“But You…” – FBC Morning Light (11/29/2023)

Well a good Wednesday morning to you.

Today in our Bible reading we're reading in Hosea chapters 3 and 4 and the little book of

Jude.

Interestingly this week on Monday we read an entire book of the Bible, 2 John, on

Tuesday another book of the Bible, 3 John, and today yet a third one, the book of Jude.

Of course all of these are just a few verses long but nevertheless isn't it

kind of exhilarating to know.

I read three books of the Bible this week.

Well I hope you have.

Anyway today we're reading in the book of Jude.

I want to focus on a couple of verses in this passage because they give us some insight about

how to deal with those who might be false teachers or

those who would cause some harm and hurt to the church.

He talks about them in some pretty harsh language in verses

12 through 15, but then in verse 16, I wanted to focus on verses 16

through most of the rest of the chapter here, but in verse 16 he talks about these people

as being grumblers and complainers walking according to their own lusts.

Now the way this looks in most churches where this

kind of thing occurs, these are people who demand things that demand

things function the way they want them to function, and that's what it

means by walking according to their own lusts, their own desires.

They want their way of doing things to be done by the entire

church, and because they aren't being done that way, they just grumble and complain

about everything.

On the one hand.

On the other hand, on an individual basis, what they also do is they speak

great swelling words and they flatter people to gain advantage.

So they try to get people to their side by use of flattery,

and this kind of reminds me of Absalom in the Old Testament in his

effort to undermine the authority and the rule of King David.

He complained about the way things were, and he spoke great swelling words

about how he would make sure they got what they wanted, and he flattered the people to gain

to get them to his side and so forth, and it was very effective.

Well, how do we handle that?

Well, two ways.

Jude says, But you, beloved, verse 17, remember the

words that were spoken by the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, how they told you there would be people like this.

Don't be caught off guard and think that these must be, you know, godly

people, because after all, they're, you know, they're so -called Christians, and they're in the Church.

Don't be caught off guard by that.

The Apostles warned us that there would be wolves in sheep's clothing, and these are the

tactics that they employ.

He goes on in verse 19 to say,

So be aware of the real character of these individuals.

Remember what the Apostles told us about them, how they warned us of them.

They are a very real danger to the Church, because what they want to do is cause

division in the Church.

This is a typical tactic—divide and conquer, and Satan uses it to his

advantage, and he has used it very effectively in churches throughout

Church history.

And then a second thing he says, another, but you, beloved, he says, these

persons are sensuous persons who cause divisions, not having the Spirit, he says, but you, beloved,

building yourselves upon your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep

yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life,

so that you don't fall prey to such people, and so that you don't become someone like this

yourself.

Build yourself up in the faith.

Be faithful to your church's services, where you can be

built up in the faith.

And I would just encourage you, if your church attendance is limited

to an hour on Sunday morning, and that's about it, and beyond that,

you don't really get much into the Word, maybe these few minutes in the morning light devotionals

is about all you get, besides, and then sporadically, I want to challenge you—again,

you know, we're coming, wrapping up a year and starting a new one pretty soon—have

it your goal and objective to add at least one of the additional

services that your church provides.

I encourage people, look, be faithful every time the doors open, because the more you can sit yourself

under the sound of the Word, the more you can build yourself up in the most holy

faith.

I would just encourage you to do that.

And then he says, praying in the Holy Spirit, keeping yourselves in the love of God,

looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Keep your focus right.

Keep your focus where it belongs, and you won't fall victim to these people who are

flattering you, speaking great swelling words, while at the same time undermining the

unity and the authority of those who lead

in your particular church.

So, let me encourage you to do those two things, the two beloved things.

But you, beloved, remember, but you, beloved, build yourselves up.

All right, Heavenly Father, we do thank you today for these challenging words from your Word.

I pray that we would take them to heart, and I pray especially you would keep us from being the kind of people

who would in any way undermine the unity and blessing

of the local church.

We pray these things in Jesus' name.

Amen.

All right, listen, have a good rest of your Wednesday.

I trust the Lord will bless you on a good day.