Four Spiritual Workouts Jude 1:20-21

A Stark Contrast to the Rebellious Nature of Those Troubling the Church - Jude 1:20
But ye, beloved - umeiV de, agaphtoi -

1. A COMMAND TO STRENGTHEN OUR FAITH - 1:20 building up yourselves on your most holy faith - epoikodomounteV eautouV - Pres Act Ptc - The faith of Christians is a most holy faith; holy in its principles, holy in its pattern, holy in its encouragements and rewards. Faith is a voluntary anticipation. Clement of Alexandria

As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. I Tim. 1:3-4

The faith here is called 'most holy' because it comes to us from God, and reveals God to us, and because it is by its means that man is made righteous, and enabled to overcome the world. McGee

Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man's power ends. George Muller

*We have a personal responsibility to continually strengthen our lives in the area of faith - building up yourselves

One night a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to flee to the roof. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, "Jump! I'll catch you." He knew the boy had to jump to save his life. All the boy could see, however, was flame, smoke, and blackness. As can be imagined, he was afraid to leave the roof. His father kept yelling: "Jump! I will catch you." But the boy protested, "Daddy, I can't see you." The father replied, "But I can see you and that's all that matters." The Christian faith enables us to face life or meet death, not because we can see, but with the certainty that we are seen; not that we know all the answers, but that we are known. Atwood

*We must personally realize the importance of this faith and its continuous purity - your most holy faith

God does not expect us to submit our faith to him without reason, but the very limits of our reason make faith a necessity. Augustine

Faith is not a distant view but a warm embrace of Christ. Calvin

*This most holy faith is essential for our personal strength and continued growth - building up

Faith is to believe what we do not see, and the reward of faith is to see what we believe. Augustine

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Col. 2:6-7

The African impala can jump to a height of over 10 feet and cover a distance of greater than 30 feet. Yet these magnificent creatures can be kept in an enclosure in any zoo with a 3-foot wall. The animals will not jump if they cannot see where their feet will fall. Faith is the ability to trust what we cannot see, and with faith we are freed from the flimsy enclosures of life that only fear allows to entrap us.

2. A COMMAND TO PRAY PROPERLY FOR IMPORTANT THINGS - 1:20 praying in the Holy Ghost -

3. Loving God Is the Obvious Result of a Strengthened Faith and a Deep Prayer Life - 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God

4. To walk in the love of God focuses our lives on his provision - 1:21 looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. -