8 In the same way, these people—who claim authority from their
dreams—live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at supernatural beings.[c] 9 But
even Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels,[d] did not
dare accuse the devil of blasphemy, but simply said, “THE LORD rebuke you!”
(This took place when Michael was arguing with the devil about Moses’ body.) 10
But these people scoff at things they do not understand. Like unthinking
animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and so they bring about their
own destruction. 11 What sorrow awaits them! For they follow in the
footsteps of Cain, who killed his brother. Like Balaam, they deceive people for
money. And like Korah, they perish in their rebellion.
12 When these people
eat with you in your fellowship meals commemorating the LORD’s love, they are
like dangerous reefs that can
shipwreck you.[e] They are
like shameless shepherds who care
only for themselves. They are like clouds blowing over the land without
giving any rain. They are like trees in autumn that are doubly dead, for they bear no fruit and have been pulled up by the roots. 13
They are like wild waves of the sea, churning up the foam of their
shameful deeds. They are like wandering stars, doomed forever to blackest darkness. 14 Enoch, who lived in the seventh generation after Adam, prophesied
about these people. HE said, “Listen! THE LORD is coming with countless thousands of his holy ones 15 to
execute judgment on the people of the world. HE will convict every person of all the unGODly things they have
done and for all the insults that unGODly sinners have spoken against HIM.”[f]16 These
people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their desires. They
brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want…19 These people are the ones who are creating divisions among
you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have GOD’s Spirit
in them.
20 But you, dear friends, MUST build each other up
in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit,[g] 21 and
await the mercy of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, who will bring you eternal life. In this
way, you will keep yourselves safe in GOD’s love.22 And you MUST show mercy to[h] those whose
faith is wavering. 23 Rescue others by snatching them from the
flames of judgment. SHOW MERCY to
still others,[i] but do so
with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.[j”
HIS HOLY people! Meaning NOT to everyone that says “I’m
Christian”, or goes to church just for is the “right thing”, NO. His HOLY PEOPLE
means does that accepted the Lord and allowed HIM to be The Master of their
lives, those that when GOD confronts them about a particular sin, they obey
HIM, and turn from the wicked ways. Those that are doing their best to LIVE HOLY
lives, for they are SERVANTS of GOD, who want to please HIM, and such people
obey God’s Word.
The message here is that although THE CHURCH IS A HOSPITAL were
people come to be CLEANED, and RESTORE back TO HEALTH into a new relationship with CHRIST; afterwards the place become also a training
facility that teaches us how to live GODly lives, HOLY as our GOD is, and this process
takes TIME. Every individual that comes
into our church is an independent soul, which is in their own particular
stage, some are more advanced than others, but we are all in different stages
in the cleaning and transformation process, and there is NO NEED to COMPARE grades or lives.
It’s important rather essential that we UNDERSTAND, that
even though we might have been “dirty fishes” as we came in to the church and
to God, the GOAL IS, NOT REMAINING THE SAME, but “be transformed by the renewing of your
minds, that you may prove what is
that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”[1].
In other words, ONLY WHEN we ALLOW GOD’s
TRANSFORMATIONAL POWER to
penetrate our souls, we will prove how good, acceptable and perfect HIS will
for our lives is, and personally will accept the challenge to obey HIM and
change our old ways. And I say change our old ways not our own, but with the
help of GOD, because if you’re thirsty and I offer you a cup of water, you can accept
it, but you have to act upon that acceptance, you will actually will have to
take the cup offered to you, if you don’t although you accepted it you will
remain thirsty until you take the cup and drink. Therefore, once you accept the
challenge to obey HIM, it will require you to act differently towards some place,
people or things in order for the change to take effect in your life. Now whosoever chooses NOT to be transformed
from their wicked ways and immoral lifestyles, then those are really DENIYING
the Lord as their lives’ Master, and for those cases, condemnation is sure,
in other words, destruction is ahead for who are not faithful to HIM who saved
us.
The attitude of disobeying God’s Word and HIS ways are an
open rejection and insubordination to the Lord, and several examples are given
like that of Cain, Balaam, Korah, including even the angels who had that attitude
were cast away to darkness, and we REALLY do not want to go there. Doing whatever your instincts will tell you, will bring you destruction, you HAVE TO ask and allow GOD to lead you. In the effort of Jude (“a slave of Jesus
Christ and a brother of James”, and who writes this book) for you to
discover who is NOT living to please God, we are given the attitude that we can
see more often in these unsubordinated people, they grumble and complain, are living
to satisfy their desires, bragging about themselves and flattering others to
get their desires satisfied; and create divisions among the body of Christ.
This is why is so important for you to bring your own Bible
and study it in and out of church, for you to discover, God’s character and
will, also for you to build each other up in faith, praying TOGETHER; again because
when your heart has not been transformed to HIS likeness you will be lead by the
instincts that your old life was carrying, and we see here that if you
do, sorrow awaits… and really who in the right mind would want to bring sorrow
upon their own life?
Jude also encourages us to be merciful when we see someone wavering
in their faith, hating the sin that is contaminating NOT the sinner, treat them
just as you would like to be treated if you were the one wavering.
As a personal note, I tell you, scoffing at the things that
you do not understand IS NOT an
option, I mean we DO NOT force you, but really we should take advantage of the weekly
Bible classes we offer where you can open up to share your questions and get the answers that will
help you understand God’s Word. We offer
classes every Tuesday at 10am for women and 6:30pm for men; also Monday nights
at 6 for everyone; this in addition to our regular Wednesday & Sunday
services. Come and try these classes, no matter what church you go to, we
welcome you, because our interest is increase your communion with the Heavenly
Father, NOT increase the number of this particular church.
Be blessed, in JESUS name, AMEN!!!
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