Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Prayer Meeting Lesson Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/pm/pm20010704.htm

JUDE: GOD'S CALL TO CONTEND EARNESTLY FOR THE FAITH
Part III: Victory When FACING Apostasy
(Jude :17-25)
  1. Introduction
    1. Having understood that we must be vigilant as apostasy is present in Christendom, and having understood the character profile of those who are apostates, we need to understand how to deal with it in PRACTICAL terms when we face it in our experience!
    2. Jude :17-25 effectively deals with this need (as follows):
  2. Victory When FACING Apostasy, Jude :17-25.
    1. We must begin our efforts of overcoming apostasy we face by nurturing our own spiritual needs, :17-21.
      1. We ourselves must use Scripture to discern what is going on in apostasy issues we face, Jude :17-19.
        1. We need to read the Bible, Jude :17-18 in light of 2 Peter 3:2-3. (cf. also 2 Timothy 3:13- 4:2)
        2. We need to discern to the circumstances we face in view of Scripture to overcome apostasy, :19.
      2. After this personal orientation to Scripture, we must apply our findings to our lives, Jude :20-21:
        1. We must build up our knowledge of the doctrines of the Word, Jude :20a with Jude :3c's "faith."
        2. We must pray under the Holy Spirit's control, Jude :20b. This activity implies necessary confession of sin (1 Jn. 1:9) and dependence on the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:16-23) prior to interceding and petitioning with thanksgiving in God's will, cf. 1 Timothy 2:1-8 with 1 John 5:14-15.
        3. We must experientially "stay in the love of God," Jude :21a. This means staying in the Spirit's power in fellowship with God by not sinning, but obeying Scripture. We will then see God's rewarding expressions of love in our lives, and such events offset the pressures of apostates to conform to their errors by their political pressures, Jude :21a with Jude :16b; John 14:21-23.
        4. We need to aim for the rapture as our goal in living, an aim that causes us to purify ourselves from apostate beliefs and godless living as a way of life, Jude :21b with 1 John 3:2-3 and 1 John 1:9.
    2. Then, we must minister to others affected by apostasy they face as follows, Jude :22-23:
      1. To weak believers who toy with the apostates' teachings, we must be gentle and merciful, Jude :22.
      2. To unsaved people who have followed apostate doctrines, we must reach with the Gospel fervently, saving them from the fire of hell, Jude :23a with Jude :7 (cf. Bib. Know. Com., N.T., p. 923).
      3. Some believers are swayed by apostates; with such believers, we must disciple, but at a watchful distance lest we also be errantly affected by the apostates' deceptive teachings, Jude :23b.
    3. Finally, we trust God's power and plan to make us experientially victorious over apostasy we face, :24-25.
      1. We know from the parables of Christ in Matthew 13:24-43 that organized Christendom will become totally corrupted with apostates and apostate doctrines in the last days.
      2. However, true believers may have victory over seduction to apostasy in spite of this, Jude :24-25:
        1. Jesus Christ stands able and willing to give complete victory to individual believers who choose to go the Biblical route in life and doctrine while confronting apostasy, Jude :24.
        2. To God belongs the dominion and ultimate victory, Jude :25.
        3. Thus, we need to remain encouraged to stand for the truth in light of the apostasy we face, for it will be worth our doing so when we get to heaven!
Lesson: Apostasy we FACE is a demanding challenge since apostate ideas can disrupt our thoughts as BELIEVERS and suck us into errant and false spiritualities like the undertow of the seashore's waves. Hence, GREAT CARE must be taken to (1) guard our own hearts and minds with what SCRIPTURE ALONE teaches. (2) Then, great care must be made to HEED that Word in the power and direction of the Holy Spirit so that we may enjoy GOD'S EXPERIENTIAL blessings of reward for godliness to offset the pressures or even lures of apostates. (3) Then, when ministering to OTHERS affected by apostate error, we must be careful to be KIND, but NOT VULNERABLE to errant THINKING that even fellow BELIEVERS may adopt to their eventual loss of blessing!

Application: Open-mindness is a surefire way eventually to LOSE in facing apostasy, so we should face apostasy with OPEN EYES and with our MINDS FOCUSED on SCRIPTURE alone for truth!