Obeying Our General Orders
By
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
OPENING: - When I enlisted in the Army and before I went off to Basic Training I like every person that enlist in the (military) U.S. Army had to recite the Oath of Enlistment which went “I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So, help me God”.
What was being said was at all costs I will do whatever necessary to defend the Constitution of the United States, I will obey those that are over me, I will possess esprit de corps which is loyalty to pride in and enthusiasm for the United States of America even if it cost my life, because I enlisted in the military and I was a soldier in the United Stated Army.
Then when I was in basic training we had to learn, memorize, repeat on demand, understand, and explain our general orders. The General Orders are the foundation of the U.S. Army and consist of a series of guidelines that one must follow in the absence of more specific orders from a superior officer.
There are 3 Army general orders that every soldier must remember. The Marines, Air Force, and Navy have 11.
The 3 Army General Orders are:-
I will guard everything within the limits of my post and quit my post only when properly relieved.
I will obey my special orders and perform all of my duties in a military manner.
It’s my responsibility to report violations of my special orders, emergencies, and anything not covered in my instructions to the commander of the relief.
These general orders are the basic rules and personal conduct for how duties need to get performed while on watch.
Well, we are soldiers in the Army of the Lord, Watchmen that must obey our general orders.
PRAYER: -
SCRIPTURE: - Jude 1-25
Focus Verse #3 “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints”.
BACKGROUND: - When Jude began this letter his purpose was to write of the common salvation we share, that is, the salvation enjoyed by all who are saved. He says, “I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation”. His intention was to give a nice uplifting message to the people, to encourage them, excite them, and motivate them but as he began to write the Holy Spirit compelled him to appeal to his readers, to commission his readers, to stimulate his readers to “earnestly contend” for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.
This earnestly contend like saying sick-him to a dog, to excite a tenacity and a ferociousness in the people of God. The Greek word Jude chooses “Epagonizomai”, is translated “earnestly contend,” describes an athlete striving with extreme intensity and tenacity to win the victory in a physical competition.
When Jude wrote this in A.D. 66, understand that apostasy had entered the church, grievous wolves had come into the fold in sheep’s clothing and were spreading lies and damnable heresies in the church, false doctrines were being preached, damnable ear tickling, sugar-coated, watered-down half-truths were being propagated, much like it is in the church today.
Sure, we must be concerned about the evil forces which are at work outside the Church, the wicked governmental system, the corrupt political system, crime etc., but we as people of God must be particularly concerned about those which are at work inside the Church. There are grievous wolves that are in the church and are destroying or at least trying to destroy the faith with false doctrine, damnable heresies, lies, propaganda, unholy alliances, trying to mix the Holy with the profane thinking they are on their way to heaven and are only headed to Hell in a hand basket with gasoline underwear on and sadly taking many so-called Bible believing people right along with them because they fail to understand truth and are being destroyed for the lack of knowledge. It is the duty of every born-again believer to stand for Holiness and earnestly contend for the faith.
So, Jude is stressing the fact that we have a duty as believers of God to defend, fight for, and uphold the faith in these days of apostasy, spiritual decline, morale upheaval and utter disgrace in which we live.
In verse 1 he calls us “sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called”.
Sanctified by God – set apart for a purpose. We are set apart from the world that we may be a light unto this world in these dark and desperate times.
Preserved in Jesus Christ - Signifies those who continued unshaken in the Christian faith; they are not tossed to and fro by every wind and doctrine, they maintain a standard of holiness in an era of spiritual depravity. It also implies that none can be preserved in the faith that do not continue in union with Christ, by whose grace alone they can be preserved.
Called - Being called by God means that He has initiated contact; otherwise, we would not even have access to the Father: John 6:44 says, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him”.
Remember I said, the General Orders are the foundation of the U.S. Army and consist of a series of guidelines that one must follow in the absence of more specific orders from a superior officer. Well, here we go with our General Orders Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”. This is one way we earnestly contend for the faith by being a light in this dark and desperate world and in the church speaking truth and upholding Holiness. That’s Purpose
Another General Order is 1 Corinthians 15:58 says, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord”. That’s Protected
The other General Order is Jude 3 “…exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints”. That’s Called
Let me break this down a little bit. What are we to earnestly contend for, what are we to guard with fervency and tenacity. Earnestly contend for the faith now Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. That’s good for defining faith, but to earnestly contend for the faith is more than a definition.
To earnestly contend for the faith is:- The faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints; that we are to defend is the whole body of revealed truth which is contained in the unadulterated Word of God, we must earnest contend, fight for, and uphold the truth of the Word of God. We can’t compromise it, we can’t change it, we can’t say well that was good for then, but it doesn’t apply now, we can’t stand around and let grievous wolves stand up in the church and say well I don’t know why God didn’t say this or do that if I would have been there, I would have said hey God how about this. We can’t let the devil’s mouthpieces say we need another gospel for today because what was good for grandma isn’t good for this generation. We can’t stand around and let the government make up laws that go totally contrary to the Word of God and think everything is o.k. We can’t watch as jack-legged preachers take the unadulterated Word of God and inject themselves in the place of Jesus Christ. I heard a preacher say Isaiah 9:6 says, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace”. Then quote Colossians 1:27 “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory”. Then say see since Christ is in me Isaiah 9:6 is about me and if Christ is in you, it is about you also because we are here in the flesh. The government is on my shoulders, I am a counselor, I am the Prince of Peace, right now Jesus isn’t here we are – the devil and this preacher is a lie.
We are to earnestly contend for the faith which is the unadulterated Word of God.
There are several things about this precious deposit of truth that we must earnestly contend for:
Its divine origin. It was “delivered to the saints”- not by man but by God – 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”. 2 Peter 1:21 says, “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost”. You see this is not something man made up, it is not the tool of oppression unless man adulterates it as such, it is the Divine Word of God. God is the author of the faith which He has delivered it to the saints through holy men of God and it is this faith that we are to defend.
Its unique content. There is no other faith this is the one perfect revelation of God; Jude stated it like this “the faith”; it is not a faith but the faith. The word “THE” is a preposition that introduces the object of a prepositional phrase. Hebrews 1:1-3 says, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high”.
Its complete revelation. It is the complete and final revelation which will never need addition or revision because it will never change, it remains relevant regardless of how old it is. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever”. With the closing of scripture God completed the revelation of His truth. Now there is a theological doctrine called Progressive Revelation where God revealed more and more of His truth, will, and plan for humanity through the Scriptures over different periods of time or dispensations. Progressive revelation begins in the book of Genesis and ends in the Revelation of Jesus Christ last book of the Bible, there is no new gospel or added truths.
It’s holy nature. John 5:39-40 says, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life”. Hebrews 10:7 says, “Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God”. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”. 2 Peter 1:21 says, “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost”.
Because of these perilous times in which we live “The Faith” is being attacked from every side. The fundamental truths of the Christian Faith are being attacked and denied and sadly it is not only coming from those on the outside of the church but by grievous wolves inside the Church. Jude mentions some foundational truths, and these are under attack and is what we must earnestly contend.
Fundamental Truths of Christianity.
God is Father of all vs1, The Doctrine of Grace vs4, The judgment of Hell vs 6, 7, &13, The existence of the Devil vs9, The Justification of sinners vs11, and The 2nd coming of Jesus Christ vs14.
Needless to say, a lot of the modern day preaching in our churches, on the television, the internet and the media are a direct denial of the truth of God as revealed in His Word. The prophecy of 2 Timothy 3 has been fulfilled for these are perilous times men are lovers of their own selves, covetous, boaster, proud, blasphemers, disobedient, unholy, unthankful. Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good.
2 Timothy 4:1-4 gives us a direct order to earnestly contend for the faith “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables”.
SUMMARY: - We are to earnestly contend for the faith. We are to defend the Faith. We are to stand up for the truth. We must cry out with a loud voice for truth and Holiness. Psalm 11:3 says. “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do”.
“We must solemnly swear (or affirm) that we will support and defend the Faith against all enemies, outside the church and in the church; that we will bear true faith and allegiance to the Word of God; and that we will obey the orders of the Son of God Jesus Christ, according to unadulterated Word of God. So, help me God”.
So, we must obey our general orders and earnestly contend for the faith by: -
By living it. There is no greater defense of the faith than a life that proves the reality, the power, and the joy of living this life in Christ Jesus.
By proclaiming it. Preach the gospel, be instant in season, proclaim truth, expose all error and falsities.!
By holding up the standard of the Lord and being a light in this dark and desperate world.
Obeying our General Orders:-
Matthew 5:16 says, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven”. This is one way we earnestly contend for the faith by being a light in this dark and desperate world and in the church speaking truth and upholding Holiness. That’s Purpose
Another General Order is 1 Corinthians 15:58 says, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord”. That’s Protected
The other General Order is Jude 3 “…exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints”.
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
