“Presented Faultless?”

Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place, Osoyoos

Pulpit Series Volume 19 Issue 40 December 27, 2009

The road to heaven is pretty safe.  There is potential danger, but God is there to protect and care for us. 

I have witnessed the sad fact that believers often suffer groundless apprehension.  I hope to encourage you today in the truth that the Lord wants us to concentrate on His powerful ability to keep us.

Some people are so worried by potential danger that they lose their joy. 

Turn with me to the letter of Jude - the benediction:   “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, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever, Amen.”  (verses 24&25)

Isaiah 35:3-10 (Message)

“Energize the limp hands, strengthen the rubbery knees.
Tell fearful souls, Courage! Take heart! God is here, right here, on His way to put things right, and redress all wrongs.”

He's on His way! He'll save you!  Blind eyes will be opened,
deaf ears unstopped, Lame men and women will leap like deer, the voiceless break into song. Springs of water will burst out in the wilderness, streams flow in the desert.  Hot sands will become a cool oasis, thirsty ground a splashing fountain. Even lowly jackals will have water to drink, and barren grasslands flourish richly.

There will be a highway called the Holy Road. No one rude or rebellious is permitted on this road. It's for God's people exclusively - impossible to get lost on this road. Not even fools can get lost on it.   No lions on this road, no dangerous wild animals - Nothing and no one dangerous or threatening. Only the redeemed will walk on it. The people God has ransomed will come back on this road.

They'll sing as they make their way home to Zion, unfading halos of joy encircling their heads, welcomed home with gifts of joy and gladness as all sorrows and sighs scurry into the night.”

Friends, God’s ability is much stronger than any potential danger.

He can keep you from stumbling.

If you are a true child of God, He will keep you from falling.  He says it over and over again.

John 6:39  “This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I shall lose nothing.”

I Peter 1:5  “Who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

I Corinthians 1:18  “Who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Philippians 1:6  “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

Psalm 145:14  “The Lord upholds all who fall, and raises up all those who are bowed down.” 

We are going to be presented faultless

because Jesus never stops

short of perfection.

The Savior is not going to present us dirty, barely alive.  He will keep us safe from falling and present us faultless. 

Romans 8:29&30  “For whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son…whom He called, He also justified…and whom He justified, these He also glorified.”

We will be glorified, faultless, without blame, presented before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, with exaltation.

Zephaniah 3:17  “He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you in His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

So don’t be afraid or worried, rather look at God’s ability to present you faultless.  When that sinks in, it will improve your quality of life and you will certainly praise God our Savior.

God, our God planned your salvation.  He worked it all out.

God’s influence, dominion and power is over all the universe, of which He is the

divine Author.

The smallest book in the Bible known as Jude, tells us about the attributes of God. 

The idea is this!  Let’s stand up and praise Him because our salvation is absolutely sure in Him.  He’ll keep us from falling.

If you trust in Jesus, this is a certain thing – God WILL keep you from falling.

Have a sense of your own weakness, but a belief in your safety.

By yourself, you cannot stand one minute, but since you’re in the Father’s hand, you can never perish and no one will be able to pluck you out of the Father’s hand.

The greatest thing you can do is to

put down your own self confidence

and trust in Jesus Christ.

Jude’s Benediction: (Message)

“But you, dear friends, carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the center of God's love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the unending life, the real life!

Go easy on those who hesitate in the faith. Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven.

And now to him who can keep you on your feet, standing tall in his bright presence, fresh and celebrating—to our one God, our only Savior, through Jesus Christ, our Master, be glory, majesty, strength, and rule before all time, and now, and to the end of all time. Yes.”