Truth in Love Video Ministry Jude 12-16

You need to get the cup out of my face it. I just went on live This is truth and love video ministry, and I'm thankful to be here with you it is 5 45 on Saturday afternoon evening

I don't know that I've ever Come come on and done a live at this time, so this is an experiment

We're gonna see we're gonna see who's online. We're gonna see who's watching. We're gonna see who's gonna stop by The floor is always yours so as you stop as you watch

I Would I would like for you to be a part of this with me? Let this be a part of your community part of your family

Let me know what you're thinking ask questions chat with me If you want to talk about a verse in the

Bible talk about a question You have about the Bible about a verse of the Bible about church

Anything that has to do with church. I would love to talk about that with you If you have any questions

Or you want to talk about what's going on in in the world today, and we can look at it from a from a

Christian perspective That's cool, too. I just I would love to be able to interact with you and see what's going on In your mind and your thoughts

If you would like prayer We would love to be able to pray for you and pray for each other that's one of the things that we do here in this particular video ministry is that we we give an opportunity for prayer and we always pray at the end and And ask if anyone would like for for us to pray for them

So all you have to do is type me you don't have to say what it is The Lord the

Lord knows what's going on and especially in this venue. We don't want to Really air out anything personal or what

I have you but You're always welcome to to just type me and I'll see that and I'll know that you would like me to pray for you

Say hi. Let me know that you're watching Chat with me and and we can discuss whatever you like to discuss

If you watch the video later and you and you would like for me to pray for you I'll see the notification and I would be glad to pray for you.

Then when I see that notification Again, we're coming on it at 545 on Saturday afternoon evening

Apologize that for those that may watch me on Saturday mornings. I was unable to Do the video this morning?

Due to working late last night So I wanted to get back on here today and and join you and be with you and do the do a

Saturday video And just see what was going on with you today we're going to continue in June unless somebody chimes in and wants to chat and Ask questions or talk about scripture.

We're gonna go back to Jude And we're gonna look at verses 17 through 23 today we're looking at Jude by request and I really appreciate those requests that Someone requested that we go visit

Long Shoals Wesleyan We visited the church and we prayed for the church. We prayed for the

The Christian Academy there. We prayed for the the daycare that's there. And so I really

Appreciate that request. I appreciated being with Matt this week at Riverview Baptist I really appreciate him joining me and and us talking about the gospel and sharing the gospel

Getting that out on Facebook and us praying for Riverview Baptist this week If you would like for me to to go to your church

If you would like for me to join me If you would like to join me or me to join you your church Doesn't even have to be

Saturday or or in the morning set 715 We can go

Before I go to work you before you go to work after we get off work on a Saturday or Sunday Anytime that you would like for us to gather together and Pray for your church while we do a video

The reason we do a video is because we want to reach our community those that are in my network

We all have a passion for God's glory for the truth of his word and for the people here on this earth

And so we want to to share that truth the truth of the gospel And we want to glorify

God and when we do that That's the reason that we do the videos is as a means to get the truth of God's word out there and to glorify him

I Didn't I didn't go over the verse For the themes of this video ministry, but it comes from Ephesians Ephesians chapter 4

Ephesians chapter 4 verse 15. We're gonna get there in just one second We go Ephesians chapter 4 verse 15

But speaking the truth in love we are to grow up in all aspects into him who was the head even

Christ that's where I get the title for this video ministry is We want to speak that truth and we have a zeal to get that truth out there but we are to do it in love and We are to as we're doing that to have a desire to grow up in all aspects not just Put our

Bible on the shelf not be content with where we are But to grow up in all aspects and continue to grow in him

So without any further ado if you have any questions, like I said chime right in let me know that you're watching

Say hello and ask questions So let's jump right into Jude verses 17 through 23

Let me read those verses and then we'll get started talking about them and it says

God's Word says But you beloved ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the

Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ That they were saying to you in the last time there shall be mockers following after their own ungodly lust

These are the ones who cause divisions worldly minded devoid of the

Spirit But you beloved building yourselves up on Your most holy faith bringing the

Holy Spirit keep yourselves in the love of God waiting anxious anxiously for the mercy of our

Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life and Have the mercy on some and have mercy on some who are doubting save others

Snatching them out of the fire and on some have mercy with fear hating even the garment polluted by the flesh so the thing about Jude is that he is

He changed course in his writing to them. This is just just a quick review.

He changed his course He wanted to write to them about their common salvation And maybe go deeper in the faith maybe just Just elaborate

Whatever his intentions were. He specifically says it was to speak about our common salvation but then

The brakes got put on that really quickly when it come to his attention that he should write about this thing

That's happening At that time at that moment that was very serious to him it was

These men there are certain men. He says have crept in Unnoticed and these men are what we call apostates false teachers those that would lead

God's people and other people astray away from God and It was it had come to the attention of Jude And it was such a serious issue that Jude had to reach out and write this letter and warn folks about the apostates about these false teachers and Jude gives examples he gives examples of Folks in the past who were apostate who maybe spoke the name of Jesus But with their teaching with their actions

They were far from him and they would lead others astray and for each example they there is harsh judgment pronounced and We think that Jude Maybe since that his readers would feel that fear because it was such a serious thing to be a false teacher of an apostate those who may

Speak or think they they know or believe Jesus in their mind or with their lips But but live and teach a different way there was such a fear in that because of the the wrath and the judgment that That was pronounced by Jude That Jude Jude had a concern for his his listeners his audience

When he gives them a triple blessing Right right after he reminds them of who they are in in verse 1

He says beloved in God the Father. He wants them to remember that that they are beloved by God Those who are the called he says and then they're kept in Jesus Christ So you have love and you have security and then you have this triple blessing

Not only is it a triple blessing, but he says that he wishes this or he's he's hoping this triple blessing is multiplied to them

May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you why because of You have you have the

Jewish leaders you have civil leaders and then you have these folks who are creeping in unnoticed Attacking the faith attacking them personally and then you have this warning from Jude Against these apostates these false teachers and the judgment that's pronounced and laid upon them

That is that is fire that is eternal that is forever And so there's this fear maybe that the readers would have that they they don't want to They don't want to be one of these apostates

They don't want to be deceived and they don't want others deceived by this apostasy and have this judgment on them

And so Jude gives this triple Blessing that he wishes is multiple or hopes that is multiplied to them

It's such a serious serious book that I said in our last video that It should arrest us

It should take hold of us the seriousness of of Jew this little tiny book of the

New Testament It should really arrest us and and when we hear Jude say

I'll write to you appealing That you contend earnestly for the faith.

We should feel that because of the The severity of the issue because the magnitude of the issue the feel that Feel that fear that comes from the the judgment of God being laid upon these

That are that are false teachers that that speak Jesus name, but are are

Living for themselves and leading others astray and teaching falsely There should be such a deep concern his concern was so great that he he put on the brakes on his the subject of his letter and had to address this

Tremendously Important issue within the church at that time So let let this little book in the

New Testament arrest you and be changed by it Leave from Jude changed walking in a in a different direction in a in a more serious minded direction

But let it let it guide the direction of your life and your thinking so as we've looked at Jude's thus far

We've we've he's called out these apostates and he's given us examples of past past apostates

He's spoken of their character their nature what they look like and now he is switching gears in verse 17

He says but you all right now So he's he's making a contradistinction between these apostates these false teachers

And he's drawing a line and saying now, let me address you

The called ones you remember in verse 1. He says those who are the called

That's who he's addressing this letter to so the called ones and he says but you in verse 17

Beloved Where do we hear? What did we hear that before in verse 1 beloved in God the

Father? So this is a divine love this is that agape love you the called ones as opposed to the the false teachers as opposed to Excuse me the the apostate teachers

You the called ones those who are beloved agape a divine love you ought to remember

The words that were spoken beforehand by the Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ now

I want you to I want you to hear this. He says remember the words What entails remembering the words what does it mean to remember words?

It takes using your brain Right as opposed to these apostates that he has mentioned that he's called out earlier where Where they are desire driven where they are emotion driven and we have such a tendency to be emotion driven and Desire driven that we get our theology from our emotions from our desires instead of truth we fall into the trap of getting our thinking our emotion our truth our

Theology from our emotions and desires instead of letting truth Define what our emotions should be we let our emotions define what truth is to us

But Jude wants the called ones his audience to begin with the truth

Remember the words that is that is you have to use your brain you have to use your intellect you have to use knowledge and understanding

That's the beginning. That's where we start. That's the starting point is Remembering the words remember the truth from who that were spoken beforehand by the

Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ And that's something that we've heard before remember in verse 3

The faith that he wants us to contend earnestly for which was once for all Delivered to the

Saints. So so this message that was once for all delivered to the Saints by the

Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, so that's where it came from. That's what it is. It's the

Word of God It's the truth and that's our starting point. It's not our emotions it's not our desires our starting point as the called ones is the truth of God's Word and He is calling them to remember those words

If you guys ever have any questions Type them up and I'll look over here and I'll see if you have any questions if you ever would like prayer

I'll pray for us at the end and and you can request prayer and I'll pray for us at the end Let's go to verse 18 we move past our starting point, which is

God's Word and in truth, and then he says that they were saying to you in The last time there shall be mockers following after their own ungodly lust now

Here's something interest interesting that I'm not going to camp on because this issue could could really divide us

Unintentionally, I don't want to I Don't want to bring up a subject that's going to divide us unintentionally.

It doesn't have to and it shouldn't I enjoy having conversations about things with folks that are that that that will

That we have a disagreement on and we can we can talk about those disagreements, but we're gonna walk away in fellowship

But with some folks Some folks are unable to do that.

And so I don't like to to specifically bring up things that I know can cause division and Unintentionally do that, but I do want to Make this statement about verse 18 because it it's here and we have to address what he's talking about That they were saying who were saying you have to listen to verse 7 17

These words that were spoken by the Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ that they were saying the

Apostles To you who is the you?

It's Jude's immediate audience The you here in verse 18 is

Jude's immediate audience So Jude was writing this specific letter at a specific time to a specific people

And he says these words that the Apostles of Jesus were writing that they were saying to you in The last time there shall be mockers so the expectation

Was that The audience of Jude would be there to witness the last time and In the last time there shall be mockers following after their ungodly lust now there

This is about eschatology in times in things and There are multiple different views and we

We can all have fellowship together and hold different views about in times in things known as eschatology but I think this is in reference to or a verse that ties into and speaks to in times and Eschatology and so I just want us to be aware of that and aware of what

Judah's saying. This is this is a verse That can be linked to eschatology in times and What Jude is speaking to is a specific audience

I'm saying this or these Apostles were saying this to you and There was this expectation that they would be there that they would see these last times and It's also confirmed in in Matthew 24 where Jesus says this this generation will not pass.

So I'm gonna leave it there It's food for thought you can take it with you. And If you ever want to have a further discussion about it

Myself or there's there's many other folks who are open to those discussions, but Just just food for thought and you can you can think about that on your own verse 19.

These Are the ones now he Jude uses that language before and when he says these men these men

And here he says it again. These are the ones so These are the ones

Refers to the the apostates that he has been describing this whole time here's an example of apostate here's an example of apostate and So these apostates in your time these false teachers in your time.

This is what they look like They look like this and they look like this They look like this example and they look like that example.

And so he continues with that language. These are the ones or these men These apostates these false teachers who calls

Division so he's just reminding us that these that have crept in unnoticed. This is what they are continuing to do

They are causing division. So if if you see that if you see someone causing division

Be on alert and Then it says they are worldly minded and with without going into a big definition study

When you see the word word Worldly minded or that the hyphenated work to word here

Worldly minded all we need to think of is selfishness Okay, just think selfishness when you see that second second word.

They're worldly minded think Selfishness and then this next part is pretty cool.

The next part is devoid of the spirit So he says these people will cause divisions.

They're worldly minded and they're devoid of the spirit So when you look up the word devoid and you translate the

Greek into English its M II the word me

So when you think of devoid of the spirit think of devoid in the

Greek is Me so when you have me at the center you are devoid of the spirit

It's for me. That's just a simple way to look at it. If you have me at the center

You are devoid of the spirit you don't have the spirit You don't have any room for the spirit it is filled up with me yourself and And that word devoid

It's a negative word in the in the grammar spelled out in English M e and if you have me you don't have the spirit and that's further

Further evidence of the definitions that we're looking at here of being worldly minded. Just they're they're selfish

They're they're following that natural inner self that that's of this world

And so that's that's what marks these folks that are apostates these false teachers now verse 21

Jude says to them Keep yourselves in the love of God So, how do we what does that mean is

God is God's going to stop losing us if we do something? Not God's not going to stop loving us if we do something what

Jude is saying here is Keep yours live in such a way

That you're always in a place Where God can rain down his love on you and in other words live in such a way

Where you're always in a place where God can pour out his blessing on you

That's the that's the idea in the Greek That That Jude is trying to drive out here when he says keep yourself in the love of God just live in such a way

You know repent continue to be turning from your sin continue to grow in the faith Continue to be in prayer all these things that you're doing to be more like Christ live live in that way

Where you'll remain in a place where God can pour out his blessings on you so keep yourself in the love of God a

Lot, excuse me. I fast -forwarded too quickly.

We're in verse 20. That was 21 So just just hang on to that thought

He goes but but you so he's transitioning back again in verse 17

Remember he says but you as opposed to the apostates beloved. He does the exact same thing here.

He says but you beloved divinely loved by God building yourselves up on Your most holy faith now.

He's not saying he's not speaking of your personal faith what he's speaking of here is the the

Christianity proper where the Foundation has already been laid by the the prophets and the

Apostles and their teaching keep continue to keep building yourself up on that foundation of faith of Christianity and what does that mean?

a theologian fire a Greek theologian says to give constant increase

In Christian knowledge and in a life conformed there too and we have to be careful here and this what's this this is what sads being and frustrates me and and causes me a heartbreak sometimes is

When folks run into the ditch on both sides here

Folks want to to leave truth. They want to leave theology. They want to leave learning

Anything that has to do with Bible and growing intellectual intellectually and growing in the faith and Studying God's Word anything that has to do with that They want to put it aside and they say well

I've I've accepted Jesus. I've done that I'm right with God.

What we really need to do is is live it We need to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

We need to be out there doing doing doing doing The Bible You would be leaving so much out of your life if you live that way

You will be leaving so much of the commands of the Bible out if you lived your life that way

Just like here is one of the one of those examples of where you would be cutting in half the commands of Scripture because the command here is to If you are building yourself up if you're building yourself up on the most holy faith the faith of Christianity you're doing that by growing in Christian knowledge and then

With a balanced life with a balanced outlook you are

Conforming to that knowledge your your life begins to conform to that knowledge so therefore it changes your life and then you do just like at the beginning when

This our starting place is God's Word We don't we don't know who

God's got who God is until he tells us who he is So we have to begin with words.

We have to begin with Communication we have to begin with knowledge Otherwise, we'll just be doing this thing on our own apart from Christ apart from God and Let's be warned not to go about it that way.

So we have to begin with words and knowledge And so we have to be balanced but we also don't want to be unbalanced in the fact that we all we do is seek knowledge and seek understanding and Then it doesn't conform our living.

We don't want to fall in that ditch either the the balance of Scripture teaches both

That if we are building ourselves up in the faith, we are growing in knowledge

We are students of God's Word We are conforming to it. We're learning it that way we can

Can you know conform our lives but also identify false teachers identify Apostates defend that faith where he says earnestly contend for the faith

We can we can defend it and earnestly contend for the faith if we are students of God's Word and we are growing up in Christian knowledge

But in balance, we also have to be letting it conform our lives to to how we live so that we are doing and being

After what we've learned from God's Word, so there's a balance and that's what

Judas teaching here So that's the that's the definition of building yourself up in the in the faith and then here's the how

This is this is pretty important. Here's the how first of all, he says Praying in the

Holy Spirit. And what does it mean to do that? This is this is just really simple It's a simple way to understand it and it can go a lot deeper and I would encourage you to Go a lot deeper in your study of how to pray in the

Holy Spirit But here's just three simple words That'll help us to understand what it means to to pray in the

Spirit number one Be motivated by the Spirit be empowered by the

Spirit and be dependent upon the Spirit Motivated by empowered by and dependent upon the

Spirit Remember those three things when you hear Pray in the

Holy Spirit So that's number one as a person who's building themselves up in the faith growing in the faith pray in the

Holy Spirit The second one is

Keep yourself in the love of God and we've already talked about that To keep yourself in the love of God is to live in such a way.

You're you're Staying in a place where God can pour out his blessings. You're turning from sin and you're constantly turning towards Jesus Christ Remain in a place where God can brought his blessing.

He cannot pour out his blessing When there's sin in our lives and sin in our heart So remain in that place where he can pour out his blessing and then the third one waiting anxiously for the mercy of our

Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life So the third thing is to have our eyes fixed on Jesus Waiting on that day when we are redeemed not only

Spiritually but physically and that day of glory comes when all it all is completely made right with him

And did you notice something in verses 20 and 21 Jude does it to us again

Jude has a theme in his book where he uses threes Earlier he used three sets of threes and in his examples of talking about apostates but here he uses three again and What's the three?

It's the original three that God gives us if you want to if you want to grow and build your faith on the

Foundation that was laid by Jesus the Apostles and the prophets if you want to continue to grow in your faith

What's the key component? the triune God he says pray in the

Holy Spirit keep yourselves in the love of God and Fix your eyes on Jesus Christ Anxiously waiting for him.

That is the key component is to be dwelling in the triune

God If you want to grow in your faith Amen, amen to that He uses he gets us again with that three now.

We want to look at the the last two verses verses 22 and 23 Jude says and have mercy on some

Who are doubting now? He's speaking to us or to the called who are beloved in God This is our our response this is part of our

How we should approach and and behave Have mercy on some who are doubting save them and snatch them out of the fire

So we should come and approach some with mercy now I know many versions are going to use the word mercy again in in verse 23

But I was reading this this Greek theologian. I don't know how to really pronounce his last name, but it's

W a w u e st word studies in the in the Greek New Testament and he gives

He gives different options and he speaks of at least five or six other Greek theologians who tackle this text

But he he points us in the direction that he thinks that Jude is pointing us in the direction

If you if you look at verse 22 Listen to the language and have mercy on some who are doubting

Save others snatching them out of the fire. And then there is a transition where he says and and On some so he says this word mercy this in the second half after the transition

Should read convict or confess or or reprove others

So on some you should have mercy and on some Which which we're proving and calling for confession and calling for conviction is is a mercy in and of itself

It is a grace. It is a mercy, you know, if we didn't warn folks about Encroaching danger then that would be unloving so it is merciful.

It's a merciful thing So look at it in light of that That we're proving

Correcting calling for conviction calling for confession is a merciful thing

So that's where the that's where the this theologian wants to take us where he thinks you he thinks

Judah's taking us That on these first folks When we have mercy on them

That that are doubting that You know some folks who are doubting they they're probably in a really weak

Position a really weak place So he wants us to to save them and snatch them out of the fire and then on these others

That we are to reprove call for conviction call for confection Confession he says do it with fear knowing that we fall and sin ourselves and that We we could but don't want to Follow in their footsteps in in sin so there there's a fear that we should hold on to as we approach others because we

We are sinful ourselves and we are prone to fall into temptation ourselves So it is not a prideful and boastful

Confrontation that that we go after folks, but it is a fearful confrontation knowing who we are and knowing our weaknesses

But approach them with fear for for reproof and for correction and for confession hating even the garments polluted by the flesh

So every everything that's that sin Entangles and corrupts and messes up Hate it not just the sin, but the garment that it stains hate it that much

That you would be merciful to someone and call them to confession and conviction

What a powerful few verses here in Jude I hope that was a an encouragement to you if you if you do not know the

Lord Jesus Christ if you are not As you as Jude speaks of it here one of the called

Those who are beloved of God those who are kept in Jesus Christ If you don't have that security that you're in Jesus Christ that he's going to keep you and hold you forever

Come to him today Jesus says of himself. I'm the way the truth and life.

No one comes to the father, but but by me We are without excuse. Anyway, Romans tells us that creation speaks that that there's a

God of his his divine nature and We are without excuse.

That's that's what Romans says. We are without excuse and We have all fallen short of his standard of his glory we've all broken his law his commandments and so the response to that conviction and And that's part of the that's part of the approving and calling for confession and conviction that Jude is talking about here

Every single one of us has to do it we have to do it if we don't address who we are then we can't turn from our sins and Fall upon our face at the mercy of Christ Because we won't think that we need his mercy.

We won't think that we need his grace Until we see our sins until our eyes are opened And if your eyes have been opened to your need of Jesus Christ turn from your sins

Fall on your face get on your knees and Submit surrender to Jesus Christ Repent of your sins and put your trust in your faith in him to save you and what he did on the cross

He is the king of kings and Lord of lords He's sitting on his throne and he is making all his enemies his footstool and the last one's gonna be death

We are on the winning side. His gospel is moving forward No matter what happens

He is victorious and we through him are victorious and I would encourage you to desire to be on that winning side to be on his

Team to be in his kingdom no matter what's going on We are gonna be victorious through him.

So I hope that was encouraging to you If I can pray for you, let me know.

I'd love to be able to do that We're gonna go ahead and pray right now And if you watch the video later and you you would like prayer

All you have to do is type me and I'll pray for you when I see that notification So thank you for watching.

And if you're still with me, let's let's pray together Father, thank you for this time that you give us to look at your word.

We worship you and We praise you and we thank you. You are the one and only true and living

God You are the most high You you measure

You measure the universe with with the span of your hand, you you know Every star my name and you know every hair on our head you

You are beyond our comprehension. You are so great. And so we we worship you and and live in all of who you are and we live in humility that you

You would communicate to us love us and Redeem us you would send your son to to rescue us those who

Have spit in your face who have sinned against you that have just trampled underfoot

Your love your mercy your grace As you've communicated to us your your law and your love

Those of us who are your enemy You make your friend and that love

Will be gloriously worshipped forever and ever so we thank you

Thank you for the time that you've given us to spend time on your word And father we ask that you would bless it.

We ask that you would save souls They hear this message

And we pray all these things for your glory in Jesus name. Amen All right, thank you guys for watching remember that Jesus is