October 30, 2015 – Jude 1:20-23

But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Jude 1:20-23Praying in the Holy Spirit — means the Holy Spirit motivates, enables and energizes our prayers.  (John Piper (http://www.desiringgod.org/messages/learning-to-pray-in-the-spirit-and-the-word-part-2).  Remember Genesis 1:2 –The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.  We receive this same Holy Spirit when we are baptized into Christ Jesus.And what are we to do?  We learn to believe, trust and pray.  Without totally believing God is the Creator of all we see, to the furtherest star, we do not trust Him.  We can trust God has the power to save us from a life of anger, misery and discontent when we believe Him.  We will learn to have mercy on those who doubt instead of condemnation.  God is sovereign, and we are responsible to follow Him. Through faith and trust we depend on Him for life of joy now and eternal life after we die.There is much evil around us, we are not to follow the culture of evil about us, but do what is good.  Why?  Whoever does good is from God.  We are a reflection of God’s love when we do what is good.  If we follow or condone evil – we have not seen God.  There are no areas filled with mist clouding our vision in our decision.  Good is from God.  Evil is not of God. Which will it be?Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. 3 John 1:11