The Wrong Way
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
I want to tell you stories concerning three men tonight, but first, let me get you up to speed on where we are at and why we are here.
The Epistle of Jude, in a way, is the letter that didn’t want to be written. Let me explain this:
Jude, here, who was actually the half-brother of Jesus tells us that he wanted to write another letter.
He wanted to write an encouraging letter.
3 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.
So, he wanted to write about the common salvation, but God wouldn’t let him…There was a something more important that God’s children needed...
Here’s the book of Jude in a nutshell:
“Jude urges his readers: to defend the faith that some people are denying, to preserve the faith that some people are perverting, and to contend for the faith that some people are corrupting.”
What was going on?
4 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.
Men, I want you to realize tonight that we need men that will stand in the face of opposition and speak the truth. We need men that will be the man that God wants and stand up, love his wife, and raise his children for God!
We need men that will make sacrifices, and put God first!
We need men that will be at church! That will support their Pastor! Men that will simply serve God!
It has been said that as goes the family, so goes the world. It can also be said that as goes the father, so goes the family...
When David Livingstone was working in Africa, some friends wrote this to him: “We would like to send other men to you. Have you found a good road into your area yet?” To which he replied with this: “If you have men who will only come if there is a good road, I don’t want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all.”
E.M. Bounds wrote, “The church is looking for better methods, but God is looking for better men.”
Vance Havner wrote, “God is on the lookout today for a man who will be quiet enough to get a message from him, brave enough to preach it, and honest enough to live it.“
We need committed men to carry out the work of God today! Men that aren’t looking for easy street, but are willing to work!
Jude tells us to earnestly contend for the faith!
The ancient Greek word translated “contend” comes from the athletic world – from the wrestling mat. It is a strengthened form of the word meaning “to agonize.” Therefore “contend” speaks of hard and diligent work.
Jude gives us many examples of people and groups that have turned away from the truth - they are apostates, and tonight, I feel compelled to tell you about three certain men found in Jude verse 11.
By the way, the first thing we notice here is the pronouncement of WOE upon these men…Jesus Himself used this in His ministry, and we see it written here in the letter of Jude.
Lamoyne Sharpe wrote, “God always warns of woe before He sends it. He usually cuts men down by the mouth of His ministers, before He cuts them off by the hand of the executioners.”
The Way of Cain
The Way of Cain
Cain’s story is found in Genesis 4.
Each of the sons of Adam and Eve brought an offering to the Lord. Cain (being a farmer) brought an offering from his harvest. Abel (being a shepherd) brought an offering from his flocks. God accepted Abel’s offering, but He rejected Cain’s sacrifice.
Many people assume that because Abel brought a blood sacrifice and Cain brought a grain sacrifice, that the difference between the two offerings was sacrificial blood.
But the real difference was between faith and unbelief.
4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Cain’s sacrifice was probably more pleasing to the senses than the carcass of a dead lamb. But his sacrifice was offered without faith, and therefore it was unacceptable to God.
You can give to God whatever you have or whatever you are, but you must offer it in faith.
“The way of Cain!” is set forth in the Bible as the antithesis of God’s way.
It is that “way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Prov. 14:12).
Cain invented the world’s first false religion. At its heart are the basic principles that are characterized by every false religious system ever spawned upon this planet.
Cain believed in God, but did things his own way.
Cain rebelled against God’s way of salvation.
Cain rejected Divine authority.
Cain went the way of religion instead of faith.
Genesis 4:5 says that after God rejected his sacrifice, Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. He became angry because he knew he was rejected by God.
Cain rejected the sacrifice! He denied he was a sinner. He rejected the redemptive work. He went his own way and rejected God’s way!
He goes on and ends up murdering Abel…I find it interesting that Cain’s religion was too sophisticated and refined to shed the blood of an innocent lamb, but in his anger, he had no problem shedding the blood of his own brother!
John Philips, speaking of Cain’s false religion, writes, “Before it was an hour old, ‘the way of Cain’ produced the world’s first martyr.”
Jude says that Cain typifies a way that the certain men follow in. It is the way of unbelief and empty religion, which leads to jealousy, persecution of the truly godly, and eventually to murderous anger.
There is no greater curse on the earth than empty, vain religion; those who have a form of godliness but denying the power thereof (2 Timothy 3:5). No wonder the Bible says, from such turn away!
Cain tried doing things his own way! If you are doing things your own way tonight, I beg you to stop! Go God’s way, repent!
The Error of Balaam
The Error of Balaam
Balaam’s story is in Numbers 22 to 25 and 31. During the time of the Exodus, Israel advanced to the land of Moab, after defeating the Amorites. When the Israelites came near, King Balak of Moab sought the help of a prophet named Balaam.
The first delegation from King Balak arrived and God told Balaam to have nothing to do with them. God’s initial words to Balaam were,
Numbers 22:12 (KJV 1900)
12 ...Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed.
After the first visit another, more prestigious delegation came with great riches.
Balaam wanted to go with them and God allowed him to go. Balaam lusted after the riches and prestige offered to him and broke.
God warned Balaam to turn back when he was on the way to see Balak. Yet his heart was set on the rich reward King Balak promised and he continued on.
Balaam even ignored a talking donkey, sent to warn him to turn back.
Balaam knew that he has done wrong. In Numbers 22:34, he said to God:
Numbers 22:34 (KJV 1900)
34 ...I have sinned... now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.
But he didn’t turn back. He continued on, refusing to see that when God says no, we must take it as a no. Instead, God gave Balaam what his sinful heart desired.
After meeting with King Balak of Moab, Balaam prophesied over Israel four times. But as he spoke forth God’s word, he did not curse Israel – instead he blessed her each time.
When he was unsuccessful in cursing Israel, Balaam advised Balak on how to bring Israel under a curse. Instead of trying to have a prophet curse Israel, he should lead her into fornication and idolatry and then God would curse a disobedient Israel.
Balak did just that, sending his young women into the camp of Israel to lead Israel into sexual immorality and idolatry.
Because of the people’s sin, God did curse Israel – He brought a plague of judgment upon Israel that killed 24,000.
Therefore Balaam was guilty of the greatest of sins: deliberately leading others into sin. Worse yet, he did it for money.
Many Christians would never deny Jesus under persecution, but might deny Him if offered a large sum of money. There is not a single sin that corrupt man will not commit for the sake of money. Covetousness is such a dangerous sin that it caused Judas to betray Jesus – 30 pieces of silver helped put Jesus on the cross.
You might not admit it, but a lot of people have sold Jesus out for the money of this world…
Balaam tried to compromise with the world, but it just doesn’t work. If you’re selling God out for something tonight, I beg you to repent!
The Gainsaying of Core
The Gainsaying of Core
16 And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.
Korah’s story is found in Numbers 16. He was a prominent man in Israel, and one day came to Moses, saying,
Numbers 16:3 (KJV 1900)
3 ...Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?
Korah and his followers resented the authority God gave to Moses and Aaron.
When Korah said this, Moses fell on his face, knowing God’s judgment would soon come. Moses then proposed a test: each group took censers (for burning incense) and came before the Lord. The Lord Himself would choose which man He wanted to represent Him: Moses or Korah.
When they both came before God, the Lord told Moses to step away. Then, the ground opened up and swallowed Korah and his followers. After that, fire came down from heaven and burned up all of his supporters. They all perished.
Now, here’s something interesting!
Korah was a Levite, and as a Levite, he had had his own God-appointed sphere of ministry, yet he was not content with it.
He wanted to be elevated, he wanted to be powerful. There’s a picture here of Lucifer in Isaiah 14...
Korah wanted the ministry and the authority of Moses.
Korah needed to learn this essential lesson: we should work hard to fulfill everything God has called us to be.
At the same time, we should never try to be what God has not called us to be.
Here’s the challenge men…Can you submit to God established authority?
How are you at following the leadership God has given this church?
Here’s most people…Pastor, I’m with you, I’m behind you, I’m for you…Until you tell me no.
Can your pastor tell you no, and you still stick in and support him? He should be able to…God shares things with him he doesn’t everyone…He is God’s appointed authority at this church.
Korah rejected God’s authority!
Conclusion
Conclusion
These three men came from quite different backgrounds: Cain was a farmer, Balaam was a prophet, and Korah was a leader in Israel.
Apostasy is never confined to one group of people. “There are apostates in the pulpit, in the palace, and in the poorhouse.”
Cain - the way of Rejection
Balaam - the way of Compromise
Korah - the way of Rebellion
What way will we follow? The decision is ours, but we must choose wisely. Our decision will have a great impact on those whom we love. We can choose to follow the Lord in the truth of His Word and gain His blessing. Or we can choose to go our own way and bring upon us His judgment. Which way are we going?