From: Beverly French [frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us]
Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2003 7:14 AM
To: Heritage
Subject: Joyous Greetings

"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless 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 24-25

As you are probably aware these are two favorite verses of mine and the more I meditate on them, the more awesome they are to me.  Each phrase seems to call for more searching of the Scriptures.  I would like to share just a very few of my findings and I hope you are challenged to search further.  Oh how majestic is the word of God.

'Now to Him who is able...'
"...Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace and He will deliver us out of thine hand O King."  Daniel 3:17 You will recognize here the three Hebrew children who knew that their God was able and it was proven dramatically!

And with Abraham, the Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 4:20-21, "...He did not waver in unbelief, but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what He (God) had promised He was able also to perform."  And He did!

The Apostle Paul assures us:
"To Him who is able to establish you..."  Romans 16:25
"To Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works with in us"  Ephesians 3:20 "...He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him..." 2 Timothy 1:12

And the writer to Hebrews assures us that:
"...He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him..." Hebrews 7:25

The next phrase is 'to keep you.'

"And behold, I am with you, and will keep you wherever you go..." Genesis 28:15  This was said to Jacob.

The Psalmist knew this certainty as well:
"The Lord is your keeper;
 The Lord is your shade on your right hand.
 The sun will not smite you by day,
 Nor the moon by night.
 The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul  The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in  From this tine forth and forever."  Psalm 121:5-8

In the New Testament we see:
"...For He Himself has said, I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you."  Hebrews 13:5

Since Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever, we can claim all those promises 'to keep you' that are throughout The Word. To this we say thank you!  And we praise His name forever!

I have barely touched on what these two verses in Jude hold.  The two phrases mentioned offer an opening to further searching.  I didn't even touch on the first phrase of our verses which is "TO HIM."  I challenge you to start your own search there.  You will be blessed I assure you!

To all, as with the Psalmist, I say:
"How sweet are Thy words to my taste!
 Yes, sweeter that honey to my mouth!
 From Thy precepts I get understanding;
 Therefore I hate every false way."  Psalm 119:103-104

Let us rejoice in the Lord always!