THE CHRISTIAN WORKER
The Christian Worker
Text: Jude 20–23
The book of Jude is one of the smallest books in all of the Bible. It is only one chapter, containing 25 verses. Its main theme is a warning against corrupt teachers and bad doctrine. It is written by Jude, who identifies himself as the brother of James, which would make him the half-brother of Jesus if he is indeed that same Jude.
This is a small letter written to a very specific group. Most letters in the New Testament are written to churches or to a specific church, and some are even written to individuals, such as Paul’s letters to Timothy. But this letter is written to a general group. Notice verse 1:
Jude 1
“Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:”
This letter is written to those who are saved, sanctified, and called. I believe most everyone reading this fits into that category. I hope you are saved. I pray God is working in your life through sanctification, shaping and molding you. And I pray you are active in the calling God has placed on your life.
By way of introduction, Jude encourages us to earnestly contend for the faith.
Jude 3
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”
The gospel does not need our approval, our vindication, or even our defense—but it does require our labor to carry it to the next generation.
Jude reminds us that God is serious about sin. He delivered Israel out of Egypt, yet judged those who did not believe.
Jude 5
“I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.”
Even angels are reserved in chains for their rebellion.
Jude 6
“And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.”
Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed for their sin.
Jude 7
“Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”
Jude warns that this same kind of corruption is creeping into the church—error in teaching, greed in service, and corruption in conduct.
Judgment is coming.
Jude 15
“To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
He also tells us there will be mockers, sensual individuals who do not have the Spirit of God.
But in verse 20, Jude shifts his focus back to the believer by using the word “but.” In contrast to all the error and corruption, he gives us characteristics of a Christian worker who makes a difference.
1. A Christian worker builds himself up in the faith
Jude 20a
“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith…”
The church is a great source of encouragement. It should be a place of discipleship and growth. But Jude is not writing to new converts—he is writing to the saved, the sanctified, and the called. And he tells them to build up themselves.
An oak tree was once a tender plant needing care, water, and support. But as it grows, it must learn to stand, endure the elements, and even provide shade for others.
How do we build ourselves up?
First, do not rely on others for your nourishment. Get into God’s Word. The answers are in God’s Word. Let it feed you.
Second, seek to grow. Many seek to attend. Many seek to belong. But those who seek to grow are different. Growth requires intentional pursuit.
Third, be honest about your commitment. Saying you want to grow is different than doing what it takes to grow. Desire without discipline produces nothing.
2. A Christian worker prays in the Holy Ghost
Jude 20b
“…praying in the Holy Ghost,”
At the very least, this means praying at all. The worst prayer is the one never prayed.
We can do more after we pray, but we cannot do more until we have prayed.
Praying in the Holy Ghost means praying under the leadership of the Spirit—being mindful of Him and obedient to Him. Sometimes it is simply saying, “Lord, I do not know how to pray, but here is my heart, and I will follow You.”
Too often we pray in our own spirit, telling God what to do. But Spirit-led prayer says, “Nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done.”
If we are going to make a difference, we must be people of prayer.
3. A Christian worker keeps himself in the love of God
Jude 21
“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
We are already loved. We are saved and secure. There is nothing we can do to make God love us more.
But we can remove ourselves from the enjoyment of that love.
Dr. J. Vernon McGee likened the love of God to the sun. We cannot change the sun, but we can put up an umbrella that blocks its warmth.
May we not allow anything in our lives to block the love of God. Instead, we should bask in it, soak it in, and then let it flow through us to others.
4. A Christian worker has compassion and seeks to make a difference
Jude 22
“And of some have compassion, making a difference:”
The people in this verse are different from those in verse 23, yet our compassion should have no limits.
The best definition of compassion is seeing yourself in someone else’s condition and asking what you would want someone to do for you.
Not everyone can do everything, but everyone can do something.
Any difference is a big difference in someone’s life.
5. A Christian worker seeks to win the lost
Jude 23
“And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”
This fear is not fear of people—it is an awareness of the seriousness of judgment. It produces urgency.
Like a child running toward the road, action must be immediate.
This verse gives three actions: saving, pulling, and hating.
We do all we can to rescue people from an eternity in hell, while hating the sin that destroys them.
This is why we must build ourselves up—we never know when we will need to help someone.
This is why we must pray—to be led to those who need rescue.
This is why we must stay in the love of God—so nothing hinders our effectiveness.
This is why compassion matters—because people are hurting everywhere.
Conclusion
Are you saved? That is a simple yes or no.
If you are saved, then you should be growing and seeking God’s will for your life.
If you know your calling, then you should be working in it to make a difference for Christ.
Any difference is a big difference in eternity.
Discussion Questions:
Text: Jude 20–23
The book of Jude is one of the smallest books in all of the Bible. It is only one chapter, containing 25 verses. Its main theme is a warning against corrupt teachers and bad doctrine. It is written by Jude, who identifies himself as the brother of James, which would make him the half-brother of Jesus if he is indeed that same Jude.
This is a small letter written to a very specific group. Most letters in the New Testament are written to churches or to a specific church, and some are even written to individuals, such as Paul’s letters to Timothy. But this letter is written to a general group. Notice verse 1:
Jude 1
“Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:”
This letter is written to those who are saved, sanctified, and called. I believe most everyone reading this fits into that category. I hope you are saved. I pray God is working in your life through sanctification, shaping and molding you. And I pray you are active in the calling God has placed on your life.
By way of introduction, Jude encourages us to earnestly contend for the faith.
Jude 3
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”
The gospel does not need our approval, our vindication, or even our defense—but it does require our labor to carry it to the next generation.
Jude reminds us that God is serious about sin. He delivered Israel out of Egypt, yet judged those who did not believe.
Jude 5
“I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.”
Even angels are reserved in chains for their rebellion.
Jude 6
“And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.”
Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed for their sin.
Jude 7
“Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”
Jude warns that this same kind of corruption is creeping into the church—error in teaching, greed in service, and corruption in conduct.
Judgment is coming.
Jude 15
“To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
He also tells us there will be mockers, sensual individuals who do not have the Spirit of God.
But in verse 20, Jude shifts his focus back to the believer by using the word “but.” In contrast to all the error and corruption, he gives us characteristics of a Christian worker who makes a difference.
1. A Christian worker builds himself up in the faith
Jude 20a
“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith…”
The church is a great source of encouragement. It should be a place of discipleship and growth. But Jude is not writing to new converts—he is writing to the saved, the sanctified, and the called. And he tells them to build up themselves.
An oak tree was once a tender plant needing care, water, and support. But as it grows, it must learn to stand, endure the elements, and even provide shade for others.
How do we build ourselves up?
First, do not rely on others for your nourishment. Get into God’s Word. The answers are in God’s Word. Let it feed you.
Second, seek to grow. Many seek to attend. Many seek to belong. But those who seek to grow are different. Growth requires intentional pursuit.
Third, be honest about your commitment. Saying you want to grow is different than doing what it takes to grow. Desire without discipline produces nothing.
2. A Christian worker prays in the Holy Ghost
Jude 20b
“…praying in the Holy Ghost,”
At the very least, this means praying at all. The worst prayer is the one never prayed.
We can do more after we pray, but we cannot do more until we have prayed.
Praying in the Holy Ghost means praying under the leadership of the Spirit—being mindful of Him and obedient to Him. Sometimes it is simply saying, “Lord, I do not know how to pray, but here is my heart, and I will follow You.”
Too often we pray in our own spirit, telling God what to do. But Spirit-led prayer says, “Nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done.”
If we are going to make a difference, we must be people of prayer.
3. A Christian worker keeps himself in the love of God
Jude 21
“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
We are already loved. We are saved and secure. There is nothing we can do to make God love us more.
But we can remove ourselves from the enjoyment of that love.
Dr. J. Vernon McGee likened the love of God to the sun. We cannot change the sun, but we can put up an umbrella that blocks its warmth.
May we not allow anything in our lives to block the love of God. Instead, we should bask in it, soak it in, and then let it flow through us to others.
4. A Christian worker has compassion and seeks to make a difference
Jude 22
“And of some have compassion, making a difference:”
The people in this verse are different from those in verse 23, yet our compassion should have no limits.
The best definition of compassion is seeing yourself in someone else’s condition and asking what you would want someone to do for you.
Not everyone can do everything, but everyone can do something.
Any difference is a big difference in someone’s life.
5. A Christian worker seeks to win the lost
Jude 23
“And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”
This fear is not fear of people—it is an awareness of the seriousness of judgment. It produces urgency.
Like a child running toward the road, action must be immediate.
This verse gives three actions: saving, pulling, and hating.
We do all we can to rescue people from an eternity in hell, while hating the sin that destroys them.
This is why we must build ourselves up—we never know when we will need to help someone.
This is why we must pray—to be led to those who need rescue.
This is why we must stay in the love of God—so nothing hinders our effectiveness.
This is why compassion matters—because people are hurting everywhere.
Conclusion
Are you saved? That is a simple yes or no.
If you are saved, then you should be growing and seeking God’s will for your life.
If you know your calling, then you should be working in it to make a difference for Christ.
Any difference is a big difference in eternity.
Discussion Questions:
- In what practical ways can we “build up ourselves” in our faith beyond just attending church? What does that look like in your daily life?
- What is the difference between praying in our own will and praying “in the Holy Ghost”? Can you share a time when God led your prayer life in a specific way?
- What are some “umbrellas” that can block us from experiencing the love of God, and how can we remove them?
- Who in your life right now might need compassion or even urgent spiritual help, and what is one step you can take this week to make a difference?
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