Be a contender
Is the Gospel worth fighting for? What will you do to defend the Truth? Are you ready to contend, to fight and defend the Truth we have received. Do you know what the Truth really is and would you be able to see if there was something being taught that wasn’t a part of God’s word?
Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
Jude 1:3 NKJV
God won’t give you more than you can handle!
Is this quote in the Word of God?
It’s a beautiful, comforting quote for sure. Yet many Christians,not knowing, will be quick to claim that it is. It sounds good and they might make us think about the wonders of God. In reality when we say these sayings and claim they come from God it only puts a wedge between us and God’s truth. Someone, somewhere at sometime made up quotes like this and have crept their way into the Christians way of thinking.
Are you able to recognize false teaching when you hear it? If not,why?
Jude tells us to contend for the faith! We have to fight to protect the Word of Truth that the Lord has shown us and graciously given us. It’s a constant battle. We have so many things in this life that try to pull us away from the Lord. We have so much information, so many teachings, so many ways of thinking. It comes so fast towards us. It’s hard to keep straight in our heads what we believe. We become confused and then many will fall away from the faith because they were easily persuaded.
Would you protect your best prize possessions with everything you have. We have alarms for our homes and our cars. We have pin numbers and passwords for everything. We protect what we have. We watch our children and grandchildren to make sure they are safe and taken care of.
Do you protect the Word of God that is in your heart the same way?
His Word should be our highest prized possession. We should be doing everything to make sure it stays in our hearts pure and with no blemish. Keep it from being tarnished from false teachers. And the Precious Words should never be taken for granted!
If the Word of God is precious to you then you have to contend earnestly for our Faith. We have to fight for the Word of God and why we believe that it’s true!
We have to understand what we believe and why. If we don’t understand what Jesus did on the Cross then we will fall victim to any false teaching that comes into our lives. When we can’t stand for the whole Gospel from beginning to end we will be led astray and deceived. When we pick and choose from God’s word what we want to hear ,we will be very surprised when trials, tribulation and persecution comes our way.
False teachers come like Wolves in sheep’s clothing.
They creep in and slowly and we don’t notice them. They don’t come in and kick the doors open. They creep in. They blend in. They talk like us. They act like us. But they are full of deceit.Many come in with sweet sounding words, but we have to be careful what and who we listen to. We have to be aware of what we watch.
With their words they can make you doubt, rethink and mislead you. It’s the same old trick Satan has been using since the Garden of Eden. And many still fall for it.
How do you contend for faith?
Follow Jesus until your last breath and Him alone.
Be faithful to Him. Be faithful to His Scriptures. Read your Bible, everyday.
Live your life like you have been saved from the fires of hell!
Protect yourself, contend,fight for your faith and be ready to give an account,an answer,for what and why you believe! Jesus is not only the King of Kings and The Lord of Lord’s but that He is your King and Your Lord. Live your life as a witness of the goodness and power of God. Don’t be ashamed of His love ,grace and mercy. Your testimony of how Jesus brought you from life to death is powerful and the enemy wants nothing more than to destroy God’s story in your life. Live an uncompromising life. See how and where the wolves creep in,kick them out and shut that door! Don’t be afraid to be singled out by society for the Glory of God! The moment you say yes to Jesus the battle to take you out begins. Why? Because the enemy knows the power that lives in you, even if you don’t!
Focus on your walk with the Lord.
Keep yourself in step, stay in harmony with Jesus. If you sin, repent.
Continue to build your faith.
Pray for discernment to see. Pray for the knowledge to know. Pray for the wisdom to understand, so that you are Spiritually ready to contend!
Pastor Ed