Contend For The Faith

John 15:1-6

1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

It is God’s intent to raise up Christ and manifest Him to the world. Before He can do that, He must prune the vine because God will not allow personalities to be raised up with Christ. If He did then the world would see imperfections in Christ and there are no imperfections in Christ. We need to take inventory of our own life because God is cutting away all who will not walk in the fullness of Christ. Some insist in walking in sin and have taken a posture of pride in doing so. At one time, there was an urgency to repent but now there is a nonchalant attitude.

We walk in pride and lust and are oblivious to the fact that we are forcing God’s judgment against us. It is time for use to come out of sin! Not only should we come out of oblate sin, such as fornication and adultery, but also God wants us to let go of the secret sins that we hold in our hearts. God is on the move and He is calling those who will follow. If we refuse to walk in truth, then God will not even allow those who are in sin to move with the ministry. The decision is ours. God is faithful to warn us that destruction is coming. He desires that none of us be lost, but it is up to us whether we will follow Him or continue to flaunt our sin before Him. We have to realize that we are only men, and God is God. With all that we allow in our minds; thoughts that we have about ourselves, we are still only men. We are nothing but an organization of flesh and bones with breathed in knowledge created by an Almighty God. But our minds will not even allow us to fathom that after all that we do, we will still have to stand before God as a man, His creation.

So just like He created us, He can destroy us. Some are beginning to believe the image they have built of themselves in their mind. The man who they see in the mirror, the warrior, the man who is all that, is just as far from God as living in a backslidden state. It will be a sad day when God visits such a one, because He comes to destroy this flesh. The truth is designed to come against everything that exalts itself above God, and it will make the flesh mad. God is reminding us that tomorrow is not promised. We may think we have our whole life ahead of us, but we are not promised the next second. We would have planned all that we want to do in this life, and man may pat us on the back while doing it, but what if God said no? The devil has deceived some and caused them to believe nothing is wrong because no one is dealing with the fact that they are on their way to hell. The new school in the church has lost its reverence and respect for God. But the fear of the Lord will once again be in the church. This is not a catchall church. Young people, if you do not want to respect the leaders in your life, this is not the ministry for you. We are going to be the church of the script. We will be a righteous church. Ask yourself: If you do not want to be Holy, If you do not want to see God’s face in peace, If you do not want someone to watch for your soul… WHY ARE YOU HERE? No, we are not saying that we have always been clean and holy before God, but one thing is true, our heart toward God has never moved. Our first love is still Jesus Christ. We may have bumped our head or showed our nakedness, but our hearts have never changed. When God is speaking to us, it is important not to be found among the hard-hearted and stiff-necked. We never know if this might be our last time that He might call us. If He is talking so strong, it just might be. The separation between those who are in the Spirit and those in the flesh is obvious now. Where will you be found? King James Version;

Jude1:3

3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that YE SHOULD EARNESTLY CONTEND FOR THE FAITH which was once delivered unto the saints.

The Amplified Bible

Jude 1:3

3 Beloved my whole concern was to write to you in regard to our common salvation. But I found it necessary and was impelled to write you and urgently appeal to and EXHORT YOU TO CONTEND FOR THE FAITH which was once for all hardened down to saints [the faith which is that sum of Christian belief which was delivered verbal to the holy people of God.

We must contend for the Faith. But if you do not know what God wants for the church, you cannot. We might gripe to God about our faults and our failures of yesterday, but God is saying Contend Now! God wants us to rely solely on Him. We have no time to wait for all our yesterdays to pass away, or for people to forget about our past, God wants us to contend now, simply because we remember His will for the church. People get mad if you tell them that they are off-course, but the standard of God has never changed, we have just not applied it. If the standard of holiness was good enough for the old school, then it is good enough for the church of today and it is our responsibility to ensure that the standard of God does not fall to the ground. The truth now cannot be watered down for our own personal preferences; “I didn’t like how she said that to me”, or “His spirit was wrong when he told me that”, or “He is so religious”, or “That was not even God”. Moving out of submission to your leaders who have been given charge over your life is NOT GOD!

With all this judgment of others we have to examine our lives and see, what have we done with our salvation? Where is the sanctioning of our ministry? The devil has set up camps in the ministry now. A camp over here and a camp over there, campaigning against the life called Christ. Some of our young women have just decided to be whores, in spite of what they know or how they were raised. Some of our guys have just decided to be thugs, or to be sneaky about what they are doing. But let me bring you back to remembrance of when M.S.O.G. first moved to Leesburg. The whole church was on one accord. When we would go on the streets, we had a testimony in the communities, based on the Spirit that was in the church. But the enemy was watching and waiting even as we walked in the Spirit and allowed Christ to live through us. The enemy is very patient and was determined that he would wait until we got weary to expose what was in our hearts, so instead of delivering people on the streets, the ministers were the ones needing to be delivered. Those who are versed in the Word expect us to counsel them over and over when they have already decided to go against it in their hearts, NO!

Galatians 4:7-9

7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.

9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

Young people, you have to make your own decision in your hearts and that is the end of that. There are too many followers who will follow anything. There needs to be those who will lead! God needs men and women who will not follow those who are in the world and pick up any fad and call it cool. If you must follow something, follow someone who is making something of his or her lives in God. Why would we, as sons of God, go and find those who are beneath us, the unclean just to be “cool”? The devil is making a fool of you and you do not even realize it.

You are now leaving cleanliness, to return to the things of the world. If you do not want to be holy, you might as well leave, because if you stay, then you will be hurt and embarrassed sometimes, but that is what the Word is designed to do. We confront because we love. If we love you, then we will tell you the truth. We will never let your soul go to hell just for the sake of keeping the peace. If you really love someone you will want his or her soul to be saved. We should be able to respect truth no matter how it comes. If it comes through the wrong spirit or attitude but it is the truth, accept it. The only reason we would not tell the truth is because we want something from the person or the relationship. I do not have that problem. It is easy for me to tell the truth because I want nothing. It is a waste of time to try and please those who have no heaven or hell to put you in.

Luke 16:19-31

19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,

21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.

26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:

28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Just as the rich man, we need not be concerned at the personage that might come to us, but we need to view every person we encounter as purposed of God. We may never consider a simple beggar as sent by God and might reject him, but hell is filled with people who rejected God’s hand in everyday people. But what we might not discern is that God might be giving us one last chance. You might be witnessing the persecution of the servant of Christ for your sake. You might not realize but God has His leaders in your life for you. It is needful for the servants of the Lord to suffer on this side so that others might get a chance to embrace God. So when our suffering is over then we can look and see that it cannot compare to the glory God has prepared for us.

Romans 8:18

18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

You never have to accept those whom God has placed in your life, but will you repent before your God? The leaders might look weak and beggarly because you decided to do what you want to do regardless of their counsel, but what you do not realize is that just like the rich man and Lazarus died in the same day; we all must leave this world. But when we leave this world, what will be our final destination?

John 6:39-40

39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

God does not desire that you go to hell. It will not make us happy if you lose your life and go to hell. That is why we will contend for your life. We will keep knocking and keep praying. But if you do not change, it is not going to be our wish that we determine your fate, it will be between you and God. But the bad part is that our love will now become a testimony against you. You might want to say that God did not come to you, but God will say yes He did, through all those He placed in your life. Time and time again God came to meet you, but you were given over to another god. God gave us one last chance of repentance, but what will we do with it?

1 John 1:9

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Isaiah 57:14-18

14 And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.

15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

16 For I will not contend forever, neither will I be angry always, for [if I did stay angry] the spirit [of man] would faint and be consumed before Me, and [My purpose in] creating the souls of men would be frustrated.

17 Because of the iniquity of his [Judah's] covetousness and unjust gain I was angry and smote him. I hid my face and was angry, and he went on turning away and backsliding in the way of his [own willful] heart.

18 I have seen his [willful] ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him also and will recompense him and restore comfort to him and to those who mourn for him.

The Amplified Bible

Isaiah 57:14-18

14 And the word of one shall go forth, Cast up, cast up, prepare the way! Take up the stumbling block out of the way [of the spiritual return] of My people.

15 For thus says the high and lofty one--He Who inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, but with him also who is of a thoroughly penitent and humble

16 For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.

17 For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart.

18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners. spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the thoroughly penitent [bruised with sorrow for sin].

Matthew 5:3

3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Isaiah 61:1

61 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

We can change the course of our life with one act of repentance. We can live our whole lives in darkness, but if in one moment we choose God, and decide to TURN AROUND, then all our sin is forgotten. God wants us to know that the solution is so easy. All we have to do is turn around. We do not have to try and go and straighten things out with man before we go to God, all we have to do is turn around in our heart and go to God. God does not seek to establish man as being a turning point in Him. He wants us to know that all we have to do is come to Him and turn from our wicked ways. Why would we want to sacrifice our peace with God just for the sake of holding our pride, and position in sin? With God we do not have to go through a period of not talking, or God being upset with us as we do in natural relationships. All He wants us to do is lay down our pride and keep going on.

Why do we play with our soul? Young people, it is time for us to repent. When God came to make the separation between those who are walking in the Spirit and those who are walking after the flesh, were you found walking among the dead? We already know that we are off, so we need not continue to walk in our pride. God is the only one who really matters in this life and the next so that is who we need to seek to please. This is a very serious time and we need to repent. We need to do more than acknowledge our wrongs. We need to turn away from our sins, because God is moving on and we wish that no one be left behind.

Apostle Michael Thomas