As Jude gets to the end of his powerful letter of admonition and warning, he focuses on the believers’ fellowship with Jesus and personal evangelism (Jude 20-23). Scripture clearly tells us that the last days will not be days of great revival. In fact, great apostasy and ear-tickling teachings will captivate people’s attention (2 Timothy 3:1-5, 4:1-4).
In spite of this God’s faith, once delivered to the saints, is to be contended for (Jude 3) prayerfully and in love. Our flesh, however, tends to go into “attack mode” when we hear heretical teachings that contradict the foundations of our faith. Jude tells us that there is a right way and a wrong way to be a soul winner, and just what that way is differs according to where each person whom we encounter is at, and neither you nor I can know that. Evangelism is not a simple formula that can be packaged and implemented. It is a matter of prayer and the leading of The Holy Spirit (Colossians 4:3; Ephesians 6:18-20). There is a harvest and God’s children are called to be laborers in that harvest (Matthew 9:37,38). Sometimes we will be called to plant a seed, while at other times we will be called to water a seed that has already been planted, but the increase or the results are totally up to The Lord (1 Corinthians 3:6-8). The Spirit of God would say to you and me this morning, develop a consistent prayer life (Jude 20), actively looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life (Jude 21).
This walk of faith is not sitting back and waiting for God to zap us with some truth serum or spiritual steroid. It is a definite yielding of ourselves to God (Romans 6:1-19, 12:1,2) and the indwelling Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16- 18; Romans 8:5,6). And yet, at the end of the day, we realize that blessed truth that is it God who is able to keep us from falling.
Yes, we fight the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12), and we put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18), but it is Almighty God Himself who keeps us from falling and who preserves us unto His heavenly kingdom (Jude 24). All glory and honor be unto our glorious King this morning! (Jude 25; 1 Timothy 1:17)
