Crisis in the church
August 17, 2003 AM
Jude 1
The church of Jesus Christ is in a crisis today.
We are being attacked not from the outside -- but from the inside.
Let’s look at Jude -- we’ll begin with chapter 1, verse 1,
And we’ll just read the whole book, every chapter, every verse.
All 25 of the them ....
One fellow said he used pray that he would hold out until the end,
Now he just hopes his end holds out.
(Jude 1:1 NKJV) Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ:
So Jude is writing here to believers -- not just casual christians -- but to core believers within the church.
Those who are called -- those who are sancitfied, or set apart -- literally those who are not a part of the world’s system of doing things,
The called, the sanctified, and the preserved -- the watched over -- the ones whom God is keeping His eye on.
It’s to these he writes;
(Jude 1:2 NKJV) Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.
Then comes the heart of his letter;
(Jude 1:3 NKJV) Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.
Contend means to fight for -- to battle for -- to struggle for
(Jude 1:4 NKJV) For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jude was writing to deal with a church time that was not so different from our own time frame.
He tells us that there were people who had worked their way into the church --
And had corrupted it’s doctrine and it’s thinking.
And they had turned the scriptures around to give them license to commit sexual sin --
Literally "turning the grace of God into lewdness."
We are experiencing a time when much the same thing has happened.
People have worked their way into certain churches and have convinced them that sexual sin is okay --
That perversion is exceptable, even honorable.
But hear me this morning -- sin is sin, and God will not tolerate it.
And that includes sexual sin,
And the sin of homosexuality, the sin of fornication, the sin of adultry, and sexual sin is just that -- it is a sin.
And God has not changed His mind about sin
He has not changed his mind about sexual perversion,
He has not suddenly decided to overlook homosexuality,
He has not chosen to re-interpret the scriptures,
He stands by His word which says in His eyes homosexual acts are an abomination.
And God will not simply let it slide.
He will not ignore those who flaught sin in His face.
Jude continues;
(Jude 1:5 NKJV) But I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.
(Jude 1:6 NKJV) And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day;
(Jude 1:7 NKJV) as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
What he’s saying is -- he did not spare the children of Israel, he did not spare even angels, much less the people of Sodom and Gomora -- he’s not about to spare the people of today either.
(Jude 1:8 NKJV) Likewise also these dreamers --
Who is he talking about -- who are "the dreamers"?
They are the ones who have slipped into the church and have seduced people into believing that sexual sin, that perversion, that homosexuality is not really a sin ..
(Jude 1:8 NKJV) Likewise also these dreamers -- defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries.
(Jude 1:9 NKJV) Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"
(Jude 1:10 NKJV) But these .....
Who are "these" ?
"These" are the men who have brought perversion into the church"
(Jude 1:10 NKJV) But these ..... speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves.
Let me read that verse 10 from the Living Bible;
(Jude 1:10 TLB) But these men mock and curse at anything they do not understand, and like animals, they do whatever they feel like, thereby ruining their souls.
The NIV says they "follow their instincts like animals."
Listen to me carefully -- I am not a hate monger, I am not preaching a message of hate.
I am preaching a message of basic scriptural knowledge.
God loves people -- but hates sin.
He has always loved people, and always hated sin.
The Bible commands that we are to love people -- but to hate sin.
Homosexuals are people and we are to love them -- but the homosexual lifestyle is sin, and we are to hate that sin.
I refuse to get caught up in the debate of whether homosexuality is genetic or environmental --
The difference is a mute point -
Jude says -- even if they are following their instincts -- genetics -- they are behaving like wild animals --
And they will lose their souls.
The arguement of genetics or environment is worthless because the end result is the same --
Sin is sin, and sinners are judged before God and punished --
The truth is -- we are all born into sin -- we are all born sinners -- and we have change that nature in order to be acceptable before God.
The Bible says very clearly "The wages of sin is death --"
The second reason for avoiding the gentetic vs. environment debate when it comes to homosexuality is --
Sex outside of marriage is called fornication or adultery --
Both are also considered death penalty sins according to the Bible.
The homosexual lifestyle is not one of monogamy - and scriptually two men or two women cannot be married.
So the homosexual lifestyle cannot be defended from any Biblical stand point.
Sin is sin -- whether you call something else or not --
Alternate lifestyle is point blank a sinful lifestyle that leads to eternal judgement.
And the good deeds. the kind hearts, warm friendship, does not alter the sin, nor change the punishment.
(Jude 1:11 NKJV) Woe to them!
Who is he talking about?
The ones who have tried to pervert the church ...
(Jude 1:11 NKJV) Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.
Three old testiment examples here --
First was Cain -- what did Cain do?
First, he offered God an unholy sacrifice.
He offered God the leftovers of his crops.
He gave God not the first fruits -- but he offered God what he wanted God to have.
God did not accept his offering -- so Cain became angry and killed the one who had honored God and was blessed.
What do we see in the church world today --
Those whose lifestyles have been rejected by God have risen up in anger,
And want to destroy the voice of those who preach the truth.
The second example given was that of Balaam.
Balaam was willing to preach whatever people wanted to hear -- if the price was right.
On CNN the other day the newly elected gay bishop commented that even if the church splits --
Then all those prejudice, intolerant people will leave --
And they will be replaced by gays who will gladly give money to support an inclusive church.
The third example was that of Korah,
Korah rose up against Moses and Aaron.
He was angry that neither he nor any of his people ever got to lead in worship --
God had clearly outlined who could and who could not perform the various acts of worship.
And Korah and his people were not from the ones God had selected to lead as priests.
But Korah demanded to be allowed to light the incense pots.
And when he tried to lead in worship with the incense --
The Bible says a "giant crack in the earth opened up and consumed him and every one around him".
God refused to accept the worship --
God called it "strange fire" and it was unacceptable.
And God destroyed Korah for it.
And what we see today parallels what Jude was dealing with in his day.
Angry, militant gays, who are mad at the Bible believing saints, and who want to see their churches destroyed,
People who want to use their money and influence to seduce other churches and christians into allowing them to pervert the Gospel.
Gays who want to worship God their own way, and want to transform perversion into honor.
Jude then continues;
(Jude 1:12 NKJV) These ...
Who are "these"?
Again -- the ones who want to seduce the church into accepting and honoring what God calls "perverted".
(Jude 1:12 NKJV) These ... are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots;
(Jude 1:13 NKJV) raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.
Jude again says here -- God will not let their sin go unpunished.
They are not true believers, they are not children of God, they are not followers of Christ.
(Jude 1:14 NKJV) Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, "Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints,
(Jude 1:15 NKJV) "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."
Then Jude begins to explain how all this happens -- how these people have managed to infiltrate the church to begin with --
(Jude 1:16 NKJV) These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage.
Let me get down where we live --
I have read reports from people in the service industry,
Waiters, waitresses, parking valets, etc..
And these people have said that the gay community are better tippers, more pleasant to be around, and friendlier than anyone else.
Including -- the believers.
The most common description of an actively gay person is they are so polite, and kind, and sweet.
They will do anything for you.
You’re right -- they will.
That is why so many people are becoming so tolerant of their sin.
But Jude gives wisdom to the saints here:
(Jude 1:17 NKJV) But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ:
(Jude 1:18 NKJV) how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts.
(Jude 1:19 NKJV) These are sensual persons,
That word "sensual" is the same for "sensitive and caring" .....
(Jude 1:19 NKJV) These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.
Don’t tell me that people who live in a homosexual lifestyle are filled with the Holy spirit --
The Bible says here clearly that they are not.
(Jude 1:20 NKJV) But you, beloved,
Now who is he talking about?
The true church -- the Bible believing church -- the ones who accept God’s word over man’s word.
(Jude 1:20 NKJV) But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
(Jude 1:21 NKJV) keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jude mentions four things here that will keep you and the church strong. and protected from perverted influence;
1) build yourselves up in the most holy faith.
The phrase "most holy faith" is two greek words that convey the concept of walking "blameless and with a pure heart" before God.
Building your self up --
That reminds me of an exercise program --
Building yourself up -- pumping spiritual iron -- holy calisthenics.
Bible study, prayer, worship, thanksgiving, fellowship with godly believers,
Surrounding yourself with people of faith, not people who tolerate perversion.
2) The second thing Jude teaches is "praying in the Holy Spirit".
That’s why it is so important to seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
He becomes your filter.
Everything runs through him.
Our TV is equipped with that device called the "TV Guardian"
It works of of the closed caption part of the program.
And what it does is when it sees a cuss word is coming it mutes the sound portion of the program so that you don’t have to hear the bad words.
It’s very cool.
It even will print the dialogue on the screen if you want and replace the bad words with something less offensive.
When we can pray in the Holy Spirit -- using our prayer language -- we allow Him to be our filter.
Not the events and headlines of the day, or what CNN says - the Holy Spirit is our filter.
3) Thirdly he says, "Keeping youselves in the love of God"
The living Bible says, "stay within the boundaries God has established."
Keep your own life pure before God.
4) Fourthly he says - "looking for the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ that brings our own eternal life."
Our salvation, our hope is not this world nor it’s systems, nor it’s lifestyles --
(Heb 12:2 KJV) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith ..
Then Jude gives us direction for reaching out to the lost;
(Jude 1:22 NKJV) And on some have compassion, making a distinction;
The NRSV explains that one the easiest;
(Jude 1:22 NRSV) And have mercy on those who are wavering;
You see there are some who want out of sin
There are people who are fed up with living a life of sin
There are some who just can’t take another day of sin.
There are some who want out of their perverted lifestyles,
There are some who long to be free,
There are some people who recognize what God’s word says, and they desire to follow God.
Jude says to those -- extend mercy.
Then He writes;
(Jude 1:23 NKJV) but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
Let me read that from TLB;
(Jude 1:23 TLB) Save some by snatching them as from the very flames of hell itself. And as for others, help them to find the Lord by being kind to them, but be careful that you yourselves aren’t pulled along into their sins. Hate every trace of their sin while being merciful to them as sinners.
You cannot win the lost by condoning their sin --
Sin must be called what it is -- sin.
Don’t allow your heart to overrule your Spirit and you become tolerant of their sin.
Guard your mind and your Spirit -- the goal of the entertainment industry today is to make Homosexuality funny, friendly, and acceptable.
I don’t think believers should even be watching the shows that promote the gay lifestyle.
It’s not funny, it’s perversion,
It’s not cute, it’s an abomination before God.
And I don’t think something that offends Gods so drastically ought to be considered entertainment by the ones who say they love Him.
I know, I hard nosed -- but I want to walk with a pure heart and clean hands before Him.
(Jude 1:24 NKJV) Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
(Jude 1:25 NKJV) To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.
Church, I dare not close this message leaving you with the thought that the only sin we need to deal with is sexual sin.
The emphasis this morning has been on the sin of homosexual behaviour because the headlines have been focused on the honor being bestowed on that perversion.
But as a church we cannot allow sin -- in any form, in any situation,
To be accepted into the body of Christ.
And we must declare that those who practice sin -- are indeed sinners.
I do not care how long they have been in church, or what family they came from.
Those who choose to live in sin are not believers,
And they are in need of repenting of their sin before God.
And without that repentance there is no forgiving of their sin,
And repentance is more than saying I’m sorry --
It’s walking away from that sin and not coming back.
What kind of sin you are in, is not the issue --
That you are in sin is.
Jesus came to seek and to save that which is lost.
He came to forgive sins that you might have eternal life.
This sermon may be preached in part, or in whole without permission or acknowledgement
