So You Wanna Be a Contender
Everybody wants to go to Heaven, well, at least anyone with any sense wants to go. But a strong profession of faith will get you thrown into the theoretical and theological debates of life. It will make you enemy number one on the liberal agenda. But the great joy that comes from serving our Risen Savior makes it all worth while. So let’s contend together and do it using the wisdom that God has put at our fingertips. Like the book of Jude. As I read down through the meager 25 verse book, the wealth of wisdom on its page far far outweighed the little space it consumed in scripture.
Jude 1:1-25 KJV
[1] Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called: [2] Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. [3] Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Jude lays it out and encourages us that we should earnestly (with intense conviction) contend for our faith.
Well They Wanna Be a Creep
[4] For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. [5] I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. [6] And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
A memorable sermon from days gone by is “Creeps in the Church.” I’m not sure of the year for which Mike Worf preached it, but I remember the word, and the realization that within the church , most every church, there was probably a creep or two, trying to deceive the flock into thinking they were the real thing. But their agenda was anything but godly. But what I see going on right now is the battle of the world against the worshippers. They’re trying to stop the worship of Christ on any level, in any place. That is Satan’s agenda. And his tactics are vicious and vile.
And They Wanna Be Corrupt
I’ve never been one who enjoyed crime dramas. They make me very uneasy and put thoughts in my mind that I don’t want to be there. I don’t understand the mindset of a criminal or anyone who can hurt people without regard. So now that I’m tuned into BlazeTV most every day, the level of corruption in our world is somewhat shocking! I much preferred living in my false reality where everything was peachy keen. But that’s not where God would have me right now. It’s very clear to me that I’m to make the world more conscientious of what’s happening around us in the spiritual realm. While there is plenty of wickedness in the flesh, that of the spiritual realm is in abundance and they know their time is limited. God’s Word is sure.
[7] Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. [8] Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. [9] Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee. [10] But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. [11] Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
Read Numbers 16 about the demise of Koran (Core). It too makes me nauseous! I don’t have the heart to kill people. But God does, especially if they’re corrupting His people and challenging His authority. And while we don’t live in Old Testament times under Old Testament laws we still serve the same God. And just as Moses said to the men of Korah, there will come a time when God will prove “who are His and who are Holy.” Numbers 16:5
But until then, we’re to keep on contending for the faith. God is so worthy! So in the church and out of the church be every conscious of those who come in among you and speak against any leadership. Leaders are ordained by God. And while not all are godly, they were often placed in those position so that God’s will can be accomplished. Michael the Archangel wouldn’t even speak against Satan, rather leaving him to God.
I encourage you in your reading to read the book of Jude. It’s only 25 verses; but as you read, you cannot help but see that 2020 and 65 A.D. have serious commonalities. Not only is there a common Salvation, but there are unfortunately “common creeps.” And as Jude, I write to you of “common salvation.” If you do not know Christ, then you are likely struggling greatly with our current times. Please, I pray you’ll message me and let’s talk about Jesus.
I enjoyed this scripture this morning, because it reminds me that nothing catches God off guard. Not then, not now.