Prayer and Thoughts 2
Last Monday, we asked for prayer, and God answered! Thank you for helping and standing with us as we asked God for His advice.
This week, we want to give you a little hint at what is coming. In the book of Acts, we see men and women who were called up to the “Major Leagues” to present the gospel, to disciple other brethren in the faith, and to be about the work of Jesus Christ. Today, I stand to tell you that at Mill House Ministries, we are moving forward with this commissioning. Soon, we will be announcing a new platform and the outreach we will be taking. The Latter Days are upon us, the salvation and our Blessed Hope talked about in numerous scripture verses is imminent. And yet, I find myself drawing ever more to God’s Word and a burning desire to share and uplift the body of Christ.
I am reminded by the book of Jude in verses 20-23, that what we do matters. Read these simple three verses and realize the monumental declaration being made by Jude, the half-brother of Jesus Christ, “20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22 And on some have compassion, making a distinction; 23 but others save with fear, pulling [them] out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.”
Simply put, but not so simply understood or applied. Yet, this is why we must be about our studies of His word. This is why we are pressing forward with this new part of Mill House Ministries. Let’s explore this section of Jude together and see the richness of God’s calling for each of us right now.
Starting first with the very basic beginning, “Building yourself up”, how do we do this? Building on our faith is best done by serving, Proverbs 11:25b, “and he who waters will also be watered himself.” We have seen this happen just within our staff here at Mill House Ministries. Praying in the Holy Spirit is a cornerstone of what only born-again believers can do. The Holy Spirit is our representative of the Trinity with us right now, which we should not take in vain, but rather in gratitude and reverence. For the saved, John 14:19-31 is our guiding post on what the Holy Spirit is doing. It is a sign for us of our rebirth and adoption as sons and daughters of God, according to 1 John 3:24. For the unsaved, the Holy Spirit is the judgment, which we can clearly see in John 16.
Yet, Jude is not done there; he next brings light on what we as believers should be doing when it comes to others. Jude goes on to say, we need to keep ourselves in the love of God. To understand this challenge, we need to understand what love is, 1 John 5:3 “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” We need to be about what God has told us to do. The most basic and intrinsic occupation of a child of God is to follow His commands. To act like Him. John would go on to define this in a very actionable and observable way, 1 John 4:17-19, “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us.” There is no better way to help others than to love them as God loved us.
Jude continues to expound that we are to be looking for our redemption, for the Church, this is the Rapture. Jesus’ own words in John 14 and Revelation 3 identify this as a solid doctrine of the Church which we are to hold on to. It is this burning desire that keeps me focused on reaching as many people for the gospel of Jesus Christ as I can. To obey the Word and analyze each and every space in each and every verse. I hope this does the same for you. Finally, Jude helps us understand this as an eternal consequence that we should be rescuing those from the fiery clutches of death. This is our goal, and our desire, and why we are pressured each day to strive for Jesus in a manner worthy of His children. To be actively about His work, His love, and His will is beyond calculable and pure joy. Our hearts should be aligned with His heart. Personally, our goal needs to be His desire. Proverbs 13:19 states, “a desire accomplished is sweet to the soul.”
This is why we are pushing forward and will be announcing very soon a monumental change coming to Mill House Ministries. Once again, thank you for your prayers. Until next time, remember to be in His Word and ask Him for guidance.
Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,
JL