How To Contend For The Faith
Read the Text: Jude
Memorize the Text:
Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
(2 John 3, CSB)
Consider the Text: Jude
Jude called believers to contend for the faith delivered for all saints. The faith delivered came through Christ and offered the hope of eternal life. A life of faith battles against the influences of this world and the evil one. People misuse their stated spiritual beliefs to move people away from the Lord and to hinder the work of the Lord. Jude called believers to contend for the faith through six essential practices.
BUILD YOUR LIFE UP IN FAITH
Jude commanded believers to build themselves up in the faith. A builder constructs a building on a certain foundation and continues to erect the building until completed. The believer's life constructs a life of faith in a relationship with the Lord through Jesus Christ and the Word of God. From the foundation, individuals build their faith through a growing relationship with the Lord and the development of one’s relationship with Jesus through the gaining of spiritual truth and the transformation that occurs through the work of the Lord in one’s life. When believers build their life properly, they prepare to contend for the faith well.
PRAY IN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Jude called Christians to pray in the power of the Holy Spirit. Prayer is the conversation between the Heavenly Father and his children. This prayer activity must occur in the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. The power of the Holy Spirit comes as he declares to the Lord the deep longings and realities of the believer’s life that the believer cannot even place into words. At the same time, the power of the Holy Spirit provides the catalyst needed to change the desires and will of the believer to align with the desires and will of the Lord.
WAIT ON THE LORD IN PATIENCE
Jude charged believers to wait on the Lord in patience. The activity of contending for the faith does not occur in a single moment but over time. As a result, the believer needs to develop patience. Patience provides the ability to wait upon the Lord’s timing and rest in the promise of victory and his presence. Thus, patience becomes fueled by the character and work of the Lord and does not depend on the self.
WAIT ON THE LORD EXPECTANTLY IN HOPE
Jude knew that patience fueled hope. When waiting on the Lord, believers deepen the presence of hope in life because they become reliant upon the promises of God. When believers trust in the person, promise, and presence of the Lord, then the believer knows of the certainty of victory and eternal life. These certainties open the avenue for hope to manifest, flourish, and develop.
EXTEND MERCY TO OTHERS
Jude understood that believers must extend mercy to others because they received and experienced the mercy of the Lord. When believers extend mercy, they demonstrate an ethic of the Kingdom of God and not the ways of the flesh. Such an activity motivates the believer to illuminate Christ by showing the mercy of the Lord through their actions with others. Thus, the believer contends for the faith by showing the genuine nature of mercy.
SUPPORT THE SAINTS
Jude recognized that believers need one another. The journey of living for Christ and contending for the faith is difficult and includes many valleys and mountaintops. The presence of other believers serves as a support system that encourages the continued growth and journey of believers. Encouragement exists when believers gather to worship, serve, and grow in the Lord.
Jude knew that believers must contend for the faith. He believed this battle came through a life of obedient living. He held that believers needed to construct their relationship with the Lord on the foundation of truth. He believed Christians must pray in the power of the Holy Spirit and wait upon the Lord with expectation. These traits lead to the ability to live a life of extending mercy as Christ extended. Likewise, Jude knew that believers needed one another. How are you contending for the faith?
This blog is part of the Coffee and Quiet Time with Jesus Devotional Series found at equippingfaith.com. Join the journey of reading through the New Testament this year. More information can be found at equippingfaith.com.
