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Jude 17-23 · Providence Baptist Church - Sermons

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Go ahead and take your copy of God's Word and open to the book of Jude.
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! We're going to be looking at verses 17 through 23 this morning.
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So we've talked about the examples of false teachers.
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We've talked about the specific false teaching that Jude's opponents are guilty of, namely antinomianism.
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We've talked about the threat that false teachers pose to the church.
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We've talked about the character of false teachers and so many other facets pertaining to false teachers and false teaching.
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In our first week especially, we talked about how false teachers always arise within the church.
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So we would never call a Buddhist or a Hindu a false teacher, even though everything they teach is blatantly not true.
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But a false teacher, biblically speaking, is one who professes faith in God, who proclaims to follow God,
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and yet distorts God's Word, distorts who God is, and then lives wickedly and teaches others to do likewise.
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So, in short, everything about a false teacher is a lie.
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What they say and how they live, it's all a lie.
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So, knowing these truths, knowing these realities, Jude writes to the church on the occasion of this infiltration by false teachers.
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And his overall charge to the church is simple.
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Verse 3, contend for the faith.
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And so today, we're finally going to see what contending for the faith looks like in Jude's mind.
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He's going to tell us what to do.
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So, looking at Jude, verse 17 then, Jude writes to the church.
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He says,
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But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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They said to you, in the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.
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It is these who cause divisions, worldly people devoid of the Spirit.
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But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
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keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.
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And have mercy on those who doubt.
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Save others by snatching them out of the fire.
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To others, show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
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So, before we get into our outline, I want to address something briefly.
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It's come to my attention that some might be wondering,
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Why are we studying this book?
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What does all this have to do with me?
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Perhaps you're thinking, I'm just trying to be a good spouse, or a good parent, or a good friend right now.
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Or you might think, I don't know any false teachers,
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or I don't know anyone being duped by false teaching,
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so why this book?
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And obviously, I do not know if anyone is thinking in those terms.
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I certainly hope nobody is thinking in those terms.
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And I even doubt anybody really is.
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But just in case someone is, let me briefly explain why you need Jude right now.
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2 Timothy 3, verses 16 through 17 says,
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So those two verses alone should silence any thought of us thinking we do not need Jude right now.
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And do not hear that as some cliche reference, but that is the word of God.
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So Paul is telling us in a very real sense that the book of Jude is profitable for teaching,
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for reproof, and for correction, and for training of righteousness.
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The book of Jude equips us for every good work.
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And so if you have found the last few weeks as irrelevant or unhelpful,
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that probably says more about me and my preaching than it does about the book of Jude.
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So if I have failed in that way, then I genuinely apologize.
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But do not blame Jude.
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I would encourage you to spend time in Jude to prayerfully consider how God is desiring to shape
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and mold you in light of the reality of false teachers and what Jude tells us about them.
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And I will tell you these truths in Jude and these realities in Jude are essential for you
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to be a good spouse, a good parent, and a good friend.
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The day will come, if it has not already,
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when your spouse or your child or your friend will be caught up in false teaching.
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And there will be more than one day.
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This happens many times.
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They will hear something that tickles their ear.
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They will hear something that makes them feel free to sin.
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And they will try to get you to come along with them
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and condone such thinking and such living.
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So you need to be ready.
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You need to be aware of such things.
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And most importantly, you need to know how to contend for the faith.
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So as to keep yourself and your loved ones on the right path
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so that you might be a faithful messenger whom God uses to preserve his people.
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Now, if you are doubtful about the chances of you or anyone you know
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coming into contact with false teachers or false teaching,
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then listen to our first application and corresponding verses carefully.
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Application number one.
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Remember the predictions of the apostles.
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Jude says,
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But you must remember, beloved, in verse 17,
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the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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They said to you in the last time,
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there will be scoffers following their own ungodly passions.
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It is these who cause divisions,
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worldly people devoid of the Spirit.
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So you will notice that Jude switches back to addressing the believers in this letter.
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The last few weeks he has been talking about and talking to the false teachers,
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but now he is telling the believers what he wants to tell them.
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And immediately we see that the apostles themselves are under the authority of Jesus Christ.
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Not the authority of dreams like the false teachers from last week, right?
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But under the authority of Christ,
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these apostles warned that in the church there will be scoffers.
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So make no mistake, it is prophesied.
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And so we would all be foolish to doubt that we will encounter false teachers and false teachings in our life,
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in our community.
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It will happen.
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And the Greek word for scoffer is empektai.
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One scholar defines this term well.
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He says that an empektai is one who, quote,
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despises morality and true religion.
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He is arrogant and he is a godless libertine.
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What a fitting word to describe those whom Jude is up against.
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The false teacher is inherently also a scoffer.
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That is who they are and what they do.
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Recall that it was scoffers who crucified our Lord.
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Matthew 27, verse 29 says,
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And twisting together a crown of thorns,
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they put it on Jesus' head and put a reed in his right hand.
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And kneeling before him, they mocked or scoffed at him, saying,
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Hail, King of the Jews.
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They mocked him in an irreverent, ungodly way.
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And Matthew goes on to describe in verse 31, he writes,
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And when they had mocked or scoffed at Jesus,
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they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him
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and led him away to crucify him.
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And in verses 41 through 42, Matthew tells us this.
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He says,
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So also the chief priests with the scribes and the elders
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mocked or scoffed at Jesus, saying,
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He saved others, but he cannot save himself.
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He is the King of Israel.
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Let him come down now from the cross,
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and we will believe in him.
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So notice in Matthew's Gospel,
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we see both the pagan Romans
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and the so-called God-fearing Israelite leaders
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mocking or scoffing at the Lord,
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God incarnate.
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There is no reverence.
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There is no sense of submitting to Christ's lordship.
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All these people hated Jesus.
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So let that image,
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that image of all these people
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wickedly treating our Lord,
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be the image you think of
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when you picture these false teachers
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that Jude is addressing.
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It is no exaggeration to say
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they are one and the same
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of the exact type of person.
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They hate Jesus.
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Jude 4 tells us this.
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They say, or Jude says,
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they deny our only Master and Lord,
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Jesus Christ.
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And in our text today,
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he says that they are people
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who are following their own ungodly passions.
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So at this point in Jude's very brief letter,
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he has called these false teachers ungodly six times.
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He adds here that they are proactively following
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their ungodly passions.
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This is a way of life for them.
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And the Greek word for passions here is epithumies.
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This word is often translated as lust in our Bible,
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and with that we tend to think of specifically
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sexual temptation or sin of some kind.
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And given the rest of the letter
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that we've studied so far,
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that may very well be what Jude has in mind.
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However, this term can also just denote
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an extreme or intense desire for anything.
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You could have an intense desire or passion
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for money or power or the praise of man
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or anything.
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It's an uncontrollable desire.
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You are a slave to this type of desire,
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right, is the idea of epithumies.
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So it seems that Jude is simply saying
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that these false teachers are wholly committed
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to their ungodliness.
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So whether you take that as sexual sin
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or sin of any kind,
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they are chasing after it
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with every fiber of their being.
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Again, think of those who crucified our Lord
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and how they did it.
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So that kind of person,
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that false teacher,
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is prophesied to come time and time again.
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And that person will come for you,
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for your spouse,
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for your kids,
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and for your friends,
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for your church.
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And if the last few weeks in today's text
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are not enough to tell you
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to have nothing to do with false teachers,
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Jude ends the discussion by saying
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that they are those who cause divisions.
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They are worldly people devoid of the Spirit.
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They're not believers.
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The battle is certain.
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It is inevitable.
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And so we must be ready.
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We must remember what the apostles prophesied.
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And in Greek,
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the word remember is an imperative,
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meaning it is a commandment.
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So this isn't an invitation.
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Jude isn't suggesting.
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He's telling you,
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you must remember.
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But without further delay,
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let's finally see what Jude has in mind
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for how we ought to contend for the faith.
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So application number two,
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build up the church in the gospel.
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Application number two,
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build up the church in the gospel.
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So in the first half of verse 20,
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Jude writes,
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but you, beloved,
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building yourselves up
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in your most holy faith.
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Yet again,
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Jude distinguishes his address
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by saying,
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but you, beloved.
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He is creating a contrast
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with the false teacher.
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So whereas the false teacher
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causes division in verse 19,
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the beloved or the true believers
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are to build up the church.
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Right?
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The phrase,
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building yourselves up in English,
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it might sound like
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a very individualistic statement
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as though you yourself
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build yourself up.
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But that is not what Jude means.
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Jude is borrowing from a metaphor
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that the church used a lot
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during the first century
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when our New Testament was written.
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This metaphor always depicts
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the church as a body
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or a structure
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in which each individual
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is working to build up
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or edify other believers
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in some meaningful way.
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So some examples,
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Romans 14, 19,
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Paul says,
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so then let us pursue
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what makes for peace
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and for mutual upbuilding.
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Paul also said
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to the Corinthian church
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in 1 Corinthians 14, 12,
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he says,
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so with yourself,
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since you are eager
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for manifestations of the Spirit,
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strive to excel
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in building up the church.
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And likewise,
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he says to the Thessalonians,
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1 Thessalonians 5, 11,
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therefore encourage one another
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and build one another up
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just as you are doing.
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So clearly,
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Jude is making use
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of a well-known metaphor.
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The true believers
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in the church
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are to build one another up
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in the most holy faith,
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as it says in verse 20.
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Now, I take that phrase
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to be referring to the gospel
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the same way I believe
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Jude is referring to the gospel
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in verse 3
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from our first week together
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when he says
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we are to contend for the faith
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once for all
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delivered to the saints.
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Jude says,
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your holy faith
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because it is a faith
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or a gospel
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that comes not from false teachers
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and their authority,
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their dreams,
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but it is the one
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that was given to them
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by the apostles
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and the apostles
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received it from God.
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So it is their holy faith.
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And we are to be building
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one another up
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in the gospel.
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The true gospel
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is the foundation
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of everything
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that we do as believers.
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And I fear that sometimes
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we think of the gospel
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as simply something
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for unbelievers,
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right,
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and an essential tool
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for evangelism
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to be sure,
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but then we leave it
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at that
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as though it is only use.
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And while it is certainly
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important
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and obviously essential
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for evangelism,
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the gospel is also essential
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for Christian living
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to recall,
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to reflect on,
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to enjoy,
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and so much more.
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It should encompass
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everything we do,
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think,
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feel,
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and desire.
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So listen to Paul's words
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about the centrality
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of the gospel
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in 1 Corinthians 15,
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verses 1-2.
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Paul writes,
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and notice how this
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kind of echoes Jude.
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He writes,
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Now I would remind you,
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brothers,
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of the gospel
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I preached to you,
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which you received,
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in which you stand,
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and by which you are
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being saved,
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if you hold fast
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to the word
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I preached to you,
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unless you believed
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in vain.
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So notice all the
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tenses there.
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We can clearly see
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the gospel was essential
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to the Corinthians
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when Paul first preached
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it to them,
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right,
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past tense,
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and is essential
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as they stand in it,
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present,
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and is essential
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for the end of days
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because they are being
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saved by it.
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There's the future,
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right,
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it encompasses
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all of our life.
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And Paul also said this
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to the Ephesian church
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in Acts 20,
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verse 32.
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He said,
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I commend you to God
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and to the word
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of his grace,
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referring to the gospel,
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the word of his grace,
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which he is able
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to build you up
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and to give you
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the inheritance
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among all those
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who are sanctified.
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So there's the
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build-up language
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again,
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and it is for
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our sanctification.
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So let's be
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about this work.
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Let's encourage
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one another
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by reminding
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one another
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of the gospel.
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And don't forget
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that Jude initially
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wanted to write
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to his audience
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about the gospel,
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right,
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a thing that Jude
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himself says
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they know
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all things
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about it.
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Yet he wanted
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to remind them
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of the beauties
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and the truths
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and the hopefulness
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that the gospel offers
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despite them
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already knowing it.
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So clearly it has
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use,
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it has purpose
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daily
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for Christian living.
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And so here at CFC
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there are
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ample opportunities
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to do this.
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We have
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community groups
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where you as an
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individual
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can go
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and share
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the gospel
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with other believers,
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not in an evangelistic
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way but in a
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discipleship way
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and in a way
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to encourage
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or build up
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one another,
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right?
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Leave your insecurity
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at the door
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and love others
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by speaking up
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about the word
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of God
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and how it has
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worked through
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your life.
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Be an encouragement.
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We also have
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really organic
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discipleship here
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at CFC,
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right?
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We have
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core groups
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that are meeting
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every week
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and forming
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every week.
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Core groups
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consist of two
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to four guys
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or two to four
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gals
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to get together
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hold one another
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accountable,
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right?
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What an opportunity
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to reflect
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on the gospel,
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to teach
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the gospel,
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to remind
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one another
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of the gospel.
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And then there
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are also obviously
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just people
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hanging out
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all the time,
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people doing
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dinners,
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game nights,
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and other gatherings.
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And I would suggest
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to you that this is
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not a night off
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from being a Christ
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follower, right?
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That is a temptation
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I often face.
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I think it's a temptation
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we all often face
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to think these
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are just nights
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to forget that
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and let loose
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or what have you.
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But again,
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that's not true.
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Let's make the gospel
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some aspect
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of that fellowship night,
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whether it's through
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prayer or encouraging word
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or whatever.
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But be gospel-centric.
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And so what else
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does Jude tell us to do?
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Well, Jude tells us
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to pray in the Holy Spirit.
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Application number three,
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pray in the Holy Spirit.
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So looking at the
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second half of verse 20,
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here,
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Jude describes
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how our actions
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ought to be in the...
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Excuse me.
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Jude describes
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how our actions
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ought to be
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in light of the danger
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of false teachers.
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And he says
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we should be
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in the second half
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of verse 20
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praying in the Holy Spirit.
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So that expression
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of praying
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in the Holy Spirit
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is referring to
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praying in such a way
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that we are seeking
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and asking God
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for that which
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the Spirit wills.
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So, of course,
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the Holy Spirit
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wills for the exact
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same things
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as the Father
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and the Son.
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So we can pray
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in the Holy Spirit
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or in the Father
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or in the Son
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because they are one.
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Right here,
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Jesus' words
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on this matter
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in John 14,
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verses 14 through 17.
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He said,
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If you ask me
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anything in my name,
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I will do it.
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If you love me,
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you will keep
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my commandments.
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And I will ask
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the Father
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and he will give you
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another helper
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referring to the Holy Spirit.
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He will give you
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the Holy Spirit
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to be with you forever,
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even the Spirit
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of truth,
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whom the world
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cannot receive
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because it neither
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sees him nor knows him.
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You know him
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for he dwells with you
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and will be in you.
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So notice that.
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The promise for believers
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who pray in the Spirit
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or in the Son,
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Jesus says,
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I will do it.
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When our prayers
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are conformed
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to the will of God,
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then we can trust
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our almighty,
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sovereign,
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one true God
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to bring it
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to completion,
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to bring it about.
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Right?
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Not only does he
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hear our prayers,
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but he answers them
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when we pray
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for that which
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we know he desires.
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That is amazing.
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And how do we know
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what he desires?
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Well, you'll have
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to read the Bible.
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to know what he desires.
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So I would commend
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to you to pray
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through the Bible.
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One of my professors,
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Don Whitney,
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he wrote a little book
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about this idea.
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I believe Nathan's
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recommended it before.
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I'll recommend it again
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because it's a fitting book
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to recommend for this time.
20:52
It's called
20:53
Praying the Bible.
20:56
Okay?
20:56
And it basically
20:56
will teach you
20:57
how to use Scripture
20:58
as a prayer guide.
21:00
And I'll tell you,
21:02
honestly,
21:02
for me,
21:02
when I sit down
21:04
to pray,
21:04
it is not uncommon
21:05
that I'm not sure
21:07
what to say.
21:08
Right?
21:08
And I end up saying
21:09
the same things
21:10
over and over again
21:11
day to day
21:12
and my heart
21:12
is just not
21:13
really in it.
21:15
And God
21:16
hates those prayers.
21:18
The prayers
21:19
where my lips
21:20
praise him,
21:20
but my heart
21:21
is far from him.
21:23
He hates
21:23
those prayers.
21:25
But opening the Psalms
21:28
and seeing
21:28
what the Holy Spirit
21:29
inspired the psalmist
21:31
to pray about,
21:32
and then in turn
21:33
praying those things
21:34
myself,
21:36
after meditating
21:36
and contemplating
21:37
those texts,
21:39
God loves
21:40
those prayers
21:40
and he answers
21:42
those prayers.
21:44
And I will tell you,
21:44
I love those prayers
21:45
because I can tell
21:46
a big difference
21:47
in my prayer life
21:49
when I am actively
21:50
and truly praying
21:51
for those things
21:52
as opposed to
21:54
going through
21:54
the motions.
21:55
When I am really
21:56
praying in the Spirit,
21:57
I know the difference.
22:00
And I am sure
22:00
and trust that
22:01
many of you do too.
22:04
So praying through
22:04
the Bible
22:05
is a wonderful way
22:06
to wake up,
22:07
so to speak,
22:07
in your prayer life.
22:09
You just have
22:10
to do it.
22:12
So prayer
22:13
is an essential
22:14
daily habit
22:15
to cultivate.
22:16
One benefit
22:17
of praying daily
22:18
for Jude's context,
22:20
right,
22:20
is that it will
22:21
prepare you
22:22
for the day
22:23
when false teachers
22:24
inevitably
22:25
come your way.
22:29
And another
22:29
exhortation
22:30
that Jude gives us
22:31
is that we ought
22:31
to keep ourselves
22:32
in the love of God.
22:34
Application number four,
22:35
keep yourselves
22:36
in the love
22:37
of God.
22:39
I took this right
22:40
from the book itself,
22:41
verse 21,
22:42
first half,
22:42
keep yourselves
22:43
in the love
22:44
of God.
22:46
So Jude loves
22:47
to contrast
22:47
the believers
22:48
with false teachers.
22:51
Now recall
22:52
in verse 6
22:53
from weeks ago
22:53
that it was
22:55
the false teachers
22:56
or the angels
22:57
who did not keep
22:58
their proper dwelling.
23:00
They left
23:01
their proper dwelling
23:02
for unnatural desires.
23:04
Well,
23:05
we as believers
23:06
are called
23:06
to keep our position,
23:07
our position being
23:08
in the love
23:09
of God.
23:11
So what does that mean?
23:12
It means
23:13
obedience.
23:15
Jude is borrowing
23:16
another well-known idea
23:18
that is throughout
23:19
the New Testament,
23:20
the idea of keeping
23:21
as equated
23:22
to obedience.
23:26
James chapter 2,
23:26
verse 10 says,
23:28
whoever keeps
23:29
the whole law
23:30
but fails in one point
23:32
has become guilty
23:32
of all of this.
23:33
Notice that language,
23:34
keeping the law.
23:36
Likewise,
23:37
in 1 John,
23:38
chapter 2,
23:38
verses 3 through 5,
23:40
John writes,
23:41
and by this
23:42
we know that
23:43
we have come
23:43
to know him
23:44
if we keep
23:45
his commandments.
23:47
Whoever says,
23:47
I know him
23:48
but does not
23:49
keep his commandments
23:50
is a liar
23:50
and the truth
23:51
is not in him.
23:53
But whoever
23:53
keeps his word,
23:54
in him truly
23:55
the love of God
23:56
is perfected.
23:58
By this we know
23:59
that we are in him.
24:02
And recall
24:03
that Jude refers
24:04
to believers
24:04
as those who are
24:05
kept by God the Father
24:07
in verse 1.
24:10
The reality
24:11
of our standing
24:13
before God
24:14
being the result
24:15
of his work
24:16
or his keeping
24:17
is the ethical
24:19
grounds
24:19
for why
24:20
we must
24:21
keep ourselves
24:22
in the love
24:23
of God.
24:24
Now I'm going
24:25
to repeat that.
24:26
This is the indicative
24:27
imperative pattern
24:28
if you're familiar
24:28
with this concept
24:30
but just hear this phrase
24:31
is all I'm talking about.
24:33
The reality
24:34
of our standing
24:35
before God
24:36
being the result
24:38
of his work
24:38
or his keeping
24:39
is the ethical
24:41
grounds
24:42
for why
24:42
we must
24:43
keep ourselves
24:44
in the love
24:45
of God.
24:47
So this is one
24:48
of those texts
24:49
that helps us
24:49
see both
24:50
divine sovereignty
24:51
and human
24:52
responsibility
24:53
at play.
24:54
So yes,
24:55
God sovereignly
24:56
chooses those
24:57
whom he saves.
24:58
He sovereignly
24:59
sanctifies
25:00
his elect.
25:02
Philippians 1.6
25:03
says as much
25:04
Paul writes,
25:05
I am sure of this
25:05
that God
25:06
who began
25:07
a good work
25:07
in you
25:08
will bring it
25:09
to completion
25:09
at the day
25:10
of Jesus Christ.
25:11
yet it is also
25:14
true that we
25:15
are held
25:15
responsible
25:16
for our
25:17
sanctification
25:17
and perseverance
25:18
in the faith.
25:20
2 Peter 1.10
25:22
says,
25:23
Therefore,
25:24
brothers,
25:25
be all the more
25:26
diligent to make
25:27
your calling
25:28
and election
25:28
sure,
25:30
for if you
25:30
practice these
25:31
qualities,
25:31
you will never
25:32
fall.
25:35
So because
25:35
we can rest
25:36
so greatly
25:37
in the person
25:37
and work
25:38
of Christ,
25:39
we can work
25:40
so hard
25:41
to bear fruit
25:42
in keeping
25:42
with repentance.
25:45
It's all
25:46
of God
25:46
and yet
25:47
we are able
25:47
to work
25:48
so hard
25:48
to strive
25:49
towards godliness
25:50
because it is
25:51
all of God.
25:52
Because God
25:53
wills it,
25:54
God promises
25:55
it for those
25:55
of us
25:56
who are in
25:56
Christ.
25:59
And Jesus
26:00
himself expressed
26:01
these realities
26:02
in John
26:03
chapter 15
26:04
verses 9
26:05
through 11.
26:06
Jesus says,
26:07
Just as the
26:08
Father has loved
26:08
me,
26:09
I have also
26:10
loved you.
26:11
Abide in
26:12
my love
26:12
or keep
26:13
in my love.
26:14
If you
26:15
keep my
26:15
commandments,
26:16
you will
26:16
abide
26:16
in my
26:17
love.
26:18
These things
26:18
I have
26:19
spoken to
26:19
you so
26:19
that my
26:20
joy may
26:20
be in
26:21
you and
26:21
that your
26:21
joy may
26:22
be made
26:23
full.
26:24
So notice
26:25
the promise,
26:26
our joy
26:26
will be
26:27
made full
26:28
in obedience
26:29
to Christ.
26:32
And do
26:32
not let it
26:32
go unnoticed
26:34
that Jude
26:34
is assuming
26:35
we are
26:35
loved by
26:36
God and
26:37
in the
26:37
love of
26:38
God.
26:39
In verse
26:39
1 he
26:39
addresses
26:40
the
26:40
believers
26:40
as
26:41
beloved,
26:42
as does
26:42
our text
26:43
today twice
26:43
in verse
26:44
17 and
26:45
verse 20.
26:45
Beloved,
26:46
beloved,
26:47
beloved.
26:49
So just
26:50
take a
26:50
moment and
26:51
put some
26:51
of the
26:51
things
26:51
together
26:52
that we
26:53
have been
26:53
talking
26:53
about.
26:55
We as
26:55
believers
26:56
are in
26:56
such a
26:57
great
26:57
position
26:58
to succeed
26:59
despite
26:59
false
27:00
teachers
27:00
and
27:00
false
27:01
teachings.
27:02
We know
27:02
from
27:03
verse 1
27:04
of Jude
27:04
that we
27:04
are called,
27:05
beloved,
27:06
and kept
27:06
by God
27:07
the Father
27:07
for Jesus
27:08
Christ.
27:09
We are
27:09
told in
27:10
the book
27:10
of Jude
27:10
in advance
27:11
that false
27:12
teachers are
27:12
coming.
27:13
We are
27:14
able to
27:14
prepare
27:14
beforehand.
27:16
We are
27:17
able to
27:17
pray to
27:18
our Father
27:18
in the
27:19
Spirit and
27:19
He will
27:20
answer our
27:21
prayers if
27:22
they are
27:22
truly in
27:22
the Spirit.
27:25
And we
27:25
have a
27:25
faith community,
27:26
the church,
27:27
to hold us
27:28
accountable and
27:29
to point us
27:29
to the true
27:31
gospel.
27:33
So think
27:33
of the love
27:34
of God,
27:35
of the
27:35
providence
27:36
of God,
27:36
that He
27:36
has
27:37
orchestrated
27:38
all these
27:39
things to
27:39
be for
27:40
our good,
27:41
for our
27:41
salvation and
27:42
well-being and
27:43
protection,
27:44
yet still
27:45
chiefly for
27:46
His glory.
27:50
So do
27:51
your work.
27:52
Keep
27:52
yourselves
27:52
in the
27:54
love of
27:54
God,
27:54
yet rest
27:55
knowing that
27:55
ultimately He
27:56
is keeping
27:57
you too.
28:00
And finally,
28:01
we are to
28:02
orient our
28:03
entire lives
28:04
toward the
28:04
end of
28:05
days.
28:05
So this
28:05
is application
28:06
number five.
28:07
Orient your
28:08
whole life
28:09
toward the
28:10
end of
28:10
days.
28:11
So looking
28:12
at verse
28:13
21 on,
28:15
Jude writes,
28:15
keep yourselves
28:16
in the love
28:17
of God,
28:18
waiting for
28:18
the mercy
28:19
of our
28:19
Lord Jesus
28:20
Christ that
28:20
leads to
28:21
eternal life.
28:22
And have
28:23
mercy on
28:23
those who
28:24
doubt.
28:24
Save
28:24
others by
28:25
snatching
28:25
them out
28:26
of the
28:26
fire.
28:27
To
28:27
others
28:27
show mercy
28:28
with fear,
28:28
hating even
28:29
the garment
28:30
stained by
28:31
the flesh.
28:34
So in
28:34
the last
28:34
bit of
28:35
our text
28:35
this morning,
28:37
there is
28:37
one commandment
28:38
after another.
28:40
We are to
28:41
have mercy
28:42
on those
28:42
who doubt,
28:43
we are to
28:43
save others
28:44
from the
28:44
fire,
28:45
and we are
28:45
to show
28:45
mercy with
28:47
fear.
28:49
But each
28:49
of these
28:50
commandments
28:50
that Jude
28:51
gives falls
28:51
under the
28:52
waiting in
28:53
verse 21.
28:55
We are to
28:55
wait for
28:56
Christ's
28:56
return at
28:57
the end
28:57
of days.
28:59
The day
29:00
when He
29:00
will come
29:01
with His
29:01
host of
29:01
angels to
29:02
judge the
29:03
wicked that
29:03
Jude described
29:04
in verses
29:05
14 through
29:05
15,
29:06
but also
29:07
the day
29:07
when He
29:08
will rule
29:08
His elect
29:09
righteously
29:10
for all
29:10
eternity.
29:13
So in
29:14
anticipation
29:14
of that
29:15
day,
29:16
the end
29:16
of history,
29:18
Jude is
29:18
telling us
29:19
that we
29:19
are to
29:19
do with
29:21
false
29:21
teachers
29:21
and those
29:22
who are
29:23
to do
29:24
with false
29:24
teachers
29:24
and those
29:25
who are
29:25
deceived
29:26
by false
29:27
teaching.
29:28
Here it is,
29:29
Jude says,
29:30
have mercy
29:31
on those
29:32
who doubt.
29:34
So who
29:34
are the
29:35
doubters?
29:36
I don't
29:36
think he's
29:36
thinking of
29:37
skeptics or
29:38
atheists or
29:39
something like
29:39
that,
29:40
although I
29:41
do think
29:41
this principle
29:42
applies in
29:42
that case.
29:44
But I
29:44
think Jude
29:44
has in
29:45
mind those
29:45
who are
29:46
not sure
29:46
what to
29:47
believe,
29:48
those who
29:48
are caught
29:49
up between
29:50
the apostolic
29:51
faith once
29:52
for all
29:52
delivered to
29:53
the saints
29:53
or the
29:55
false
29:55
gospel spread
29:56
by the
29:57
false
29:57
teachers.
29:58
These are
29:58
people who
29:58
just aren't
29:59
sure.
29:59
Who's
30:00
right?
30:00
Who do I
30:00
trust?
30:01
What is
30:02
true?
30:04
In other
30:05
words,
30:05
these doubters
30:05
are those
30:06
who are
30:06
being swept
30:07
away by
30:08
false
30:09
teaching.
30:09
They haven't
30:10
committed,
30:10
but they're
30:11
open.
30:12
They're
30:12
thinking about
30:13
it.
30:14
Right?
30:16
And for
30:16
the one who
30:17
is confused
30:18
about what
30:19
is true
30:19
and what
30:20
is false,
30:21
our desire
30:21
should be
30:22
mercy.
30:24
And I
30:24
don't think
30:24
it is a
30:25
stretch to
30:25
say that
30:26
Jude has
30:26
in mind
30:27
the patient
30:28
work of
30:28
discipleship,
30:29
or even
30:30
evangelism if
30:31
necessary.
30:33
So think of
30:34
Jesus when
30:34
doubting Thomas
30:35
was unconvinced
30:36
that Jesus
30:37
had truly
30:37
been
30:38
resurrected.
30:40
Mind you,
30:40
it's an
30:41
ancient heresy
30:42
to deny
30:42
the resurrection
30:43
of Jesus
30:44
Christ.
30:46
And so here
30:46
Thomas is
30:47
doubting.
30:47
He's playing
30:48
with fire.
30:48
He's being
30:50
pulled into
30:50
this heretical
30:51
idea of denying
30:52
the resurrection.
30:53
He's doubting.
30:56
And yet in
30:56
John chapter 20
30:57
verses 26
30:58
through 29
30:58
Jesus comes
30:59
to the
31:00
disciples and
31:01
his very first
31:01
words to all
31:02
of them,
31:02
including Thomas,
31:04
are this.
31:04
He says,
31:06
Peace be
31:06
with you.
31:09
Then Jesus
31:09
said to
31:10
Thomas,
31:11
Put your
31:11
finger here.
31:12
He's referring
31:12
to where his
31:13
hands had been
31:14
pierced.
31:14
He says,
31:15
Put your
31:15
finger here
31:16
and put your
31:17
hand and
31:17
place it on
31:18
my side where
31:19
he was stabbed
31:19
by a spear.
31:21
So Jesus
31:22
says,
31:22
Place your
31:22
hands in
31:23
these places.
31:24
See that I
31:25
truly am the
31:25
one who was
31:26
pierced,
31:27
the one who
31:27
was crucified.
31:29
And Jesus
31:29
goes on to
31:30
say to
31:30
Thomas,
31:31
Do not
31:31
disbelieve,
31:32
but believe.
31:34
And Thomas
31:35
answered him,
31:36
My Lord
31:37
and God.
31:39
I see how
31:40
gently and
31:41
yet firmly
31:42
Jesus showed
31:43
Thomas the
31:43
error of
31:45
his doubt.
31:46
Let us be
31:47
likewise to
31:48
those who
31:49
doubt today.
31:52
And likewise,
31:53
there are those
31:53
who are so
31:54
convinced by
31:55
false teaching
31:56
that they
31:56
are practically
31:57
on fire,
31:58
meaning they
31:59
are heading
31:59
for hell
32:00
if they do
32:01
not repent
32:02
and believe
32:02
in the true
32:03
gospel.
32:06
Yet the
32:06
grace and
32:07
love of God
32:07
demands that
32:08
we work to
32:08
save them
32:09
by snatching
32:10
them,
32:10
as Jude
32:10
says,
32:11
from the
32:12
fire.
32:13
So this is
32:14
much more
32:14
forceful language.
32:16
Jude is saying
32:16
we are to
32:17
aggressively
32:18
plead and
32:19
argue with
32:20
this person
32:20
concerning the
32:22
error of
32:22
their way.
32:23
God
32:24
think of
32:25
how Christ
32:25
sternly and
32:26
bluntly called
32:27
out the
32:28
Pharisees and
32:29
Sadducees
32:29
throughout the
32:30
gospels.
32:31
These were
32:31
false teachers
32:33
convinced by
32:34
their false
32:34
teaching.
32:36
So Jesus
32:37
dealt with
32:37
them in a
32:38
very bold
32:39
and serious
32:39
manner.
32:41
And again,
32:41
I pray that
32:42
we would do
32:43
likewise when
32:44
the occasion
32:44
calls for it.
32:46
That we would
32:47
be so bold
32:48
and so loving
32:48
to call out
32:49
such people
32:50
to their
32:51
face for
32:52
their salvation.
32:53
To give
32:54
them that
32:54
opportunity
32:55
again to
32:55
repent and
32:57
believe.
32:59
And Jude
33:00
tells us
33:00
lastly that
33:01
to others
33:02
we show
33:03
mercy with
33:04
fear.
33:05
So who
33:05
is this
33:06
last group?
33:07
And the
33:07
description at
33:08
the end of
33:09
verse 23
33:09
is key.
33:10
And I
33:11
will warn
33:11
you that
33:11
this is
33:12
gross
33:13
imagery that
33:13
Jude gives
33:14
us.
33:16
The imagery
33:16
is that of
33:17
one who's
33:18
undergarments.
33:19
In your
33:19
ESV it
33:19
says garments
33:20
but the
33:20
Greek word
33:21
really means
33:21
undergarments
33:23
or their
33:23
underwear to
33:24
be clear.
33:25
And he
33:25
says it
33:26
is stained
33:26
by all
33:29
manner of
33:30
bodily
33:30
produce.
33:33
And
33:33
specifically
33:33
given the
33:34
Greek
33:34
underlying
33:34
this text
33:35
as well as
33:36
the context
33:36
of the
33:37
letter as
33:37
a whole
33:38
I think
33:39
Jude is
33:39
depicting
33:40
an adulterer
33:41
whose
33:41
undergarments
33:42
are stained
33:43
significantly.
33:45
In other
33:45
words Jude
33:46
is addressing
33:46
the actual
33:47
false
33:47
teachers
33:48
who
33:48
practice
33:49
licentiousness.
33:51
He's talking
33:52
about the
33:52
very people
33:53
who
33:53
quote
33:54
verse 4
33:54
pervert
33:55
the grace
33:56
of our
33:56
God
33:56
into
33:57
sensuality.
33:58
Well you
33:58
say well
33:59
that's
33:59
disgusting
34:00
to which
34:00
Jude would
34:01
reply
34:01
that's
34:01
the point.
34:04
He's talking
34:05
about the
34:05
very people
34:06
who are
34:06
just like
34:07
the grumblers
34:08
in the
34:08
Exodus
34:09
just like
34:09
the rebellious
34:10
angels
34:10
just like
34:11
Sodom
34:12
and Gomorrah
34:13
these people
34:14
who are
34:14
also just
34:15
like Cain
34:16
and Balaam
34:16
and Korah
34:17
these
34:18
ungodly
34:19
perverted
34:19
adulterous
34:20
false
34:21
teachers
34:21
are whom
34:22
Jude
34:22
has in
34:22
mind
34:22
and it
34:23
may
34:23
surprise
34:24
you
34:24
given
34:24
the
34:24
language
34:25
we have
34:25
read
34:25
thus far
34:26
about
34:26
judgment
34:27
and hell
34:27
but what
34:28
exactly
34:29
does Jude
34:29
tell us
34:30
to do
34:30
with such
34:31
people
34:31
how do
34:32
we
34:32
contend
34:32
for the
34:33
faith
34:33
with
34:34
these
34:34
people
34:35
and Jude's
34:35
answer
34:36
in verse
34:36
23
34:37
we show
34:38
mercy
34:39
with fear
34:40
I've said
34:42
it throughout
34:42
these last
34:43
few weeks
34:43
and I'll
34:44
say it
34:44
again
34:44
these
34:45
false
34:45
teachers
34:46
are not
34:46
beyond the
34:47
power
34:48
of the
34:49
gospel
34:49
God
34:50
has
34:51
and can
34:51
and still
34:52
does
34:52
save
34:53
such
34:53
people
34:54
praise
34:55
the
34:56
Lord
34:56
and we
34:58
should not
34:58
give up
34:58
on them
34:59
or turn
34:59
our backs
35:00
to them
35:00
rather
35:00
we show
35:01
mercy
35:02
to them
35:02
by correcting
35:03
their way
35:03
by calling
35:04
them to
35:04
repentance
35:05
and faith
35:05
by pleading
35:06
with them
35:07
to turn
35:08
to the
35:08
true
35:08
gospel
35:09
to turn
35:09
to Christ
35:11
and we
35:12
need to
35:12
do so
35:13
with
35:13
fear
35:14
I think
35:16
Jude
35:16
intends
35:17
by this
35:17
that we
35:18
must be
35:18
very wise
35:19
and discerning
35:20
with how
35:21
we approach
35:22
such people
35:23
you read
35:24
the New
35:24
Testament
35:24
carefully
35:25
or the
35:25
Old
35:25
Testament
35:26
warning
35:26
after
35:27
warning
35:27
is given
35:28
to those
35:28
who spend
35:30
too much
35:30
time
35:30
with false
35:31
teachers
35:32
and yet
35:33
we see
35:34
Jesus
35:34
sit
35:34
and dine
35:35
with
35:35
Pharisees
35:36
and yet
35:36
we see
35:37
Jesus
35:37
come
35:37
to false
35:38
teachers
35:39
and engage
35:39
them
35:40
and we
35:42
don't have
35:42
time to
35:42
go into
35:43
that in
35:43
depth
35:44
but just
35:44
know
35:44
that we
35:45
need to
35:45
be careful
35:46
with how
35:47
and when
35:47
we interact
35:48
with such
35:49
people
35:50
but don't
35:50
miss that
35:51
we do
35:51
interact
35:52
we do
35:53
reach out
35:54
we do
35:54
still
35:54
preach
35:55
the gospel
35:56
to such
35:57
people
35:58
and we do
36:00
so with
36:00
fear
36:00
because
36:01
if we
36:01
are not
36:02
careful
36:02
knowing that
36:04
these people
36:04
teach false
36:05
ideas
36:05
that sound
36:06
biblical
36:06
knowing that
36:07
these people
36:07
then use
36:08
those ideas
36:08
to justify
36:09
sin
36:10
something that
36:11
our flesh
36:11
innately
36:12
desires
36:12
we have to
36:14
be careful
36:14
because who
36:15
knows what
36:16
temptations
36:16
or what
36:17
doubts
36:17
will come
36:18
our way
36:19
if we interact
36:20
with these people
36:21
carelessly
36:22
so the end
36:25
is coming
36:26
the time
36:26
is ticking
36:27
away
36:27
and Christ
36:27
will judge
36:28
justly
36:29
all who
36:30
do not
36:30
repent
36:31
and believe
36:31
in him
36:33
and we're
36:34
going to be
36:35
assaulted
36:35
by all kinds
36:36
of false
36:37
teachers
36:37
in our life
36:38
we already
36:38
have been
36:40
I know
36:40
for many of us
36:41
we've encountered
36:41
this
36:42
for many of us
36:42
we once
36:43
believed
36:43
these things
36:45
and so we
36:46
need to wait
36:47
and be merciful
36:48
we need to
36:48
orient our
36:49
lives right
36:50
now
36:51
with this end
36:52
in mind
36:53
knowing that
36:53
God will
36:54
judge
36:54
the wicked
36:55
so we need
36:57
to be
36:57
wise
36:58
and intentional
36:59
with showing
36:59
mercy
37:00
to all
37:01
so that they
37:01
might come
37:02
to know
37:02
Christ
37:03
and be saved
37:04
so to that end
37:05
let's pray