Contending for Faith: Vigilance and Prayer

Today, we gathered around the powerful exhortation from the book of Jude, a short but urgent letter that calls us to “contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints.” Faith is not a static possession; it is a living, moving reality that must be guarded, nurtured, and fought for. The enemy rarely attacks our faith head-on, but rather seeks to undermine it subtly—through deception, compromise, and the slow erosion of conviction. Jude warns us that there are influences, even within the community, that twist the grace of God into a license for self-indulgence, making us believe we can have both the world and Christ without consequence.

We are reminded that faith is our most valuable possession. Just as we would notice if something precious was stolen from our homes, we must be vigilant to notice if our faith is slipping away. The examples of Israel in the wilderness, the fallen angels, and Sodom and Gomorrah serve as sobering reminders: God’s deliverance is not a guarantee of our perseverance. Unbelief, rebellion, and a refusal to submit to God’s authority can lead even the delivered to destruction. Our faith must be active, rooted in God’s word, and expressed in obedience and expectation.

Faith is not mere optimism or positive talk; it is acting on God’s word, even when circumstances seem impossible. Testimonies like Sister Carol’s healing from cancer show us that when we cling to God’s promises, not only are we changed, but our families and communities are impacted as well. The enemy seeks to rob us of faith through grumbling, complaining, and surrounding ourselves with those who sow division and sensuality. We must be careful who we allow to influence our thoughts and attitudes.

The antidote to a declining faith is prayer—praying in the Holy Spirit, building ourselves up, and keeping ourselves in the love of God. Prayer is the declaration of our dependence on God, the means by which we keep our faith alive and vibrant. Submission to God and respect for authority are not signs of weakness, but of spiritual maturity and strength. We are called to fight for our faith, to intercede for our families, and to refuse to let the enemy steal what God has given us. Let us be contenders, not spectators, in this good fight of faith.

---

Key Takeaways

• 1. Faith Must Be Fought For, Not Assumed Faith is not a passive inheritance but an active pursuit. The enemy’s most effective strategy is subtlety—creeping in unnoticed, undermining conviction, and making compromise seem harmless. If we do not intentionally defend and nurture our faith, we risk losing it without even realizing it’s gone. [57:18]
• 2. Grace Is Not a License for Carnality God’s grace is unearned and freely given, but it is not permission to live however we please. When grace is twisted into an excuse for self-indulgence, it loses its power to transform us. True grace empowers us to become more like Christ, not to indulge the flesh while claiming God’s favor. [61:37]
• 3. Unbelief and Rebellion Have Real Consequences The stories of Israel, the fallen angels, and Sodom and Gomorrah remind us that deliverance is not the same as perseverance. Unbelief and rebellion can disqualify even those who have experienced God’s power. Faith must be maintained through obedience, humility, and a willingness to submit to God’s authority. [68:24]
• 4. Prayer Is the Lifeline of Faith Without prayer, faith withers. Prayer is not just a discipline but the very means by which we keep our faith alive, build ourselves up, and stay connected to the love and power of God. A prayerless life is a declaration of self-sufficiency, while a prayerful life is a declaration of dependence on God. [92:05]
• 5. Who and What You Allow to Influence You Matters The company we keep and the thoughts we entertain shape our faith. Grumblers, complainers, and those who sow division can erode our confidence in God. We must take our thoughts captive, choose our influences wisely, and surround ourselves with those who build up our faith rather than tear it down. [86:59]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [43:20] - Joy in Serving Jesus
• [51:06] - The Power of Baptism and the Blood
• [54:56] - Called, Sanctified, and Preserved
• [55:33] - Contending for the Faith
• [57:18] - The Subtle Attack on Faith
• [58:24] - Faith Is Always Moving
• [59:13] - The Value of Faith and the Enemy’s Strategy
• [61:37] - The Perverting of Grace
• [63:50] - What’s Worth Fighting For?
• [66:14] - The Danger of Compromise
• [68:24] - Lessons from Israel’s Unbelief
• [74:07] - Faith for the Future, Not the Past
• [81:34] - The Importance of Submission and Authority
• [86:59] - Guarding Your Mind and Influences
• [92:05] - Building Faith Through Prayer
• [100:36] - The Call to Contend and Intercede
• [104:21] - The Urgency of Fighting for Faith
• [108:00] - Closing and Call to Prayer

Bible Reading

Jude 1:1-25 (ESV) — > 1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James,
> To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:
> 2 May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.
> 3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
> 4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
> ...
> 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
> 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.
> 22 And have mercy on those who doubt;
> 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
> 24 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,
> 25 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.

Observation Questions

1. According to Jude, what are some of the ways the enemy tries to undermine our faith? ([57:18])
2. What examples from the Old Testament does Jude use to warn believers about the dangers of unbelief and rebellion? ([01:07:22])
3. How does Jude describe the people who “pervert the grace of God”? What are some of their characteristics? ([01:01:37])
4. What does Jude say is the antidote to declining faith? ([01:32:05])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Jude emphasize that faith is something we must “contend for” and not just assume we will always have? What does this say about the nature of faith? ([57:18])
2. How can twisting God’s grace into a license for self-indulgence actually weaken or destroy someone’s faith? ([01:01:37])
3. What is the connection between prayer and keeping our faith alive, according to both Jude and the sermon? ([01:32:05])
4. Why does Jude warn about the influence of grumblers, complainers, and those who sow division? How can the people we surround ourselves with affect our faith? ([01:26:59])

Application Questions

1. The sermon compared faith to a valuable possession that can be stolen without us noticing. Is there an area of your life where you sense your faith has been “slipping away” or eroding? What signs might help you notice this sooner? ([01:05:20])
2. Have you ever found yourself using God’s grace as an excuse to compromise in an area of your life? What would it look like to let grace transform you instead of just cover for you? ([01:01:37])
3. Think about the influences in your life—friends, media, conversations. Are there any that are subtly undermining your faith or encouraging you to grumble, complain, or compromise? What practical step could you take this week to guard your mind and heart? ([01:26:59])
4. The sermon shared a testimony about Sister Carol’s healing and how her faith impacted her family. Is there a promise from God’s Word you need to “cling to” right now, even if circumstances seem impossible? How can you act on that faith this week? ([01:14:07])
5. Jude says to “build yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.” What does your prayer life look like right now? Is there a specific way you can make prayer a more regular or vital part of your daily routine? ([01:32:05])
6. Submission to God and respect for authority were highlighted as signs of spiritual maturity. Is there an area where you struggle with submission or respecting authority? How might this be connected to your faith? ([01:21:34])
7. The sermon called us to be “contenders, not spectators.” What is one specific way you can actively fight for your faith or intercede for your family this week? ([01:40:36])