Prayer of Preservation

Prayer of Preservation 1 Peter 5:6-11 Background 1. Jude: Brother of James (also, humbly, the halfbrother of Jesus); not an apostle, but an itinerant minister 2. Audience: All Christians everywhere (“to those who are called,” v. 1) 3. Purpose: An Appeal: “Contend for the Faith that was once delivered to the Saints” (v. 3). 4. Method: Verses 20-25 answer the question of how we are to avoid the errors described in verses 419. Jude’s Outline • Encouragement for those Inside the Church: Keep yourselves in the love of God by (a) building, (b) praying, and (c) waiting. • Encouragement for those Outside the Church: Help others who are (a) doubting, (b) slipping away, and (c) almost totally gone into error. Encouragement for those Inside the Church • Command: Keep yourselves in the Love of God 1. Definition: guard; preserve; set aside for special use 2. The Love of God: a. God’s Love for Us: God’s very essence (1 John 4:8) that indwells us by the Spirit (2 Thessalonians 3:5) and creates an inseparable bond (Romans 8:39). God’s love is perpetually demonstrated by gospel reminder (1 John 4:9). b. Our Love for God: reciprocated affection (1 John 4:10) that results in holy living (1 John 2:5; 5:3) and love for God’s people (2 Corinthians 13:11; 1 John 4:11) Encouragement for those Inside the Church • Methods: How do we keep ourselves in the Love of God? 1. By Building: we have the gospel as our foundation, now we are constructing the walls of our house/temple (see Ephesians 2:20); we much encourage each other in the objective faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3) 2. By Praying: plural praying – by all of you praying. 3. By Waiting: special word the for expectant waiting of an assured outcome (like telling the kids they need to wait to open their Christmas presents); awaiting “mercy,” a special word that sets up the following three commands. Encouragement for those Outside the Church • Three Categories of People Needing Encouragement 1. Those who Doubt: these need our “compassing in action;” and the command is shared by all (not just the clergy) 2. Those who are Unsaved: these are presently under the wrath of God and need our immediate action – seize is an abrupt (even violent) word. 3. Those who are Far Gone: there is another category of the unsaved – those who indulge and celebrate their sin to such a degree that we must be extraordinarily careful in reaching them. Prayer Conclusions • Let us pray collectively. • Let us pray with great interpersonal awareness. • Let us pray evangelistically with specific emphasis on our personal role in the salvation of others.