Disclaimer:
Due to the large amount of sermons and topics that appear on this site I feel it is necessary to post this disclaimer on all sermons posted. These sermons are original to the author and the leading of the Holy Spirit. While ideas and illustrations are often gleaned from many sources including those at Sermoncentral.com, any similarities and wording including sermon title, that may appear to be the same as any other sermon are purely coincidental. In instances where other minister’s wording is used, due recognition will be given. These sermons are not copyrighted and may be used or preached freely. May God richly bless you as you read these words. It is my sincere desire that all who read them may be enriched. All scriptures quoted in these sermons are copied and quoted from the Authorized King James Version of the Holy Bible.
Pastor James May
GOD’S WORDS TO HIS CHURCH
Camp Meeting
Jude 1:17-25, "But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen."
Tonight I have a very different sermon than that of last night. All day long I prayed and sought God for the words to say to His Children on this night, the end of our Camp Meeting. I searched the Bible from cover to cover, almost page by page and it seemed that there was no message that God was speaking to me to bring to you.
In a corner of the Bible “so to speak”, from the small Book of Jude, God began to speak to my heart to bring you this Word tonight. As I read these verses, the Spirit of God began to speak to my heart. It was as though I could feel thee very love of God as He was reaching out to His children in such compassion and with such tenderness.
God was giving His simple seal of approval, His closing remarks and His exhortation to the church body and to each of you individually. I shall endeavor to present to you, in the best manner possible, the thoughts that God has given me. This shall not be a shouting, fiery message, but one of purest love and most sincere encouragement to us all.
Remember the teachings of your Pastors, teachers and those of the Apostles throughout the New Testament concerning our Lord Jesus Christ!
Jesus is our Savior, Our Lord, Our Master, Our Elder Brother, Our Counselor, our Prince of Peace and so much more that we could never speak of all that He is.
Jesus ever has compassion and is ever reaching out in love to those who would only take His hand and receive the great gift of salvation.
He never drove away any who would come to Him in faith, in need of healing, deliverance or salvation. His hands are always extended.
2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
All too often we preachers are guilty of looking for something to beat our congregation over the head with. I think that sometimes God just wants to love His kids. He wants to draw us nearer to His bosom like a little child.
I sense in my spirit right now that God is drawing us near to Him. Just as we look into the face of our small children with such tender loving care and our desire is to do so much for them, that’s the way God is right now.
Jesus went to an old rugged cross, allowed those soldiers to nail his hands and feet to the heavy wooden beams and suffered the agonies of that long, terrible carnage for one purpose.
That purpose was not to send the rod of correction, even though the rod is sometimes needed. That single purpose was to pay the price for our sin. We could not approach Him with our black heart so He came to us and made it possible for our heart to be washed as white as snow.
Jesus went back into Glory and is now our intercessor before the Father. All power in Heaven and Earth is given to Him. The Comforter, the Holy Spirit, has come to us now and He is leading us line upon line, precept upon precept to become more like Jesus.
The Words of the Apostles also carry a warning to each of us!
Just as Job said in the Old Testament in Job 14:1, "Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble,” so we must be prepared for the days ahead.
Regardless of what any religious organization, religious leader or secular leader may say, this world is not going to get better. Satan has only a short time to complete his work and we need to expect troubles, persecution, opposition and even the possibility of laws from Congress that will adversely affect our ministry.
Luke 17:26-29, "And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all."
The Word of God as given through the Apostles lets us know what the end of all things will be like. We should be prepared and looking for the Coming of the Lord because it won’t be long before Jesus comes back to take his Bride away from this earthly realm to be with Him in Glory.
Oh how we long for that glad day when we shall all see Him coming in the clouds of Glory and that day when we shall all be changed into our glorious bodies, clothed in garments of righteousness and ready for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
Let those who want to walk after their own lusts do their worst. We will overcome because Jesus lives within us. Sin has no power over us when we walk after the Spirit.
The church and world seem to be on a course of compromise with one another, but the true church, the Body of Christ, will be holy, pure, without spot or blemish because God will give us His righteousness if we maintain a heart of repentance and seeking after Him.
While the worldly church and churchy world seem to be coming together quickly, I can also see the True Church as it begins to separate itself from the ways of the world.
We cannot compromise holiness, righteousness and living a sanctified life because the Bible has not changed. God’s Word still says in Hebrews 12:14, "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:"; in 2 Corinthians 7:1, "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."; in 1 Thessalonians 4:7, "For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness."
God still wants us to “come out from among them and be separated unto Him”.
The word that God wants you to hear is found in verses 20 & 21 of Jude’s writings.
Build yourself in the most holy Faith!
How can you build yourself in the faith? – through fellowship – through prayer – through study of the Word of God – through the gathering of yourselves together with those of like precious faith – through the hearing of the Word as it is preached – through listening for and obeying the Voice of God and learning to let the Holy Spirit lead you into the paths of righteousness.
Praying in the Holy Ghost is allowing the Holy Spirit to talk to God through the Spirit within you. Praying in the Spirit will allow the Holy Spirit to speak things to God that we, as mortal human beings, cannot voice to God. He knows what we need even more than we do.
Doing all of these things with consistency and persistency will build your faith!
Guard Your Love for Jesus!
Don’t allow the cares of life and the tricks of the devil to come between you and your Lord. Allow God’s love to grow within your heart. Ever reach out to Jesus, giving Him your time and your life as your love grows.
Remember that it is the Mercy of God that has brought salvation to you and nothing else.
Thank God for His great mercy and the gift of eternal life.
How should we relate to the lost, the hurting, those that fail, and to one another?
We are to have compassion and make a difference in their lives. How can you make a difference? What can one person do?
The story of the starfish on the seashore comes to mind:
An older gentleman was walking along the seashore one day in the hot sun. As he walked he was sweating profusely and seemed to be in a hurry! Every few steps he would bend over, pick up a starfish from the hot, burning sands and cast it back into the cool waves. One after another, after another, after another he would pick the starfish up and cast them into the water. Some would come back to the hot sand as the waves washed them back in while most would eventually go into the deeper waters of safety.
A young man came along, after having watched this for a while and told the old man, “You are wasting your time and energy. There are thousands of starfish on the sand, what difference can you possibly make?”
The old man seemed to ignore this younger man. He simply bent over picked up another starfish and threw it into the water. As he quickly moved on to the next one, the old man turned to the younger man and said, “Well, it sure made a difference for that one didn’t it!”
Always try to help whoever you can in any way you can. The Bible says that when we entertain, or care for strangers, that we could be taking care of angels instead.
The most important thing we can do is reach out to the lost!
Even if it means putting the fear of God into them by telling them of the things that are coming upon the earth – whatever it takes – we are to try to reach the lost for Christ.
Never forget that those who do not know Jesus will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire.
We must hate the sin blighted fleshly world around us for it is the enemy of God! Keep yourself unspotted from sin.
Finally, in verse 24 & 25, we are encouraged to hold on to Jesus, put our faith in His ability to keep us in His hands, and keep us free from sin and clothed in His righteousness bought by His own blood.
Jesus watches over us with such joy, such pride in us, and so great a desire to be with us. We should feel the same toward Him. TO GOD BE GLORY!
My message is simple, yet powerful! GOD LOVES YOU!
DO YOU KNOW AND LOVE HIM? HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED SALVATION?
