Last week, we covered the first part of Jude’s book. If you missed it, please go through it before we start on the second part.
The book of Jude warns us against Misleaders.
Jude spends a good amount of time in this letter warning us against false teachers and misleaders. He tells us to be careful of people who lead by:
- Their dreams
- Feelings
Believers have been misled by people who speak not according to the word of God but according to their dreams and feelings. These people claim to be speaking for God, but that is further from the truth. But thanks be to God that He has given us His Holy Spirit, who helps us discern whether something is from God or from other sources.
How to discern if something is from God?
If a message is from God, there is peace that is attached to it. A message from God might be heavy, it might be something that you did not want to hear, but it will always be followed by a sense of peace.
God as a king vs as a father
Jude 1:14-15 NKJV
Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.
As believers, we relate with God as our Father.
Romans 8: 15 NKJV
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
We have received adoption into this family of God, allowing us to call God our Father. Now, a father is good, kind, forgiving, and anticipating the needs of his children. God has given us the right to approach and relate with Him as a Father. Yet, a time is coming (the second coming of Christ), when God will come as the King to execute judgment on all. A father is merciful, a king? Not so much. Remember the story of the widow and the unjust judge in Luke 18?
The Advantage of a Believer
As a believer, you have been washed by the blood of Jesus, and that blood does not stop washing you
1 John 1:7-8
But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
This means that whenever you fall short of His glory, all you need to do is confess your sin, and our Father, who is faithful and just will cleanse you from all unrighteousness (v. 9)
Does God hate sinners?
God is intolerant of sin. This is why He sent His son on the earth to die for us so that He can save us from sin. However, God does not hate sinners. How could He, if He loved us so much (while we were still sinners) that He sent His son to die for us?
If you find yourself sinning, do not run away from God, rather, run to Him because He is gracious to forgive and even to strengthen you and keep you from falling.
Who is an enemy of God
Jude 1:15b
And of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
An enemy of God is anyone who stands against the will of God. These are the people who get scattered when the Lord arises.
Food for thought:
Are you in the will of God or standing in the way of His will? Are you the one who is frustrating God’s will for your life?
Beware of these people
Jude1:16 Easy
Those people are always complaining. They like to accuse other people. They do any bad things that will make themselves happy. They speak great things about themselves, to show how important they are. They praise other people only so that they can get something good for themselves.
Be careful of people who are:
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Professional complainers
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Fault finders
If there are people who can suck the joy out of your life are people who are always complaining or finding fault with you. Have you ever spent a day with someone and at the end of it, instead of feeling happy or encouraged you feel bummed out than ever? These are the people who will put you under pressure for no good reason. They are the kind of people who will make you feel as if your life is not complete because you do not have one thing or the other. People have stolen and even killed because of the pressure of such people. These are the people to stay far away from.
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Mockers of your faith
If your friends are the kind of people who mock and insult you because of your faith in God, run from them. These are the kind of people who cause you to stagnate when you listen to them instead of making progress as you are meant to.
Jude 1:18-19 Easy
They said to you, ‘In the last days of this world, some people will laugh at God’s message.[k] They will say that it is silly to obey God. Instead, they will do the bad things that they want to do. Those things do not please God.’ It is people like this who cause you to argue with one another, so that you belong to separate groups. Their thoughts belong to this world. They do not have God’s Spirit in them.
Praying in the Spirit
Jude 1:20 NKJV
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.
When Jesus was about to be crucified, He comforted His disciples, telling them that He was not leaving them helpless, but He would give them the Holy Spirit. He knew that as believers, thriving in this world would be difficult without the help of the Holy Spirit. He (the Holy Spirit) is the one who searches the hearts and who knows the mind of God. He is the one who helps us to pray. This is why you need to pray in the Holy Ghost in all circumstances. Pray in the Holy Spirit when you’re:
- Anxious
- Unsure
- Sad
- In need of help
- Happy
- Depressed
- Preparing for that exam or interview
- IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES
Praying in the Spirit not only edifies you but it gives you strategies that will help you win in life. So, beloved, pray in the spirit!
Be Kind but Cautious
Jude 1:21-23 Easy
Continue to live in a way that shows God’s love. As you wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to come, remember that he is very kind. Because of that, you will have life with God forever. Help those people who do not know whether to trust God. Be kind to them. Some people are in great danger. You must save them from the fire of God’s punishment.[l] Also be kind to people who have done wicked and disgusting things. But be careful! Do not let their sins make you bad too.
Have you ever tried walking with someone who was struggling with a sin only for you to find yourself falling for the same sin? Maybe you went to a bar to get someone struggling with an alcohol addiction only for you to back home drunker than the person you went to save? Be kind, don’t give up on people who are in danger of hell. Yet, be careful that you don’t lose yourself in the process.
The Grace that keeps you from falling
Jude 1:24 AMP
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling or falling into sin, and to present you unblemished [blameless and faultless] in the presence of His glory with triumphant joy and unspeakable delight
The Book of Jude reminds us that as a believer, you are not exempt from sin. This means that when you find yourself sinning or struggling with an addiction, you do not need to run away from God. As long as you are in the flesh, you are still susceptible to the enticements of sin. However, there is grace to save you from sin. Anyone born of God does not continue to sin. This is not something that you can do on your own; but with the help of God. There is grace to keep you from falling. He who is faithful and merciful is able to keep you from stumbling; to hide you where the enemy cannot find you.
Shall we pray?
“Thank you, Father. Thank you for the grace that is freely available to me. Thank you for your Holy Spirit who teaches me to pray and strengthens me in all circumstances. Thank you because you can keep me from falling. Thank you for your goodness and mercy are always following me. Thank you for daily I am victorious; daily I am wrapped in God’s mercies and favor. Thank you Jesus for you are for me. Thank you for you are with me.
Amen”
Go ye forth and prosper!
Shalom.