament to the power and love of God.

Praying In The Holy Spirit

As we continue our reflection, we find ourselves drawn to the second part of this divine directive - praying in the Holy Spirit ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO