How is a person to “build themselves up” in the faith? According to Jude v 20, firstly, it is to “stay put” on your foundation: (Jud 1:20) “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith…” I, like most every believer, used to at times doubt how I could be saved and yet fall into sin. One day I came to the Lord and, after asking forgiveness once again, said, “Lord, you asked me to repent. I did. You asked me to believe that Jesus died for my sins and rose again alive from the dead. I did. You said if I would do those things, you would save me. I must believe you always keep your Word. If I should die and go to hell, if you mean you didn’t do it. Since I know you cannot lie nor fail, I will never doubt you again.” And I haven’t. Stay put on “your most holy faith”.

If I understand my sentence structure correctly, the core sentence of Jude verses 20-21 is “Beloved build(ing) up yourselves….” I will be coming back in the days to follow and look at each of the prepositional phrases to see “how” we are to do that. It is enough to say today; one is labor, to seek spiritually, to BUILD, grow stronger, in this Christian Faith!

The Lord Jesus once said, (Jn 14:15) “If ye love Me; keep My commandments.” Do you know what was the first commandment Jesus ever gave? Answer: (Mk 1:15) “Repent and be saved”. Don’t say you love Him if you have been willing to humble yourself before God and man to receive the Lord Jesus was your Savior.

(Mat 26:73) “And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. (74)  Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.”  Peter knew they would be convinced if He cursed and swore, for no follower of Christ would do that! Many times I have had individuals try to convince me their soul was saved while such speech betrayed them.

(Col 4:16) “And when this epistle is read among you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea. “ When I go to church, I don’t want to hear sweet stories for the purpose of touching my emotions. I want to hear the Word of God with the Lord Jesus uplifted. If the Gospel of Christ will not move me, nothing else can or should take its place.

We face many concerns in this life, from health to provision, mental strength to hurt feelings. The needs of each day are many and varied. Yet, I have a blessed promised in Scripture: (Php 4:19) “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” There is no need too large, no problem to great for my God! So, when the troubles of life come,  immediately look to the Savior! 

(2Th 3:13) “But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing”  Over my years of ministry, I have had individuals disappointed with God because they thought they should be rewarded (in the way they thought) over their efforts to do right. There is a promised reward for faithfulness, but that is in the hereafter. The saved belong to the King, brought with the blood of Christ, given by unmerited favor (grace) eternal life and adoption into the family of God. My purpose here is His glory, not my personal gain or enjoyment. Jesus told the parable of the servant, who after working the field, came home and served the master. Here’s what the servant said, (Luk 17:10) “ So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” 

(Eph 6:16) “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.” Every day can seem to be an attack by Satan. It very well may be. But this I know, the shield of faith I stand behind says, “All things work together for good to them that love Him; to them who have been called according to His purpose.” (Rom 8:28) That’s me!  I live my life loving Him back! The evidence is my efforts to be obedient to His Word, “If ye love Me, keep My commandments.”(Jn 14:15) He will help me through to the end of this life and deliver my soul to the other side!

(Eph 6:14) “Stand therefore, having your … (15) ….your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;” We often think of this as being prepared to tell others. The truth is, one needs to be saved before leading others to Christ. The thought of feet shod, prepared, takes my mind back to the Upper Room where Jesus washed the disciples feet. Peter forbade the Lord until He said, “If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with Me.”

If you are yet to be saved, join Peter and we who have been saved by replying to our Lord, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head”!

(Eph 6:14)” Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness”  The breastplate which covers our heart as Satan attacks our person, is the righteousness of Christ! Satan says, “You’re not worthy”. My heart replies, “You’re right! But my Savior is worthy and I dwell in Him!” Paul was led to pen, (Php 3:9) “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”