Build up and save

                                                                                                                            

Preachers may sound like a broken record when they tell you to read your Bible over and over, but they care for your soul because you need to remember the words of the apostles of Christ (Jude 17-23). Keep their truths in mind and remember God’s promises and warnings. Remember, there will be mockers in the last times who walk, not after the way of Christ but after the way of flesh. They separate themselves from truth, authority, the church, from Christian fellowship, and  yoke themselves to the world. They may have a testimony, but they don’t have the Holy Spirit.

Instead of being disheartened, build yourselves up on the most holy faith and use the call for preparedness as an opportunity to strengthen yourself. You accomplish this by the Word of God (Acts 20:32)  and by God’s grace (I Corinthians 3:10). You build yourself up in Christ (Colossians 2:6-7), in His church (Ephesians 4:16) and by praying  in the Spirit. By doing this, you keep yourself in the love of God (Jude 21), or, in other words, we keep our minds and hearts in the love of God. We guard our affections against anything that pulls us from the thoughts of the love of Christ Jesus.  While nothing can eternally separate us from the love of God in Christ, we can wander and be led from magnifying God’s love in our life. Read the Bible, pray, meditate on the Scripture, fellowship with other Christians, join the church and attend the worship services, look to Christ and His promises, and look for Christ and his return.

Plus, you need to stay ready for the good of your friends. Someone needs to be strong to protect them (Jude 22-23)!  With some, we need to move with pity, mercy, grace. Being tender hearted because  they may be caught up unawares. Romans 16:18, “by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple”. Some will be deceived and fall off the path of orthodoxy. Others are too close to the edge, or too hardheaded to pick up the tender and gentle warnings.  In Jude 22-23, there are two types of people with basically the same problem, but we wisdom to determine how to deal with different people in different situations. Ignoring the issue and hoping it goes away is not an option if we love our friends. Sometimes a gentle reproof is enough to do the trick and sometimes you have to yank them out of the fire (Jude 23). If a one year old baby is waddling toward an open fire, mere feet from going headfirst into the flame, you don’t suggest in a soft spoken gentlemanly manner, for the babe to reconsider their life choices. You grab them and pull them away from danger. You have to treat sin like a leprous garment. It’s diseased and dangerous. Hate it for what it is and instead of falling in the flames, toss the garment of sin in the bonfire.

Three Bad Examples

                                                                   

Jude 10-16

When you go verse by verse through a book of the Bible, you are confronted with topics you otherwise might not really want to deal with. Jude himself, in verse 3 said he would have rather wrote about salvation by grace, but this subject is needed. Spiritual villains sneak in churches disguising themselves as men of God, so you have to be ready! The enter in the way of Cain, the murderer of righteous Abel (I John 3:12), but they are murderers of souls with damnable doctrine. They prey on God’s people like Balaam (Numbers 21-25). Men of Moab and Midian approached  Balaam with a proposition  -  curse Israel.  Balak, king of Moab, promised him prestige and honor if he would and Balaam would have done it, but the Lord wouldn't let him. But, Balaam said, stick around, maybe God will change His mind. Balaam was holding out hope for the money. Even though he couldn’t curse Israel, Balaam did what He could to hurt them (Numbers 25:1-3;9; 31:16; Rev 2:14). He tempted and lead Israel to participate in the idolatrous behavior of the world, worshipping false idols, and mingling truth with error. False teachers will harm the sheep for money and gain. But it's not just money, but also power. Core (same as Korah in Numbers 16:1)  gathered famous princes, men of renown rose up against Moses and Aaron. He took God’s promises and used them for his twisted sinful rebellion. “God has made us all equal, and  blessed us equally, who are you to be over us?” Actually, it was God who called Moses as the leader of Israel, and Core rebelled against God’s order.  1 Sam 15:23, “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” We live in a time of rebellion, when people no longer heed to authority. They are "spiritual but not religious" meaning they will not listen to any authority other than their own heart. False teachers promote this feeling of autonomy and lead souls in rebellion. God opened up the Earth and Core fell in, and the Earth closed back up. I'm sure he didn't expect that, but people rarely expect or anticipate the judgment of God.

Look at the parallels between Jude 1:4 and 8. The ungodly turn grace into lasciviousness like Balaam. Defile the flesh in sin like Cain and despise dominion and speak evil of dignities like the gainsaying of Core. They are defiled feasts, clouds without water, looking the part, but nothing of substance. They are twice dead fruit trees, without life and without fruit. They rage in rebellion and produce the sea foam of their own shame. They are shooting stars, flashes of light that fade to blackness. Jude gives another Old Testament example to remember, Enoch (Jude 14-16) and his prophesy of old. The Lord is coming. He’s coming with His saints. He coming in judgment. He’s coming to judge the ungodly man of his ungodly deeds and his ungodly words.   

Paul's Prayer List - Tuesday with Timothy #4

2 Timothy 1:3-4 ...that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; 4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; 

Paul loves Timothy and always prays for him. How much do we pray for our loved ones? How much do we pray for our friends? What joy to know someone is praying for you. Knowing someone who has your interest at heart and goes to the throne of grace on your behalf is a great encouragement.
Let’s turn this around. If you tell someone you’ll pray for them, do you? What a terrible lie, to tell someone they are in your prayers, and you have yet to pray for them. What deception to say, “I’ll pray” and forget about it and move on. The hypocrites love to be heard of me, and to let people know they will pray, and probably have a prayer list 5 pages long. Paul prayed night and day for Timothy, and you could take that to the bank.

Paul wanted to see Timothy again and likely remembered when they last saw each other and left, and what a tearful parting it was. The degree of sadness when they parted would be matched by the degree of joy at seeing each other again. What a friendship! If you have such a friend, treasure them and protect that friendship, because they are certainly a rare thing in this world. Paul had fair-weather friends who left him when things got tough, but Timothy was a true friend. Proverbs 17:17, "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." Paul is about to get after Timothy a little bit, and to light a fire under him, but because they are friends, Timothy is not going to pout and get angry, because he also knows Proverbs 27:6, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." Timothy's tears were genuine because his love for his friend was genuine.

Remember the Bad Times

Sometimes, we  forget the basics. I heard a story about  a police squad who received hundreds of hours of weapons training. The instructor asked the officers to pick up the empty casings and put them in their pocket when they finished their clips instead of waiting to the end of the day, to keep things tidy. The officers became crack shots and extremely proficient. One day the officers were called to scene of a crazed gunman and several officers were shot dead. After the shootout,  investigators found the officers pockets full of empty casings. In the fight, they resorted to instinct, and because they didn’t practice the basics, the defaulted to what they had practiced. During the fight, they were actually bending over and picking up empty casings and putting them in their pockets. It’s not practice that makes perfect, but perfect practice makes perfect. We need reminded of the simple things, things we know, because we can forget to apply the principles when we need them. In Jude 5-8, we are called to remember others failures so we won’t make the same mistake.

Remember Israel’s lack of faith and rebellion against God. Remember the angels in Genesis 6 who left their assigned state and went where they were forbidden. Remember Sodom and Gomorrah and their rebellion against the natural order. The enemies Jude warned about have these same characteristics. Jude said these “dreamers” are coming for you who claimed God spoke to them in dreams, saying they had a “word from God”, but teaching their own wicked ways. They defiled the flesh and despised dominion, or hated authority.  These wicked men had an attitude of rebellion against authority and law.  It’s ungodly to be against lawful authority, (e.g., the church, her officers, police, parents, and employers). Like Israel in the wilderness, the fallen angels, and Sodom and Gomorrah, these false teachers despised the natural order and the law of God. By teaching God’s grace as a license to sin, they lead men against God’s ways, which turns to a rebellion against the pastor, and any position of authority or church government. They spoke evil of those in charge to undermine the authority of God’s Word.

Remember Michael, the chief angel, contended with Satan about Moses body. Why? I’m not sure and the Bible doesn’t say. Just because we don’t know for certain why, doesn’t mean we can’t learn the principle Jude is talking about. Michael was not afraid of Satan, though he dared not bring a railing accusation, but said, “the Lord judge thee” because It wasn’t Michael’s  place.

These false teachers, “speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.” They speak evil of God’s truth, which they don’t know, and promote what they are familiar with, their depraved nature. Freedom from law doesn’t bring man up, but makes him act like an animal. Sin, in every way, destroys human dignity.

Sneaky Teachers

God calls Christians to judge people. What about America's favorite verse is Matthew 7:1, "Judge not"? I don't disagree with my Lord, we should not be self-righteouss in our judgment and set ourselves up as God and judge people harshly or wrongly. But He also calls us to judge. If you still disagree with me, aren't you being judgmental? Jude 4 gives us a good example when he gave us the reason why we must fight for the faith, and judge people. "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."

Ungodly men, ordained of old to condemnation, were sneaking in to the churches. These type of men are not robbing the church building, or crawling through the window – they walk right in the front door with a big smile and bigger personality, and shake everyone's hand. The creep in by putting on a disguise of Christian orthodoxy. Christians are called to watch themselves and stay on guard. Sadly, there are wolves in sheep clothing who love to twist Scripture, ruin churches, and lead men into perdition. No false teacher walks through the door and announces his heretical views and insidious schemes. They come in pretending to be like everyone else in the church. Then with "good words and fair speeches" they deceive the hearts of the naive and undiscerning (Romans 16:17-18). They sneak in and start teaching. Whether from the pulpit or from the parking lot after church, they try to spread their terrible doctrine.

Jude notes two ways. One, they teach people to live unholy lives and lead men to anothe Christ. They preach a grace that forgives you of all your sins and then gives you free reign to go and sin all the more. It's a wicked doctrine to tell men they are free to sin and free to live however they please. Some have labeled this doctrine Therapeutic Moralistic Deism. God exists and he wants you to be happy, but is not concerned about how you live, what you believe, or really what you do. Your personal happiness is all that matters and your personal conviction is the guiding light of your morality. All you need to do is confess Jesus then go back and live however you want to live. They turn God's saving grace into a means of living a sinful an wicked life. The only way to preach such a doctrine is to have another Jesus, because the Jesus of the Bible certainly did not lead people to sin, but to go and sin no more. These false teachers, with false doctrine, preach a false Christ that leads people to very real Lake of Fire. God calls Christians to judge. We must compare what people say in God's name with God's word and discern if they are tell us the truth.

Spurgeon to His Son

MY DEAR SON,—You are a good son to write to your father so often and so lovingly. I am indeed happy in having two of the best of sons.

I shall be right glad if you can help the Colportage in any way, for just now it is in great straits. Therefore, go to Birmingham, if you can.

In general follow this rule—Do not engage yourself far ahead; for some fitting place for you to settle in may suddenly appear and it would be a great pity to lose it for the sake of some travelling engagements. Work hard now at theology, and never leave off doing so. The more you put in the more will come out. Get nearer and nearer to the Lord in prayer, and in your general walk, and so you will gain a depth which cannot come in any other way.

Your time will soon be up, and I should like you to begin in some sphere, not too large, nor too small, from which you may step into a life-long position. I think you will maintain a good congregation, and by God's blessing will be useful. We must not push or strive to get you a position, but wait on the Lord and He will do better for you than I can. When Bishops look out for livings for their nephews or sons we condemn their nepotism, and we must not fall into it ourselves. You will be patient and believing, and the right door will open. Cheer them all at home.

Your loving father, C. H. SPURGEON.

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I was cleaning out my draft folder, and I've had this in the draft for almost 8 years, and I didn't record where I found it. I missed it. In the process, I see that I've been blogging here for over a decade now. Would seem like such an occasion would be worthy of reflection. Maybe I'll try that before the end of the year. I have many thoughts...

The Balanced Life - Ecclesiastes 2:3

There is a time and a season for everything under the sun, a time to blog and a time to cast away blogging, one could say. It's been six months since I wrote on Ecclesiastes, and plodding along as I am wont to do, here is the next installment. Click the link that says Ecclesiastes to the right, or click here, or...well, you can figure it out I'm sure. 

Ecclesiastes 2:3 I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.

Solomon “sought” in his heart, so we are seeing  change. He is going to seek to or turn his heart to give himself to wine. Well, let’s not get crazy with all mirth -  or the wisdom. The problem, you see, was not that he carried on, but he carried on too much. Moderation, my dear chap. Nuance. Solomon is not going to live a life of a drunkard - he will mix wisdom and wine in moderation. He is looking for the chief joy and happiness for man and the meaning and purpose of life. Combining the best of both worlds, he might find the satisfaction of soul in the middle road. Too much learning and wisdom vexed his soul. But so did giving himself to mirth and laughter.

Some commentators believe this to be the beginning of Solomon’s fall, walking the middle way of moderation, neither hot nor cold, so to speak. I think this is rather the natural state of affairs for most people who try to reform themselves. They come out of a wild streak and realize such a zealous life of extremes will kill them, and they settle down to a more moderate and respectable life. It’s also the plight of someone who grew up in a conservative household, who thinks their parents were oppressive. Throw off the “fundamentalism” of the past and enjoy their liberty to the fullest.

What should men do all the days of their life? It's a good question to ask and I wish more people asked it. Asking what we are going to do this weekend  is hardly the foresight Solomon was considering. What is it that I should spend my time doing? I only have a limited amount of time on this Earth, what should I do with my time? If giving yourself over to mirth ends badly, maybe moderation in all things is the way to go.  Moderation may be good health advice but poor spiritual advice. This is not drinking advise. Solomon is trying to see if living a balanced life provides your best life.