The great wall of China is an imposing structure. It was built to protect China from attacking enemies. When looking at it, we would expect that it would protect that portion of the country from attack. But the fact is that China has been invaded seven times across that wall. The failure is not the wall, but a failure of the gatekeeper to maintain his post. God can, and does, build a wall of protection around us. However, if we as the gatekeeper of our life do not maintain a diligent watch, that wall will fail to protect us.

The writer of Jude was writing to a people that had allowed Greek culture to infiltrate the doctrine of the Church to the point that many had begun to question the authenticity of the Gospel and the physical presence of Jesus on earth. He begins by reminding them of the faith they had received and that faith still makes a difference in their lives. Because of the gospel of Jesus, we are changed and do not live, talk, and think like the rest of the world. It is up to maintain our guard against the enemy. That begins with building on a solid foundation of faith. The writer tells them to pray in the Holy Ghost. It is that prayer life that builds that solid foundation.

The great wall of China is an imposing structure. It was built to protect China from attacking enemies. When looking at it, we would expect that it would protect that portion of the country from attack. But the fact is that China has been invaded seven times across that wall. The failure is not the wall, but a failure of the gatekeeper to maintain his post. God can, and does, build a wall of protection around us. However, if we as the gatekeeper of our life do not maintain a diligent watch, that wall will fail to protect us.

The writer of Jude was writing to a people that had allowed Greek culture to infiltrate the doctrine of the Church to the point that many had begun to question the authenticity of the Gospel and the physical presence of Jesus on earth. He begins by reminding them of the faith they had received and that faith still makes a difference in their lives. Because of the gospel of Jesus, we are changed and do not live, talk, and think like the rest of the world. It is up to maintain our guard against the enemy. That begins with building on a solid foundation of faith. The writer tells them to pray in the Holy Ghost. It is that prayer life that builds that solid foundation.

Our text is familiar and has been used many times in pulpits as a message of encouragement. Living for God is easy when times are good, but when times are tough, our human nature makes it much more difficult. John the Baptist was one of the greatest preachers there has ever been. John’s passion and boldness to speak the truth cost him his life. Some people think they have to hear from God every today. John was sitting in prison and had not heard from Jesus in some time. He began to doubt what he had heard from God much earlier in his life. John’s disciples go to Jesus and question if He is the one, or should they wait for another. Jesus’ simple reply is “Go tell John what you have seen.” John had the answer in the word he already had from God. When we cannot hear the voice of God, we have to rely on the last word we received. When we have that doubt and want to quit, we have to find comfort and encouragement in the Holy Ghost. The same John that preached so forcefully, asked “is this Him?” Even this John had doubt. John had a meaning an a purpose in his life. He was sent to prepare the way for Jesus. When we know the purpose for our life, we enjoy a confidence. When God removes the confusion, He replaces it with confidence.

Our text is familiar and has been used many times in pulpits as a message of encouragement. Living for God is easy when times are good, but when times are tough, our human nature makes it much more difficult. John the Baptist was one of the greatest preachers there has ever been. John’s passion and boldness to speak the truth cost him his life. Some people think they have to hear from God every today. John was sitting in prison and had not heard from Jesus in some time. He began to doubt what he had heard from God much earlier in his life. John’s disciples go to Jesus and question if He is the one, or should they wait for another. Jesus’ simple reply is “Go tell John what you have seen.” John had the answer in the word he already had from God. When we cannot hear the voice of God, we have to rely on the last word we received. When we have that doubt and want to quit, we have to find comfort and encouragement in the Holy Ghost. The same John that preached so forcefully, asked “is this Him?” Even this John had doubt. John had a meaning an a purpose in his life. He was sent to prepare the way for Jesus. When we know the purpose for our life, we enjoy a confidence. When God removes the confusion, He replaces it with confidence.

We all need someone to whom we can confess our secrets. But, no matter how close we may be to someone, there are some secrets that we do not tell others. Some people are trustworthy, and will never reveal a secret. Others cannot wait to tell what they know. The Bible tells us that when we repent, God takes our secrets and casts them into the sea of forgetfulness. God has the ability to forget past sins, but humans do not have that ability. We have all told things to God that we would not tell to anyone else. There are times when we have to get away and tell God a secret; most often that secret is how we have fallen short. The devil will remind us of all our failures, but God will not do that. When God forgives, it is forever forgiven. No matter how many times, we ask God for forgiveness, He will do it. Jesus came to heal the broken-hearted. Every broken heart represents a secret. The fact that there are things in life that we have not conquered, does not mean that God does not love us. We have become masters of disguise. We put on a good face and smile, but behind that smile is brokenness and guilt. God knows this and is here to forgive and love. God is about to reveal himself to us in a spectacular way. God knows where we are, and He knows when we touch Him. The woman with the issue of blood could not reach him, but He stopped and she was able to reach Him. Jesus stops for us so that we can reach Him. Jesus ask “Who touched me?” The crowd was thronging around Him, but He knew how to touch the one who needed him. God is able to heal people who have been bruised and hurt. He can heal from the things that we keep hidden way down inside us. If we confess these deep down hurts to Jesus, He can heal. He will heal us from the inside. That healing begins with forgiveness. This is not Jesus forgiving us, but we must forgive the one that hurt us. We will never get any further than we are now until we forgive. We may put on a good act, but the keeper of all secrets knows the truth. We trust God with our finances and our future, but there are some things that we hold back. We have to trust the keeper of all secrets

We all need someone to whom we can confess our secrets. But, no matter how close we may be to someone, there are some secrets that we do not tell others. Some people are trustworthy, and will never reveal a secret. Others cannot wait to tell what they know. The Bible tells us that when we repent, God takes our secrets and casts them into the sea of forgetfulness. God has the ability to forget past sins, but humans do not have that ability. We have all told things to God that we would not tell to anyone else. There are times when we have to get away and tell God a secret; most often that secret is how we have fallen short. The devil will remind us of all our failures, but God will not do that. When God forgives, it is forever forgiven. No matter how many times, we ask God for forgiveness, He will do it. Jesus came to heal the broken-hearted. Every broken heart represents a secret. The fact that there are things in life that we have not conquered, does not mean that God does not love us. We have become masters of disguise. We put on a good face and smile, but behind that smile is brokenness and guilt. God knows this and is here to forgive and love. God is about to reveal himself to us in a spectacular way. God knows where we are, and He knows when we touch Him. The woman with the issue of blood could not reach him, but He stopped and she was able to reach Him. Jesus stops for us so that we can reach Him. Jesus ask “Who touched me?” The crowd was thronging around Him, but He knew how to touch the one who needed him. God is able to heal people who have been bruised and hurt. He can heal from the things that we keep hidden way down inside us. If we confess these deep down hurts to Jesus, He can heal. He will heal us from the inside. That healing begins with forgiveness. This is not Jesus forgiving us, but we must forgive the one that hurt us. We will never get any further than we are now until we forgive. We may put on a good act, but the keeper of all secrets knows the truth. We trust God with our finances and our future, but there are some things that we hold back. We have to trust the keeper of all secrets

Sometimes we wonder why we are still here. We question what our purpose in being is. We are in a battle. This is not a physical battle, but a spiritual one. It might be easier if we battled the physical realm. A battle against unseen enemies seems impossible to endure. It is in this context, that Paul attempted to help Timothy in tonight’s text. From other writing, we can deduce that Timothy suffered from a sense of inadequacy. Paul reminds Timothy that he was not there by accident. God had placed, and positioned Timothy in his position for a purpose. God saw something in Timothy that was worthy of investing in him. Like Timothy, we are chosen. God chose us, positioned us, and prepared us for His purpose. We have been given a great trust. We may feel unworthy, and weak, but that does not come from God. Paul tells Timothy to use the prophecy and the word that has been spoken over his life as a weapon in the spiritual battle. All of the preaching, all of the prayers, and all of the words spoken over our life have prepared us for this moment. When the fear, uncertainty, and doubt come at us, God tells us to use the power that He as put in us to battle that opposition. We have a lifetime of God’s mercy, love, and blessing to draw from in our battle. The devil has no hope against these weapons.

Sometimes we wonder why we are still here. We question what our purpose in being is. We are in a battle. This is not a physical battle, but a spiritual one. It might be easier if we battled the physical realm. A battle against unseen enemies seems impossible to endure. It is in this context, that Paul attempted to help Timothy in tonight’s text. From other writing, we can deduce that Timothy suffered from a sense of inadequacy. Paul reminds Timothy that he was not there by accident. God had placed, and positioned Timothy in his position for a purpose. God saw something in Timothy that was worthy of investing in him. Like Timothy, we are chosen. God chose us, positioned us, and prepared us for His purpose. We have been given a great trust. We may feel unworthy, and weak, but that does not come from God. Paul tells Timothy to use the prophecy and the word that has been spoken over his life as a weapon in the spiritual battle. All of the preaching, all of the prayers, and all of the words spoken over our life have prepared us for this moment. When the fear, uncertainty, and doubt come at us, God tells us to use the power that He as put in us to battle that opposition. We have a lifetime of God’s mercy, love, and blessing to draw from in our battle. The devil has no hope against these weapons.

Most of us can quote the 23 Psalm by heart. In the third verse, David says “He Restoreth My Soul.” To restore something is to put something back to how it was; to make it as new. There is nothing more valuable, or important than a soul. When David wrote the 23 Psalm, there was something in his life that drew him away from the innocence of that shepherd boy. In the midst of that, David declares that “He Restoreth My Soul.” Living for God is not always a mountaintop experience. There are times in life that, like David, we need the Lord to restore our soul. Sometimes we need a blessing that lasts more than Sunday to Sunday. When He restores something in us, He gives us something that will last for an eternity. When God restores, He reminds us of the dream we had when we first came to God. In Daniel, King Nebekenezer had a dream that he needed to understand. None of his wise men could do it. Finally Daniel interpreted the dream. He could have made up the interpretation, but that would not have restored the dream. The world does not need a church that makes up the interpretation of the dream. The world needs to hear the truth to restore the dream of the gospel message.

Most of us can quote the 23 Psalm by heart. In the third verse, David says “He Restoreth My Soul.” To restore something is to put something back to how it was; to make it as new. There is nothing more valuable, or important than a soul. When David wrote the 23 Psalm, there was something in his life that drew him away from the innocence of that shepherd boy. In the midst of that, David declares that “He Restoreth My Soul.” Living for God is not always a mountaintop experience. There are times in life that, like David, we need the Lord to restore our soul. Sometimes we need a blessing that lasts more than Sunday to Sunday. When He restores something in us, He gives us something that will last for an eternity. When God restores, He reminds us of the dream we had when we first came to God. In Daniel, King Nebekenezer had a dream that he needed to understand. None of his wise men could do it. Finally Daniel interpreted the dream. He could have made up the interpretation, but that would not have restored the dream. The world does not need a church that makes up the interpretation of the dream. The world needs to hear the truth to restore the dream of the gospel message.