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Lessons From Jude

Jude (12/20/20)

December 10, 2020 • Benham Brothers

* Jude is Judah, Christ’s half brother. * The name Judah is important - Jesus was the “Lion of the tribe of Judah,” signifying His royalty. * Jude was the son of Joseph, who descended from David - he had royalty in his blood as well. * But look how he identifies himself. * Vs 1 - “servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James…” * Why did he write a letter? * Vs 3 - he was EAGER to write about their common salvation. * But he was COMPELLED to write about contending for their faith. * What are you eager to do? What are you compelled to do? * Two facets of your faith: * 1) Surrendering to the truth. * 2) Defending the truth. * You defend what’s been “entrusted” to you, what’s most precious to you. * Vs 4 - bad people “slipped” in unnoticed among the people. * They looked, acted, and talked like everyone. * The best lies are 99% truthful. * But they were ungodly. How? By perverting the grace of God. * Perverting something is using it against its intended purpose. * God’s grace is meant to be a gift given to those who repent of sin. * The people taught that you can get God’s grace AND keep sinning. * By doing so they deny the Savior. * Vs 5-7 - the end result is judgment and destruction.

Jude 2 (12/11/14)

December 11, 2014 • Benham Brothers

Back in the 60's the message of the day was Peace & Love, but they said nothing of mercy. People wanted peace and love without bringing God into the mix. How can you have peace apart from God? You have to get it from the outside - drugs and alcohol. This led to the indulgence of the appetite, and the sexual revolution exploded onto the scene. Since God was replaced by government, how were they going to deal with all these illegitimate kids? Kill them! Roe-vs-Wade - abortion became legal. Jude sets the record straight. He said that we cannot have peace and love without first having experienced mercy from God. You can't experience mercy until you recognize that you need it. Here's the process: 1) Mercy - upon our repentance we will experience mercy from God. We don't get the punishment we deserve. 2) Peace - upon receiving God's mercy we now have a peace that surpasses all understanding. 3) Love - when we have received God's love then His love will fill our hearts for Him and for others. We will love everyone and we won't have to be high to do it. We live in a "I need it now" culture - people want peace apart from God and they can get it temporarily in many different places, but it won't lead to peace in our soul nor true love for others. The difference between endorphines (go through pain to experience peace) vs adrenaline (quick fix). If we want peace we need to experience God's mercy, and this will fill us with love for Him and love for others.

Jude 3 (12/10/15)

December 10, 2015 • Benham Brothers

• This book flies in the face of those who say, "I want to be known for what I'm 'for,' not what I'm 'against.'" • Jude wanted to write about salvation, but he had to write about contending for the faith. Why? • Because there were those who were contentious toward it. • We contend just like a soldier who's not looking for a fight but won't back down from one either. • It takes place in the realm of ideas. • If we don't contend then our kids won't end up with the faith we have. • Vs 5-7 - Jude takes the gloves off and throws hay-makers. • How do we contend? • Vs 9 - Michael - 1) Blood of Lamb, 2) Word of their testimony, 3) Not loving their lives so much as to shrink from death (Revelation 12). • Vs 20-21 - Further instructions: • 1) Build yourself in the faith - have the mindset of a builder. • 2) Pray in the Spirit - talk to the Master Builder. • 3) Stay in the love of God - stay close to Him through abiding. • 4) Wait for His mercy - have a disposition of waiting - wings of eagles.

Jude 6 (12/14/22)

December 14, 2022 • Benham Brothers • Jude 6

Power = the ability to do something. Authority = the right to use power. EX: Lundi driving a car. Authority and responsibility are linked. To keep your authority you have to stay in your place of responsibility. EX: We have to drive responsibly (obey the traffic laws). God has given all of us as believers authority. It’s our job to keep it.  Satan can’t take it - we have to give it to him. EX: Adam & Eve. Backstory - Jude is encouraging believers to keep their authority. People had slipped into the congregation who believed you could live like you wanted to AND have Jesus. He tells them this doesn’t work and it leads to a loss of authority. He reminds them how that happened with the angels.  Vs 5 - “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.Vs 6 - “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.” The angels abandoned their responsibility when the chose to follow Lucifer, thus forfeiting their authority.  Now they are locked up in a prison of darkness. This is the same thing that happens to us when we don't stay in our place of responsibility - we're locked up until we confess and repent and get our authority back!If you don’t walk in your authority you end up in apostacy. Apostacy is “A-Post-Acy” - it means you have “abandoned your post.” The Message versions says, “And you know the story of the angels who didn’t stick to their post, abandoning it for other, darker missions...” EX: In the military, if the dude on night-watch abandons his post it could lead to the destruction of the entire group. This is why in the old days they were threatened with death if they failed in their job to keep watch.In our spiritual lives, it’s the same - we have to “keep watch” for the enemy, staying in the post God put us in.  To keep your authority, stay in your place of responsibility. What is your authorized work? (Jesus at Bethesda)It’s to be based on the call of God, not the needs of man. 

Jude 11 (12/12/19)

December 12, 2019 • Benham Brothers

* Jude pointed out three sins of old that people in his day were committing. * The sins of Cain, Balaam, and Korah. * 1) The sin of Cain - he didn’t bring his best to God. * He felt like he could do his thing his way. * 2) The sin of Balaam - he used his gifting for monetary gain. * He was for hire - he was willing to sell out for profit and promotion. * 3) The sin of Korah - he wanted authority that wasn’t his. * Just like Satan lusted after God’s throne, Korah felt like he deserved a position of prominence. * Jude reminds believers of this so they would remember how these men were punished. * It should strike holy fear into them.

Jude 16 (12/7/17)

December 7, 2017 • Benham Brothers

* Here are five characteristics of someone who will lose at everything in life: * 1) Grumble - he complains about everything, typically in his mind or under his breath. * 2) Blame shift - he refuses to take responsibility for his own actions. * 3) Selfish - his first thought is of himself and what he wants. * 4) Brag - because he’s selfish he tells others about his ossumness - he can’t stop talking about himself. * 5) Manipulate - the only time he does say nice things about others is to get something he wants.