Yesterday’s post Time to Integrate took me into a space I wanted to dig into a little more.
RECAP:
Jude 1: 14-16 “Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge every one, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly acts they have done in their ungodly way, and of all the harsh ungodly words sinners have spoken against him. These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.”
You’ll notice there that at the very center of that description of human life and character and nature at the close of this age, the word ungodly occurs four times in the one verse. Ungodly men, ungodly acts, ungodly words and ungodly way of life. That’s one of the facts that we’re confronted with in contemporary society—ungodliness is rampant. Do you see the one primary expression of these ungodly men Jude says, “these men are grumblers.” Grumbling is a sure mark of ungodliness just as persistent praise is an evidence of godliness.
Blog – Time to Integrate
Today I decided to take a quick trip through the Book of Jude. It is a little, one chapter book right before the Book of Revelation. Jude is a letter to those who are “the called, beloved in God and kept for Jesus.” Jude says to the believer – mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.
Right off the bat Jude appeals to us to move to action. Over the course of this one chapter he gives us 6 things to do!
Jude 1:3 3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
- Contend earnestly for the faith
like a wrestler in a match – work hard and diligently
- Know the Truth
- Know the Word
- Know the Gospel
Jude1: 4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed ..
Certain creepers have come in unnoticed. These are people who are in the church. Apparently if you are not paying attention you wouldnt even notice there were creepers.
Creeper is defined in botany as any plant that grows along the ground, around another plant, or up a wall by means of extending stems or branches. Its a tendril plant. It uses other plants as structure to hold itself up. In the game of Minecraft -“the creepers” are a hostile mob. The term as I’ve heard it also relates to someone who acts in a creepy, or inappropriate, way.
Can we agree that perhaps we don’t want to be a creeper?
- These are Ungodly people who turn grace into licentiousness (sin that is practiced without shame, without any sense of conscience or decency, sexual sins, brazen anti-biblical teaching)
- These are people who by their living deny Christ.
He gives examples of this in history:
- Egypt – after saving the people out of Egypt the Lord destroyed those who did not believe.
- Angels – who didn’t keep their proper domain are held in eternal bonds.
- Sodom and Gomorrah – indulged in gross immorality experienced the punishment of eternal fire.
These creepers – dream up ways to defile the flesh, reject authority and revile angelic majesties and do it not understanding but rather do things by instinct like an unreasoning animal – they will be destroyed by these things.
He continues with examples of this creeper type of living:
Jude 1:11 Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion.
They have gone the way of Cain
– To offer to God without Faith. (Heb 11:6) Without faith it is impossible to please God.
– To respond to rejection with murder. (Genesis 4:5-8) Cain killed Abel
To go the way of unbelief and empty religion, which leads to jealousy, persecution of the truly godly, and eventually to murderous anger.
For pay they are walking in the error of Balaam (Numbers 22 to 25 and 31)
- Lusted after riches and was willing to compromise everything for money.
There is not a single sin that a corrupt man will not commit for the sake of money. Covetousness is such a dangerous sin that it killed Jesus – 30 pieces of silver helped put Jesus on the cross.
Rebellion of Korah (Numbers 16)
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.
- The followers of Korah resented the authority that Moses had been given by God. Korah had his own God-appointed sphere of ministry, yet he was not content with it. He wanted the ministry and the authority of Moses.
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.
These creepers have a certain way of being:
- They serve their own selves first
- Like empty clouds going wherever the next “thing” is
- Fruitless trees
- Wild waves – untamable
- Like stinky “shameful” sea foam
- Wandering stars – fancy but no true guidance or navigation of life – useless and untrustworthy
Enoch prophesied of these creepers who would rampantly inhabit the last days:
- Ungodly in all their ways
- Ungodly deeds
- Ungodly words
He says these creepers are:
- Grumblers
- Faultfinders
- Following after their own lusts
- Speaking arrogantly
- Flattering others to gain an advantage
Ok…… can we just say it? Dont be a creeper!
BUT TO THE BELOVED, HE SAYS REMEMBER….
In the last days there will be mockers who follow after their own ungodly lusts.
THESE ARE THE ONES – who cause division, who are worldly minded, and are devoid of the Spirit.
BUT YOU….. BELOVED – do this:
2. Build yourselves up on your most holy faith – keep growing spiritually
3. Praying in the Spirit – pray what the Spirit wants to pray about – not pray what and how you want to
4. Keep yourself in the love of God – keep yourself in harmony with God’s ever-present love.
5. Wait anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus to eternal life – keep the blessed hope of Jesus’ soon return alive in our hearts
Concerning those who have been influenced by the creepers:
- Have mercy on some who are doubting – watching over someone, helping them with accountability.
- Save others, snatching them out of fire, have mercy with fear – these must be confronted more strongly but watch yourself unless you fall into sin
Jude ends his call to move to action with this last statement:
6. Hate the garment polluted with flesh – keeping yourselves at the utmost distance from what is or appears evil.
To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Jude 1:24-25 The Doxology
What a great little book!
Thanks for Listening,
Starla
Sunday2Monday 