WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING

Jude 1:20-23

But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit,

and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.

And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering.

Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.

As we read through the books of the Bible we learn so much about God and the plan He has for man. We see the Lord longing for man to have the purpose for which He was created. To have dominion and be God's representative on earth. This means that we have a place in heaven given report/account of how the earth is managed.

We ofcourse know that man's disobedience brought about sin which brought death. Man couldn't live forever anymore and was headed for punishment.

Listen, yet after this was done God still had an open channel to man, not like the angels who are left in bounds for eternal damnation.

Jude 1:6

And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them securely chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the great day of judgment.

However, man had hope. (I used to believe that it was God's mercy that did this for us, by taking man away from the garden of Eden that they will not eat from the tree of life and then live forever in their evil state)

However we see God yet reaching out to man, still man kept choosing wrongly.

Genesis 6:5-6

The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil.

So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart.

What was the problem? Choice. Just as I have written in our studies in earlier devotionals. This one thing God gave us as an attribute of being in His image could be a blessing to us or a curse.

For the ability to choose makes you able to chose good as well as the possibility to chose evil.

So, the fact that man was yet mortal, he could be saved. The Lord chose a man per time from Enoch to Noah, then finally Abraham, then he decided to chose a people - Israel, all these leading to the salvation of the whole world.

Note that through all these it was still a choice.

Finally through it all, God Himself was revealed to man - Christ Jesus. And yet it still remained a choice.

John 1:12

But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

Now we come to the question: what should we be doing?

You have received Christ, you have been born of God's Spirit, what are you supposed to be doing?

Chasing after riches, miracles, deliverance etc.

Come on! This is the full package of your salvation.

Brethren, listen, listen and listen:

How long will you keep running from here to there, from this man of God to the other. This miracle or breakthrough service to the other!

Ah child of God, when will you finally live the life God has given You in Christ Jesus?

We have just finished studying about Moses.

Moses was communicating with God, enjoying His presence while the people kept on complaining about breakthrough, food, and the frivolities of life. What did they get in return - death.

But look at Moses even at 120 years (which was the number of years God said he will give as a limit)

Deuteronomy 34:7

Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever.

This is what I declare for myself. Glory to God.

It was specifically Joshua and Caleb who were wise enough to enjoy God's presence so they aligned with Moses.

Enough of us having believers who run around churches, gatherings and programmes yet have no Christian lives in their homes, neighbourhood or work. 

This is not saying start being a nuisance in your work places, or start breaking rules etc. No, but just as we studied some days ago - Have a good testimony!

Matthew 5:16

In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Let there be nothing in your appearance, thoughts, words and deeds that associate you with evil. If you carry God's Spirit in the inside it should radiate in your outside. Selah

Jude tells us what we should be doing (read the opening verses above)

If we have the most holy faith, we would not be running helter- skelter. We would dwell in the Lord's presence.

Hello, do you know that the Lord dwells in you? Or has this skipped your mind and consciousness. Wake up!!!

If we understand this, no one should remind you to keep praying, having your time with your Lord, hello, your Lord!

No one will need to remind you to worship, your Lord. Hello, Your Lord.

No one will remind you to study the word. Hello, the word of Your Lord.

Wake up!

We build our most holy faith, praying in the spirit. In tongues and groanings. Just as Paul explained:

1 Corinthians 14:15

Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand.

Remember it is praying in the Spirit not just about mumbling some meaningless words or vain repetition.

Matthew 6:7

“When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.

Oh the Lord give us understanding. May we know how to activate the Spirit.

Then the hunger for souls:

Jude 1:22-23

And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering.

Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.

Even supposed Apostles, evangelists, teachers, prophets etc seem to have left this mandate which is for all believers.

Please, what exactly are we chasing after Dear child of God.

Yes we work and earn, very necessary it is part of our duty as man to fill the earth and be fruitful. But greed and accumulation of wealth has no place in God's kingdom. What we build is kingdom wealth not personal wealth like the evil ones in the world do.

What are we competing about, what relevance are we seeking for. 

O Lord have mercy!

Finally,

Jude 1:24-25

Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault.

All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.

That is where our focus should be - on Him.

Praise the Lord God.

PRAYER

Unto You O Lord do I commit myself, everything concerning me, only You will not fail me but will keep me to the end. I am a winner, hid in You for all good things in this time and the time to come. I cease to run helter- skelter like an unbeliever, I find my rest in You Dear Father. Glory to Your name Lord forevermore.

He calls us blessed.

Love

@the watcher.