The Battle is the Lord’s – Part 1

Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. 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.

Introduction

Sermon Title: “The Battle is the Lord’s – Part 1”

Preacher: Dr. Terry LeQuieu

This sermon introduces a short miniseries through the book of Jude. Dr. LeQuieu sets the scene from the opening verses of Jude: the author identifies himself as a servant of Jesus Christ and issues a solemn charge—believers must “earnestly contend for the faith.” Jude intended to remind Christians of the “common salvation,” but a deeper urgency compelled him: the church must be warned and prepared because false teachers and worldly drift threaten the truth once delivered to the saints. This message calls believers to know their position in Christ, recognize the enemy’s work, and to respond with submission, study, and steadfastness.

Go to the book of Jude. It’s the second to last book of your Bible. So go to the end of your Bible revelation. It’s the book right before it, the book of Jude. Once you get there, go ahead and stand with me. We’re going to do a little miniseries on this book. Got a few messages we’re going to bring out of it. Jude. There’s only one chapter, so Jude one. I’m going to read a couple of verses here and then we will pray.

Outline

Position of the Disciple
1. Servant — Jude calls himself “the servant of Jesus Christ.” True Christian identity is humble service. Jesus set the example in John 13 by washing feet; believers are called to serve without seeking prominence. Serving unseen tasks for God’s glory builds spiritual maturity and keeps our focus “for the audience of one.”
2. Spiritual Partner — Believers are brothers and sisters in Christ. The Christian life is not solitary; the church is a family where burdens are shared, discipleship occurs, and the body strengthens individual members.
3. Sanctified — Christians are set apart. Salvation is not only deliverance to heaven but also being made vessels for the Master’s use. Sanctification implies purpose: God prepares and fits us for service.
4. Preserved in Jesus Christ — God’s strong power keeps and sustains believers. The idea of preservation emphasizes that God prepares work for us and preserves us until we are ready to perform it in His timing.
5. Called — Sovereign purpose: God has called us. His call carries a plan and purpose which we obey by faith even when we do not see the full picture.
6. Secured Promises — Mercy, peace, and love are daily provisions from God and are to be multiplied in the believer’s life; they are not one-time gifts to be hoarded but blessings to be lived out and shared.
Portrait of a Deceiver
1. Reason for Warning — Jude felt compelled to write because false teaching and moral drift threatened the faith “once delivered unto the saints.” When truth is neglected, error gains ground.
2. Defense against Deceivers — To defend the faith we must adopt practical disciplines (submit, study, show, stand, and share).
3. Submit to the Faith — Contending requires submission to God’s revealed truth, trusting God rather than human wisdom. Contenders for the faith are not proud, self-confident fighters but humble followers of God who trust His Word.
4. Study the Faith — Read, memorize, meditate, and rightly divide Scripture. A well-studied Christian can discern error and teach truth (see 2 Timothy and 1 Timothy on study and faithful handling of Scripture).
5. Show the Faith — Faith must be visible in life. If Christians behave like the world, they lose their witness. We are called to be different “on purpose”—epistles read by men.
6. Stand for the Faith — Courageous fidelity matters. Many will test you; some will reject you. Standing alone may happen, but the charge is to be faithful regardless of popularity. “If you’re not willing to stand alone, you’re not going to stand for long.”
7. Share the Faith — Evangelism both honors God’s mercy and strikes at the enemy. The devil is most angered by a Christian willing to give the gospel away—so be faithful to witness.
Paradox of a Deceiver
1. They appear like disciples — Deceivers often imitate true believers, wearing religious language while subverting doctrine. The church must be vigilant and equipped to discern.
2. They produce decay — Where the watchmen fail, false teaching sneaks in and the church loses its moorings. Jude warns that the faith must be defended before it slips away.
Penalty of a Deceiver
1. Spiritual harm — Deceivers lead souls astray and cause believers to fall into sin and error. The long-term penalty is loss of purity, testimony, and sometimes even eternal consequences for those they mislead.
2. Communal damage — Church witness is weakened. When truth is compromised, the faith that was once delivered fades from public confession and practice.
Priorities of a Disciple
1. Preserve doctrine — Teaching and preaching must faithfully echo “thus saith the Lord.” Believers must prioritize Bible truth over cultural acceptance.
2. Practice holiness — Personal life must reflect the doctrines one defends. Holiness validates truth.
3. Proclaim the gospel — Mercy, peace, and love are to be multiplied by proclamation and compassionate witness to a lost world.
Peace of a Disciple
1. God’s peace sustains obedience — The peace which passeth all understanding accompanies faith-filled steps. Though we may not always see the full picture, God’s peace confirms His leading.
2. Mercy fuels outreach — Because God withheld judgment from us, we must be merciful to others and patient in evangelism; conversions often require repeated opportunities.
3. Love overcomes fear — Perfect love casts out fear; the Spirit-filled believer can love sacrificially and face opposition without fear.

Summary

Jude’s brief epistle begins with a precise reminder of the believer’s identity: sanctified, preserved, called. From that strong foundation comes a sober command—to “earnestly contend for the faith.” Dr. LeQuieu emphasizes that contention is not carnal quarrel but a disciplined, vigorous defense of truth by servants who submit, study, show, stand, and share the faith. The church must recognize deceivers who mimic disciples yet erode doctrine and morality. God’s promise of mercy, peace, and love multiplies in the lives of those who trust and obey Him; these gifts equip us to fight the battles God has given to us to fight. Ultimately, the call is clear: every Christian must choose daily whether to live for God’s truth or to drift with the world.

Listen, I understand the Bible tells us in second Timothy, chapter four, verse number two, to preach the Word and to be instant in season and out of season. And there are going to be times where preaching of the Word of God is going to be popular. And there’s going to be times when the preaching of the Word of God is not going to be popular. But it doesn’t matter if it’s popular or if it’s not popular. We’ve got to contend for the faith and we’ve got to do it earnestly.

Application for the Week

Make this week a practical step toward earnestly contending for the faith. Below are specific, attainable actions for individuals, couples, and families. Choose several and be consistent.

Submit to the Faith — Begin each day this week with a 5–10 minute prayer: confess dependence on Christ and ask for humility to be a servant. Write down one area where you must yield to God’s authority (speech, entertainment, work ethic) and surrender it to Him.
Study the Faith — Read Jude 1 slowly each day this week. Memorize verses 3 and 20–21 (if your KJV Bible has those verses; otherwise commit verse 3). Use a reliable KJV study Bible or the preached messages on your church’s website to look up cross-references: 2 Timothy 4:2, John 13 (servanthood), Philippians 4:7 (peace).
Show the Faith — Identify one practice that needs to change to better reflect Christianity at home or work. Act on it this week—remove a worldly TV show, set limits on social media, or choose a clean conversation topic when tempted to gossip.
Stand for the Faith — Prepare a short, gracious testimony (60 seconds) of why you trust Christ. Share it with one person by phone, text, or in person this week. If you face opposition, practice responding with truth and love rather than anger.
Share the Faith — Invite one unchurched friend, neighbor, or coworker to a church event, outreach, or small group meeting. If they decline, pray for them daily and look for another opportunity; remember Jude’s call to show mercy in patience.
Multiply Mercy, Peace, and Love — Each day do one intentional act: show mercy by letting a small offense go, offer peace through a calming word to someone stressed, show love by serving an unmet need (meal, childcare, encouragement).
Be Accountable — Find a spiritual partner and agree to meet or message twice this week about progress. Encourage one another to continue studying, serving, and sharing. Accountability helps prevent drifting.

Finally, decide now: will you contend for the faith God delivered to you? Pray, prepare, and proceed. The battle belongs to the Lord, but He calls you to stand and fight in His strength.