As a parent you may have heard this phrase, “choose your battles wisely.” This has became my reoccurring self-talk if I may be frankly honest with you while raising my teenage boys. However, there is one area that is a non negotiable and it’s our faith! With tears and great exhaustion at times this is the battle that I refuse tap out of. This contending becomes two-fold. How it’s lived out in me that I may be a proper example to be followed, and seeing it fully embraced personally for each of my boys so that it becomes their personal faith.
Jude had this message burning in his heart as well when he was made aware of false teachers influencing the church. That’s when he wrote the following passage:
“Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.”
Jude 1:3 NKJV
The ancient Greek word translated “contend” comes from the athletic world – from the wrestling mat. It is a strengthened form of the word meaning “to agonize.” Therefore “contend” speaks of hard and diligent work.
We contend earnestly for the faith because it is valuable. If you walk into an art gallery and there are no guards or no sort of security system, you must draw one conclusion: there is nothing very valuable in that art gallery. Valuables are protected; worthless things are not.
We must protect what is genuine faith from what is false! This is where we MUST contend! False teachers or doctrine come in slowly and in time your once genuine faith is water down and bears no fruit or even rotten fruit. In holding onto and contending for Genuine faith we must be clear as to its evidence in our lives. According to Hebrews 11:1 there are specific indicators that can be found. One of those indicators that must be honestly and prayerfully considered is that genuine faith impacts your behavior and outlook! Genuine faith changes you, you don’t change it.
QUESTIONS:
1. Discuss the difference between false faith and genuine faith? (Reject authority, scoffs at warnings, in it for their own profit, and causes division are a few indicators of false faith)
2. How does one contend for the faith? (Ponder in the goodness of God, praise God even before it manifests, pray in tongues, etc.)
3. Do you recognize areas in your life that may be diluted with a false understanding of genuine faith? How should you respond?
✅ REMINDER: Sunday is Bring your friend Sunday!
LET’S GATHER — BYOF Sunday, October 25th, 2020
Please discuss the big event coming up in two weeks. Contact Nicole MacDowell if you have any questions.
REMEMBER THE WORDS OF JESUS — (Matthew 12:30) “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”
