"Who Are You?"
Notes
Transcript
Intro: Does anyone know who Granger Smith is? He is a 43 year old fairly successful singer/songwriter who is walking away from his country music career – a to devote his life to ministry at his local church outside of Austin, Texas. His final show is on Aug. 26.
"I have a huge feeling of relief now that … I’ve been able to tell the world exactly what my intentions are and what I’m going to do," the "Happens Like That" artist told Fox News Digital. "For the last few years, a handful of people had known that [I was] probably leaving country music. [And] it’s difficult to get on stage in different environments, in different cities and play music for people knowing, as I’m looking into their eyes, that I’m probably going to tell them in a few months that I’m not doing this anymore. That’s a difficult way to live. And so, there’s a big sense of relief now that I’ve told everyone."
The star admitted that for a while, he yearned for a new sense of purpose. Eager to devote himself to his faith, Smith is currently working toward a master’s degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. While some in Smith’s circle encouraged him to share his faith through song, Smith felt it wasn’t enough.
"I wrestled with the idea for a long time that this doesn’t feel right," Smith admitted. "A lot of people will probably think, ‘Why don’t you just sing country music, but talk about God on the stage?’ Or, ‘Why don’t you sing a couple of hymns on the stage? And that fixes everything.’ I wrestled with that for a couple of years.… A lot of pastors and preachers told me, ‘Country music is your ministry, brother. You’re in a dark world. You’re bringing light to a dark world. You’re going into bars and stages where people might not have heard the message of Christ, and you get to speak it – that is your ministry.’"
"I believed it," he continued. "And part of me still does believe that. But here’s the deal – it wasn’t ever about that. It wasn’t ever about finding the best platform to tell people about Christ. The first thing that needed to happen was I needed to make myself smaller because I was exalting myself on the stage. I was glorifying myself. I was seeking praise from people. And by doing that, it doesn’t matter if I was proclaiming Christ, because I was doing it the wrong way. I was proclaiming Christ from a self-exalting platform. And that was the contradiction I finally had to come to terms with. I might have a stage down the road, but right now I need to completely surrender that and give it over to God."
I shared this story with you so that we can understand what it means to have “Assurance In the Days of Apostasy”.
Just like Grainger Smith, Jude is a little bit famous by his connection to Jesus Christ, but he gives all that up by complete surrender and gives everything over to God.
This morning I want us to ask a personal question, “Who Am I?”
Text; Jude 1-2
1 Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ:
2 Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.
1. Who is Jude; 1a
1. Who is Jude; 1a
Jude [Judah/Judas] was a common Jewish name. Two of the disciples were named Judas—Judas Iscariot and Judas, son of James (Luke 6:16; John 6:71; 14:22; Acts 1:13).
The apostle Paul, shortly after his conversion, met Ananias at the house of a Judas of Damascus (Acts 9:11).
And Judas Barsabbas, a leader in the early church, joined Paul, Barnabas, and Silas in carrying a letter from the Jerusalem Council to the believers in Antioch (Acts 15:22–33).
There was even a Judas of Galilee, who founded the Zealots and led an uprising in early first-century Palestine (Acts 5:37).
But this Jude was the brother of James. Not the apostle James, but the the half brother of Jesus who wrote the epistle of James.
So Jude was the half-brother of Jesus which gave him some fame in the christian community.
55 Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?
The question is why didn’t Jude use that to his advantage? The reason is found in the scriptures;
21 But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, “He is out of His mind.”
1 After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him.
2 Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand.
3 His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing.
4 For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.”
5 For even His brothers did not believe in Him.
His family thought He was crazy claiming to be the Messiah and they didn’t believe Him.
But after His resurrection, Jude and James both went from unbelievers to bond-servants [slave] who trusted Christ as Lord and Master.
Jesus is his given human name but Christ is His heavenly title “Anointed One”. Jesus was not a half-brother but the Savior! Jude’s salvation relationship was more important than family ties to Jesus.
The fame that Jude could claim, the fame that Grainger Smith can claim, cannot be greater than one’s relationship in Christ!
Mark 8:34–36 (NKJV)
34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.
36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
Let me ask you a question right now, “Who are you?”
Are you seeking fame and fortune?
Do you desire to be named among the rich and famous?
Or are you willing to give it all up for Jesus?
The answer to that question will determine how you understand the rest of this letter Jude writes. He is either writing to you or about you!
2. His Audience; 1b
2. His Audience; 1b
Called- not to let sin control ones body or bodily members. Saved!
There are two types of calling in the scripture; General and effectual
Matthew 11:28–30 (NKJV)
28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
God’s Spirit calls people out of darkness into the light of Christ, convinces them of their sin, shows them what Christ can do for them, and then helps them accept Christ. This is by God’s grace alone.
Sanctified/beloved by the Father- separated from the profane things, cleansed, and dedicated to God because of His love for us in Christ. It is a unconditional love, past, present and future.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.
God’s love will not fail us
Preserved in Jesus Christ- kept, guarded, secure in Jesus. Believers are secure in salvation and for the rewards in Christ at His second coming
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
Let me ask you again, “Who are you this morning?”
Have you answered God’s call?
Have you been cleansed by Jesus’ blood?
Are you secure in Christ?
3. Blessings Multiplied; 2
3. Blessings Multiplied; 2
Jude reminds his readers that even in the worst of times, the blessings of Christ are multiplied to those who belong to Jesus!
Mercy- compassion of God [Good Samaritan in the time of trouble]
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Peace- assurance in Christ, calm in the midst of the storm [Peace with God and the peace of God]
John 14:27 (NKJV)
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Love- the love of God [agape] unconditional love that conquers all things
1 Corinthians 13:4–8 (NKJV)
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails...
Let me ask you again, “Who are you this morning?”
Are the blessings of God being multiplied in your life?
Are you walking in the peace of God during these chaotic days we live in?
Is the love of God conquering all your fears, burdens and trials of life?
Close;
Jude gave up his family ties with Jesus to become a servant of Jesus Christ.
Grainger Smith gave up his fame and fortune in country music to become a servant of Jesus Christ.
What will you give up this morning to come to Jesus?
Whatever you give up, I promise you, it will be worth it to gain Christ!