[Jude 1:22] And of some have compassion, making a difference:
Now let’s look at the lost person for a moment. He may be lonely and afraid. She may have been hurt many times, and when you come with another offer of love and security, she just feels she has heard it all before. Consider the child that has been abused and neglected, forsaken by family, an outcast. What does he or she understand about a loving Father? "I am not even sure who my father is, and the guy who raised me beat me and abused me for as long as I can remember.”
That teenager that seems so rebellious to you may have received all his understanding about love and trust from what he sees on television. Think about the elderly person living alone, forgotten by the family she raised. Her husband has been gone for years. She is afraid to go out at night, she worries about the cost of prescriptions, and no one ever calls to see how she is doing. Who knows what fears and turmoil your neighbor is facing every day? All these people are lost. We are going to talk about reaching some of them.
We are in competition with the world, with the cares of life. There is something that we can do with every person to whom we witness. We can show compassion. We must let them know we care.
The word compassion has two components. Com = together, and Passion = suffer. It implies sharing in the suffering of another. The general meaning is to have compassion or mercy on a person in unhappy circumstances. – Implying not merely a feeling for the misfortunes of others involving sympathy, but also an active desire to remove those miseries.
We will listen with concern. We will keep our promise to pray. We will provide assistance where possible. We will cry with the hurting. How long will we demonstrate compassion? How long will this person be lost if we don’t reach them with the gospel? How long did it take them to get this far from G-d? How long will the Spirit seek one of His lost sheep?
Are we willing to suffer inconvenience: Will we continue trying to reach them in the face of anger, rejection, apathy, etc? What if this person has started and failed many times? I am so thankful that the Lord didn’t quit reaching out for me after I had failed!
We will show compassion by treating the person with tenderness, if we saw a brother overtaken in a fault, to restore such a one in a spirit of meekness, considering ourselves, lest we also be tempted. It is time for the body to revive the ministry of restoration. We cannot restore anyone with a spirit of judgment and censure. If we are proud, haughty, or aloof from the person who has fallen, we will only drive them further from the cross. A hug, a smile, a tear, a card in the mail, a call on the phone is all little things that can make a world of difference in the life of one that is hurting. Remember that this is all about them and their need and some you must put into the hands of the L-rd, and allow Him to send someone else to reach them. Remember, regardless how far down a person has gone; you are not there to condemn them, but to reach them with the gospel. Always remember the objective. I am not trying to demonstrate my knowledge or wisdom. I am not trying to prove a person wrong. I am not replacing G-d as the judge. I am trying to reach the lost with the good news that Y’Shua cares about them.
Eternal life is to be looked for only through mercy; mercy is our only plea, not merit; or if merit, not our own, but another's, who has merited for us what otherwise we could have laid no claim to, nor have entertained any well-grounded hope of.
It is said, not only through the mercy of G-d as our Creator, but through the mercy of our L-rd Y’Shua HaMashiach as Redeemer; all who come to heaven must come thither through our L-rd Y’Shua; for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved, but that of the Y’Shua only.
Jude knew that would be times when we would feel like our backs are to the wall. There will be times when we feel like giving up. Jude is exhorting us to keep on fighting the good fight of faith. You might ask, what’s in it for me? Why should I care about others when I am struggling to stay above water? The Greek word for exhort is to the side of; to call. It means called along side to help. Keep on fighting. Keep on trusting the L-rd. The Holy Spirit has come along side to help. You can roll your burden over onto Him. Allow Him to carry the load. Remember the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through G-d to the pulling down of strongholds. Even when it seems that all hope is lost, there is still Y’Shua. So when the enemy comes in like a flood how will you respond? Keep yourself in the love of G-d. Build yourself up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. Look for opportunities to show the mercy of our G-d. Demonstrate compassion, even if it means pulling them out of the fire.
In all our affections and aspirations, may G-d be supreme; in all the sin and woe which prevail here below, may we look forward with strong desire to the time when His dominion shall be set up over all the earth; in all our own sins and sorrows, be it ours to look onward to the time when in a purer and happier world His reign may be set up over our own souls, and when we may cast every crown at His feet and say, "Thou art worthy, O L-rd, to receive glory, and honor, and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.--Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the L-rd our G-d," Revelation 4:11; 19:1.
Showing posts with label Jude. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jude. Show all posts
Seducers
[Jude 1:16] 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.
These are murmurers, the word here used does not elsewhere occur, though the word murmur is frequent, Matthew 20:11; Luke 5:30; John 6:41, 43, 61; 8:32; 1 Corinthians 10:10. Comp. John 7:12; Acts 6:1; Philippians 2:14; 1 Peter 4:9. The sense is that of repining or complaining under the allotments of Providence, or finding fault with G-d's plans, and purposes, and doings.
Can you picture a person speaking in a whisper, partially hiding his mouth to avoid being overheard? It is unlikely that he is sharing words of comfort or praise. Most often he is gossiping, backbiting, and slandering. Then we must deal with people who constantly complain. This person is never satisfied, and the churches must have at least one of these folks on every board. It seems there is a call upon them to be negative about everything and everybody. G-d included these malcontents in His list of people that He will judge.
Complainers are literally, finding fault with one's own lot. The word does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament; the thing often occurs in this world. Nothing is more common than for men to complain of their lot; to think that it is hard; to compare theirs with that of others, and to blame G-d for not having made their circumstances different. The poor complain that they are not rich like others; the sick that they are not well; the enslaved that they are not free; the bereaved that they are deprived of friends; the ugly that they are not beautiful; those in humble life that their lot was not east among the great and the gay. The virtue that is opposed to this is contentment--a virtue of inestimable value.
Walking after their own lusts - A murmuring complaining temper, indulged and expressed, lays men under a very bad character; such are very weak at least, and for the most part very wicked. They murmur against G-d and His providence, against men and their conduct; they are angry at every thing that happens, and never pleased with their own state and condition in the world, as not thinking it good enough for them. Such people walk after their own lusts; their will, their appetite, their fancy, are their only rule and law. Those who please their sinful appetites are most prone to yield to their ungovernable passions.
Great swelling words spoken when they make pretensions to wisdom and learning, or seem to attach great importance to what they say, and urge it in a pompous and positive manner. Truth is simple, and delights in simple statements. It expects to make its way by its own intrinsic force, and is willing to pass for what it is worth. Error is noisy and declamatory, and hopes to succeed by substituting sound for sense, and by such tones and arts as shall induce men to believe that what is said is true, when it is known by the speaker to be false.
Have you ever had to deal with a person who speaks very highly of you, telling others how wonderful you are, and then when you are not around, they criticize and lie about you? This person is quick to flatter if there is an advantage in it. This same person is given to hero worship. Who is the star of the day? This is not limited to the entertainment world or the sports arena. These hero worshippers are often active in the body. "Our pastor is the best preacher, the most gifted leader ever to come to our church." “I just love pastors.” Then they are gone. Some other pastor is now the beneficiary of their attentions. Why do you think Jude included this category of people in His epistle? Remember we are earnestly contending for the Faith. Such discernment exercised without the unction of the Holy Spirit and the compassion of Y’Shua will always cause hurt and division. We must always walk softly before the L-rd in these situations. Love and compassion must be balanced with wisdom and the integrity of the body. Compromising the standards of holiness for the sake of unity is not an option. We pray for those that despitefully use us, but we do not promote them and cover our eyes to their transgressions.
Having men's persons in admiration is showing great respect to certain persons, particularly the rich and the great. The idea is that they were not just in the esteem which they had for others, or that they did not appreciate them according to their real worth, but paid special attention to one class in order to promote their selfish ends.
Are you following the Spirit in your choices of entertainment, friends, and appetites? Jude spoke of people who walk after their own ungodly lusts. This means that they allow the lust of the flesh to dictate their standards of decency and morality. Right and wrong is determined by opinion, this is how I feel. The Bible says their conscience has been seared as with a hot iron. Indulgence overwhelms judgment. Ask yourself; is the Holy Spirit or the lust of the flesh more likely to influence my decisions when it comes to choosing what book I read or what movie I watch?
Because of advantage - trying to net-working and rub shoulders with people of importance because they hoped to derive some benefit to themselves!
Guards yourself against seducers and take heed that you think it not strange (so as to stumble and be offended, and have your faith staggered by it.
These are murmurers, the word here used does not elsewhere occur, though the word murmur is frequent, Matthew 20:11; Luke 5:30; John 6:41, 43, 61; 8:32; 1 Corinthians 10:10. Comp. John 7:12; Acts 6:1; Philippians 2:14; 1 Peter 4:9. The sense is that of repining or complaining under the allotments of Providence, or finding fault with G-d's plans, and purposes, and doings.
Can you picture a person speaking in a whisper, partially hiding his mouth to avoid being overheard? It is unlikely that he is sharing words of comfort or praise. Most often he is gossiping, backbiting, and slandering. Then we must deal with people who constantly complain. This person is never satisfied, and the churches must have at least one of these folks on every board. It seems there is a call upon them to be negative about everything and everybody. G-d included these malcontents in His list of people that He will judge.
Complainers are literally, finding fault with one's own lot. The word does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament; the thing often occurs in this world. Nothing is more common than for men to complain of their lot; to think that it is hard; to compare theirs with that of others, and to blame G-d for not having made their circumstances different. The poor complain that they are not rich like others; the sick that they are not well; the enslaved that they are not free; the bereaved that they are deprived of friends; the ugly that they are not beautiful; those in humble life that their lot was not east among the great and the gay. The virtue that is opposed to this is contentment--a virtue of inestimable value.
Walking after their own lusts - A murmuring complaining temper, indulged and expressed, lays men under a very bad character; such are very weak at least, and for the most part very wicked. They murmur against G-d and His providence, against men and their conduct; they are angry at every thing that happens, and never pleased with their own state and condition in the world, as not thinking it good enough for them. Such people walk after their own lusts; their will, their appetite, their fancy, are their only rule and law. Those who please their sinful appetites are most prone to yield to their ungovernable passions.
Great swelling words spoken when they make pretensions to wisdom and learning, or seem to attach great importance to what they say, and urge it in a pompous and positive manner. Truth is simple, and delights in simple statements. It expects to make its way by its own intrinsic force, and is willing to pass for what it is worth. Error is noisy and declamatory, and hopes to succeed by substituting sound for sense, and by such tones and arts as shall induce men to believe that what is said is true, when it is known by the speaker to be false.
Have you ever had to deal with a person who speaks very highly of you, telling others how wonderful you are, and then when you are not around, they criticize and lie about you? This person is quick to flatter if there is an advantage in it. This same person is given to hero worship. Who is the star of the day? This is not limited to the entertainment world or the sports arena. These hero worshippers are often active in the body. "Our pastor is the best preacher, the most gifted leader ever to come to our church." “I just love pastors.” Then they are gone. Some other pastor is now the beneficiary of their attentions. Why do you think Jude included this category of people in His epistle? Remember we are earnestly contending for the Faith. Such discernment exercised without the unction of the Holy Spirit and the compassion of Y’Shua will always cause hurt and division. We must always walk softly before the L-rd in these situations. Love and compassion must be balanced with wisdom and the integrity of the body. Compromising the standards of holiness for the sake of unity is not an option. We pray for those that despitefully use us, but we do not promote them and cover our eyes to their transgressions.
Having men's persons in admiration is showing great respect to certain persons, particularly the rich and the great. The idea is that they were not just in the esteem which they had for others, or that they did not appreciate them according to their real worth, but paid special attention to one class in order to promote their selfish ends.
Are you following the Spirit in your choices of entertainment, friends, and appetites? Jude spoke of people who walk after their own ungodly lusts. This means that they allow the lust of the flesh to dictate their standards of decency and morality. Right and wrong is determined by opinion, this is how I feel. The Bible says their conscience has been seared as with a hot iron. Indulgence overwhelms judgment. Ask yourself; is the Holy Spirit or the lust of the flesh more likely to influence my decisions when it comes to choosing what book I read or what movie I watch?
Because of advantage - trying to net-working and rub shoulders with people of importance because they hoped to derive some benefit to themselves!
Guards yourself against seducers and take heed that you think it not strange (so as to stumble and be offended, and have your faith staggered by it.
Execute Righteous Judgment
[Jude 1:14] And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam - The seventh in the direct line of descent from Adam. The line of descent is Adam, Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahaleel, Jared, and Enoch. Genesis 5:22, 24
There is apocryphal writing called "the Book of Enoch," containing a prediction strongly resembling this. "Behold he comes with ten thousand including both angels and the spirits of just men made perfect, to execute judgment upon them, and destroy the wicked, and reprove all the carnal, for everything which the sinful and ungodly have done and committed against him," chapter 2.
When the writer alludes to ten thousands of His saints, he is saying a countless, an innumerable host. Myriad originally meant ten thousand, but the writer made this an unknown plural of ten thousands. They will come with the L-rd to execute judgment.
[15] 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.
To execute judgment upon all - That is, he shall come to judge all the dwellers upon the earth, good and bad.
The word convince we now use commonly in a somewhat limited sense, as meaning to satisfy a man's own mind either of the truth of some proposal, or of the fact that he has done wrong, as being in this latter sense synonymous with the word convict. This conviction is commonly produced by argument or truth, and is not necessarily followed by any sentence of disapprobation, or by any judicial condemnation. But this is clearly not the sense in which the word is used here. The purpose of the coming of the L-rd will not be to convince men in that sense, though it is undoubtedly true that the wicked will see that their lives have been wrong; but it will be to pronounce a sentence on them as the result of the evidence of their guilt. The Greek word which is here used occurs nowhere else in the New Testament.
All that are ungodly among them - All which are not pious; all that have no religion.
Of all their ungodly deeds - Of their wicked actions and words, this is the common doctrine of the Bible, that all the wicked actions and words of men will be called into judgment.
Quoted from an ancient prophecy, we may remark:
1. That the style bears the marks of its being a quotation, or of its being preserved by Jude in the language in which it had been handed down by tradition. It is not the style of Jude. It is not so terse, pointed, and energetic.
2. It has every probable mark of its having been actually delivered by Enoch. The age in which he lived was corrupt. The world was ripening for the deluge. He was himself a good man, and, as would seem perhaps, almost the only good man of his generation. Nothing would be more natural than that he should be reproached by hard words and speeches, and nothing more natural than that he should have pointed the men of his own age to the future judgment.
3. The doctrine of the final judgment, if this was uttered by Enoch, was an early doctrine in the world. It was held even in the first generations of the race. It was one of those great truths early communicated to man to restrain him from sin, and to lead him to prepare for the great events which are to occur on the earth. The same doctrine has been transmitted from age to age, and is now one of the most important and the most affecting that refers to the final destiny of men.
4. It is certain that there was such a prophecy of ancient date, of long standing, and universally received in the Old-Testament church; and it is a main point of our New-Testament creed.
Who will stand in the court of the Captain of the Hosts of the Armies of the L-rd? He is coming to judge the ungodly. He will judge them according to all their ungodly deeds. The idea of judging each of their ungodly deeds certainly points to degrees of punishment. Four times in this one verse Jude uses the word ungodly. Ungodly men, ungodly sinners, ungodly deeds, and, as to the manner, ungodly committed. G-dly or ungodly signifies little with men now-a-days, unless it be to scoff at and deride even the very expressions; but it is not so in the language of the Holy Ghost. It certainly expresses the anger of the L-rd against these people that Jude has described in this epistle. Specifically, he is referring to those who have sinned against G-d by mistreating His Body.
Omissions, as well as commissions, must be accounted for in the Day of Judgment.
Hard speeches of one another, especially if ill-grounded, will most certainly come into account at the judgment of the great day. Let us all take care in time. If you smite fellow Believer and G-d fines a real saint bleeding, look you to it before it is too late, or you will answer for it. It may be too late to say before the angel that it was an error, Ecclesiastes 5:6.
Preaching is not designed to teach us something new in every sermon, somewhat that we knew nothing of before; but to put us in remembrance, to call to mind things forgotten, to affect our passions, and engage and fix our resolutions, that our lives may be answerable to our faith. Though you know these things, yet you still need to know them better. There are many things which we have known which yet we have unhappily forgotten. Is it of no use or service to be put afresh in remembrance of them?
And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam - The seventh in the direct line of descent from Adam. The line of descent is Adam, Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahaleel, Jared, and Enoch. Genesis 5:22, 24
There is apocryphal writing called "the Book of Enoch," containing a prediction strongly resembling this. "Behold he comes with ten thousand including both angels and the spirits of just men made perfect, to execute judgment upon them, and destroy the wicked, and reprove all the carnal, for everything which the sinful and ungodly have done and committed against him," chapter 2.
When the writer alludes to ten thousands of His saints, he is saying a countless, an innumerable host. Myriad originally meant ten thousand, but the writer made this an unknown plural of ten thousands. They will come with the L-rd to execute judgment.
[15] 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.
To execute judgment upon all - That is, he shall come to judge all the dwellers upon the earth, good and bad.
The word convince we now use commonly in a somewhat limited sense, as meaning to satisfy a man's own mind either of the truth of some proposal, or of the fact that he has done wrong, as being in this latter sense synonymous with the word convict. This conviction is commonly produced by argument or truth, and is not necessarily followed by any sentence of disapprobation, or by any judicial condemnation. But this is clearly not the sense in which the word is used here. The purpose of the coming of the L-rd will not be to convince men in that sense, though it is undoubtedly true that the wicked will see that their lives have been wrong; but it will be to pronounce a sentence on them as the result of the evidence of their guilt. The Greek word which is here used occurs nowhere else in the New Testament.
All that are ungodly among them - All which are not pious; all that have no religion.
Of all their ungodly deeds - Of their wicked actions and words, this is the common doctrine of the Bible, that all the wicked actions and words of men will be called into judgment.
Quoted from an ancient prophecy, we may remark:
1. That the style bears the marks of its being a quotation, or of its being preserved by Jude in the language in which it had been handed down by tradition. It is not the style of Jude. It is not so terse, pointed, and energetic.
2. It has every probable mark of its having been actually delivered by Enoch. The age in which he lived was corrupt. The world was ripening for the deluge. He was himself a good man, and, as would seem perhaps, almost the only good man of his generation. Nothing would be more natural than that he should be reproached by hard words and speeches, and nothing more natural than that he should have pointed the men of his own age to the future judgment.
3. The doctrine of the final judgment, if this was uttered by Enoch, was an early doctrine in the world. It was held even in the first generations of the race. It was one of those great truths early communicated to man to restrain him from sin, and to lead him to prepare for the great events which are to occur on the earth. The same doctrine has been transmitted from age to age, and is now one of the most important and the most affecting that refers to the final destiny of men.
4. It is certain that there was such a prophecy of ancient date, of long standing, and universally received in the Old-Testament church; and it is a main point of our New-Testament creed.
Who will stand in the court of the Captain of the Hosts of the Armies of the L-rd? He is coming to judge the ungodly. He will judge them according to all their ungodly deeds. The idea of judging each of their ungodly deeds certainly points to degrees of punishment. Four times in this one verse Jude uses the word ungodly. Ungodly men, ungodly sinners, ungodly deeds, and, as to the manner, ungodly committed. G-dly or ungodly signifies little with men now-a-days, unless it be to scoff at and deride even the very expressions; but it is not so in the language of the Holy Ghost. It certainly expresses the anger of the L-rd against these people that Jude has described in this epistle. Specifically, he is referring to those who have sinned against G-d by mistreating His Body.
Omissions, as well as commissions, must be accounted for in the Day of Judgment.
Hard speeches of one another, especially if ill-grounded, will most certainly come into account at the judgment of the great day. Let us all take care in time. If you smite fellow Believer and G-d fines a real saint bleeding, look you to it before it is too late, or you will answer for it. It may be too late to say before the angel that it was an error, Ecclesiastes 5:6.
Preaching is not designed to teach us something new in every sermon, somewhat that we knew nothing of before; but to put us in remembrance, to call to mind things forgotten, to affect our passions, and engage and fix our resolutions, that our lives may be answerable to our faith. Though you know these things, yet you still need to know them better. There are many things which we have known which yet we have unhappily forgotten. Is it of no use or service to be put afresh in remembrance of them?
Railing Accusations
[Jude 1:9] 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.
[10] 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.
Jude quotes an apocryphal book existing in his time, containing this account, "the Assumption of Moses”. That book is now lost. There is still extant a book in Hebrew, called "the Death of Moses." Jude was making statements to others about them, and showing that they manifested a spirit entirely different from that which the angels evinced even when contending in a just cause against the prince of all evil.
Michael, though provoked by the opposition of the worst being in the universe, still restrained himself from any out breaking of passion, and used only the language of mild but firm rebuke. Durst not - "Did not dare."
A railing accusation, the Greek word is blasphemy. The meaning is, he did not indulge in the language of mere reproach; and it is implied here that such language would be wrong anywhere. If it would be right to bring a railing accusation against any one, it would be against the devil.
But said, The L-rd rebuke thee - The word here used means, properly, to put honor upon; and then to adjudge or confirm. Then it came to be used in the sense of commanding or restraining. He was stating a fact, not mixing words.
In the midst of this rally cry to the armies of the L-rd, Jude takes time to remind us of how we should respond to our enemy. Michael the archangel was disputing with Satan about the body of Moses. Michael no doubt had been witness to some of the greatest battles in the history of spiritual warfare. He was there when Lucifer was kicked out of Heaven. He saw the fall of Adam and Eve. Perhaps he was there when G-d told the serpent that he was cursed. Yet Michael did not rail against the devil. He did not call him names. He did not ridicule. He made no accusations. He simply said the L-rd rebuke you. What an example he gives to believers in the church. It is foolish for us to shout at the enemy, or to sing silly songs about him, or call him names. We are deceiving ourselves when we belittle him. One of the most important aspects of warfare is to know your enemy. When we speak of Satan as having no power or intelligence we leave ourselves open to attack and deception.
In a military connotation (being in the army of G-d) we are reporting to our commanding officer. He gives us orders for resistance, and as we follow His orders we see the enemy fleeing from us. G-d made man subject to vanity, or frustration. We may battle with all our might against the enemy and make no progress. We use all our intellect, our wisdom, our formulas, and our strategies. Still the enemy comes again and again, and we continue to struggle. But doesn’t the Word tell us that He made the way so plain that a wayfaring man though a fool need not err therein? The scripture says to submit yourself therefore unto G-d we must recognize that we are subject to, He is our commanding officer.
How will we resist the enemy? First we must go on the offense. Take a strong stand against sin in your personal life, in your home and family, in the church, in the community, and in our nation. The gates of Hell will not prevail against the body of the Living G-d. There are great victories to be won, but we must say like Caleb, "Give me this mountain". We must be prepared to take enemy territory. There will be casualties. When the battle is hot and fierce, then we draw nigh to G-d. Stay close enough to hear His whisper, to feel His breath. David said, "In the covert of Thy wings will I trust." The covert feathers are the downy feathers that cover the ends of the quills of the wing feathers.
Do not be one who stands and railing accusation at another that is childish! Then running to and fro to make sure everyone knows what transpired. You are to be a soldier in G-d’s army not in the world’s way.
James gives us further instruction for preparing ourselves for battle. He tells us to cleanse our hands and our hearts. This is a reference to righteousness, the works of our hands, and holiness, the condition of our heart. Be afflicted and distressed at the sin around you. Endure hardship as a good soldier. Keep yourself unspotted from the world. Lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily besets you. Then James gives profound words of wisdom. "Humble yourself in the sight of the L-rd, and He shall lift you up." True humility is recognizing that G-d is seeing the L-rd high and lifted up. It is absolute surrender to His will and purpose. It is trusting Him regardless what comes your way. He will promote you in due season.
The devil is capable of many forms of attack, but he works primarily through those who have given themselves over to ungodliness. "But these speak evil of those things which they know not". Remember we are earnestly contending for the faith. Jude is speaking of people who have come into the church. They justify their evil ways by condemning the righteous. You can hear them singing, "I did it my way." Beware of people who are governed by emotion, opinion, and worldly standards. We must understand that there is a time for witnessing, a time to defend the faith, and a time to stop, lest we be guilty of casting our pearls before swine.
How do people determine what is right and wrong if they are not following the leadership of the Holy Spirit as He opens to them the Word of G-d? They revert to animal appetites and their own carnal nature. They are corrupted and they have corrupted themselves. They listen to voices and make choices. They hear the Word. You have witnessed to them. But they also hear advertisements, see the example of entertainers and other worldly influences; they associate with other people without spiritual guidance. Eventually they develop passions and lusts that become the controlling forces in their lives.
Do not be railing accusation, remember who your Commander is.
[10] 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.
Jude quotes an apocryphal book existing in his time, containing this account, "the Assumption of Moses”. That book is now lost. There is still extant a book in Hebrew, called "the Death of Moses." Jude was making statements to others about them, and showing that they manifested a spirit entirely different from that which the angels evinced even when contending in a just cause against the prince of all evil.
Michael, though provoked by the opposition of the worst being in the universe, still restrained himself from any out breaking of passion, and used only the language of mild but firm rebuke. Durst not - "Did not dare."
A railing accusation, the Greek word is blasphemy. The meaning is, he did not indulge in the language of mere reproach; and it is implied here that such language would be wrong anywhere. If it would be right to bring a railing accusation against any one, it would be against the devil.
But said, The L-rd rebuke thee - The word here used means, properly, to put honor upon; and then to adjudge or confirm. Then it came to be used in the sense of commanding or restraining. He was stating a fact, not mixing words.
In the midst of this rally cry to the armies of the L-rd, Jude takes time to remind us of how we should respond to our enemy. Michael the archangel was disputing with Satan about the body of Moses. Michael no doubt had been witness to some of the greatest battles in the history of spiritual warfare. He was there when Lucifer was kicked out of Heaven. He saw the fall of Adam and Eve. Perhaps he was there when G-d told the serpent that he was cursed. Yet Michael did not rail against the devil. He did not call him names. He did not ridicule. He made no accusations. He simply said the L-rd rebuke you. What an example he gives to believers in the church. It is foolish for us to shout at the enemy, or to sing silly songs about him, or call him names. We are deceiving ourselves when we belittle him. One of the most important aspects of warfare is to know your enemy. When we speak of Satan as having no power or intelligence we leave ourselves open to attack and deception.
In a military connotation (being in the army of G-d) we are reporting to our commanding officer. He gives us orders for resistance, and as we follow His orders we see the enemy fleeing from us. G-d made man subject to vanity, or frustration. We may battle with all our might against the enemy and make no progress. We use all our intellect, our wisdom, our formulas, and our strategies. Still the enemy comes again and again, and we continue to struggle. But doesn’t the Word tell us that He made the way so plain that a wayfaring man though a fool need not err therein? The scripture says to submit yourself therefore unto G-d we must recognize that we are subject to, He is our commanding officer.
How will we resist the enemy? First we must go on the offense. Take a strong stand against sin in your personal life, in your home and family, in the church, in the community, and in our nation. The gates of Hell will not prevail against the body of the Living G-d. There are great victories to be won, but we must say like Caleb, "Give me this mountain". We must be prepared to take enemy territory. There will be casualties. When the battle is hot and fierce, then we draw nigh to G-d. Stay close enough to hear His whisper, to feel His breath. David said, "In the covert of Thy wings will I trust." The covert feathers are the downy feathers that cover the ends of the quills of the wing feathers.
Do not be one who stands and railing accusation at another that is childish! Then running to and fro to make sure everyone knows what transpired. You are to be a soldier in G-d’s army not in the world’s way.
James gives us further instruction for preparing ourselves for battle. He tells us to cleanse our hands and our hearts. This is a reference to righteousness, the works of our hands, and holiness, the condition of our heart. Be afflicted and distressed at the sin around you. Endure hardship as a good soldier. Keep yourself unspotted from the world. Lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily besets you. Then James gives profound words of wisdom. "Humble yourself in the sight of the L-rd, and He shall lift you up." True humility is recognizing that G-d is seeing the L-rd high and lifted up. It is absolute surrender to His will and purpose. It is trusting Him regardless what comes your way. He will promote you in due season.
The devil is capable of many forms of attack, but he works primarily through those who have given themselves over to ungodliness. "But these speak evil of those things which they know not". Remember we are earnestly contending for the faith. Jude is speaking of people who have come into the church. They justify their evil ways by condemning the righteous. You can hear them singing, "I did it my way." Beware of people who are governed by emotion, opinion, and worldly standards. We must understand that there is a time for witnessing, a time to defend the faith, and a time to stop, lest we be guilty of casting our pearls before swine.
How do people determine what is right and wrong if they are not following the leadership of the Holy Spirit as He opens to them the Word of G-d? They revert to animal appetites and their own carnal nature. They are corrupted and they have corrupted themselves. They listen to voices and make choices. They hear the Word. You have witnessed to them. But they also hear advertisements, see the example of entertainers and other worldly influences; they associate with other people without spiritual guidance. Eventually they develop passions and lusts that become the controlling forces in their lives.
Do not be railing accusation, remember who your Commander is.
Immorality & Perversion
[Jude 1:7] 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.
Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them were judged for immorality and perversion, or homosexuality. G-d in His wrath sent down fire and brimstone and destroyed every person in these cities. When we read of churches anointing gay pastors and bishops we should remember G-d’s response to this sin in days of old.
Woe unto them that call evil good and good evil!
The word woe is synonymous with anathema, or cursed. To this day the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah are suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Going after strange flesh - The reference seems to be to the peculiar sin which, from the name Sodom, has been called sodomy. Romans 1:27. The meaning of the phrase going after is that they were greatly addicted to this vice. The word strange, or other, refers to that which is contrary to nature and detestable gratifications of their pampered and indulged flesh."
Are set forth for an example - They furnish a warning against all such conduct, and a demonstration that punishment shall come upon the ungodly. The condemnation of any sinner, or of any class of sinners, always furnishes such a warning.
The reason for Jude’ concern was that these terrible sins had been brought into the church. Certain men had crept in unawares. Why were we unaware?
Were we complacent?
Were we given to compromise?
Did we substitute tolerance for diligence?
Jude is issuing a warning to church leaders to be sober and vigilant about the enemy of our souls, and that warning is specifically aimed at people who come into the body of believers to carry out the work of Satan.
They may try to sow discord. They may suggest compromising our standards.
They may subtly and slowly distract from the sovereignty of G-d.
They may deny the deity of Messiah.
The Word speaks of people who would heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. There are many ways that the enemy will use people to rob the church of its power and its glory.
If Satan can get our focus off Messiah and onto the latest gossip, cliques, splits, or whatever divides us, he has accomplished his purpose.
If he can make you doubt that Y’Shua is Immanuel, G-d With Us, then he has robbed you of your access to the Father.
If he can get you to compromise and excuse sin, he has stolen your robes of righteousness and replaced them with filthy rags.
Since he will attack in so many ways, is it any wonder Jude was compelled to exhort us to earnestly contend for the faith?
If G-d spared not these cities, why should we think He would excuse America?
Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them were judged for immorality and perversion, or homosexuality. G-d in His wrath sent down fire and brimstone and destroyed every person in these cities. When we read of churches anointing gay pastors and bishops we should remember G-d’s response to this sin in days of old.
Woe unto them that call evil good and good evil!
The word woe is synonymous with anathema, or cursed. To this day the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah are suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Going after strange flesh - The reference seems to be to the peculiar sin which, from the name Sodom, has been called sodomy. Romans 1:27. The meaning of the phrase going after is that they were greatly addicted to this vice. The word strange, or other, refers to that which is contrary to nature and detestable gratifications of their pampered and indulged flesh."
Are set forth for an example - They furnish a warning against all such conduct, and a demonstration that punishment shall come upon the ungodly. The condemnation of any sinner, or of any class of sinners, always furnishes such a warning.
The reason for Jude’ concern was that these terrible sins had been brought into the church. Certain men had crept in unawares. Why were we unaware?
Were we complacent?
Were we given to compromise?
Did we substitute tolerance for diligence?
Jude is issuing a warning to church leaders to be sober and vigilant about the enemy of our souls, and that warning is specifically aimed at people who come into the body of believers to carry out the work of Satan.
They may try to sow discord. They may suggest compromising our standards.
They may subtly and slowly distract from the sovereignty of G-d.
They may deny the deity of Messiah.
The Word speaks of people who would heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. There are many ways that the enemy will use people to rob the church of its power and its glory.
If Satan can get our focus off Messiah and onto the latest gossip, cliques, splits, or whatever divides us, he has accomplished his purpose.
If he can make you doubt that Y’Shua is Immanuel, G-d With Us, then he has robbed you of your access to the Father.
If he can get you to compromise and excuse sin, he has stolen your robes of righteousness and replaced them with filthy rags.
Since he will attack in so many ways, is it any wonder Jude was compelled to exhort us to earnestly contend for the faith?
If G-d spared not these cities, why should we think He would excuse America?
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