Sunday, November 18, 2018

The Book of Jude – Part 3: Reject God and be Rejected - HOFC


The Book of Jude – Part 3:
Reject God and be Rejected - HOFC
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

This Document is a Sermon Outline, you may hear the full audio of the actual sermon by following the link Online Audio Files located above for this, and other Full Sermon Audios.  For a complete list of Sermon Outlines, visit TruthDigest.org, or Truth Digest on facebook; for our Official Church website, visit PS127.org, or find us on facebook at House of Faith Church

SERMON INTRODUCTION
Today we will look at what Jude says about the purpose of his General Epistle, and how his intentions were changed by God’s Spirit to address the problem of Sin in the Church.

One of the problems in the church today is lack of discipline inside the church.  We talked last week about Paul’s words, “Who am I to judge those outside the church? Is it not for us to judge those inside?”

Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey my commands.”

And for those who do not wish to obey what Christ commands?

As Matthew 18:17 states, “if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”

And I Corinthians 5:12Expel the wicked person from among you.”

It is very clear there is to be discipline inside the church for those calling themselves Christians and not obeying Christ.

Hosea 4:6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me...”

For those who cry peace, forgiveness, love, grace because of these words, I cry, these are not the words of the church, but Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit of God in His written Word.

Today’s sermon will address discipline, and how just because you call yourself something, does not make you that thing, regardless of what you call yourself...Christian, religious, believer, saved, male, female, lamp post...


We will see how God disciplines and corrects, and how He keeps his Word in Hosea...those who reject my Word, I reject them.


LAST WEEK’S SERMON
Part 1 - Introduction
Part 2 - Sin in the Church


TODAY’S SERMON
Part 3 - Reject God and be Rejected


SCRIPTURE READING
Jude 1:5-10
Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.

In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings. But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.

  
                  I.            THOUGH YOU ALREADY KNOW THIS
a.      Sin is obvious
                                                                         i.      Galatians 5:19-2119 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

                                                                      ii.      And there are those who habitually sin (live in sin), knowing it is sin, and try to hide under the cover of Grace and Forgiveness

                                                                   iii.      However, to the habitual sinners living in sin who like to misquote scriptures like, “We all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”, they need reminding of the pattern of Salvation shown throughout scripture.
1.      Confess your sin
2.      Repent of your sin
3.      Ask the Lord for forgiveness
4.      Sin no more

                                                                    iv.      To the habitual sinner trying to hide in God’s Grace to excuse whatever behavior or lifestyle or sin in which they wish to live;
1.      Romans 1:5Through him (Jesus) we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake.”

2.      Matthew 15:8 This people draw nigh unto me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

3.      2 Corinthians 11:12-15 I (Apostle Paul) will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. 13 For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.”

4.      Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?”

                                                                       v.      The habitual sinner, in his own vain imaginations and ungodly ways, creates his own religion where he can live and do whatever he chooses, and simply claim he is forgiven without ever obeying what Christ commands.

b.     Jude shows some of the history of God dealing with those who reject Him
                                                                         i.      This is for those who may think because they call themselves a believer, they are exempt from God’s judgment...However, God judges the heart of man, not what he “identifies” as!

                                                                      ii.      God’s chosen people - I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. 

                                                                   iii.      The Angels - the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. 

                                                                    iv.      Entire Towns - Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion.


c.      They serve as an example
                                                                         i.      The Spirit of God wanting us to understand, you are either in obedience or disobedience, regardless of name, position, or what you may call yourself.

                                                                      ii.      If you are not called “it” by God, and you still believe it, you are delusional, and if you are not obedient to His Word, you are ungodly.

                                                                   iii.      Regardless of crying peace, grace, forgiveness, salvation!
1.      Do you think those in Sodom did not call out to God when the city was destroyed? There are no Atheists in foxholes...
2.      However God judges our hearts, not our words.
3.      You can claim anything you wish, it does not make it so
4.      And if your heart is not calling out to God in confession, repentance, asking forgiveness, your words are meaningless.


               II.            THE UNGODLY ARE DELUSIONAL
a.      In their delusions (Filthy Imaginations)
                                                                         i.      Verse 8 “In their delusions these ungodly people pollute their own bodies.”
                                                                      ii.      Pollute with what?  Sin
                                                                   iii.      Is it the devils fault?  No...they do this to themselves

                                                                    iv.      The religion they have created for themselves to dwell within allows sin, and in their minds is easily and quickly erased at any time, and returned to when the flesh desires.


                                                                       v.      However, this sin is rarely confessed, never truly repented from, and therefore never truly forgiven, and they corrupt and pollute themselves with sin they believe has been removed.

b.     Reject Church Authority
                                                                         i.      Why do they reject church authority? Because the scriptures contradict their vain imaginations and made up religion
                                                                      ii.      They hate discipline
                                                                   iii.      Reject Truth when it is presented
                                                                    iv.      Misquote and misapply scripture to prove their ungodly beliefs

c.      And heap abuse (slander) on celestial beings
                                                                         i.      This verse meaning, they refuse to live by the Word of God, rather they reject it and fabricate their own religion

                                                                      ii.      II Corinthians 11:13-15For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness.”

                                                                   iii.      What is the “abuse” and “slander”?
1.      Their very lives, living in disobedience to the Word

2.      Calling themselves followers of Christ while all the while following nothing but their own vain imaginations

3.      Romans 1:21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

4.      Rather, those who are true followers; 2 Corinthians 10:5 “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”

Hosea 4:6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me...”

The Knowledge of God is made known to us through His Word

Anything that exalts itself above the Word of God is to be rejected
Otherwise you are rejecting the Word (God’s Knowledge)

You cannot reject God’s Knowledge without being Rejected by God!

           III.            SLANDERING WHAT THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND
a.      The devil does it
                                                                         i.      Devil rejected God’s Knowledge
                                                                      ii.      Devil misrepresented God’s Word to manipulate Jesus (witchcraft)
                                                                   iii.      Devil misrepresented the Words of God to Eve

b.     These ungodly self-professing followers of Christ do it
                                                                         i.      They ignore their own sin and disobedience
                                                                      ii.      They love grace, love, acceptance, perceived forgiveness
                                                                   iii.      They hate church discipline, confession, repentance, obedience, discipline

c.      What they do understand - will destroy them
                                                                         i.      Romans 1:21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

                                                                      ii.      Galatians 5:19-2119 The acts of the flesh are obvious:

                                                                   iii.      Hosea 4:6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me...”

                                                                    iv.      Jude 10 “Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them”

 CONCLUSION

If this takes place within the Church, we follow the instructions in Matthew in hopes that our brother or sister will confess and repent and live obediently to Christ’s commands.  As it says in James, a brother brought back to the faith will save them and cover their sins while they were on the broad path.

If we fall into this category, the answer is this, return to the Word, confess your sins, truly repent and turn away from them, stop living in your sins, ask the Lord for forgiveness, and live in obedience to the word of God, not making excuses for your sins or life.

This can be achieved through the Power of the Holy Spirit.

If anything (including your own imaginations) try to exalt themselves above the Word of God, cast it down and rebuke it in the name of the Lord.

Submit to the Lord and His Word, receive and accept it and He will in return accept you.

Reject the Knowledge of God, and He will reject you and you will perish for eternity.



Want to learn more about Salvation and Getting Saved?   

Want to hear the audio to this sermon?   



No comments:

//------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- //------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------