Jude provides three examples of past judgments inflicted by the holy Lord God so the Lord's people may know how serious is false doctrine and how condemnable those who preach it within the assemblies of God's people.

Jude gives Christ's church three characteristics to identify the ungodly men who have crept into the church with their errors and evil conduct. They corrupt the grace of God. They deny the Lord God. They deny the efficacy of the work of Christ. Mark those men and earnestly contend for the truth.

Jude’s message for the Lord’s people is an instruction to contend for the truth against those who would deny the doctrine and teaching of our common salvation once delivered to the saints by the Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles.

God’s mercy, peace and love are everlasting and constant to His people in Christ. Nevertheless, Jude knows we often fail to enjoy and lay hold upon these truths because our faith is weak and falters. Therefore, Jude prays that new and fresh applications of these three graces be granted and multiplied that Christ’s people may be helped through their Christian pilgrimage.

David knew the Lord was his Shepherd and trusted that the Good Shepherd would protect and preserve him in life and in death. He knew that with Christ by his side he had nothing to fear in the valley of the shadow of death.

David knew the Lord was his Shepherd and trusted that the Good Shepherd would protect and preserve him in life and in death. He knew that with Christ by his side he had nothing to fear in the valley of the shadow of death.

Isaiah preached the Lord Jesus Christ to his Old Testament congregation of faithful believers; a remnant people. He preached judgment for sin, grace for sinners and the glories of the Saviour Jesus Christ. We thank the prophet for His faithful testimony. We thank His Lord for so great salvation.

Man's reason causes him to imagine he knows how to pleased God. It gives him a false notion of holiness. Christ's coming was a new beginning for all those called to faith in Him. We are accepted in Christ and made perfect and holy in the Lord.

Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ ask their Saviour and Deliverer for many things to help, comfort and protect us from the troubles of life. However, sometimes our troubles bring us most good by exercising our faith and drawing us closer to the Lord. The Lord will rend the heavens and come down but it may not be in the way we desire or for the outcome that we ask.

God the Father has ‘made us meet’ to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints. Paul could not describe sovereign grace better. From eternal love, election, justification, calling, and all other graces, God supplies every requirement to fit His people for glory. Our Lord Jesus Christ has set us free from the power of sin and Satan. He has delivered us from the power of darkness. This liberating work of God will be the focus of our attention in the sermon tomorrow.

The Lord Jesus Christ was a victim in death but also a conqueror. In dying the Saviour entered the strong man’s house and spoiled His goods. He triumphed over sin, Satan, world, death, and the grave. He defeated every spiritual enemy of His and ours, especially the devil, who leads men captive at his will. Christ spoiled and triumphed over Satan, with principalities and powers, leading captivity captive. Though Satan bruised Christ’s heel, Christ crushed the serpent’s head.

Almighty God has placed watchmen upon the walls of Zion and preachers in the church of Jesus Christ. These watchmen and preachers defend and support the Lord's people by preaching the truths of God's word, the gospel of Jesus Christ and the doctrines of free and sovereign grace.

When the Lord Jesus came into this world He told the people of Nazareth that He was the One of whom Isaiah wrote. The Lord Jesus has fulfilled all the promises Isaiah foretold He would. We are blessed with beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of salvation and a robe of righteousness in our Saviour.

If we take the opening words of this chapter as being spoken by God the Father to the Lord Jesus Christ in His mediatorial office then we can discern many times when the Lord did indeed Arise and Shine in the service of God and in obedience to His word.

Isaiah knew of the coming Redeemer. He knew a lot about the promised Messiah who is the Lord Jesus Christ. In this chapter the faithful prophet encouraged the remnant people of His age with views of the coming Messiah that described His successful work.

Isaiah speaks of the fastings of the Lord’s people as a picture of worship. The worship sought by the Lord is not exclusive, inward-looking and self-serving. It is to be manifested in outward acts of kindness to those in need. Evidence of grace in the lives of God’s people is to show mercy to others. The Lord Jesus Christ tells His church, ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven’.

Sin is a disturbing, distressing and ultimately destroying enemy of men and women. There is no rest for the wicked, and no real peace in time or in eternity. The Lord Jesus Christ alone can supply the grace needed to bring peace into the lives of men and women because the Lord has made peace with God for all for whom He died. Christ inherited the people God chose for Himself in eternity. He shall gather them to Himself in time through the preaching of the gospel. He promises His elect, I will heal, I will guide, I will comfort, I will inspire, I will console.

God's blessings come to those who have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We are united with our brothers and sisters in Christ and enabled to worship with joy and gratitude for all the Lord has done for us. We are blessed to be cared for, loved, accepted and protected by our Lord God.

The Lord Jesus Christ gained the Church of God for His prize upon His successful sacrifice. His Father gave Him the Bride whom He loved and for whom He had died. This fulfilled the covenant of grace, here called the sure mercies of David. It is God's good pleasure to gather His people to Christ, pardon and cleanse their sins in Christ's blood and give them the joy of victory as we journey to heaven.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Husband of His Church and cherishes His Bride with everlasting love and everlasting kindness. He has promised never to leave us and to teach us personally of His grace and goodness.