Jude 20–21 – “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus the Anointed unto eternal life.”
Introduction
Every believer is called not only to receive faith but to grow in faith. The walk with God is never meant to be stagnant. Faith is a living seed planted in our hearts, but like every seed, it must be nourished, watered, and strengthened. Jude, in his short but powerful letter, reminds us of the importance of building ourselves up in the faith.
This is not a passive command. It requires intentionality, discipline, and devotion. To build means to lay stones one upon another, creating strength, height, and endurance. In the same way, our faith must be steadily built until it becomes a strong tower that can withstand storms, doubts, and trials.
Today, let us reflect deeply on how to build ourselves up in faith, what the Scriptures teach about it, and how we can apply it in our daily lives.
1. The Foundation of Faith
Before we speak of building, we must speak of foundations. No structure can stand without a firm base. Our faith rests on the foundation of God’s Word and the person of His Son.
1 Corinthians 3:11 – “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus the Anointed.”
Faith that is not grounded in God’s truth will crumble in the face of adversity. Many attempt to build their confidence on emotions, human wisdom, or traditions, but these are shifting sands. A solid believer must begin with the eternal, unshakable Word of God.
Romans 10:17 – “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
To build yourself up in faith, you must first anchor yourself in the Word. Read it, meditate on it, memorize it, and apply it. A builder studies the blueprint before laying bricks; in the same way, we must allow the Word to shape and direct our growth.
2. Building Through Prayer
Jude emphasizes the importance of praying in the Holy Spirit. Prayer is not a religious duty but the lifeline of faith. It is the way we commune with God, align with His will, and receive strength to persevere.
Ephesians 6:18 – “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”
Prayer in the Spirit is not limited to human understanding. It draws us into deeper fellowship with God, empowering us beyond our natural weaknesses. As you pray, you edify your inner man.
1 Corinthians 14:4 – “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.”
Every time you pray sincerely and fervently, you add another stone to the building of your faith. You become spiritually alert, sensitive to God’s direction, and able to resist the enemy’s schemes.
3. Keeping Yourself in the Love of God
Faith cannot grow in an atmosphere of hatred, bitterness, or unforgiveness. Jude commands us to keep ourselves in the love of God. This means living in constant awareness of His love and extending that love to others.
John 15:9–10 – “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”
The love of God is both the soil and the nourishment of faith. Without love, faith becomes lifeless. Love softens our hearts, keeps us humble, and opens us to the fullness of God’s grace.
When you forgive quickly, show mercy, and walk in compassion, you are guarding the environment where your faith can thrive.
4. Strengthening Faith Through Obedience
Faith without action is not faith at all. James teaches us that faith is perfected by works.
James 2:26 – “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
When you act on God’s Word, even in small ways, you strengthen your faith. Obedience confirms your trust in Him. Each step of obedience becomes another stone in the building of your faith.
Consider Abraham. His faith was not merely in words but in actions. He left his homeland, offered Isaac, and trusted God for promises not yet seen. His obedience was evidence of living faith.
Hebrews 11:8 – “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.”
If you desire to build strong faith, start obeying God in the small things. Do not wait for grand opportunities. Faith grows as you consistently act in alignment with God’s Word.
5. Guarding Against Spiritual Weakness
As much as we are called to build ourselves up, we are also warned to guard against influences that weaken faith.
1 Timothy 6:20–21 – “O Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge—by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith.”
Faith can be eroded by false teachings, distractions, and sinful living. If you allow worldly philosophies or constant compromise into your life, you weaken the walls of your faith.
To build, you must also protect. Just as a builder secures the site from thieves, so must you secure your heart from the enemy’s lies.
Proverbs 4:23 – “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”
6. Encouragement from Others
Though Jude says, “build yourselves up”, we are not called to grow in isolation. Fellowship with other believers strengthens and encourages our faith.
Hebrews 10:24–25 – “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Iron sharpens iron. When you walk with people who share the same passion for God, you are encouraged to keep building, even when life feels heavy.
7. Looking to the End Goal
Faith must always keep its eyes on the eternal promise. Jude reminds us to look forward to the mercy of our Lord unto eternal life. The hope of eternal glory sustains our faith on earth.
Hebrews 12:2 – “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
When trials come, when doubts whisper, when the world mocks, remember: your faith is being built for an eternal reward. The end of faith is not earthly applause but eternal life with God.
Practical Steps to Build Your Faith
- Daily Word Study – Make Scripture your daily bread. Even a small portion, meditated upon, can strengthen you.
- Consistent Prayer – Set time aside to pray in the Spirit. Let prayer become your habit, not your last resort.
- Practice Obedience – Act on God’s Word immediately. Do not postpone obedience.
- Walk in Love – Forgive, show mercy, and remain rooted in love.
- Guard Your Heart – Avoid teachings and lifestyles that weaken faith.
- Fellowship with Believers – Stay connected to those who strengthen your walk.
- Focus on Eternity – Keep your eyes on the eternal reward promised by God.
Conclusion
Building yourself up in the faith is not a one-time effort but a lifelong journey. Just as a house takes time, patience, and consistency to be built, so does a strong spiritual life. Each prayer, each act of obedience, each moment in God’s Word adds another stone to the structure.
The storms will come, the winds will blow, but a life firmly built in faith will stand unshaken. Remember, you are not building for man’s applause but for God’s approval. Strengthen your faith, nourish it, guard it, and keep pressing forward until the day you see the One who is the Author and Finisher of your faith.
Colossians 2:6–7 – “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.”
Beloved, let us rise and build!