100:00:00,660 –> 00:00:06,760Are you going to contend for the faith that200:00:06,760 –> 00:00:11,440was once for all entrusted to the saints or are300:00:11,440 –> 00:00:15,640you going to settle for a faith that is primarily400:00:15,640 –> 00:00:19,000shaped to suit your culture and lifestyle?500:00:19,000 –> 00:00:22,480Welcome to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith,600:00:22,480 –> 00:00:25,200I’m David Pick. Glad you could be with us today,700:00:25,200 –> 00:00:28,959and Colin, unfortunately many people do settle for a faith800:00:29,120 –> 00:00:31,400that suits their culture and lifestyle900:00:31,719 –> 00:00:34,799but we need to know and understand our need for1000:00:34,959 –> 00:00:36,400an authentic faith.1100:00:36,400 –> 00:00:37,360Yes, that’s exactly right.1200:00:37,360 –> 00:00:40,279And, you know, there is a massive market today for1300:00:40,279 –> 00:00:43,840a faith and the question for many is, even in1400:00:43,840 –> 00:00:46,080church world, what are people looking for?1500:00:46,080 –> 00:00:48,480What are they after and how do we deliver1600:00:48,480 –> 00:00:50,680what they’re after in terms of the spiritual1700:00:50,680 –> 00:00:52,320side of their lives?1800:00:52,599 –> 00:00:55,160And so much these days is self-defined by the1900:00:55,160 –> 00:00:58,799individual and the pressure is on for churches2000:00:58,799 –> 00:01:00,720and ministries to move in that direction.2100:01:01,000 –> 00:01:03,439It’s fascinating to me that in the last little2200:01:03,439 –> 00:01:05,599letter before revelation, the little letter of2300:01:05,599 –> 00:01:07,919Jude in the New Testament, Jude says, you know,2400:01:07,919 –> 00:01:10,239I’d wanted to write a letter about our common2500:01:10,239 –> 00:01:14,400salvation, but I found it necessary to contend2600:01:14,400 –> 00:01:16,360for the faith.2700:01:16,760 –> 00:01:18,440And we live in a culture where people say, well,2800:01:18,440 –> 00:01:20,360who’s to say what the faith is, you know, and2900:01:20,400 –> 00:01:21,879can’t we all define it for ourselves?3000:01:22,160 –> 00:01:24,120Well, the answer of Jude would be no.3100:01:24,160 –> 00:01:25,599Jesus Christ has defined it.3200:01:25,599 –> 00:01:27,000The apostles have defined it.3300:01:27,040 –> 00:01:29,160There is such a thing as thee faith.3400:01:29,559 –> 00:01:32,199And as believers, we’ve got to hold it and we’ve3500:01:32,199 –> 00:01:34,080got to contend for it.3600:01:34,360 –> 00:01:36,160And that’s what the letter of Jude is all about.3700:01:36,440 –> 00:01:39,040So that’s exactly what our message today is all3800:01:39,040 –> 00:01:41,599about. The message is called Build Yourself3900:01:41,639 –> 00:01:44,720Up. So join us, if you can, in the book of Jude.4000:01:45,199 –> 00:01:46,199Here is Colin.4100:01:46,839 –> 00:01:49,680This marvelous letter in the New Testament4200:01:49,680 –> 00:01:52,639was written to a group of believers who were4300:01:52,639 –> 00:01:55,639finding it increasingly difficult to live out4400:01:55,639 –> 00:01:57,000their life of faith.4500:01:57,800 –> 00:01:59,800As you’ll see from verse 4, some of them were4600:01:59,800 –> 00:02:03,199discouraged because there were a growing number4700:02:03,199 –> 00:02:07,000of leaders in the church whose lives were marked4800:02:07,000 –> 00:02:10,880by compromise and whose teaching was marked by4900:02:12,440 –> 00:02:15,240Many people had been taken in by these trends and5000:02:15,240 –> 00:02:17,759the result was that as the church moved forward,5100:02:17,759 –> 00:02:21,000the preaching of the word of God was increasingly5200:02:21,000 –> 00:02:24,399difficult to find and moral standards were5300:02:24,440 –> 00:02:28,240generally in decline even amongst God’s people.5400:02:28,240 –> 00:02:31,240In fact, to get a description of the quality of5500:02:31,240 –> 00:02:34,080leadership that was beginning to emerge within5600:02:34,080 –> 00:02:36,800the churches, you only need to look at verse 12.5700:02:36,800 –> 00:02:39,520It’s pretty sobering stuff.5800:02:39,520 –> 00:02:44,520Shepherds says Jude who feed only themselves.5900:02:45,279 –> 00:02:48,160Here in other words, were pastors being appointed6000:02:48,160 –> 00:02:51,380within the churches who were trusted with the care6100:02:51,979 –> 00:02:54,960of God’s flock but ended up evidently only being6200:02:54,960 –> 00:02:57,179concerned with their own careers.6300:02:58,039 –> 00:03:01,979Clouds without rain he says verse 12.6400:03:01,979 –> 00:03:04,820Spiritual leaders who seemed to have some authentic6500:03:04,820 –> 00:03:07,940walk with God and some promise of spiritual help6600:03:07,940 –> 00:03:11,899but actually were personally like spiritual dry wells.6700:03:12,740 –> 00:03:14,660A conversation with one of these shepherds might6800:03:14,660 –> 00:03:18,539be interesting and stimulating but they were able6900:03:19,020 –> 00:03:22,279to offer nothing that would be like water to a thirsty soul.7000:03:23,539 –> 00:03:26,160Blown along by the wind says Jude.7100:03:27,160 –> 00:03:29,119Here were people who took their direction7200:03:29,119 –> 00:03:31,660from the prevailing winds of the culture.7300:03:32,759 –> 00:03:36,539Minds filled with marketing and with management7400:03:36,539 –> 00:03:40,399but devoid of communion with Jesus Christ.7500:03:41,580 –> 00:03:45,279Without faith and uprooted he says.7600:03:45,279 –> 00:03:47,419Their lives in other words became filled7700:03:47,440 –> 00:03:50,320with fruitless activity.7800:03:50,320 –> 00:03:53,240And the reason that all this activity was fruitless7900:03:53,240 –> 00:03:55,679is that it was not rooted deeply8000:03:55,679 –> 00:03:58,839in the work of the Holy Spirit of God.8100:03:59,880 –> 00:04:00,720Now is there anybody here8200:04:00,720 –> 00:04:02,860who doesn’t know what he was talking about?8300:04:03,720 –> 00:04:05,759This is as powerful a description8400:04:05,759 –> 00:04:09,220as you will find anywhere in the Bible8500:04:09,220 –> 00:04:13,139about the way in which ministry becomes compromised.8600:04:14,000 –> 00:04:16,720About the way in which a church can begin8700:04:16,720 –> 00:04:19,200with a sense of calling,8800:04:19,200 –> 00:04:21,600but can all too easily slide8900:04:21,600 –> 00:04:24,760into becoming a self-perpetuating institution.9000:04:26,119 –> 00:04:30,739Now remember that Jude is writing late in the first century.9100:04:30,739 –> 00:04:34,700The first generation of Christians are almost all gone.9200:04:35,779 –> 00:04:39,480The torch is now being passed to a new generation.9300:04:40,519 –> 00:04:41,720And Jude writes to them9400:04:41,720 –> 00:04:44,320and begins his letter in verse three by saying,9500:04:44,399 –> 00:04:46,959now, you’re gonna have to make a decision.9600:04:46,959 –> 00:04:50,380You’re going to have to contend for the faith9700:04:50,380 –> 00:04:54,160that was once for all entrusted to the Saints,9800:04:54,160 –> 00:04:56,380because you’re going to find in this new generation,9900:04:56,380 –> 00:04:59,279Jude says, that even in church world,10000:04:59,279 –> 00:05:02,279the faith is being eroded.10100:05:02,279 –> 00:05:06,500It’s being reshaped, and it’s being repackaged.10200:05:06,500 –> 00:05:08,519And you’re gonna have to decide10300:05:08,519 –> 00:05:10,799in this new generation,10400:05:10,799 –> 00:05:14,940are you going to contend for the faith10500:05:14,940 –> 00:05:18,179that was once for all entrusted to the Saints,10600:05:18,179 –> 00:05:21,839or are you going to settle just for a faith10700:05:21,839 –> 00:05:25,260that is primarily shaped to suit your culture10800:05:25,260 –> 00:05:26,579and your lifestyle?10900:05:27,660 –> 00:05:30,140Now, in a world in which we see increasingly11000:05:30,140 –> 00:05:32,500the church of Jesus Christ being invaded11100:05:32,500 –> 00:05:35,519by moral compromise and doctrinal error,11200:05:35,519 –> 00:05:37,559what are we to do?11300:05:38,459 –> 00:05:41,779And Jud answers that question very simply11400:05:41,779 –> 00:05:45,399in the last six verses of this wonderful letter.11500:05:45,399 –> 00:05:47,559We can summarize his message in this way.11600:05:48,480 –> 00:05:53,459Keep yourself in spiritual shape.11700:05:53,459 –> 00:05:55,239And Jud is very practical11800:05:55,239 –> 00:05:58,640because he breaks down what that means11900:05:58,640 –> 00:06:03,640into identifiable steps for us to follow.12000:06:03,739 –> 00:06:05,420He gives us what I’m going to describe12100:06:05,420 –> 00:06:10,420as seven workouts for a healthy Christian life.12200:06:11,959 –> 00:06:14,079Now many of us will be committed12300:06:14,079 –> 00:06:17,660to some kind of fitness program.12400:06:17,660 –> 00:06:19,980Some of us work with a coach.12500:06:19,980 –> 00:06:23,200Some of us work with a personal trainer,12600:06:23,200 –> 00:06:24,760and you’re familiar with the fact12700:06:24,760 –> 00:06:28,679that the coach gives to you an exercise program,12800:06:28,679 –> 00:06:32,380a fitness routine that is geared12900:06:32,380 –> 00:06:36,359to getting yourself in physical shape.13000:06:36,359 –> 00:06:38,220And, of course, a good exercise routine13100:06:38,220 –> 00:06:41,019will work on different muscle groups.13200:06:41,019 –> 00:06:44,279You know, this one’s for your abs,13300:06:44,279 –> 00:06:48,459and this one’s for your quads, and so it goes on.13400:06:48,459 –> 00:06:53,420Well, Jude gives us a balanced workout13500:06:53,420 –> 00:06:56,220for a healthy spiritual life.13600:06:56,220 –> 00:06:57,420And I do want to emphasize13700:06:57,420 –> 00:07:00,880that this series therefore needs to be taken as a whole.13800:07:00,880 –> 00:07:01,760You know, there are some folks13900:07:02,079 –> 00:07:03,779who always want to work on one muscle group14000:07:03,779 –> 00:07:06,079to the neglect of all the others,14100:07:06,079 –> 00:07:09,320and that is not the way to get yourself in good shape.14200:07:09,320 –> 00:07:12,420In any routine, we’ll be drawn to some exercises14300:07:12,420 –> 00:07:14,140that we like.14400:07:14,140 –> 00:07:17,320We’ll be tempted to neglect other exercises14500:07:17,320 –> 00:07:20,299that don’t appeal to us so much,14600:07:20,299 –> 00:07:23,660but it’s usually the ones that we’re tempted to neglect14700:07:23,660 –> 00:07:26,559that we’re most in need of actually doing.14800:07:27,299 –> 00:07:28,459Now, like any good coach,14900:07:28,579 –> 00:07:31,660Jude’s instructions on the exercise routine15000:07:31,660 –> 00:07:33,220are very simple.15100:07:33,220 –> 00:07:36,339Picture him there in his tracksuit on the field.15200:07:36,339 –> 00:07:38,100He’s standing in the center.15300:07:38,100 –> 00:07:39,820Jude is our coach.15400:07:40,299 –> 00:07:41,779He’s got the clipboard,15500:07:41,779 –> 00:07:44,119and here we are, the congregation this morning,15600:07:44,119 –> 00:07:46,880and we’re gathered around Jude who is our coach.15700:07:47,480 –> 00:07:49,500He’s been telling us what we’re going to be up against15800:07:49,500 –> 00:07:50,299in the next meet.15900:07:50,299 –> 00:07:52,160It’s going to be a tough one, folks,16000:07:52,160 –> 00:07:53,359and so we’re going to really have16100:07:53,359 –> 00:07:54,880to get ourselves in shape.16200:07:55,660 –> 00:07:59,579And so he says there in verse 20,16300:07:59,660 –> 00:08:02,279but you, dear friends,16400:08:02,279 –> 00:08:03,920and he’s going to tell us now what we need to do.16500:08:04,739 –> 00:08:07,079Build yourselves up in your faith.16600:08:07,079 –> 00:08:08,339Pray in the Holy Spirit.16700:08:08,339 –> 00:08:10,760Keep yourselves in the love of God.16800:08:10,760 –> 00:08:13,000Wait for the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ.16900:08:13,000 –> 00:08:14,799Be merciful to those who doubt17000:08:14,799 –> 00:08:17,059until others show mercy mixed with fear17100:08:17,059 –> 00:08:19,279to him who is able to keep you from falling.17200:08:19,279 –> 00:08:20,859Be glory forevermore.17300:08:20,859 –> 00:08:21,579Amen.17400:08:22,519 –> 00:08:26,799Now these six verses are really like a gold mine17500:08:26,799 –> 00:08:30,279of how to live the Christian life,17600:08:30,279 –> 00:08:33,619especially in a world of doctrinal confusion17700:08:33,619 –> 00:08:35,700and of moral compromise.17800:08:35,700 –> 00:08:37,260And so we’re going to camp ourselves17900:08:37,260 –> 00:08:40,200for these next weeks over this gold mine.18000:08:40,200 –> 00:08:42,739We’re going to work with the trainer, Jude,18100:08:42,739 –> 00:08:46,359to get ourselves into spiritual shape.18200:08:47,659 –> 00:08:48,900Now before we come to the first18300:08:48,900 –> 00:08:50,559of the seven workouts this morning,18400:08:51,039 –> 00:08:52,739I want to ask the obvious question,18500:08:52,739 –> 00:08:54,239which is simply what kind18600:08:54,239 –> 00:08:58,700of spiritual shape are you in right now?18700:09:00,280 –> 00:09:01,640Now it’s an important question18800:09:01,640 –> 00:09:05,039because evangelicals place a tremendous amount18900:09:05,039 –> 00:09:09,179of stress on spiritual life.19000:09:09,179 –> 00:09:12,599We emphasize the importance of the new birth.19100:09:12,599 –> 00:09:15,039We rejoice when people give testimonies19200:09:15,039 –> 00:09:19,039of how they came to spiritual life in Jesus Christ.19300:09:19,960 –> 00:09:22,760But remember that spiritual life19400:09:22,760 –> 00:09:25,700is no guarantee of spiritual health.19500:09:26,640 –> 00:09:28,659You may be spiritually alive19600:09:28,659 –> 00:09:31,679in Jesus Christ, but the question we’re facing19700:09:31,679 –> 00:09:33,099on these Sunday mornings is,19800:09:33,099 –> 00:09:35,380are you spiritually fit?19900:09:36,640 –> 00:09:38,960Now we all know what it is20000:09:38,960 –> 00:09:41,679to feel physically out of shape.20100:09:41,679 –> 00:09:44,440You just begin to become aware of that20200:09:44,440 –> 00:09:45,659within your own self,20300:09:45,659 –> 00:09:48,760and you know that you need to do something about it.20400:09:49,880 –> 00:09:52,520What does it look like20500:09:52,520 –> 00:09:56,000when you begin to get spiritually out of shape?20600:09:57,200 –> 00:09:59,219And we’re going to answer that question20700:09:59,219 –> 00:10:00,440in just a moment.20800:10:00,440 –> 00:10:01,880You’re listening to Open the Bible20900:10:01,880 –> 00:10:03,559with Pastor Colin Smith,21000:10:03,559 –> 00:10:05,719and a message called Build Yourself Up,21100:10:05,719 –> 00:10:07,200part of our series,21200:10:07,200 –> 00:10:09,919Keeping Yourself in Spiritual Shape.21300:10:09,919 –> 00:10:11,799If you ever miss one of our broadcasts,21400:10:11,799 –> 00:10:14,479you can easily catch up or go back and listen again21500:10:14,479 –> 00:10:16,219online at our website,21600:10:16,340 –> 00:10:19,039Openthebible.org.uk.21700:10:19,039 –> 00:10:21,700And you can also find us as a podcast21800:10:21,700 –> 00:10:23,340on all the main podcast sites.21900:10:23,340 –> 00:10:25,359Search for Open the Bible UK22000:10:25,359 –> 00:10:27,940or follow the link from our website.22100:10:27,940 –> 00:10:29,059Back to the message now.22200:10:29,059 –> 00:10:30,419We’re in the Book of Jude.22300:10:30,419 –> 00:10:32,020Here again is Colin.22400:10:32,020 –> 00:10:34,380What does it look like22500:10:34,380 –> 00:10:38,059when you begin to get spiritually out of shape?22600:10:39,380 –> 00:10:41,280Let me give you some symptoms.22700:10:41,280 –> 00:10:43,460You can measure yourself by them.22800:10:44,460 –> 00:10:49,299When I experience a loss of vigor and of vision,22900:10:50,700 –> 00:10:54,219a lethargy creeps in so that the service God23000:10:54,219 –> 00:10:57,940has called me to, which was a joy to me before,23100:10:57,940 –> 00:11:00,099now becomes a drudgery to continue.23200:11:01,840 –> 00:11:03,400When the enjoyment of God23300:11:03,400 –> 00:11:08,020and the Word and worship begins to be eclipsed,23400:11:08,020 –> 00:11:10,340when I no longer experience the nearness of God23500:11:10,340 –> 00:11:11,219as I used to,23600:11:11,219 –> 00:11:12,659nor feel any brokenness23700:11:12,659 –> 00:11:15,179within my own spirit as I see myself23800:11:15,179 –> 00:11:16,840and how I need to change.23900:11:18,099 –> 00:11:19,460A loss of gratitude24000:11:20,340 –> 00:11:22,700in which I become far more preoccupied24100:11:22,700 –> 00:11:26,059with something I want that God didn’t give me24200:11:26,979 –> 00:11:30,419than all that God did give me that I never deserved.24300:11:32,059 –> 00:11:35,159A loss of spiritual hunger and thirst.24400:11:36,320 –> 00:11:40,099David says, as a dear pants for springs of living water.24500:11:40,099 –> 00:11:43,960That’s how my soul longs after you, oh God.24600:11:43,960 –> 00:11:45,799That’s the normal condition24700:11:45,799 –> 00:11:48,979of a soul that’s in good and healthy shape.24800:11:49,840 –> 00:11:53,820And when I begin to experience the absence of that hunger,24900:11:54,900 –> 00:11:58,640then I know that I’m getting out of shape spiritually.25000:12:00,179 –> 00:12:01,619A loss of compassion.25100:12:02,780 –> 00:12:05,020And I begin to feel that other people are a drain.25200:12:05,020 –> 00:12:06,200I don’t have the time.25300:12:06,200 –> 00:12:09,460We become impatient with the faults of other people.25400:12:10,179 –> 00:12:12,219The needs of others seem to be a burden.25500:12:12,219 –> 00:12:13,619We feel frustrated25600:12:13,619 –> 00:12:16,179that other people don’t make more progress.25700:12:17,900 –> 00:12:20,099Now, if you begin to see these things25800:12:20,099 –> 00:12:21,460emerging within your soul,25900:12:21,460 –> 00:12:24,380it is a sure sign that you are getting26000:12:24,380 –> 00:12:26,599out of spiritual shape.26100:12:28,179 –> 00:12:31,419And there’s only one way to deal with that problem.26200:12:31,419 –> 00:12:36,419And that is to get into God’s exercise room.26300:12:36,419 –> 00:12:38,919That’s where we’re going to be over these next weeks26400:12:38,919 –> 00:12:42,539as Jude is our coach and our trainer.26500:12:44,039 –> 00:12:47,599But, before we get to the first workout26600:12:47,599 –> 00:12:48,599I want to take a moment26700:12:48,599 –> 00:12:50,700just to give a word of encouragement.26800:12:52,239 –> 00:12:55,280The way that God has ordered the church26900:12:55,280 –> 00:12:57,640is that there should be shepherds27000:12:57,640 –> 00:13:00,140for the flock of God’s sheep.27100:13:00,140 –> 00:13:05,140The word pastor simply means shepherd.27200:13:05,960 –> 00:13:07,599And one of the highest callings27300:13:07,599 –> 00:13:09,919and privileges of a pastor27400:13:09,919 –> 00:13:12,239is to encourage another believer27500:13:12,239 –> 00:13:13,960in their walk with God.27600:13:15,140 –> 00:13:19,179You have a pastor who cares about your soul.27700:13:20,440 –> 00:13:23,440The vast majority of us are used to going27800:13:23,440 –> 00:13:25,359regularly to the doctor27900:13:25,359 –> 00:13:26,520just for a checkup.28000:13:26,520 –> 00:13:27,520We say, oh no, no, no28100:13:27,520 –> 00:13:28,700there’s nothing wrong with me.28200:13:28,700 –> 00:13:30,640I’m just going for a checkup.28300:13:31,880 –> 00:13:32,960But for some reason28400:13:32,960 –> 00:13:35,000it would never occur to some of us28500:13:35,000 –> 00:13:37,679that it might be profoundly helpful28600:13:38,500 –> 00:13:41,200to take precisely the same initiative28700:13:41,200 –> 00:13:44,320and opportunity with regard to our souls.28800:13:46,119 –> 00:13:47,159And I want you to understand,28900:13:47,159 –> 00:13:48,000and it’s important29000:13:48,000 –> 00:13:50,479that the whole congregation understands this clearly,29100:13:50,479 –> 00:13:52,419that pastoral staff positions29200:13:52,419 –> 00:13:54,400in this church have been created29300:13:54,400 –> 00:13:56,460from the deep conviction29400:13:57,599 –> 00:14:01,580that the primary calling of a pastor29500:14:01,580 –> 00:14:03,159is not to run a program29600:14:03,159 –> 00:14:04,859but to shepherd a group of people.29700:14:05,960 –> 00:14:10,239That may be somewhat unusual in our culture,29800:14:10,239 –> 00:14:12,520but it is profoundly biblical.29900:14:13,359 –> 00:14:17,020We are God’s people.30000:14:17,020 –> 00:14:20,320We are the sheep under his care,30100:14:20,320 –> 00:14:25,140and God has appointed shepherds within the flock.30200:14:25,140 –> 00:14:28,799There is somebody who cares for your soul.30300:14:29,880 –> 00:14:32,080Now, the other reason for mentioning that this morning30400:14:32,539 –> 00:14:35,419is that I want, in this series,30500:14:35,419 –> 00:14:40,059to take the kind of practical spiritual encouragement30600:14:40,059 –> 00:14:44,659that would often go on in these private one-to-one meetings30700:14:44,659 –> 00:14:46,880and to bring that out into the open30800:14:46,880 –> 00:14:50,179and to share it here with the whole congregation.30900:14:50,179 –> 00:14:52,479I want to speak over these Sunday mornings31000:14:52,479 –> 00:14:57,479as I would eyeball-to-eyeball with someone who came31100:14:57,799 –> 00:15:01,260and gave me the opportunity of counseling with them31200:15:01,260 –> 00:15:04,039and encouraging them and they would say to me,31300:15:04,039 –> 00:15:06,400you know, I feel spiritually dried up.31400:15:06,400 –> 00:15:08,299I feel all bent out of shape.31500:15:08,299 –> 00:15:10,119I don’t know where to go.31600:15:10,119 –> 00:15:13,580You see, those are the issues that Pastor Jude,31700:15:13,580 –> 00:15:16,280the Apostle Jude is addressing.31800:15:17,539 –> 00:15:20,520Now spiritual fitness, and I found this very fascinating31900:15:20,520 –> 00:15:22,500just over the years to observe the pattern,32000:15:22,500 –> 00:15:27,500that spiritual fitness really revolves around seven areas,32100:15:28,440 –> 00:15:33,440seven ways in which we can easily become spiritually flabby.32200:15:35,419 –> 00:15:40,419There’s a loss of faith, or a decline in prayer,32300:15:41,820 –> 00:15:46,400or a lack of love, or a loss of hope,32400:15:47,419 –> 00:15:51,700or a losing of urgency that we once felt about our calling,32500:15:52,700 –> 00:15:57,700a compromise in purity, a loss of confidence.32600:15:59,099 –> 00:16:01,780These are the seven areas in which, above all else,32700:16:01,780 –> 00:16:05,159we need to keep ourselves in spiritual shape.32800:16:05,159 –> 00:16:08,119They are the seven areas identified by Jude32900:16:08,119 –> 00:16:13,119for the workout that we need in God’s gymnasium.33000:16:13,419 –> 00:16:15,020So, with that long introduction this morning,33100:16:15,020 –> 00:16:19,000let’s now turn to the first workout which you’ll find33200:16:19,000 –> 00:16:20,099in verse 20.33300:16:21,099 –> 00:16:26,080First workout, build yourselves up33400:16:28,140 –> 00:16:31,940in your most holy faith.33500:16:33,320 –> 00:16:36,340Now, remember that Jude is talking to believers here.33600:16:36,340 –> 00:16:39,500Those who have embraced faith in Jesus Christ33700:16:39,500 –> 00:16:42,099and Jude says yes, you’ve embraced that faith.33800:16:42,099 –> 00:16:45,219It’s been entrusted once for all to the saints33900:16:45,219 –> 00:16:49,359but now you must build yourself up in it.34000:16:50,460 –> 00:16:53,260There may be times when your faith seems to be at a low ebb,34100:16:54,179 –> 00:16:55,700you feel you’re not growing.34200:16:56,619 –> 00:16:59,020There may even be times when you say to yourself,34300:16:59,020 –> 00:17:03,859I wonder if I’m really a Christian at all.34400:17:05,339 –> 00:17:08,060And Jude says, here’s where you need to begin.34500:17:08,060 –> 00:17:11,900Build yourself up in your most holy faith.34600:17:11,900 –> 00:17:14,319That’s the first thing you need to work on34700:17:14,319 –> 00:17:18,900if you’re to get yourself in spiritual shape.34800:17:19,020 –> 00:17:20,660The obvious question then is, okay,34900:17:20,660 –> 00:17:23,000how are we going to do that?35000:17:23,839 –> 00:17:26,819Now I wanna suggest four very practical exercises,35100:17:26,819 –> 00:17:29,500four exercises that will help us35200:17:29,500 –> 00:17:34,500to build ourselves up in our most holy faith.35300:17:34,939 –> 00:17:39,339First, give thanks for your faith.35400:17:40,459 –> 00:17:44,060Now one of Satan’s greatest strategies against a believer35500:17:44,060 –> 00:17:49,020is to seek to discredit your faith.35600:17:49,020 –> 00:17:51,199Have you ever had something running in your mind35700:17:51,199 –> 00:17:54,380that says, you know, for all the years I’m a Christian,35800:17:54,380 –> 00:17:59,380my faith seems to be so puny, so weak, so small,35900:17:59,540 –> 00:18:03,420so embarrassingly little in its growth and development?36000:18:03,420 –> 00:18:05,180You see, that’s what the enemy36100:18:05,180 –> 00:18:07,959loves to shoot into your mind.36200:18:08,979 –> 00:18:13,300And there’s only one way to counteract that strategy.36300:18:14,180 –> 00:18:17,660And that is to recognize that the faith that you have,36400:18:17,660 –> 00:18:22,660however small it is, is a miracle and a gift from God36500:18:23,819 –> 00:18:26,420and therefore to give thanks for it.36600:18:27,780 –> 00:18:29,000There’s a wonderful story36700:18:29,000 –> 00:18:31,400about a lady who came to see a pastor36800:18:31,400 –> 00:18:34,180because she felt spiritually out of shape.36900:18:34,180 –> 00:18:37,900She felt dried up, she felt when she came to worship37000:18:37,900 –> 00:18:40,459that she was on the outside and she was looking in37100:18:41,180 –> 00:18:46,180and as she explained her sense of spiritual dryness,37200:18:49,540 –> 00:18:52,520she at one point broke down as she said,37300:18:52,520 –> 00:18:57,520I sometimes wonder if I’m really a Christian at all.37400:19:00,439 –> 00:19:03,380The pastor took a piece of paper and he wrote on it,37500:19:05,180 –> 00:19:10,180these words, I do not love Jesus Christ.37600:19:11,160 –> 00:19:12,819He then printed the woman’s name37700:19:12,819 –> 00:19:14,280at the bottom of the piece of paper.37800:19:14,280 –> 00:19:17,459He handed the piece of paper to the woman37900:19:17,459 –> 00:19:20,359and he said, I want you to sign this.38000:19:22,459 –> 00:19:24,780The woman took the piece of paper, she read it.38100:19:24,780 –> 00:19:28,040I do not love Jesus Christ.38200:19:30,500 –> 00:19:33,979I can’t sign that, she said.38300:19:34,900 –> 00:19:39,900Of course you can’t, said the pastor.38400:19:41,839 –> 00:19:46,400Because the Holy Spirit lives in you.38500:19:46,400 –> 00:19:49,579Because you are a child of God.38600:19:50,500 –> 00:19:55,500Now stop complaining about how weak your faith is38700:19:56,500 –> 00:19:59,180and start thanking God for the miracle38800:19:59,180 –> 00:20:01,180he has done in your life38900:20:01,699 –> 00:20:07,119and your faith will begin to grow.39000:20:07,119 –> 00:20:11,339Now if your faith is at a low ebb this morning,39100:20:11,339 –> 00:20:12,819this is where you begin.39200:20:13,979 –> 00:20:17,459You look up into the face of Almighty God39300:20:17,459 –> 00:20:20,099and you say, thank you,39400:20:20,099 –> 00:20:25,099that your Holy Spirit is at work in me.39500:20:26,020 –> 00:20:27,819And when you begin to give thanks39600:20:27,819 –> 00:20:30,579for what God has done and for what he is doing39700:20:30,579 –> 00:20:35,579in your own life, then you will find that a cloud lifts39800:20:35,699 –> 00:20:38,540and your faith begins to grow.39900:20:38,540 –> 00:20:41,280You see, we need to learn to discern40000:20:41,280 –> 00:20:44,319the work of the Holy Spirit.40100:20:44,319 –> 00:20:48,880If you cannot see anything that God is doing in your life,40200:20:48,880 –> 00:20:51,959if you cannot see what God has done in your life,40300:20:51,959 –> 00:20:54,439then the problem is with your ability to see.40400:20:54,439 –> 00:20:57,400Jesus says, my father is always at work40500:20:57,400 –> 00:20:59,119and I am working too.40600:21:00,099 –> 00:21:02,239That’s where the ministry of encouragement40700:21:02,239 –> 00:21:04,020can sometimes be so important.40800:21:04,020 –> 00:21:07,079If you can’t see what God is doing in your life,40900:21:07,079 –> 00:21:09,760perhaps a friend can, and they can say to you,41000:21:09,760 –> 00:21:12,160well I see God doing this.41100:21:12,160 –> 00:21:15,400Perhaps a pastor can, and he or she can say to you,41200:21:15,400 –> 00:21:18,500I can see God doing this.41300:21:18,500 –> 00:21:22,680And it’s a means of wonderful encouragement.41400:21:22,680 –> 00:21:27,560See, faith is like a bulb that is planted in the ground.41500:21:27,920 –> 00:21:30,140You dig out a hole, and then what’s41600:21:30,140 –> 00:21:31,479the next thing that happens?41700:21:31,479 –> 00:21:36,239A load of dirt gets dumped on top of this little bulb.41800:21:36,239 –> 00:21:40,219It’s a miracle that it survives, isn’t it?41900:21:40,219 –> 00:21:43,979But you see it has life in it, and that life42000:21:43,979 –> 00:21:47,479pushes its way through all of the muck.42100:21:47,479 –> 00:21:49,500And eventually you see a little shoot just42200:21:49,500 –> 00:21:50,619peeping through the ground.42300:21:50,619 –> 00:21:53,079You say that’s amazing.42400:21:53,079 –> 00:21:55,800There’s life there.42500:21:55,880 –> 00:22:00,680Now you think of everything that is arrayed against your faith.42600:22:00,680 –> 00:22:04,520How come your faith survived all the unanswered42700:22:04,520 –> 00:22:07,959questions of your life?42800:22:07,959 –> 00:22:10,800How come your faith survived all the bitter disappointments42900:22:10,800 –> 00:22:13,400that you faced?43000:22:13,400 –> 00:22:16,319How come your faith survived all the exhausting struggles43100:22:16,319 –> 00:22:17,359that you’ve been through?43200:22:17,359 –> 00:22:20,400How come that at the end of all that you still43300:22:20,400 –> 00:22:25,119would have to say, I love Jesus Christ?43400:22:25,119 –> 00:22:27,079The amazing thing is not that your faith is weak,43500:22:27,079 –> 00:22:28,719but that it exists at all.43600:22:28,719 –> 00:22:31,939Begin here, there is only one explanation of your faith,43700:22:31,939 –> 00:22:34,579it is the gift of God.43800:22:34,579 –> 00:22:37,180It is the result of the prayers of Jesus43900:22:37,180 –> 00:22:40,400that has sustained it when all kinds of opposition44000:22:40,400 –> 00:22:41,739was dumped upon it.44100:22:41,739 –> 00:22:44,260And it is the ministry of the holy spirit44200:22:44,260 –> 00:22:46,579that has caused it to keep growing.44300:22:46,579 –> 00:22:48,540Well we’ve got to pause the message there,44400:22:48,540 –> 00:22:51,699but we’ll return to it in our next broadcast.44500:22:51,699 –> 00:22:54,979You’re listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.44600:22:54,979 –> 00:22:57,420And a message called Build yourself up.44700:22:57,420 –> 00:23:00,579Part of our series, keeping yourself in spiritual shape,44800:23:00,579 –> 00:23:03,239seven workouts for a healthy Christian life44900:23:03,239 –> 00:23:05,420based on the book of Jude.45000:23:05,420 –> 00:23:07,300If you never miss one of our broadcasts,45100:23:07,300 –> 00:23:08,420it’s easy to catch up,45200:23:08,420 –> 00:23:10,479by coming online to our website45300:23:10,479 –> 00:23:13,380openthebible.org.uk45400:23:13,380 –> 00:23:15,780Or going to your favorite podcast site,45500:23:15,780 –> 00:23:17,780searching for Open the Bible UK,45600:23:17,780 –> 00:23:19,579and there, you’ll find all the broadcasts45700:23:19,579 –> 00:23:21,939which have already gone out on air.45800:23:21,939 –> 00:23:24,540Open the Bible is able to stay on this station45900:23:24,579 –> 00:23:25,760and the Internet,46000:23:25,760 –> 00:23:27,520and available as a podcast46100:23:27,520 –> 00:23:29,619because of the generous financial support46200:23:29,619 –> 00:23:30,619of our listeners.46300:23:30,619 –> 00:23:32,479That’s people like you.46400:23:32,479 –> 00:23:34,939And if you already give to support the work,46500:23:34,939 –> 00:23:36,780Thank you so much.46600:23:36,780 –> 00:23:38,099If supporting Open the Bible46700:23:38,099 –> 00:23:40,199is something you’d like to start doing,46800:23:40,199 –> 00:23:43,219this month we’re delighted to offer a free gift.46900:23:43,219 –> 00:23:45,520Here’s Open the Bible’s Amanda Cunningham47000:23:45,520 –> 00:23:46,739to tell us about it.47100:23:46,739 –> 00:23:47,780Thanks David.47200:23:47,780 –> 00:23:50,359Yes, this month we are really excited47300:23:50,359 –> 00:23:52,859to give away Colin’s newest book47400:23:52,959 –> 00:23:54,319The Fontana Traveler47500:23:54,319 –> 00:23:56,280and the final book in the Fly and Drive series,47600:23:56,280 –> 00:23:58,319Hike Through the Bible.47700:23:58,319 –> 00:24:00,000It’s a 50-session journey47800:24:00,000 –> 00:24:02,280through the whole story of scripture,47900:24:02,280 –> 00:24:04,959like taking a guided hike with a pastor48000:24:04,959 –> 00:24:08,060who helps you see the Bible’s big picture.48100:24:08,060 –> 00:24:10,420Each chapter is short, clear48200:24:10,420 –> 00:24:13,300and includes simple reflection questions.48300:24:13,300 –> 00:24:15,800We’d love to send you a copy for free48400:24:15,800 –> 00:24:19,439when you set up a new direct debit of five pounds48500:24:19,439 –> 00:24:22,680or give a one-off gift of at least 50 pounds48600:24:22,680 –> 00:24:24,680to Open The Bible UK.48700:24:24,680 –> 00:24:26,839And as we head towards Christmas,48800:24:26,839 –> 00:24:29,459I think it would make a great treat48900:24:29,459 –> 00:24:31,780and would be a really encouraging way49000:24:31,780 –> 00:24:35,439to start the new year rooted in God’s Word.49100:24:35,439 –> 00:24:37,719But please don’t forget to leave your address49200:24:37,719 –> 00:24:40,260when you donate so that we can make sure49300:24:40,260 –> 00:24:42,640we’re able to post your gift.49400:24:42,640 –> 00:24:45,119Well, we’d love to send you Colin’s new book49500:24:45,119 –> 00:24:47,000when you set up a new direct debit49600:24:47,000 –> 00:24:49,880of five pounds per month or more49700:24:49,880 –> 00:24:53,599or a one-off gift of 50 pounds or more this month.49800:24:53,599 –> 00:24:56,599Full terms and conditions online at our website,49900:24:56,599 –> 00:24:59,300OpenTheBible.org.uk,50000:24:59,300 –> 00:25:01,479and you can give online.50100:25:01,479 –> 00:25:03,800Don’t forget to leave your name and address50200:25:03,800 –> 00:25:06,319so we can send you your gift.50300:25:06,319 –> 00:25:09,040For Open The Bible and Pastor Colin Smith,50400:25:09,040 –> 00:25:10,239I’m David Pink,50500:25:10,239 –> 00:25:13,099and I look forward to being with you again next time.50600:25:13,099 –> 00:25:15,540inspiring music50700:25:16,520 –> 00:25:19,900Is your faith at an all-time low?50800:25:19,900 –> 00:25:22,540Is your flame about to go out?50900:25:22,540 –> 00:25:26,040Do you sometimes wonder if you have any faith at all?51000:25:26,040 –> 00:25:29,979Find out what to do next time on Open the Bible.