Tag: holy faith

Faith, prayer, and patience!

Posted in Uncategorized - November 29, 2023 - 0 Comment

Scripture reading for November 29th: Jude, Psalm 88, Proverbs 21

Jude: 20-25 “But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Now to Him Who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of His glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Jude was the half-brother of Jesus Christ and a follower of Jesus as his Messiah. He wrote to the early church, encouraging them to contend for the faith once delivered to them. False teachers and false prophets were seeking to devour and draw away Christ’s followers. Jude had simple instructions and a benediction that has been used by many church leaders to encourage Christ’s followers. Jude recognized the need for faith. Faith comes by hearing and applying God’s Word. Prayer is an act of faith. The Father’s Gift, the Holy Spirit, enables us to pray effectively. When we pray in the Holy Spirit, we build ourselves up in holy faith. Through faith and prayer, patience to wait for and anticipate the coming of Jesus is a glorious by-product! All glory to Jesus Christ, the Faithful One, Who is praying for us as we wait in His Love!

Psalm 88:13 “But I, O Lord, cry to You; in the morning my prayer comes before You.”

Prayer: Father God, I cry to You each morning, responding to Your Word that tells me to ask You for my daily bread and protection from the evil one. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done in my life and those of my brothers and sisters and children. Your Word is a precious Treasure and the Holy Spirit is Oil of Joy in my heart as I keep my heart in Christ’s love, seek His kingdom, pray, and wait for His return.

Proverbs 21:20-21 “Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it. Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.”

Praying in the Holy Spirit!

Posted in 1st and 2nd Kings-BibleTrekToday, General epistles-BibleTrekToday, Psalms-BibleTrekToday - July 15, 2020 - 0 Comment

Scripture reading for July 15th:1st Kings 17-18, Psalm 119, Jude

Key Scriptures: Jude 17-23 “But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.”

Jude was the half-brother of Jesus Christ. Jude called Jesus “Lord” and warned believers concerning the words of the apostles concerning the scoffers of the last days before the Lord Jesus would return. The believers must build themselves up in their faith by praying in the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God helps us to pray when we don’t know how to pray or what to pray for. The Spirit helps us to pray for the doubting and to show mercy to those who need salvation, even snatching them from the fire of judgment.

Psalm 119:105 “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Faith confession and prayer: Lord, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit, living in me and bringing Your Word to my remembrance and helping me to pray. Empower me today with Holy Spirit led prayers to show mercy and see sinners snatched from the fire.

1st Kings 18:41 “And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.”

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Pray in the Holy Spirit!

Posted in General epistles-BibleTrekToday - November 29, 2016 - 0 Comment

Scripture reading for November 29th:  Jude

Key Scriptures for over-comers:  Jude 20-23  “But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.  Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.  Be merciful to those who doubt; snatching others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear–hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.”

Jude, a half-brother of Jesus Christ, wrote to encourage believers to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints.  (Jude vs. 3)  He warned them of deceivers and false teachers that would come to move them away from a stand of faith.  They must stay strong in the faith by standing on God’s word and praying in the Holy Spirit.  Through this kind of prayer, they would build themselves up in faith and continue showing God’s love to the lost and those going astray.

Observations for over-comers:  Praying in the Holy Spirit  enables over-coming faith and loving acts of mercy for those headed for eternal destruction.  “Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.  If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not He who weighs the heart perceive it, . .?””  (Proverbs 24:11-12)

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Keep yourselves in your Holy Faith!

Posted in Uncategorized - December 8, 2011 - 0 Comment

Scripture reading for December 8th: Jude 1-25

The short letter of Jude, a brother of James and half-brother of Jesus, is a call to spiritual battle against false teachers and deception.  Where the truth is taught, the enemy of God’s people will send opposition.  We are in a spiritual war and the battle is sometimes within the church!

“Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write to urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.  For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you.  They are godless men, who change the grace of  our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.” (Jude 3-4)   Jude’s letter is a call to battle!  This battle is for the believer’s faith.  Satan has sent false men into the church to try and get the church to deny their faith in Christ and His word by seducing them with immorality!  This was warned of long ago!

God has judged immorality severely in the past.  Jude cites the Israelites who died in the desert because of God’s judgment on their idolatry and immorality.  (Jude 5-7)  He reminds them of the destruction by fire of Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns because of their perversion.  “They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.” Jude plainly warns the church of God’s wrath against sexual sin.  He is the Lord who does not change!

“But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold.  They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.”  These are men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and  do not have the Spirit.  But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in you most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.” (Jude 17-20)  A good way to counteract the false teachers is to stay close to the words of the apostles–the Holy Scriptures.  Along with this, praying in the Holy Spirit also builds up the spiritual man and keeps us in the faith and love of Jesus Christ.  Jude’s advice is a good word for us today!  We are reading God’s word, now let’s pray in the Spirit!