Contending for Faith: Glorifying God Amidst Struggles

 

Summary

The sermon explores the profound spiritual truths about God's judgment, the purpose of human life, the struggle against sin, and the hope of salvation through Jesus Christ. It begins with the concept of standing before the Throne of God, where all, believers and unbelievers alike, will face judgment. The speaker references the prophecy of Enoch and Isaiah's expression of his own unworthiness in the presence of God, highlighting the unbearable sorrow that will be felt by unbelievers and the joy of believers being presented by God.

The focus then shifts to the purpose of human life, which is to glorify God. The speaker emphasizes that every aspect of life should be directed towards giving glory and honor to God, as stated in the Westminster catechism. The sermon continues with the encouragement for believers to contend for their faith amidst struggles and worldly pursuits. The speaker introduces Jude 1:24-25, which assures that God is able to keep believers from stumbling and present them blameless before His glory.

The sermon also addresses the two groups of people mentioned in the book of Jude: those who are beloved, called, and kept by Jesus, and those who scoff at and ridicule them. The speaker warns against the voices that may lead believers away from the truth and urges them to persevere in their faith. The significance of Jesus' work on the cross is highlighted, with the transformation of believers and the future presentation before God being key themes. The speaker uses the example of Tim, who was transformed from being lost in sin to being cleansed through Jesus.

The sermon further discusses the importance of enduring and contending in the Christian faith, following the example of Jesus and the writer of Hebrews. The speaker calls for a moment of quiet meditation to reflect on the future day of vindication before God. The theme of clear faith in a blurry world is explored, with the speaker urging listeners to reflect on which group they belong to as mentioned in Jude's writing. The importance of sin and forgiveness is also discussed, with references to 1 John 1:9 and Philippians 1:6, emphasizing that God will faithfully complete the work of salvation in believers.

The speaker expresses concern about their own endurance and the possibility of giving in to negative voices, finding comfort in God's ability to keep them from stumbling. The importance of giving glory to God is contrasted with those who blaspheme the Lord, and the speaker reassures listeners that God takes contenders and makes them champions. The concept of stumbling and disqualification in the faith is explained, with the Greek word "tereo" used to illustrate God's protection over believers.

The sermon also touches on the practical aspects of the church, such as the importance of giving a significant gift to Jesus during the Christmas season to support the ministries and missionaries. The speaker shares personal Christmas traditions and memories, emphasizing the joy and excitement of the season while reminding the congregation of the true meaning of Christmas, which is Jesus.

Key Takeaways:

- The Throne of God represents a place of ultimate judgment and presentation, where the sorrow of unbelievers contrasts with the joy of believers being presented by God, akin to a father presenting his daughter at a wedding. This imagery serves as a reminder of the eternal consequences of faith and the profound relationship between God and His people.

- Human life's chief purpose is to glorify God, a principle that should permeate every moment and action. This understanding calls for a reorientation of priorities, ensuring that God's glory is the central focus of our existence, as echoed by the Westminster catechism.

- The struggle against sin and worldly pursuits is an ongoing battle for believers, but the assurance that God can keep them from stumbling provides hope and encouragement. This promise empowers believers to fix their eyes on God, increasing their hope, peace, and willingness to contend for their faith.

- The transformation brought about by Jesus' work on the cross is a cornerstone of Christian belief. The narrative of a sinner turned spotless through Christ's sacrifice exemplifies the profound change that faith in Jesus brings, offering a glimpse of the ultimate vindication before God.

- The sermon emphasizes the importance of contending for the faith in a world filled with distracting and potentially misleading voices. Believers are called to discernment and perseverance, reflecting on their alignment with the teachings of the Apostles and the call to build their faith, pray in the Spirit, and keep themselves in God's love.

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Jude 1:24-25
2. 1 John 1:9
3. Philippians 1:6

#### Observation Questions
1. According to Jude 1:24-25, what are the two things God is able to do for believers?
2. In the sermon, what are the two groups of people mentioned, and how are they described? ([33:13])
3. What does 1 John 1:9 say about God's response to our confession of sins?
4. How does Philippians 1:6 assure believers about the completion of their salvation?

#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean for God to "keep you from stumbling" as mentioned in Jude 1:24? How does this relate to the concept of perseverance in the faith? ([49:06])
2. How does the sermon illustrate the transformation of a sinner through Jesus' work on the cross? What example is given? ([01:06:11])
3. What is the significance of the imagery of God presenting believers with great joy, as described in the sermon? ([01:05:28])
4. How does the sermon explain the importance of contending for the faith in a world filled with distracting voices? ([35:59])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt like giving up in your faith. How can the assurance that God is able to keep you from stumbling encourage you to persevere? ([37:17])
2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of glorifying God in every aspect of life. What specific changes can you make in your daily routine to ensure that you are giving glory to God? ([42:52])
3. Think about the voices and influences in your life that may lead you away from the truth. How can you discern and guard against these influences? ([35:59])
4. The sermon calls for a moment of quiet meditation to reflect on the future day of vindication before God. How can you incorporate regular moments of reflection and meditation into your spiritual practice? ([01:07:37])
5. The speaker shares personal Christmas traditions and memories, emphasizing the true meaning of Christmas. How can you ensure that your Christmas celebrations focus on Jesus and not just the traditions? ([28:44])
6. The sermon discusses the importance of giving a significant gift to Jesus during the Christmas season. How can you plan and prioritize your giving to support ministries and missionaries this year? ([29:24])
7. Reflect on the transformation brought about by Jesus' work on the cross. How has your life changed since you accepted Jesus, and how can you share this transformation with others? ([01:06:11])

Devotional

Day 1: Eternal Consequences of Faith
The Throne of God is a symbol of the ultimate judgment we all must face, where the eternal destinies of joy for believers and sorrow for unbelievers are revealed. This imagery reminds us of the gravity of our choices and the relationship we are called to have with God. It is a sobering thought that leads to a deeper understanding of the significance of our faith in Christ. [07:40]

Zephaniah 1:14-15 - "The great day of the LORD is near—near and coming quickly. The cry on the day of the LORD is bitter; the Mighty Warrior shouts his battle cry. That day will be a day of wrath—a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness."
Reflection: How does the reality of standing before God's judgment seat impact the way you live your life today?

Day 2: Living for God's Glory
Our chief purpose is to glorify God in all we do, a principle that should guide our every action and decision. This understanding calls us to reevaluate our daily lives, ensuring that we live in a way that honors God above all else. It is a call to live intentionally, with God's glory as our ultimate goal. [07:40]

1 Corinthians 10:31 - "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
Reflection: What is one area of your life that you can more intentionally direct towards glorifying God?

Day 3: Hope in the Midst of Struggle
Believers are assured that God is able to keep them from stumbling, providing hope and encouragement to persevere in the faith. This promise is a source of strength in the battle against sin and worldly distractions, allowing us to focus on the eternal rather than the temporal. It is a reminder that our hope is not in our own strength, but in God's power to sustain us. [07:40]

Jude 1:24-25 - "To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen."
Reflection: In what ways can you rely more on God's strength rather than your own in your struggle against sin?

Day 4: The Transformative Power of the Cross
The work of Jesus on the cross is transformative, changing sinners into the spotless and presenting them blameless before God. This profound change is the essence of our faith, offering hope for redemption and a future vindication. It is a reminder of the new identity we have in Christ and the ultimate presentation before God. [07:40]

Colossians 1:21-22 - "Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation."
Reflection: How does the transformative power of the cross inspire you to live differently today?

Day 5: Contending for Faith in a Blurry World
In a world filled with distractions and misleading voices, believers are called to discernment and perseverance. We are urged to build our faith, pray in the Spirit, and keep ourselves in God's love. This call to action is a reminder to stay focused on the truth of the Gospel and to actively contend for our faith amidst the challenges of the world. [07:40]

2 Peter 1:5-7 - "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love."
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to actively contend for your faith and stay grounded in God's truth?

Quotes

"Our world is blurry because there are voices and influences that seek to tell us that the clear view of what God longs for us to have and for us to live has been blurred by the deception of the evil one, the world, and our flesh." [32:34] (Download)

"Jude warns the people of the first century, these Christians, to contend for the faith, that is to fight and to agonize and to work hard at holding fast to the faith that was given to us through Jesus Christ and proclaimed by the apostles." [33:13] (Download)

"As we put our eyes on God, as we see God high and lifted up, as we see God on his throne, as we see God as the one and only God Who is majestic and all glorious, then our hope will rise, our peace will grow, and our willingness to contend until that day will build in us all the more." [39:19] (Download)

"God Saves us, God changes us, God renews us. It is God who calls us and loves us and keeps us." [46:23] (Download)

"We will not hear 'woe to me I am ruined' but we will hear from our heavenly father 'wow, look at Tim, who was lost and dead in his sin; because of the work of my son Jesus, he is spotless and he is clean.'" [01:06:11] (Download)

"In This Moment before we go to a time of remembering Jesus, would you take some time and thank him and give him praise, the praise that he is due, because one day we will know and truly recognize all that he's done when we stand Before the Throne of god." [01:08:21] (Download)

"Our purpose in life is to give God glory, not as an addendum to our lives, but to live every moment declaring glory to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ Our Lord." [42:52] (Download)

"One of the greatest joys that I have as a pastor is to watch the unfolding of a wedding ceremony, and my most favorite part is when the father of the bride, with all of the confidence, joy, and pride, announces 'her mother and I do,' and tears roll down his face, but they are tears of joy." [01:05:28] (Download)

"Jude says not only will we be in that presence, but we will stand in that presence, and he will present us with great joy. It's not our joy; it's God's joy. One day, at Jesus's second coming, he will gather the world and all of human history, every person who lived on this Earth, before his throne." [01:04:47] (Download)

"Believers may fall into sin through neglect and Temptation... nevertheless, God's promise is sure and we quote Philippians one6 that God who began the work of Salvation in us will be faithful to see it to completion." [53:41] (Download)

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Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?