Untitled Sermon

Jude KJV 1900

Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them, in like manner giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. These are spots in your feasts of charity when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

Contend for the Faith

Jude 1

According to Jewish Historian, it is a unanimous consensus, Jude is the author of this small but very powerful book. It also is known to Jewish custom and the Holy Scriptures, Jude (Matthew 13:55<(Matthew 13:55)  is consider as the half brother of our Lord

Jude is an important book for us today because it is written for the end times, for the end of the church age. Jude is the only book that is given entirely to the great state apostasy.

So Jude writes that evil works are the evidence of apostasy. He admonishes us to contend for the faith, for there are tares among the wheat. False prophets that have slipped into the church and the saints are in danger

The epistle of Jude is written to the church. In his opening passages, Judes explains that he had initially intended to write a letter of encouragement and so he says:

"Beloved, when I gave all diligence (gave all effort, the utmost care) to write unto you of the common salvation (the salvation we share), (but there was a more pressing need, there was a detrimental issue that needed to be dealt with) that I write unto you, and exhort, encourage you with a sense upmost urgency that you should earnestly contend for the faith (struggle or fight for), which was once delivered unto the saints; which was entrusted into our hands

It is note worthy to observe the expression of words that Jude uses that carries a strong affection, to heighten the sense of urgency to the situation at hand

Again it is note worthy, to draw our attention to the phrase in verse 3 "for the faith" because it sets the stage, it sets the atmosphere for what Jude is about to expose in the following verses

He uses the definite article "THE" to draw attention to the word faith so that his reader would make no mistake there is only one faith; The Faith that is in our Lord Jesus Christ

Jude is very concerned because "the faith" is under attack, wherein is the Church gospel message is revealed; the apostle Paul says it like this in Romans 1:16-17 :

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith..

The gospel is under attack from false teachers who are spreading errounous dangerous heresies, so Jude urges the Saints to take a stand, to war against, strive for the faith against those who seek to undermine and erode the truth of God

In the next verses Jude gives detail of the erronous hereies that was been spreaded:

So he says: For- the writer uses the word FOR to express a continual thought to explain what was previously stated. So he explains why was it necessary to exhort us that we should earnestly contend for the faith: Because or Indeed there were certain men who crept in unawares (secretly or stealthily enter into our midst)

For these certain men who professed to teach the Christian doctrines, which in fact they denied and rejected some of the fundamental teaching of the truth

They professed to be holy men, when in fact they lived the scandalous lives

In 2 Peter 2:1 the Apostle Peter expresses the same sentiments as Jude; but in the chapter 1:19-21;Peter defends the authenticity of the holy scriptures in verse 21 he tells his reader;

Seeing then the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved (unction) by the Holy Ghost

They did not give something off the top of their heads, but theses holy men of God spoke things from God that were express by the Holy Ghost

In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Paul defends the source of the Scriptures: he says all Scriptures is given by inspiration of God....

So then back in 2 Peter 2:1 In his defence of the Scriptures he states: But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there are false teachers among you who secretly introduced destructive opinion

Lets deal with this word lasciviousness, its understanding is so crucial to feel the burden and the disgust that is felt Jude 

So Jude says ungodly men turning the grace of God into lasciviousness; in other words they were using the grace of our God as an occasion to sin, the Apostle Paul says it like this Romans 6:1 Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound or increase, or multiply. God forbid

This word lasciviousness is described as one of the most henious of sins because its depth is a condition of the soul (spiritual speaking this persom mind is bad)

According to the Jewish Historian Josephus, he describes this person as mad, he aligns this sin with the sin of Jezebel in Rev 2:18-20 as the Lord speaks to and admonishes the Church at Thyatira for teir good works. But in vs20 He says Notwithstanding (In spite of that) I have this against you;

You allowed that woman Jezebel, that called herself a prophetess (she called herself), to teach and to seduce (deceive, to lead astray) to commit fornication and to eat things sacrificed unto idols, she encourage the servants of God to commit all this open face without any shame

 Those who are the control of this sin do not care what others say or think, as long as they can satisfy their desires. They suffocate or cut off the conscience in order to shame to flight

The Prophet Isaiah in Isa 3:9 spoke this about in Sodom: He says The shew of their contenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not He cries to them Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves

What the prophet was saying: those who are under control of this sin do not care what others think, as long as they can satisfy their desires 

Here is the destructive teaching denying the Lord which weakens the faith: Jude gives a clearer thought in our lesson in Jude 1:4 he call these men wicked and what they were teaching, they perverted the Grace of our God into Lasciviousness: unrestrained, lawlessness, deliberate acts. The NIV gives a simpler thought; theses wicked men perverted the grace of our God into a license for immorality.

They taught and promoted because grace was in place and not the law, they saw it as an opportunity to live unrestrain lives, anything and everything goes, (the scriptures is not talking accidentally but a deliberate practice to sin, a complete turning away from and rejecting the faith of our Lord Jesus 

Not only did they pervert the grace of God; they denounced and rejected the Lordship of Jesus, defaming the name of the only Lord God 

June 14 2020

Now the question is how were these men able to come into the saints midst undetected, like a sleath bomber: 

The Apostle Paul deals with this in 2Co 11:13-14 

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

And no marvel (suprise); for satan himself is transformed into an angel of light

Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works

Paul said these men are false apostle because they have not received the Divine commission from the Lord Luke 6:13 ; (notice today how many apostles and prophets we have. I have a problem when a someone call themselves apostles and do not teach or follow the apostle doctrine)

Its very important people of God to understand the Divine ordanination of the apostleship. Because in Paul's day apostle were in abundance as in our time; in 2 CO 11:13 Paul called these men false apostle, because the office of apostle was as generic and weak meaning (one sent)

But Paul qualifies the office of the Apostleship when he had to defend his calling into apostleship; note in Gal he did not use his vision, or expository gift as a basis for his calling into the apostleship he says he did not receive it of men, or taught it men but by the revelation of the Lord Jesus, on his Damascus road experience

Your probably saying to yourself why do I need to know this, in contending for the faith, you need not to be ingorant of how Satan works, he coming through the Church,

So Jude and Paul are telling us how theses ungodly got into our midst; they are deceitful workers: here's how they deceived the people of God they transformed themselves into apostles of Christ

These ungodly men came into the church disguise as one of the anointed apostles of the Lord (and because we have debase the anointing by how well a person sounds and how emotional they make us feel we say they are anointed, that is not the anointing; The sign of the anointing; the anointing destroy yokes, it changes people lives)

Again how are we going to contend for faith, if we don't know who's real and who's fake;

Paul says it no wonder that satan minister have transformed themselves becaused satan himself has change his outward appearance to appear as to be angel of light to appear of someone of great sanctity and reverence for the authority of God

Showing themselves as pure and holy, the emblem of purity and holy, but on the inside they raving wolves seeking to weaken the faith of God, by perverting and twisting the word of God 

 Jude says who were before of old ordained to this condemnation: Jude was not saying that God predetermine these men destiny but their works had been predetermine or ordained their end; Paul states this the last part of 2Co 11:15

As time draws closer for the appearing our Lord, satan is working overtime trying to wear out the Saints of God, one way he does that is weakening the faith. 

He has transformed his ministers into the ministers of light to trick the mind saints of God.

Sound of warning if you dont pray and study for yourself you will be trick to follow another gospel which is not another.  

Jude said we should earnetly contends (take a stand, to fight, go to war) for faith, is he suggesting a phyical confrontation. no way, but I will say this its time to suit up to go into the enemy camps take back those things which he stole for you

Take it back by force, if dont have the right gear on you will not overcome trickery and tatics of satan. When David went up to fight Golitah, Saul tried to give him his gear but David said he cannot uses these for they have not been approved, he could not use those things to defend the name of Lord, the Lord reputation was stake and had to shut mouth of the enemy

So how do we contend, fight or go to war. Do we use spear, swords or rocks

In Eph 6:10-18 Paul gives us the approved weaponry of God the bible says

Finally my brethen, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might

Put on the who;e armour of God, that ye maybe able to stand against the wiles of the devil (without the armour of God we not be able to take a stand)

Why should put on the whole armour of God? He says For; because wrestle not against flesh and blood (this is not a physical battle but a spiritual one) but its against principalities (authority of rule in rank)

Against powers, (evil influences or authority), against rulers of darkness of this world (super natural, spiritual forces that use world ruler to undermine and destroy work of God) 

Against spiritual wickedness in high places

And because of our spiritual warfare take unto you the whole armour (again the apostle emphasize whole the complete armour) of God that ye may be able to withstand (resist) in the evil day and having done all, stand firm

Stand firm therefore cause ye have put on the whole armour of God having loinsgirt about with truth

The girdle is a important part of the attire, more importantly in wartime then in peacetime. Loins It is the part of the body that gives stability and power for vigorous actions, it is where the belt or girdle gives support or binds the clothing. In our spiritual warefar just as girdle binds and gives support to hold everything together

Paul is saying use the girdle of truth, to bind for support, for stabilty, for consistency; any sign of falsehood or laxity of views of distorted truth the enemy will see weakness in the armour, so he says keep everything in place with girdle of truth 

and having the breatplate of righteousness: the breatplate is used as a piece of protective armor worn in battle which covers the chest. It defends the vital parts of the body. The figurative usage describing the protecting power of righteousness.

Having the highest value of Integrity, and a charatecre that pursue righteousness will preserve the heart from the arrows of satan. When is a person mindset is to always to seek out to do those things that will please God it will kept their heart

And your feet shod with gospel of peace. The thought here Christains soldier is to be prepared with the gospel of peace; just as the Romans solider was able hold his ground firm and take a stand because he had spikes or nails that dug deep into the ground

In the spiritaul just like the nails in the shoes of the soldier holds their position, our spiritual shoes will do likewise as long we use the gospel of peace and not another gospel

Above all taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked

The shields of faith constitues a protection over every part of his body, it can be turned in every direction. The thought is covers and protects the other parts of the armour. Without faith shielding us from fiery arrows, we cannot stand fast on God's promises.

What faith does is quenches the hot fiery arrows of doubt of the enemy, every we deflects it says I believe God

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

The helmet defends the head, a vital part; the hope of salvation will keep the soul, a soldier will not fight well without the sense of victory; likewise a saint that contends without hope of their eternal salvation they are fighting a losing battles. But what sustains us is the hope of our salvation

And the sword of the spirit: it is the weapon the Lord used when he was tempted of the devil; it is the way that satan can be meet. His errors in falsehood in also misrepresenting the Word of God; Jesus shows us to use the sword of the Spirit to fight against erroronous doctrines

Praying always with all prayerand supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all preserverance and supplication for all saints

It is the most important, and well for a soldier to pray to pray for victory; pray is absolutely necessary and essential in order to secure victory

Now matters how complete the armour is, or how skilled we maybe in the science of war, or how courageous we maybe; we certain of one thing without a prayer life we will be defeated

When we prayer we are saying we are depending on God for complete victory, without we are fighting in our strength. Prayer is not to be intermitted, pray always. With all types of prayer, pray always in every situation  

Jude gives us 4 practical ways to ready ourselves to contend for the faith

1) Building up yourselves in the faith- keep growing and maturing spiritually, studying the Word of God is a must for spiritual development, in order we will know when theses false are amoung us.

2) Praying in the Holy Ghost, allowing the Spirit to take lead in our prays, giving us direction

3) Keeping yourselves in the love of God, living in obedience to God's word

4) Waiting with hope for the return of our Lord