CATCH THE WIND
Energized by the Power of the Holy Spirit
Jude 1:20-21
• Jude 1:20-21 (MsgB)
[20] But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, [21] staying right at the center of God’s love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life!
INTRODUCTION:
Perhaps you have heard about the ad placed in the “Lost and Found” section of the classifieds. It said, “LOST DOG—hinze 57 mutt, has only one eye, limps due to an accident with the car, hard of hearing, patches of fur missing from mange, ANSWERS TO ‘LUCKY.’”
Some folks are probably wondering, “Why is a dog like that called Lucky?” This poor mutt is lucky because someone cares enough to look for him. Despite all its misfortune someone loves that little dog just the way it is.
You and I are lucky too! We were all deformed by sin. Sin blinded us to the truth; sin hardened our hearts so we could not hear God’s voice. Sin had us limping down the wrong path; we were dirty and sickly. But God loved us enough to look for us anyway. The Holy Spirit tracked us down, and Jesus paid the ultimate price to free us from the kennel of sin.
Yes those who believe that Jesus died for their sins have been forgiven and set free from sin. But that is only the beginning! Jesus did NOT instruct his followers to go make converts; He didn’t tell them to just go out and find as many people who will believe. JESUS SAID MAKE DISCIPLES. Becoming a Christian happens in a moment; becoming a disciple takes a lifetime!
Notice how Jude begins his short letter:
• Jude 1:3 (NIV)
Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.
I like how the Message Bible puts it, “I have to write insisting—begging!—that you fight with everything you have in you for this faith entrusted to us as a gift to guard and cherish.” Jude was not satisfied that people believe in Jesus; he wanted them to press forward, to be a contender. Jude didn’t just want people to believe; he wanted them to grow in their faith.
Let me ask you a simple question, ARE YOU GROWING IN YOUR FAITH? Are you actively involved in a lifetime process of discipleship to become more like Jesus? Or are you just going through the motions; you believe that Jesus died for your sin, but you’re not growing; you’re not changing.
Jude knew something else: IF YOU ARE NOT GROWING, YOU ARE DYING. Furthermore, as much as Jude wanted to see believers grow in their relationship with Christ, he also knew there were others who would lead them astray.
• Jude 1:17-19 (NIV)
[17] But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. [18] They said to you, "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires." [19] These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
Now if Jude and the apostles encouraged believers to beware of those who would lead them astray in the last days, THEN HOW MUCH MORE DO WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO BE LED ASTRAY?
Jude said there would be those who cause division within the church. Is it alright to tell the truth on Sunday morning? Division in the church follows division in the heart of individuals.
If you are pressing on and growing in your faith, then you will work through difficulties with other people; A GROWING FAITH WILL MAINTAIN AND BUILD UNITY IN THE BODY. However, if there is a division within your heart—if you waiver between the flesh and the Spirit, then the division of your heart will be seen in fractured and broken relationships.
Therefore, Jude encourages us to continually grow in the faith. Look again at what he says:
• Jude 1:20-21 (MsgB)
[20] But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, [21] staying right at the center of God’s love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life!
Notice Jude shows us three ways we can build ourselves up in the faith. Our faith is developed as we [1] pray in the Holy Spirit, [2] stay in the center of God’s love, and [3] keep open and ready for the mercy of Jesus. In other words, Jude says our faith is strengthened as we RELATE, REAMAIN and RECEIVE.
RELATE – Praying in the Holy Spirit
Notice Jude does not simply say pray; rather he says PRAY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT. This has several implications, but one of the most important is to recognize our unique relationship with God through the Holy Spirit.
Prayer is not to be a ritual, nor is it to just be a long list of requests. Prayer develops our relationship with God.
• Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.
• 1 Corinthians 14:4 (NLT)
A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally in the Lord.
• Romans 8:26 (NIV)
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
REMAIN – Staying right at the center of God’s love
Our hearts are prone to wander. We must choose to remain in God’s love.
ILLUSTRATION: Perhaps you have heard the story about the wife who after ten years of marriage was found by her husband one night crying uncontrollably. He asked her what was wrong, and she sobbed, “You never tell me that you love me.” The husband replied, “Honey, I told you that I love you when we got married, and if I ever change my mind I will tell you.”
Love must be renewed daily! Every time a husband and wife says, “I love you,” they are renewing their commitment to each other. Love is not a noun; it isn’t something you can sit on your coffee table and look at. LOVE IS A VERB; IT REQUIRES ACTION.
Likewise to remain in the center of God’s love is not passive but ACTIVE!
• 2 Peter 1:3-8 (NIV)
[3] His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness . . . [5] For this very reason, MAKE EVERY EFFORT to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; [6] and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; [7] and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. [8] For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The more you work to remain in the center of His love, the more love you will have to give to others. The more you remain in the center of His love the more you will be like Jesus because “God is love.”
Perhaps you’re asking, “What does it mean to remain in God’s love?” That’s a good question, and good questions deserve good answers. Look what Jesus said it means:
• John 15:9-10 (NIV)
As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. [10] If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
• John 14:15 (NIV)
If you love me, you will obey what I command.
RECEIVE – Keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ.
Receive has a dual meaning: [1] to accept or apply, and [2] to welcome.
First we need to receive, to accept or apply in our lives what God has provided for us. It’s one thing for God to give you everything you need for life and godliness, it’s another for you to receive it.
• John 1:9-12 (NIV)
[9] The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world. [10] He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. [11] He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. [12] Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
• Mark 10:15 (MsgB)
Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.
Second we must be ready to receive or welcome Christ when He returns. Jude reminds us that we must “wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you eternal life” (NIV).
When you accept Christ as your Savior you receive His mercy, you receive eternal life. However we are also looking forward to the Day when Christ will return and we will then forever be in His presence. On that Day we will begin to understand the fullness of His mercy and love by which we have been given entrance into heaven for all eternity. Although we are not worthy of His love He welcomes us; we too must be ready to welcome Him when He comes for us.
• Jude 1:20-21 (MsgB)
[20] But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, [RELATE] [21] staying right at the center of God’s love [REMAIN], keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life! [RECEIVE].
Building yourself up in your faith is not mission impossible. God by His Spirit and through His Word will empower and equip you to develop a strong life transforming faith. You can do it.
However, I have been increasingly concerned that we as a church we must do more to develop in our faith TOGETHER. While we can make personal application to Jude’s message and individually build up our personal faith, we can not overlook the fact that Jude did not address his letter to an individual, but collectively to those “who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Chris;” Jude writes to “FRIENDS” (see verses 1,3).
We will not be isolated from one another in heaven; instead we will be apart of the great multitude from every nation, tribe, people and language that worships God before the throne (See Revelation 7:9). We are all members together of the body of Christ. (See Romans 12:5).
Now doesn’t it make sense that if we are going to spend eternity together collectively with God that we can best prepare for that day together and not separately? We should build up our faith TOGETHER because our relationships and the common faith we share now is really a rehearsal for heaven. Can I get a witness?
Sunday morning worship is not enough! How can two hours each week equip us to build up our faith together? We can barely get to know each other by name in the time we take each Sunday morning to interact with one another. We encourage you to be involved in a variety of different activities that will help you to develop loving relationships with one anther and together build up your faith.
It’s time for us to renew our commitment to the Lord and one another as we begin our new Sunday night services: THE WIND. I want you to CATCH THE WIND OF THE SPIRIT, to be energized to live victoriously, to be built up in your faith. That’s exactly what will happen as we join together each Sunday night for THE WIND.
The Wind will not be a repeat of a Sunday morning service. The primary goal is for you to be energized or built up in your faith to live a victorious life in the week that is before you.
ILLUSTRATION: Can you imagine anything more helpless than being stranded at sea just drifting? Now can you see the hope and life that you receive when a sail is raised to catch the wind? Instead of hopelessly drifting you have the power to direct your course through the power of the wind. Likewise we don’t have to just drift through life. We can catch the wind of the Spirit and be energized to live our lives differently!
WIND—Worship, Indwelt, Needs Met, Daily Bread
Worship Him
• Romans 12:1 (NIV)
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.
Indwelt by Him
• 1 Corinthians 3:16 (NLT)
Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?
Needs Met by Him
• Philip. 4:19 (MsgB)
You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus.
Daily Bread from Him
• Job 23:12 (NIV)
I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.
