“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,”
When we look at this text, we realize that this is the conclusion of Jude's short letter. Notice that this is a benediction, a approval and a blessing upon the believers. It is one of the most well-known benedictions by Christians all over the world.
If we were to dissect this message we could see the great message on the source of the believer's security. The question might be asked, Pastor, well what is the source of the believer's security? Well, the source of the believer is he who keeps the believer, safe and secure, and that’s God’s keeping power.
The God we serve is able to keep us from falling keeps us from failing, and he keeps us from fading.
The God we serve keeps us from dwindling, deteriorating, and from decreasing.
The God we serve keeps us from reduction, decline, and decay, because God has keeping power.
When others fail he has the power to sustain.
When others leave he has the power to remain.
When other don’t know he has the power to explain.
When others say that you can’t he has the power to proclaim. Because God has the keeping power that we need.
In other words God alone has the power to keep us from falling in a world that has so much corruption and false teaching.
But for God to keep us, we must draw near Him and stay in touch with Him. How do we do that Pastor? We do that by daily reading and studying the Word of God. We do that bym prayer, and supplication and by walking righteously before him.
We do that by learning to walk moment by moment in open and unbroken prayer, communion, and fellowship with Him, and when we do that God is able to make us blameless, whenever we come face to face with Him.
The word "blameless" in the Greek is (amomous) which means to be spotless and pure, without any defilement whatsoever. God is able to accept us in Jesus Christ, the spotless Lamb of God.
In Jude 21 we are told that we are to keep ourselves in the love of God, and here we are told that God keeps us. What is the difference? "We must watch that we stay close to the Lord, but it is only God that can guard us so that we do not stumble
The Text gives us only 25 simple words that should give some assurance that He’s still able. And some you all know me, I love numbers and when I notice that it was 25 words I knew the significant that made this passage so powerful.
I knew that 2 was the number of witness, which tell me that he is a witness to what God is able to do. Is there anyone else up in here that is a witness to God’s unlimited power.
And the number 5, is the number of Grace. So, that tells me that his grace is sufficient even when I’m going through my trials and tribulations, he gives me the grace to make it through.
Now I understand the song better by one of my hometown choir, The Tommy and Sister Ethel Holloway when she said, “We're living in the last days
Men have turned their backs and changed their way
Sin's run rapid all over the land
Lice and plague have come over man
But I don't have to worry (worry...no)
Though the earth may tremble (tremble),
Lord has never failed me yet.
She said “This old world might reel and rock but I've got me a hiding place
He's keeping me
I have learned to trust in God
Cuz I'm safe in his arms
He's keeping me
I don't have to worry (worry...no)
Though the earth may tremble (tremble),
Ohhhhhh.
He's keeping me (He's keeping me)
Do you know keeping me yeah (He's keeping me)
Through the storm and through the rain (He's keeping me)
Through the wind and the rain (He's keeping me)
Oh never, oh never will I worry
He's keeping (×3) me
Do you know that he is keeping you?
In other words when God keeps us he is able to infuse us with joy, even when people smile in your face and stab you in the back. God infuses us with peace and happiness when people tell you that they love you, and you know that they don’t mean you any good.
So the text starts off by saying “Now” (that’s the present)
Now, this word suggests a sense of urgency. Something must take place immediately. But understand that the word now is special all by itself.
The word now is found so many times in the Word of God.
Ecclesiastes 12:1 “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.
1st John 3:2 “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
Psalms 119:67 “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.”
John 13:7 “Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.”
John 16:12 “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.”
The word now is showing some urgency, but urgency of what or to whom?
Now, unto him (that’s the person)
The text says unto him: who is him? Well Jude talking about Jesus. That’s who he is to him.
Him: The one that’s existed before a when or where.
Him: The one that’s co-created the universe.
Him: The one that took a ball of helium and hydrogen and place it in the sky.
Him: The one that’s sat on a great throne in glory.
Him: The one that’s came down through forty and two generations.
Him: The one that’s Mary’s little baby.
Him: The one that taught like a scholar at the age of 12.
Him: The one that was baptized by his cousin at the age of 30.
Him: The one that walked this earth for 33 ½ years.
Him: The one that gave his all for us.
Let’s make it a little more personal: HIM
He’s my bread when I’m hungry.
He’s my water when I’m thirsty.
He’s my friend when I’m friendless.
He’s my doctor when I’m sick.
He’s my lawyer when I’m in trouble.
He’s my bridge over troubled waters.
We’re talking about Jesus. But what about Jesus.
That is means that he exist
The text goes on by saying “that is”. Hebrews 13:8 implies that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Put it together THAT IS ABLE (that’s His power)
And we must understand that back in the day when Jesus walked this earth, he was able to perform some miraculous miracles.
Remember he was able:
He turned a pitch of water into some priceless wine. He is able
He fed over 5,000 with 2 little fish and 5 loaves of bread. He is able.
He healed men and women of their diseases, because his is able.
He defied the powers of nature and stopped a fierce storm by saying “Peace Be Still” , because his is able.
He turned a cemetery dwelling maniac into a traveling evangelist, because his is able.
He opened blinded eyes.
He fixed twisted tongues.
He unstopped deaf ears. All because his is able.
He did all that back then but keep in mind that he’s the same yesterday, today, and forever. And the text says “unto him that IS able”. Which tells me, if he did it before he can do it again, because he is still able.
Now, unto him that is able (that’s His power) to keep you (that’s his protection)
Yes whatever you need this morning he is able.
He is still able to take insufficient and make it mighty.
He is able to heal your body
He is able to tell the storms in your life to hush and be still.
He is able to save us from the gutter most to the uttermost.
He is able to open closed eyes, closed minds, and closed hearts.
So, whatever you need him from the Lord this morning, I dare you to turn it over to Jesus because he is able.
Now unto him that is able to keep you (from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory) with exceeding joy.
According to the text. He’s able to do 4 things.
He’s able to protect us.
He’s able to preserve us.
He’s able to make us pure.
He’s able to make us perfect.
EXCEEDING JOY”
Which is translated from Greek as: exaltation.
And I don’t know about you this morning but I’m going to Praise Him, Lift Him Up, Bless His Name.
I told you he’s the same today and he’ll be the same tomorrow but I just have to thank him for what he’s done already.
As I think about how good he’s been to me, I can’t help but praise the Lord.
I hear the song writer say as I look back over my life but I don’t have to go that far but as I look back over 2003, and think about how he blessed me, kept me, and has bless me, my soul cries out hallelujah.
But most of all I’m grateful that he is my all and all.
Now (that’s the present)
unto him (that’s the person)
that is able (that’s His power)
To keep you (that’s his protection)
From falling (that’s to make you perfect),
And to present you faultless (that’s to make you pure)
Before the presence of his glory (that’s His prestige)
With exceeding joy (that’s our pleasure).
