Staying Strong When Others Give Up - Jude 1

Pastor Dan Walker, PhD, MDiv

Introduction: Staying Strong When Others Give up

Today’s message is called: Staying Strong When Others Give up. It’s part 6, the last message of our series in 1&2 Peter and Jude called Truth in a World of Lies. In August of 2017, hurricane Harvey hit the Texas Gulf Coast as a Category 4 storm.

Winds tore through neighborhoods, trees were ripped from the ground and buildings crumbled. Yet, near Rockport Texas, in Goose Island State Park, one tree stood its ground. It’s know simply as the Big Tree, a Texas Champion Live Oak that has stood for between 1000 to 2000 years.

While the storm destroyed nearly everything around it, this oak remained standing. Reporters, rangers and residents were stunned. How could it survive when so much else was demolished?

Here’s a picture of the Big Tree. The answer to the strength of the Big Tree lies underground. Over the centuries, the Big Tree has developed an enormous root system.

This root system anchors it deeply and broadly into the soil. That strength, built long before the storm and the 40 other known hurricanes it has survived, held it fast when all else gave way. That tree is more than a tourist attraction; it’s a picture of what spiritual life can look it.

Our spiritual lives can be rooted in something much deeper than emotion, culture or circumstances. The spiritual storms in our world are increasingly marked by confusion, moral compromise and outright rebellion against God. It’s easy for believers to feel overwhelmed, disoriented, or even discouraged.

Most of us know people who have strayed away from their faith in Jesus during the storms of life. We are not immune to drifting, doubting, or even departing from the faith. The danger is hearts growing cold, hope growing dim, and lives breaking under the pressure of life’s storms.

The answer to staying strong when others give up is to be like the Big Tree.

Jeremiah 17:7–8 (ESV) Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.

The one who trusts in the Lord doesn’t escape the storms of life, but he endures it. He stays fruitful in dry seasons and steady when pressure rises because his roots extend deep into God’s power by trusting Him.

Psalm 1:2–3 (ESV) But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

To stay rooted and grounded as the Big Tree, God encourages us to delight in reading, meditating on and following God’s Word. The person like this tree will continue to bear godly fruit and prosper in everything he does, as he stays strong.

Ephesians 3:17 (ESV) So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love.

Jesus lives in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, which roots and grounds us in His never failing love. This verse is describing a foundation strong enough to hold us through disappointment, temptation, and even heartbreak.

So, how do we become people like that, people who stand when others fall? The last verses in the book of Jude show us how. In just a few verses, Jude gives us everything we need to stay strong.

Even when our world feels like it’s falling apart. He reminds us that we do not have to hold ourselves up. God is keeping us, and He is able to make us stand strong as we stay rooted in Him.

Remember What God Has Already Said

Jude 17–18 (ESV) But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.”

The last time that this verse and others in the New Testament speak of is the time between Jesus’ resurrection and His return. So, both we are and Jude was living in the last time or last days. One of the characteristics of the last time is the rise of scoffers.

A scoffer is someone who ridicules, especially someone who treats serious spiritual truths with contempt or sarcastic unbelief. Scoffers seek to undermine the faith of believers and to advance the lies of Satan. Not only do they mock believers and their faith, they also follow ungodly passions.

There are numerous lists of ungodly passions in the New Testament that fall into six categories. Sexual immorality, selfish desires, relational corruption, substance-driven sin, idolatrous attachments and violent and destructive behavior. People who scoff at God’s truth and God’s people inevitably engage in ungodly passions.

So, as we look around us today in our world, we do see scoffers following ungodly passions of all kinds and their influence seems to be increasing. Why does Jude tell us to remember that God’s Word tells us this will happen? So we won’t panic or get discouraged when we see scoffers and their sin, including some who once professed to be believers.

This is not a surprise to God, nor to us. God has a plan and we as believers are part of that plan. When others give up on their faith, God wants to show us how to stay strong.

When we forget what God has said, we start reacting with anxiety or anger. But when we remember His Word, we anchor ourselves in God’s truth. God is not surprised, he is not overwhelmed and neither should we be.

Application: Let God’s Word Shape Your View

This week choose a verse from this message to meditate on, perhaps one about living like a tree planted by a stream of living water. Let God’s Word shape your view of the world, not the daily news. And don’t keep God’s truth to yourself.

Text a verse to someone who’s struggling. Share it with someone at work. When we help others remember what God has said, we find strength to stand together.

Resist Division by Living in the Spirit

Jude 19 (ESV) It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.

The word “these” in this verse refers to the scoffers with ungodly passions in the preceding verse. Now we learn, but shouldn’t be surprised, that these kinds of people cause divisions within churches. These scoffers may know and speak about God’s Word, but they are worldly people,

Their purpose is not to build God’s church but to divide and tear it down. They may even think that they are believers, but Jude says they are devoid of the Spirit, they are not true believers. They are wrong in belief, destructive in behavior and they seek to split churches.

Often times, they try to get people to follow their warped view of God’s Word. Satan sends these kinds of people to every biblical, Spirit-filled church to undermine it. For believers, this is a call for discernment.

Not everyone who sounds spiritual is Spirit-led. It’s also a call to unity. When we are Spirit-filled, we walk in love, peace and patience. We build bridges, not walls, we speak truth, but we do it in love.

Application: Promote Unity in the Church

If you become aware of someone in our church family who is constantly complaining about the church, it’s leaders or our teaching, you should let myself or Pastor John know. We will investigate and do what the Spirit leads us to. We may be able to help the divisive person better understand God’s truth.

God calls each one of us to live in the Spirit and to promote unity in the church. Before you react to someone who frustrates you this week, stop and pray, Holy Spirit lead my words and reaction to this person. Resist the temptation to divide with your words, your posts or your silence.

Take the first step to serve someone you’ve avoided. Start a conversation with someone you disagree with. The Spirit will give you wisdom to promote unity and draw others closer to Jesus.

Build Yourself Up and Pray Boldly

Jude 20–21 (ESV) 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.

Jude shifts from warnings about scoffers to action for us as believers. This is a call not just for us to hold the line, it’s a call to grow. We are called to build ourselves up in our faith.

Our faith is either growing or diminishing. We can’t coast, we must grow. How do we build ourselves up in our faith? We are to pray in the Holy Spirit, which often means to pray in tongues.

1 Corinthians 14:4a (ESV) The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself …

Prayer of all kinds is the key to building yourself up, to growing spiritually. Next, we must keep ourselves in the love of God, which means remaining in His presence, We keep ourselves in God’s presence by shunning sin and repenting quickly when we do sin.

Finally, we are to be eagerly waiting for Jesus’ return to this earth. For believers, we will receive His mercy and enter into the fullness of eternal life.

Application: Build Yourself Up in Faith

This week, commit to a daily time of prayer and God’s Word, if you aren’t already. If you already have that daily time with God, maybe God wants you to increase that time. God Word tells us to be praying continuously throughout the day, not just in our quiet times.

Perhaps God desires for you to find ways to remind yourself to pray during the day. Prayer with others is another important aspect of building ourselves up. If you’re not already involved, get involved with prayer at our Revival prayer meeting on Mondays at 7:30am or in one of our Life Groups.

As we draw near to God, He will strengthen us and draw near to us. Build yourself up and pray boldly.

Reach Out for Others with Mercy

Jude 22–23 (ESV) 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.

These verses encourage us to reach out to those who are struggling with their faith. Some people are doubting the reality of Jesus or His love for them. They need compassion and love, not just correction.

Others are heading for destruction, maybe being a scoffer. Prayer and the power of God can rescue anyone, snatching them before they plunge into hell’s fire. Yet others are caught in toxic sin and we must show mercy and forgiveness as we lead them back to Jesus.

Being careful that we do not fall into the enticing sin that they were led astray with.

Application: Reach Toward Someone Who Is Drifting

Think of someone in your life who’s drifting away from God. Maybe doubting, maybe diving into sin, maybe just getting too busy for church. This week take a step toward them.

Call, text, ask how they’re doing, listen more than you speak. Pray for and with them, pray for boldness and the right words to say. Maybe it’s time to confront a sin or simply sit with someone in their questions.

Don’t let fear keep you silent. You could be the hand that pulls someone back from the edge.

Rest in the God Who keeps You

Jude 24–25 (ESV) Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Jude closes not with pressure, but with praise. God is the One who keeps you. He is able, He is faithful, and He can keep you from stumbling.

He will present you blameless before His glory because of His forgiveness. He will present you with great joy. We’re not holding ourselves together, God is holding us.

He has the authority, He has the power, and He will finish what He started in you. He is our God, our Savior and our Lord. He alone is worthy of all glory, majesty, dominion and authority.

He has always been before time began, now and forever more.

Application: Thank God for How He’s Kept You

Jude is encouraging us to worship, not just at church, but in your home, your car or your quiet moments. Thank God specifically how He’s kept you. Write down one or two moments in your life when you could have fallen, but He held you up.

Then tell someone about it. Let your story be a testimony that God is able, even when we are not.

Conclusion: Rooted Deep Enough to Endure the Storm

At the beginning of this message, we talked about the Big Tree in Rockport, Texas A thousand year old oak that stood firm when Hurricane Harvey tore through the Gulf Coast. It didn’t survive because the storm was weak.

It survived because its roots went deep. It had spent years anchoring itself in something stronger than the winds that came against it. That’s the picture God gives us in His Word.

In a time when people are walking away from truth, when churches are splintering, and when pressure is rising on every side. God is not calling His people to blend in, break down, or bow out. He is calling us to stand when others give up.

And not just to stand still, but to stand strong. Rooted in truth, grounded in love and filled with the Holy Spirit. Jude gives us a clear and urgent call.

Remember what God has said is coming. Refuse to divide, Build yourself up in your faith. Pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourself in the love of God.

Show mercy to those struggling. And above all, rest in the One who is able to keep you from falling. So this week, act like someone anchoring deeply in God.

Don’t react to the storm, respond in the Spirit. Open God’s Word and let it stabilize you with God’s peace. Pray in the Spirit daily, both when you feel strong and when you feel weak.

Encourage someone who’s drifting. Speak life into someone who’s doubting. And give glory to the one who’s holding you up.

The storm may not be over, but because you are rooted in Christ, you will still be standing when it is.

📘 Continue the Journey

Reflect deeper and apply this week’s message with the Message Study Guide — perfect for personal devotions, family discussion, or your Life Group.

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