GOD IS ABLE! (Jude 24-25)

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.

THE STUDY:

Jude's lengthy description and warning of the false teachers must have cast a dark and dreadful cloud over his readers. But his doxology lifts their attention to the triumphant One: To him who is able. The focus of the doxology is on God. Jude directs his readers’ attention to two things God is able to do. Today we will be looking at the first one.

The first thing God is able to do is keep you from stumbling. The theme of “keeping” is prominent throughout the letter. Jude expresses this in a positive and a negative way. Positively, Jude affirms that believers are “kept by Jesus Christ” (v 1). In response, believers must also “keep” themselves “in God’s love” (v 21). Negatively, Jude uses the same verb (tēreō) to underscore the certainty that God keeps sinners for judgment (vv 6, 13). In his doxology, Jude reiterates God’s positive keeping power with a new verb that affirms the power of God to keep (phylaxai: guard) believers from falling. This Greek word conveys the image of “standing guard,” kept in protective custody. Stumbling (aptaistous) refers to falling into sin (Jas 3:2).

The metaphor to keep you from stumbling is probably derived from the psalmist, who often describes the disasters that would befall believers if God did not prevent their feet from stumbling or slipping (Pss 38:16; 56:13; 66:9). God is powerful enough to protect Christians from falling into the sinful ways of the false teachers. God keeps them so that they may attain final salvation.^[1]

           

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away with the understanding that “GOD IS ABLE!” He is able to protect the believers (keeping us from the snares of the demonic forces). He will also “STAND” guard. The scripture says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” (Duet. 31:6)

APPLICATION:

           I remember when my children were born. This was a wonderful time as we sat in that delivery room replaying in our mind the miracle that had just taken place. I remember looking at my wife and saying, “Get some rest, Let the nurses take care of the baby for right now.” I would sit and hold them in my arms and when the nurses would walk in and I would hand the new-born over to them and sit back in the chair and go to sleep. We were able to do this because we had faith and trust in the staff at the hospital. I knew they were able to handle anything that may arise.

Excitement filled our hearts as we were leaving the hospital. But as my wife was being wheeled out to the car, all of the security (Faith and trust) left me. I started thinking, “no more nurses to take the child when we needed some rest.” Questions started flooding my mind: what if something bad was to happen? It was then I was reminded of Duet. 31:6! Be strong and courageous because my God will not leave me. Security and peace came rushing back and we knew everything was going to be fine because God is able!

Today, maybe you are in a situation where you feel weak or fearful. Let this devotional be an encouragement for you to be strong and courageous. No matter what you are going through, our God is able!

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

---

^[1] Powers, D. G. (2010). 1 & 2 Peter/Jude: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary (300). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.

I John 2:5-6 (Part 1)

View Video Blog by right clicking the Link: I John 2:5-6 (Part 1)

“but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.”

THE STUDY:

          Today John is continuing with the understanding that we must match up our actions with what is coming from our mouths. John uses some words that I think are important in the understanding of what he is trying to get across to the reader. This first word is “keeps!” This is a powerful word when we look at its meaning. The Greek word is “tēreō” which means to guard, preserve, or hold fast to. In the Greek/English Lexicon it breaks words down by their various shades of meaning and shows the nuances in word meanings and explains difficult expressions and idiomatic usages of words, and even provides advice on how words might be translated under various conditions. A great tool to have while studying the word of God. It shows the word “keep” actually implies a sense of “obedience.” John is not going back to the aspect of “the Law” and legalism. He is implying something to the effect of obeying or guarding the word near to your heart. Something that would be so precious that you didn’t want to lose it.

          A great example of this is found in marriage ceremonies today. I stood before God, my future spouse, family, and friends and made a vow! In those vows I stated “I will love her, comfort her, honor her, and keep her ….” We recite this word saying to all, who hear, we will hold fast to our wife. How do we hold fast? We do it by being obedient to the vow we made. We make this so precious that we guard it with our heart.

          John is saying to the reader that whoever holds fast to and obeys God’s word, holds it close to their heart and will obey it. John is not speaking to a group of people who didn’t know the word of God. He was addressing individuals who knew the word but didn’t give it the significance or made it so precious that they would do anything not to lose it.

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

•          This word, “Keep” is very powerful when we look at the true meaning of it and how it is used in this passage. Let us remember the importance of our commitment to Christ. Let our words line up with our actions in displaying our love for Jesus.

•          Let us not forget how significant the word of God is in our lives. Let us not fall to the temptation of believing God only wants part of our devotion to Him. If we keep his commands we are holding fast to the fact that He wants all of us!

CONCLUSION:

           Ludwig Nommensen, a pioneer missionary to the Batak tribesmen, was told that he could stay for two years, during which time he studied the customs and traditions that ruled the people. At the end of that time the chief asked him if there was anything in the Christian religion that differed from the traditions of the Batak. “We, too, have laws that say we must not steal, nor take our neighbor’s wife, nor bear false witness,” the chief said.

The missionary answered quietly, “My Master gives the power to keep His laws.” The chief was startled. “Can you teach my people that?” he asked. “No, I cannot, but God can give them that power if they ask for it and listen to His Word.”

The missionary was permitted to stay another six months, during which time he taught just one thing—the power of God. There are now about 450,000 Batak Christians.

Let me encourage you today by saying, we can KEEP God’s word! But it is only by His power and strength, not ours. If you are feeling like you are about to let go and walk away because you just can't do it anymore, TRUST JESUS! Let him take over and see what happens. Hold fast to His word through His strength and power!

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod