Peniel Pentecostal Holiness Church

3239 Rosebud Road Walnut Cove NC 27052
Pastor: Dr. Tim Nelson -  Church Office 336-591-36112
A Place To Encounter God Face To Face. Gen. 32:3

A Word From The Pastor Archives 2024
July 2024
 

"Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you."  (Jude 1:2)

Jude knew that the Church of his day was facing difficult days, and would be comforted and encouraged, knowing that he was praying for multiplied mercy, peace, and love for them.  He also knew that giving them practical examples of how to live in these times, would be beneficial to them, and those around them.  (see Jude 20-21)

In his challenge to the Christians to contend earnestly for the faith, Jude's prayer and pleading to the Father was that multiplied blessings be bestowed on all those who are in Christ Jesus.  He asked that an overflowing abundance of mercy, peace, and love be showered on all who trust in Jesus.

This prayer for multiplied blessings of mercy, peace, and love is equally needed today.  Like Jude, we too should plead God's mercy on all His children, knowing that we also live in difficult and challenging times.  Let us unite to plead God's mercy and peace and love on all Who are in Christ Jesus.

Adapted from:  https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com/jude-1-2
 

"exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints."  Jude 1:3

What is "the faith" to which Jude refers?  Faith is a reference to the body of basic Christian doctrine and Christian truth.  This body of basic Christian doctrine is that for which we are earnestly to contend.

Notice that is is, "the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints."  The substnace of apostolic faith, this body of doctrine, is complete (Greek adverb απα, ("once for all delivered") and must govern the meaning of theterms in which doctrine is defined and discussed.  This is similar to what John said in Revelation 22:19, wherein he instructed the reader not to add to or take away from the Word.

Christians are to take the basic doctrines - "the faith" - and live by them, extracting from them further implications and principles for Christian living.  They are not to be denied nor distorted.  Doctrine must be translated into contemporary Christian experience.  The message of Jede is vital for the twenty-first century.  Error is rampant in our churches.  Truth must be proclaimed and defended.

This was Jude's burden and it ought to be ours to shoulder with him.

Adapted from:  https://preachingsource.com/journal/contending-for-the-faith-jude-3-4/#:text=Beloved

"But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved..., afterward destroyed those who did not believe."  Jude 1:5

It matters not whether one is a Jew, Gentile, or even an angel, God will judge the rebel.  God will judge those who rebel, impartially and justly.  It matters not whether one rebels against God's leadership, God's placement, or God's design.  Jude begins with Israel, the people of God, to show how a few unbelieving rebels can infiltrate and turn the entire community on its head.  These are the ones to whom Jude points at when he said, "certain men have slipped in..." (v.4).

Those to whom Jude wrote had a choice.  Should they listen to these men as they spread sedition against God's choice of king (Jesus who is the Christ), God's placement of their lives and existence, and God's design of relationships?  Or should they contend earnestly for the faith, shutting these rebels out and standing firm upon the faith that has once and for all times been handed down to God's holy ones?  The choice they had in the first century is the choice the church has today.  What will you choose?

Adapted from:  https://www.thepastorsbrief.com/post/jude-5-7-rebellion-an-historical-perspective/

"Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries."  Jude 1:8

Jude 1:8 warns against false teachers who, driven by their own corrupted desires, reject divine authority and engage in reckless actions.  This verse serves as a sobering reminder to uphold purity and submission to God's wisdom, guarding against the destructive influence of deceitful leaders.

As believers in Jesus Christ we need to guard against being led by "the flesh", our sinful, rebellious desires.  A Christian can easily fall into the trap of "carnality" if he/she does not constantly seek the LORD through reading, studying and meditating on God's Word and prayer.

Paul tells us in Gal. 5:16-26 that the flesh and spirit are diametrically opposed to one another in purpose and operation and that a Christian needs to "feed" their spiritual appetite not their fleshly one.