“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 he faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.” Jude 3

Jude was the half-brother of Jesus Christ.  His letter was written to the church as a wave of false teachers were enticing believers to live in worldly ways and enticing them to sexual immorality and idolatry. (Jude 4)   He planned to write about their common salvation, but instead wrote a letter of encouragement and warning about the need to contend earnestly for the faith! We are in a spiritual conflict and the enemy of our souls is trying to steal our faith!

Jude points God’s people back to God’s past dealings with His redeemed people.  God delivered the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.  They all experienced God’s grace but not all believed and they were destroyed in the desert.  (Jude 5)  Lot and his children were delivered from Sodom, but God destroyed these towns because of sexual immorality and perversion (homosexual behavior). (Jude 7)  These towns were destroyed by fire and serve as examples for us today of eternal fire that will consume the enemies of God.

Jude’s strong warnings were meant to help those in the church to resist these false teachers and stay on the path of righteousness.  Jude gives some positive instruction to the church to help them.  They are to remember the teaching of the Apostles who had warned about these scoffers of the last times who would seek to divide the church.  (Jude 18-19)

The best way Jude suggested to build yourself up in your faith was to pray in the Holy Spirit.  By doing this, a believer could keep himself in the love of  God and wait patiently for Jesus Christ to come.  While waiting, each believer should be merciful to those who are doubting or weak in their faith and show mercy to others by snatching them from the fires of hell.  They must be careful to keep their faith and focus on Jesus.  He alone could keep them from falling.

“To Him who is able to keep you from falling and present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy–to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen!” Jude 24-25

]]> http://www.bibletrektoday.com/2009/12/22/contending-for-the-faith/feed/ 0 http://www.bibletrektoday.com/2009/12/21/no-greater-joy/ http://www.bibletrektoday.com/2009/12/21/no-greater-joy/#comments Mon, 21 Dec 2009 05:59:30 +0000 Editor http://www.bibletrektoday.com/?p=2181 Scripture reading for December 21st: 3rd John

“Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” 3rd John 2

John opens his letter with a greeting to his personal friend, Gaius, and a short prayer for him.  Prayer should shape everything we do.  It is an act of love coming from a soul that is healthy and focused on God’s will and His desire to love and bless others.  This short prayer reveals John’s heart for his friend and blesses him and us today, as well!

“It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth.  I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” 3rd John 3-4

Our reputation gets around in the church.  If we are faithful and walk in the truth, everyone knows about it.  Faithfulness brings great joy to God and to those in authority in the church.  Those in authority have to give an account to the Lord for those they oversee.  (Hebrews 13:17)  When pastors talk to the Lord about those who are disobedient and unfaithful, it brings sorrow and painful intercession!  Gaius had been walking in the truth and blessing visiting missionaries by providing for their needs.  He demonstrated Christ’s love to those preaching the gospel and was commended!

“I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us.  So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, gossiping maliciously about us.  Not satisfied with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers.  He also stops those who want to do so and puts them out of the church.” (3rd John 9-10)

Diotrephes was one of those brothers that was causing pain to the Apostle and others in the body of Christ.  A bad reputation also spreads around and must be dealt with.  If the person will not change and repent after confrontation, others in the church must be warned so that they are not caught up in the sins.  This letter shows how John was doing this.  He wanted to come personally and deal with the situation, and would soon if he could.

This short letter shows us how our personal attitudes and actions affect others and are known in the body of Christ.  Leaders must have a good reputation.  When you love to be first like Diotrephes, this selfishness causes troubles and indicates that you are not from God.  (3rd John 11)  If you are a loving servant, like Gaius and Demetrius (3rd John 12), you show by your love that Christ’s love and truth is in you!  It’s pretty simple really!  There’s no greater joy for a pastor than to have God’s people walking in truth and love!

Wow, only one more day of rest in this year!  Where has it gone?  What a journey through God’s word we have enjoyed!  Only three more letters and we will finish this year’s trip and prepare for another!  Our goal has been to find Jesus speaking to us in each book and letter of God’s word.  I am amazed at how each time I sit down to read and write, the Holy Spirit opens up some aspect of the passage for me.

Because of a small slip-up on my part, we end up needing to read the last five  Sunday’s of the year so that we can finish.  Earlier, we were able to read six days and rest one.  This week we have the short letter of 2nd John as our reading.  Here are a few Scriptures that speak to me from this short letter.  May they minister to your heart as you rest this day.

“Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.” 2nd John 3

“It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us. And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning.  I ask that we love one another.  And this is love:  that we walk in obedience to His commands.  As you have heard from the beginning, His command is that you walk in love. “ 2nd John 4-6

‘Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world.  Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.” 2nd John 7

“I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink.  Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.” 2nd John 12

Have a great day of rest–talk to the Lord face to face and be filled with His joy and peace!  In His Love, Pastor John

John, the Apostle, knew Jesus Christ intimately.  He was the youngest of the disciples and was in the inner circle that was closest to Him.  He begins this letter by proclaiming his eye-witness knowledge of Jesus as the Son of His Father in heaven.  John wrote this letter to the church to counter some false teachers called “gnostics” who were saying that Jesus was just a spirit.  These gnostic teachers were telling church people that it did not matter what one did with his body because our spirit was all that mattered.

Well, Jesus Christ did come in a human body.  He was a man and lived in obedience to the Father.  He taught us to live by grace through faith.  When we break God’s law, that is sin and we must confess and repent.  (1st John 1:8-9)  If we say we have no sin, we are living in deception, just like the false teachers.

We can not live in a dual world and separate the actions of our spirits and bodies, doing what we please here on earth and still expecting God’s mercy!  It was a popular teaching that drew a number of followers.  The problem was that it was taking them to Hell!  John used a word to describe these false teachers who worked among God’s people.  He called them “antichrist”. (1st John 2:16)

The church evidently knew about “the Antichrist” that was to come in the last days.  This person would be a world ruler who would deceive many with false signs and wonders.  (2nd Thessalonians 2:8-11)  Paul described him as the “man of lawlessness”.  John further stated that many “antichrists”  had already gone out into the world at the time of his writing.  These false teachers had come from within the church.  They left the church and drew a following of people who were deceived by their lies and loose living.

“Antichrist” is a term that literally means “one set over against Christ”.  In our language today we would likely use “counterfeit” to describe them.  They used scripture to justify their doctrines.  They often used the name of Jesus Christ but lived in rebellion to what Jesus actually taught and stood for.  They were legalistic and manipulative and lacked the love of the Lord.  By the way, these types are still around today!  Beware!

The best remedy against deception is to know the real thing and be filled with the Holy Spirit.  John told his readers (us, today) that they had a real anointing that would teach them all things.  (1st John 2:20, 27)  The Holy Spirit would keep them from deception.  The One who lived in them was greater that the deceiver in the world!  (1st John 4:4)  The Holy Spirit would reveal the love of the Father to them and through them, showing the true children of God.

Take a moment today to reflect on the truths of John’s epistle.  Invite the Holy Spirit to fill you with His anointing.  Confess that the greater One lives in you!

Does the sin and degradation of this world ever get to you?   Do you become so tired of the constant bombardment of sex, lies, materialism, war, pollution, and lusts that you long for an escape?  Peter offers some advice to those who have the righteousness of Christ by faith.  We are to live in grace and peace in abundance through our knowledge of God and Christ Jesus, our Lord!  (2nd Peter 1:1-2)

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.  Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2nd Peter 1:3-4)

What do we know about Jesus Christ and God our Father that helps us to escape this corruption?  We know Jesus was good!  He went about doing good and healed all those oppressed by the devil, because God the Father was with Him. (Acts 10:38)  We know that Jesus promises to be with us always!  (Matthew 28:20)  We know that God the Father spoke from heaven and confirmed Jesus as His Son.  (Matthew 17:2-5)  We also know that Jesus is coming back the same way He left–in a cloud of glory!  (Acts 1:9-11)  Peter was there and an eyewitness to Christ’s glory when He was transfigured and when He ascended!  (2nd Peter 1:18)

We have Peter’s eyewitness account, but God’s word is even more certain according to Peter.  (2nd Peter 1:19-21)  God’s word contains the precious promises that we cling to.  It came not from man, but holy men spoke from God under the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit!  God’s word is Spirit and Life–impregnated with the life of God and able to cause us to be born again.  (1st Peter 2:23)  The life it brings endures forever!  The Spirit is a guarantee of what is to come!  The earth and heavens will pass away with a roar and intense heat, but God’s word will never pass away!  (Matthew 24:35) (2nd Peter 3:10)

Faith and rest in God’s ability to bring His promises to pass enables us to escape the world’s corruption caused by our lusts.  We are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth where righteousness will be complete!  Peter concludes his second letter with encouragement. We do our part and God will keep His word!  “So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him.  Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation…”  But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” (2nd Peter 3:14-15, 18)

The writings of Peter are always encouraging to me.  Peter is my kind of disciple.  He was so human.  He was always optimistic, even to the point of being boastful!  He sometimes spoke before he thought.  Jesus chose him in spite of all his obvious flaws and he became the leader of the original disciples.  Thankfully, perfection isn’t a requirement for discipleship!

Before ascending to heaven, John records Jesus restoring Peter after serving him a breakfast on the shores of Galilee.  He asked Peter three times if he loved Him.  Peter responded “yes, Lord” to make up for the three denials!  Jesus then told him how he would suffer and die for God’s glory.  (John 21:15-19)

Peter mentions suffering numerous times in his letters.  Although Peter tell his readers that they are a chosen people and royal priesthood, he warns them that they will be treated unjustly because Christ was also treated unjustly.  (1st Peter 2:9) “For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God.  But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it?  But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.  In this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving an example that you should follow in His steps.” (1st Peter 2:19-21)  He tells them not to suffer for doing evil but to expect suffering for doing good!

Christ’s attitude in His own unjust suffering should be ours.  ” He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.”  “When they hurled their insults at Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, he made no threats.  Instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.” (1st Peter 2:22-23)  He was perfectly obedient to the Father and chose to act in love and trust in God’s ability to judge and repay.  He did not have to take matters into His own hands, although tempted to!

Suffering for Christ is a part of life as a true Christian in this world.  Christ suffered in his body and we will too.  (1st Peter 4:1-2)  Suffering has a purifying effect when we have the right attitude.  We focus on Christ and His love and justice and His purposes become clearer.  We cease from sin and live more fully for our Lord.  We are always ready to share the reason for our hope with others who note our joy and calm demeanor in the face of suffering.  (1st Peter 3:15)

In fact, Peter tells us how to face suffering.  ” Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as if something strange were happening to you.  But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.  If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of Glory and God rests on you.” Rejoice today in your trials and expect blessing and glory!

James is the half-brother of Jesus Christ.  He was known to be the pastor of the church in Jerusalem and was full of practical wisdom.  One of his nicknames was “camel knees” because of time spent in prayer for his flock.   His letter encourages faith and works that spring from that faith.  He also talks about trials and the need for wisdom and patience.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.“  James 1:2-4

Not many people like trials and tests.  It takes an act of faith and a deliberate choice to count being in a trial joy.  James says we should embrace trials with joy, because we know that they develop perseverance.  We need perseverance to grow up and mature.  When we are children, we are impatient and unable to wait.  Faith must be tested and God is after our good!

“Be patient, then brothers, until the Lord’s coming.  See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.  You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.  Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged.  The judge is standing at the door.” James 5:7-9

We need mature faith and patience because Jesus is coming.  Farmers regularly must be patient and wait upon God for the needed rains to grow and mature their crops.  The crop of eternal life will be ripe when Jesus comes back.  We have some need of rainy times to mature us.  Grumbling is a sign of impatience.  God will judge those who are impatient and fail to wait.

“Brothers, as an example  of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.  As you know we consider blessed those who have persevered.  You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.  The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” (James 5:10-11)

James is always addressing the “brothers” in an encouraging way, appealing to their past knowledge and understanding as Jewish believers.  They were familiar with the prophets and their suffering–especially Job, the oldest book of the Bible.   Job suffered patiently and God restored him completely at the end of his trial.

“Is anyone in trouble? He should pray.” (James 5:13a)  James ends his letter with an encouragement to pray when in trials or trouble.  Prayer helps us to persevere and develops patience.  Elijah of old prayed and waited on God.  God answered him.  He will answer us today as well!  We must persevere and watch and pray!  Jesus is coming!  The rains mean harvest!  The trials mean more maturity and joy!

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