Sermon Tone Analysis

“Steps to Spiritual Growth"

Jude 20 -25

Introduction:

John Maxwell has identified four levels of maturity for Christians.

They are given in progressive order with the least mature viewpoint listed first:

(1) I'm going to do what I want, regardless of any thought for God;

(2) If God gives me what I want, then I will give him what he wants;

(3) I will give God what he wants, with faith that he will give me what I want; and

(4) I will give God what he wants, regardless of any thought for myself.

Many Christians spend the balance of their life at level two or three but the greatest joy is found at level four.

I- Make a Conscious decision to pursue growing in Christ.

(Jude 20)

A- Growing in Christ is a conscious personal decision (Jude 20 a).

1- "build each other up" is “ἐποικοδομοῦντες ἑαυτοὺς” (build up, to build upon, To finish the structure of which the foundation has already been laid, to give constant increase in Christian knowledge and in a life conformed thereto.)

a- Each of us must build upon the foundation of Christ (1 Cor.

3:10-17).

b- Building a house or a temple has never been done accidentally.

2- But you, beloved, in your most holy faith = (Ὑμεῖς δέ, ἀγαπητοί... ἁγιωτάτῃ ὑμῶν πίστει).

a- each must strive to grow in the faith.

(2 Peter 3:18) .

Illustration: Dr. Bonar once said that he could tell when a Christian was growing.

In proportion to his growth in grace he would elevate his Maker, talk less of what he himself was doing, and become smaller and smaller in his own esteem, until, like the morning star, he faded way before the rising sun.

B- Growing in Christ involves a purposeful prayer life (Jude 20 b).

1- "Praying in the Holy Spirit" =(ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ προσευχόμενοι).

a.

To do so requires that we be walking "in the Spirit" (Gal.

5:25).

b.

Praying while walking in the Spirit assures us of praying properly.

c.

Praying while walking in the Spirit leads us to obedience.

1) This leads to growth.

II- Make God's love and grace the Primary focus in your life (Jude 21)

A- Focus on God's Love for you (Jude 21 a).

1- This is not any indication that we can lose the love of God (see.Rom.

8:35-39).

a- It is impossible to be separated from his love.

2- This refers to live with that love clearly in focus (1 John 4:19).

a- Like the bride who basks in and responds to the love of her husband.

She does not give love to him in order to avoid losing his love, but simply because he loves her.

We do not live in fear of losing Jesus' love, but bask in and respond to his love for us.

B- Focus on the ultimate end of his grace (Jude 21 b).

1- Always keep the ultimate end of his mercy in view (John 14:3; John 17:24)

a- The ultimate goal of a groom is to have his bride with him through life, sharing everything he is and has with her.

The ultimate goal of our groom is to have us with him throughout eternity, sharing all he is and has with us.

III- Compassionately reach out to others in order to Save them from destruction (Jude 22-23)

A- Love people to Jesus (Jude 22)

1- Some are led to Jesus (or led back to him) best by a gentle, loving spirit (Jas.

5:19-20)

2- It is possible to correct someone in a loving way (1 Tim.

5:1-2).

a- Note the words:

1) epiplhssw = to chastise with words, to chide, upbraid, rebuke

2) parakalew = to admonish, exhort, to beg, entreat, beseech

B- Do what ever is necessary to keep men from destruction (Jude 23).

1- οὓς δὲ ἐλεᾶτε ἐν φόβῳ = and others save with (through) fear

2- οὓς μὲν ἐλεᾶτε διακρινομένους σώζετε ἐκ πυρὸς ἁρπάζοντες = and others snatching them out of the fire

3- μισοῦντες καὶ τὸν ἀπὸ τῆς σαρκὸς ἐσπιλωμένον χιτῶνα.=

hating even the garment defiled by the flesh

a- example: The Apostles were harsh with Simon (Acts 8:9-24).

IV- Keep your focus on the right person (Jude 24-25)

A- Keep your focus on the one who keeps you secure eternally (Jude 24).

1- It is Christ who keeps us from falling (1 Peter 1:5).

2- Keeping focused on Christ and his keeping power changes the way we view our circumstances.

a- Note Paul as he writes from prison (Phil.1:20-21;

3:1; 4:4)

B- Keep your focus on the only one who has the wisdom and power to get you through life (Jude 25).

1- He has the wisdom and power to handle any and all circumstances (Matt.

28:18; Romans 11:33; Colossians 2:2-3) .

2- Keeping your focus on him takes away all fear (Romans 8:15; 2 Timothy 1:7).

Conclusion

There is a very odd tree in an orchard in one of the Midwestern states.

It is an old apple tree that was planted many years ago, with its limbs in the ground and its roots in the air, and which still lives to bear an occasional apple and sprout branches where roots should be--a curiosity to beholders.

The farmer was induced to produce the oddity through an old German legend, in which such an inverted tree played a prominent part.

But although it still lives, and occasionally bears an apple, it is only a curiosity and bears no fruit of any respectable amount.

The people who try to live Christian lives without being planted in Christ, and letting their roots run down into the responsibilities of the Christian life are very much like that inverted tree.

The Christians who really bear fruit are those who are rooted deep and solid in their relationship with the Lord.