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AGAPE LESSON 35
CONTEND FOR THE FAITH
Put together Bongie Kuzwayo
[JUDE verses1—25] Jude, the bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are
called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, (2) mercy, peace and love be
multiplied to you. (3) 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. (4) For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who
long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of God into
lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. (5) But I want to remind you, though
you once knew this, that the Lord having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward
destroyed those who did not believe, (6) and the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but
left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgement of the
great day; (7) as Sodom and Gomorah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these,
having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an
example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. (8) Likewise, also these dreamers defile the flesh,
reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. (9) Yet Michael, the archangel, in contending with the
devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation,
but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” (10) But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and
whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. (11) Woe to
them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and
perished in the rebellion of Korah. (12) These are spots in our love feasts, while they feast with you
without fear serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the wind;
late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; (13) raging waves of the sea,
foaming up their own shame; wondering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness
forever. (14) Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold,
the Lord comes with the thousands of saints, (15) to execute judgement on all, to convict all who are
ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and
all of the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” (16) These are grumblers,
complainers, walking according to their own lusts, and they mouth great swelling words, flattering
people to gain advantage. (17) But you, Beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by
the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, (18) how they told you that there would be mockers in the last
time who would walk according to their ungodly lusts. (19) These are sensual persons who cause
divisions, not having the Spirit. (20) But you, Beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy
faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord
Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (22) And on some, having compassion, making a distinction; (23) but
others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. (24)
Now, to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the
presence of His glory with exceeding joy, (25) to God our Saviour who alone is wise, be glory and
majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever.
[Matthew13v47—50] Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and
gathered some of many kinds, (48) which when it was full, they drew to shore; and they sat down
and gathered the good into vessels, but threw the bad away. (49) So, it will be at the end of the age.
The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from the just, (50) and cast them into the furnace of
fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
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Contend earnestly for the faith:
The environment all around us is toxic/very hostile. We need to engage the Holy Spirit like never
before to walk alongside us to help in every given situation. The faith delivered to the Saints is the
apostolic teaching given believers in the earliest days of the church. The Almighty God has been very
gracious to our house to expose us to the authentic apostle’s teachings. So, Jude’s letter is relevant to
us today directly warning us of crafty false teachers who have infiltrated the church.
[Acts2v42] And so continuing steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of
bread and prayers.
This culture has got to be the very fabric of your house (creating a habitat for His presence).
Pronouncements of scriptures and reading aloud of Scriptures fortifies the hedge around you and
family. Constant laying on of hands on the little ones. Frequent sharing of the Lord’s Table as family.
[Luke 13v24] Strive to enter by the narrow gate, for many I say to you, will seek to enter but will not
be able. [Matthew7v13—14] Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that
leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. (14) Because narrow is the gate, and
difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Every plan of the enemy is to kill the seed. [2Corintians4v7–9] But we have this treasure in earthen
vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. (8) We are hard-pressed on
every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; (9) persecuted, but not forsaken;
struck down, but not destroyed–(The name of the game is endurance).
[1Peter5v8—11] Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, walks about like a roaring
lion, seeking whom he may devour. (9) Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same
sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. (10) But may the God of all grace, who
called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish,
strengthen, and settle you. (11) To Him be glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen
[Matthew24v11—14] Then many false prophets will rise up and deliver many. (12) And because
lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. (13) But he who endures to the end shall be
saved. (14) And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached to all the world as a witness to all the
nations, and then the end will come.
(v5) The Lord after having saved the people from Egypt, He destroyed those who did not believe:
Unbelief is the doctrine of the Pharisees: [Hebrews3v12—15] Beware brethren, lest there be in any of
you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the Living God; (13) but exhort one another daily,
while it is called, “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (14) For we
have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end. (15)
While it is said, “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
(v8) Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries.
[2Corinthians6v3—10] We give no offence in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. (4) But
in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God, in much patience, in tribulation, in needs, in
distresses, (5) in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in sleeplessness, in fasting; (6) by
purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, (7) by the word
of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, (8)
by honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report, as deceivers and yet true; (9) as unknown,
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and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; (10) as sorrowful,
yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
(v11) Woe to them for they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for
profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.
[1John2v10—12] In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does
not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. (11) For this is the
message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, (12) Not as Cain who
was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because His works
were evil and his brother’s, righteous.
(v16) These grumblers — mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.
[1Thessalonians2v5] For neither at anytime did we use flattering words, as you know, nor cloak for
covetousness—God is witness.
[Proverbs7v21—23] With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, with her flattering lips she
seduced him. (22) Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a fool to the
correction of the stalks, (23) till an arrow struck his liver, as a bird hastens to the snare, he did not
know it would cost his life.
Proximity to grace
For Elisha to get a double portion of Elijah’s spirit – had to be right there when Elijah was taken away
(2Kings2v12). Some spiritual gifts are not taught but caught. It takes walking very close to the carrier
of grace.
The woman of Shunem built an upper room for Elisha and grace flowed down to the family
(2Kings4v10).
This adds to the grace you already have [Ephesians4v7] But to each one of us grace was given
according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Grace is one commodity you cannot afford to do without.
Avoid fleshly indulgence/the cares of life (worldliness): [Romans8v5—8] Those who walk according to
the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the
things of the Spirit. (6) For to be carnally minded is death, but to be Spiritually minded is life and
peace. (7) Because the carnal mind is enmity with God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor
indeed can be. (8) So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Wise words of Paul to Timothy: [1Timothy6v1–6] Godliness with contentment is great gain. (7) For
we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain, we can carry nothing out. (8) And having food
and clothing, with these we shall be content. (9) But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation
and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
(10) For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith
in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
God desires that His children to be rich (poverty is a curse). We are to avoid misdirected desires that
make us passionate about worldly things, and that take precedence before God in our lives.
“You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed in You (Isaiah26v3). The Bible gives us
principles of giving and receiving, that is, the resources that are submitted to God.
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Paul continues and says: [1Timothy6v11] “But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue
righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
Gentleness speaks of a disposition that is even-tempered, tranquil, balanced in spirit, unpretentious,
and that has the passions under control. Such a person rules his own spirit well.
Spirit of discernment: We desperately need the spirit of discernment to be able to identify those who
are “clouds without water”, so we can avoid them – they are right there in our midst.
Clouds without water = promising spiritual refreshment, but not delivering. Podiums are littered with
motivational preaching that does nothing for your spirit.
[1John4v1—6] Beloved, do not believe every spirit but test the spirits, whether they are of God;
because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (2) By this you know the Spirit of God:
Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, (3) and every spirit that
does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the
Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and now is already in the world. (4) You are of God
little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the
world. (5) They are of the world. Therefore, they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. (6)
We are of God. He who knows God, hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know
the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of error.
Only by the leading of the Holy Spirit can you help some who are derailed. It takes a certain level of
grace and maturity – not any who can do it. It took the grace in Elisha to heal the polluted waters in
Jericho.
Maintaining your position and posture in God:
[2Timothy1v3—6] I thank God whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my fathers did, as without
ceasing I remember you in my prayers, night and day, (4) greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of
your tears, that I may be filled with joy, when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you,
which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you
also. Therefore, I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my
hands.
[Jude20—21] But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy
Spirit, (21) keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto
eternal life.
[1Corinthians14v1—2] Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophecy.
(2) For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God, for no one understands him;
however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
Paul continuously received downloads of mysteries: [1Corinthians14v18] I thank my God that I speak
in tongues more than you all. [Isaiah26v3—4] You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is
stayed in You, because he trusts in You. (4) Trust in the Lord forever, for in YAH, the Lord, is
everlasting strength.