Calendar

CONTENDING AGAINST APOSTASY (II)
SATURDAY, APRIL 25
Jude 20
Ephesians 6:10-19
 
“Praying always …
in the Spirit …”
 
CONTENDING AGAINST APOSTASY (II)
 
The work of “building up” (Jude 20) ourselves on our “most holy faith,” however, is not a work that any one of us can do alone. This is simply not a construction project that can be accomplished purely by human effort! Not only did the apostates fail because they never rightly understood God’s Word, nor rightly applied it to themselves, they failed also because they had no true communion with God, and no participation in the fellowship of His Spirit.
 
By contrast, we as believers are to be “praying in the Holy Ghost” (Jude 20), even as we seek to rightly divide the Word of Truth (cf. 2 Tim 2:15) and rightly obey it in our daily lives. We have been given, not just an infallible scripture in our hands, but an infallible Interpreter of this scripture in our hearts. God has not only given us His Word in writing, He has given us, through our great High Priest the Lord Jesus Christ, access into His very presence. Of these great gifts, we ought to avail ourselves.
 
Now it is evident that a soldier in an army needs something more than just his own individual girdle, breastplate, shoes, shield, helmet, and sword. He needs a reliable line of communication with his commander, or else he cannot fight effectively. Hence after listing the “armour of God” (Eph 6:11-17) which the Christian is to put on, the Apostle Paul exhorts us to be “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” (Eph 6:18). If we would “earnestly contend for the faith” (Jude 3) against apostasy, we must be in constant communion with God.
 
Dear reader, as you take seriously your study of God’s Word, take seriously also your time of prayer and communion with God. To “come boldly unto the throne of grace” (Heb 4:16) is for the Christian most needful, but sadly also most neglected. Even when we know not what to say, we have no excuse not to pray for we have within us our Comforter, who “helpeth our infirmities” and “maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom 8:26). “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16); but a man who does not pray, avails nothing.
 
THOUGHT: Do I pray as I ought to pray?
PRAYER: Lord, teach me to pray!

Search