For certain men have secretly slipped in among Christians, promoting false teachings. These men were destined for condemnation according to God's foreknowledge. Christians must earnestly contend for the true faith and be discerning of false teachings. They should not be afraid to defend Christianity and the Bible when questioned, and say "no" to temptations that lead away from God.

1. The Salvation We Share Jude 1:3-4 Adapted from a sermon by Steve Shepherd http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/the-salvation-we-share-steve-shepherd-sermon-on-salvation-126418.asp

2. Jude 1:3 NET Dear friends, although I have been eager to write to you about our common salvation, I now feel compelled instead to write to encourage you to contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.

3. 4For certain men have secretly slipped in among you — men who long ago were marked out for the condemnation I am about to describe — ungodly men who have turned the grace of our God into a license for evil and who deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

4. Florida Woman to Get Brain Surgery Thanks to ’FOX and Friends’. Friday , July 18, 2008 Insurance provider Aetna will cover a Florida woman’s brain surgery after the intervention of a "FOX & Friends" contributor.

5. Caitlin White, 19, of Bartow, Fl, suffers from a debilitating brain disorder that could kill her. She was scheduled for surgery when her insurance carrier, Aetna, canceled the family’s coverage just minutes before she was scheduled to go under the knife.

6. But after hearing her story, FOX News legal analyst Peter Johnson Jr. contacted Florida Gov. Charlie Crist’s office, which was able in turn to reach Aetna through the state’s Office of Citizen’s Services. Crist’s staff convinced the carrier to cover the surgery and give White 90 days of hospital service thereafter.

7. "We didn’t know what to do," her mother, Sheila Jackson, told "FOX & Friends" on Friday. "Our hands were tied."White suffers from Chiari malformation, a brain condition that causes excruciating headaches and fainting spells and can, without treatment, eventually lead to the destruction of motor skills and memory.

8. White will now have the $113,000 surgery scheduled for July 21, 2008. "Oh, it’s wonderful," White told FOX. Her mother was also elated. "It’s incredible," Jackson said. "We’ve been on such a rollercoaster and to get such incredible, wonderful news and then to find out how it came about, it’s just better."

9. Sometimes people have to fight for what is right, good and holy. That Fox news analyst did the right thing, as did Florida’s Gov. Charlie Crist. Thank God! Praise God!There is a time when people have to stand up and be counted for what is right! WHEN?An example is when children need to be protected, a stand must be taken.

10. She’s 3 feet tall, loves her teddy bear and hosts tea parties with her stuffed pig and Elmo doll at a toddler’s picnic table.The last time her grandma and grandpa saw her, she was moving out of their Lee Vista-area home with her mom. The question was where is Caylee Marie Anthony?

11. The 2-year-old girl hasn’t been seen in more than a month, and her grandparents are worried. So are Orange County investigators. SOMEONE SHOULD BE WORRIED AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE CAREFUL IN THE FIRST PLACE! December 11, 2008 the remains of Caylee Anthony were found. Casey Anthony has been charged with the first degree murder of her daughter and is currently awaiting her expected 2011 trial date.

12. There are some things worth fighting for: children, God, Christ, the church, the faith. Because we have such a great salvation we have some responsibilities in life. 1- We Contend for the Faith2- We are to be Discerning

13. WE contend FOR the faith Jude 1:3 NET Dear friends, although I have been eager to write to you about our common salvation, I now feel compelled instead to write to encourage you to contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.

14. “contend earnestly” G1864 ἐπαγωνίζομαιepagōnizomai ep-ag-o-nid'-zom-ahee From G1909 and G75; to struggle for: - earnestly contend for. (Strongs) the verb ἐπαγωνίζομαι(epagōnizomai) is an intensive form of ἀγωνίζομαι(agōnizomai). As such, the notion of struggling, fighting, contending, etc. is heightened. (NETnotes)

15. The term “contend earnestly” is a compound verb from where we get the term “agonize”. It is in the present infinitive form, which means that the struggle will be continuous. Jude is telling us that there will be a continuous fight against false teaching and that Christians should take it so seriously that we should “agonize” over the fight with which we are engaged.

16. The Church should expend every effort to resist apostasy and heresy in the body and, moreover, every Christian is called to this fight, not just the local body’s leaders (Jude’s letter is addressed to all believers). http://www.confidentchristians.org/resources_jude.html

17. 2 Timothy 4:7 NET I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith! Have you been contending for the faith? Do you have any ’fight’ left in you?

18. Rocky Marciano (September 1, 1923 – August 31, 1969), was the heavyweight champion of the world from 1952 to 1956. Marciano, with forty-three knockouts to his credit (87.8% knockout rate), remains the only heavyweight champion in boxing history to retire having won every fight in his professional career. 49 fights, 49 wins with 43 knockouts. WHAT A RECORD!

19. How’s your record against evil and the evil one? Have you lost any fights to him lately? Have you won any fights? You may be like the guy that decided it was time to shed some excess pounds. He took his new diet seriously, even changing his driving route to avoid his favorite bakery. One morning, however, he arrived at work carrying a gigantic coffee cake.

20. Everyone scolded him, but he just smiled. "This is a very special coffee cake," he explained. "I accidentally drove by the bakery this morning and there in the window were a host of goodies. I felt this was no accident, so I prayed, ’Lord, if you want me to have one of those delicious coffee cakes, let me have a parking place directly in front of the bakery.’

21. And sure enough," he continued, "the eighth time around the block, there it was!“ Have you lost any fights when it comes to any temptation in life? I’m sure you have. We all do. But we can’t give up the fight. We must continue fighting against temptation to sin, and also contending for the faith of Christ.

22. We are living in a hostile and anti-Christ world! Most people don’t want to hear about God, Jesus and Christianity, BUT WE MUST CONTINUE contending for the faith of Christ. We have heard about Tom Cruise and his belief in Scientology. I think it’s crazy but he believes in it! Consequently, he’s not afraid to talk about it.

23. WHAT ABOUT US? He believes a lie and talks about it. We believe in the truth and don’t say anything about it!When was the last time that you stood up for the Bible and faith in Christ and the Christian life?

24. This lesson’s author, Steve Shepherd, remembers many years ago when he was in his 20’s and was preaching a nursing home service. Several times in his preaching he said, "The Bible says..." After only a short time some old man said out loud, "The Bible doesn’t say anything. It’s just a book..."

25. Steve just tried to ignore him but the second time he said those words he went over to him, looked him in the eye and punched him in the nose. NO, OF COURSE NOT, HE DIDN’T DO THAT. But his argumentative spirit was something new to him.

26. He’d never had anybody question his preaching. What did he do? He stopped in the middle of his preaching and tried to explain to him that he believed the Bible is the Word of God and that He spoke to us from His Word. HE DIDN’T BUY IT. The people at the nursing home were embarrassed by his outburst so they finally took him out of the room.

27. Christian, have you ever had anybody question your faith, Christianity or the Bible? What did you do? What did you say? Did you try to defend the faith? Did you speak up for Christ and the Bible? 1 Peter 3:15 NET But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess.

28. WE ARE TO BE DICERNING discern: To see or understand the difference; to make distinction; as, to discern between good and evil, truth and falsehood. (Websters)

29. 4For certain men have secretly slipped in among you — men who long ago were marked out for the condemnation I am about to describe — ungodly men who have turned the grace of our God into a license for evil and who deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

30. Every New Testament book except Philemon contains warnings about false teaching –26 out of 27 books. What does that say about the importance God places on right doctrine and teaching? http://www.confidentchristians.org/resources_jude.html

31. 4aFor certain men have secretly slipped in among you “secretly slipped in” Thayer Definition: 1) to enter secretly, slip in stealthily 2) to steal in This word is only found once in the New Testament –in the book of Jude. Jude presents the term in the indicative mood indicating the invasion is real and not just a future possibility.

32. In extrabiblical Greek the term describes the cunning craftiness of a lawyer who, through clever argumentation, infiltrated the minds of courtroom officials and corrupted their thinking. The key thing needed to detect such infiltration is the one thing many conservative theologians say the Church lacks most: discernment. http://www.confidentchristians.org/resources_jude.html

33. Matthew 13:24 NET He presented them with another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a person who sowed good seed in his field. 25But while everyone was sleeping, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 26When the plants sprouted and bore grain, then the weeds also appeared.

34. 27So the slaves of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your field? Then where did the weeds come from?' 28aHe said, 'An enemy has done this.‘ 2 Corinthians 11:13 NET For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.14And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

35. 4bmen who long ago were marked out for the condemnation I am about to describe Compare what Peter said in his 2nd letter. 2 Peter 2:2 NET And many will follow their debauched lifestyles. Because of these false teachers, the way of truth will be slandered.

36. 3And in their greed they will exploit you with deceptive words. Their condemnation pronounced long ago is not sitting idly by; their destruction is not asleep. God knew long ago these “false teachers” would come so he prepared their condemnation to be executed at His planned time.

37. GORHAM, Maine - Mara Ranger will be a little paranoid doing laundry now. When she was removing clothes from the washing machine at her Maine farmhouse Wednesday, the clothes moved. She told WMTW-TV, "I jumped back" and saw a snake. She quickly shut the lid and called for help.

38. Maine Animal Damage Control operator Richard Burton reached into the machine and pulled and pulled — all 8 feet of a python.Burton guesses the snake got into Ranger’s washing machine through water pipes. The snake’s future home will be York Animal Kingdom in York. (Personally I don’t know how an 8 foot python could of gotten into or out of the pipes.)

39. Ranger is going to start looking into every corner of her washing machine. She says, "I’m going to be looking in the tub first — before and after, maybe even during, the rinse cycle."Christians, there’s a big snake loose in the house. And his name is Satan! And he’s just waiting to devour any unsuspecting person who comes into his territory.

40. Genesis 3:1 NET Now the serpent was more shrewd than any of the wild animals that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Is it really true that God said, ‘You must not eat from any tree of the orchard’?” 2The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit from the trees of the orchard;

41. 3but concerning the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the orchard God said, 'You must not eat from it, and you must not touch it, or else you will die.’ “ 4The serpent said to the woman, “Surely you will not die, The devil is a lying serpent. He may appear pleasing to the eye but he’s nothing but a big liar, a deceiver and a cheater.

42. 1 Peter 5:8 NET Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, strong in your faith, because you know that your brothers and sisters throughout the world are enduring the same kinds of suffering.

43. Ephesians 6:10 NET Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 11Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.

44. Be Discerning. Some day God in His infinite wisdom and power will condemn Satan to hell. And along the way we need to do something to the devil’s associates! No More Mr. Nice Guy, As They Say. Thu Jul 17, 2008DEAR MARGO: I’m a 20-something female. At my gym I made the mistake of politely saying hello to a stranger, a 50-ish male, because he said hi to me.

45. In so doing, I unwittingly opened the floodgates to this man’s personal history (sexual exploits included), medical problems, unsolicited health advice, all of which he broadcasts in a detailed (and gross) monologue while I huff away on the bike, then the treadmill. My part in the conversation includes head nods and "uh-huhs." I try to lose him by moving on to weights ... to no avail.

46. "This began a year ago, and every time I see him he tries to engage me in these one-sided conversations about some woman he dated and her hot legs, or other equally uncomfortable tidbits. I’ve tried reading books while I do cardio, but then he comes up and suggests self-help books I should read to help my relationships or spiritual life.

47. "When I am listening to my Walkman, he talks over it. If I weigh myself, he’s there making sarcastic comments about my weight (I’m thin and petite). I’ve tried walking away after a polite head nod, even going at different times. Yet he’s always there, trapping not only me, but other people as well.

48. He doesn’t seem to work out except for his mouth. This guy must be thicker than a neutron cloud in a sauna because he just doesn’t get it. How do I get him to leave me alone without being rude? DEAR AB: What’s wrong with rude? He sounds like such a clod that I’m not sure telling him to shut up would even register.

49. Here’s a guy with no judgment and a big mouth who’s made you a captive audience and ruins your time at the gym. I hope you tell this jerk, next time he begins a monologue, "Would you please leave me alone? I have no interest in listening to you. I come here to work out." You might also inform the manager.

50. Tell the jerk to "hit the road." This is what we must do to that jerk called Satan and to his henchmen.Sometimes people will tempt you to join them in their revelry or their rebellion against God and we must say, "No way! Hit the road Jack and don’t come back no more!"

51. When I was barely a teenager my buddy & me were camping by a pond we’d been fishing at. My buddy easily talked me into breaking into a store across the highway & stealing some chips & candy instead of cooking the food we had brought with us. I wasn’t smart enough or strong enough to say "no" to that temptation.

52. We must discern, be wiser than others and say, "no" to some people and some activities that lead us away from the Lord. We need to say, “Get thee hence, Satan!” “The Lord will deal with you.” Titus 2:11 NET For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people. 12It trains us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

53. 13as we wait for the happy fulfillment of our hope in the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. My mama loved me. When mama died she left me her little house in Kansas. She loved me indeed.

54. But I have a Father who loves me more. My Heavenly Father has a mansion waiting for me. It’s eternal. It’s forever. And there I’ll live in a state of blessedness and peace! We have a wonderful salvation and it’s all because of the Lord.

55. Because of what is waiting for us in heaven, we need to fight the good fight of the faith and at the same time, oppose evil and the evil one of this world. Are you fighting the good fight? Contending for the faith? Are you, with God’s help, resisting temptation sending Satan running away?