CHARACTERISTICS OF A CHRISTIAN WORKER

Jude 1:20-23

Morning Meditation 9/1/15

Jude 1:20-23, "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."

Let's look at some of the characteristics given in these verses of the Christian worker.

HE BUILDS HIMSELF UP IN THE FAITH

What we call the "new birth" is not the end of salvation. It is the beginning. When one is born in the family of God, he must immediately be fed and cared for that he might grow. 1 Peter 2:1-2, "Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:" There are some steps suggested in these verses.

1. There must be a laying aside the things that will hinder Christian growth. This is what Peter tells them in verse 1: "Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings," The words "put off" is used for taking off clothes. It is an aorist middle participle. The aorist tense refers to taking off the things mentioned here in a once-for-all act. The middle voice is where the subject participates in the act of removing and benefits from the result..

2. There needs to be the recognition that one is a babe and must grow into adulthood. The spiritual life is likened to the physical life for purposes to illustrating. One cannot leave a babe unattended. The babe must be cared for and milk is the first food that a babe is given.

3. There must be an effort on the part of this spiritual babe in the growth process. First, he must desire the sincere milk of the word that he might grow.

4. The "babe in Christ" puts forth an effort in the process of growth. The one who feeds the "babe" the sincere milk of the word should not have to run him down every time at feeding time. If he has no appetite, then the new life in Christ is non existent. The appetite for the word of God is one of the first signs of existence of new life. 1 John 4:6 says, "We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error."

THE NEXT CHARACTERISTIC IS THAT HE PRAYS IN THE HOLY GHOST

Praying in the Holy Ghost is not prayer in an unknown tongue. 1 Corinthians 14:16, "Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?"

Praying in the Holy Ghost is being helped in prayer by the Holy Ghost. Romans 8:26-27, "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God."

Praying in the Holy Ghost is praying in harmony with the Holy Spirit inspired Word of God. The Holy Spirit will have nothing to do with self-will.

Praying in the Holy Ghost is prayer that is answered. 1 John 5:14-15, "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him."

HE WILL BE CHARACTERIZED BY A BURDEN FOR THE LOST

Jude 1:23, "And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh."

Every unsaved man is only one heart-beat out of hell. When we are won to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ that event is called by Jude as "pulling them out of the fire."

HE WILL BE CHARACTERIZED BY ASSURANCE OF SALVATION

Jude 1:24, "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,"

May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Bro. White