JOTS FROM OLD JAKE
LIPS to HEART
Monday, Jan. 07, 2008 - 2:16 p.m.
Jude 1:1-25 �Jude, a servant�(doulos � bond slave) �of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ: Mercy to you and peace and love be multiplied.�
�Beloved, while I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I was constrained to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For there are certain men who crept in secretly, even those who were long ago written about for this condemnation: ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying our only Master, God, and Lord, Jesus Christ.�
�Now I desire to remind you, though you already know this, that the Lord, having saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who didn't believe. Angels who didn't keep their first domain, but deserted their own dwelling place, he has kept in everlasting bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them, having, in the same way as these, given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire.�
I believe that we are talking here about people who say with their mouth that they are Christian but with their heart are not yet transformed. (Believe in the heart and make confession with the mouth). The same thing happened with the Israelites when they were set free from Egypt. They were talking the talk but not believing from the heart except for a small remnant. They were not allowed into the promised land.
You might say that the lip service is saying what you would like to believe but, believing from the heart is by faith putting our full trust in Him, knowing from the heart that He is our Lord, Master, Savior, Healer, Deliverer, et al.
�Yet in like manner these also in their dreaming defile the flesh, despise authority, and slander celestial beings. But Michael, the archangel, when contending with the devil and arguing about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him an abusive condemnation, but said, "May the Lord rebuke you!" But these speak evil of whatever things they don't know. What they understand naturally, like the creatures without reason, in these things are they destroyed. Woe to them! For they went in the way of Cain, and ran riotously in the error of Balaam for hire, and perished in Korah's rebellion. These are hidden rocky reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you, shepherds who without fear feed themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn leaves without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; wild waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the blackness of darkness has been reserved forever.�
These false teachers are among us daily even as we speak. They come as wolves in sheep�s clothing. We are obliged to check out every spirit and teaching with the scripture before we accept it as gospel.
�About these also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones, to execute judgment on all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their works of ungodliness which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the hard things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him." These are murmurers and complainers, walking after their lusts (and their mouth speaks proud things), showing respect of persons to gain advantage.� (Phony Christians?)
�But you, beloved, remember the words which have been spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you that "In the last time there will be mockers, walking after their own ungodly lusts." These are they who cause divisions, and are sensual, not having the Spirit. But you, beloved, keep building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.�
The Holy Spirit was sent to comfort us, lead us and aid us in our Christian walk. Praying in the Spirit is extreamly important, because the Holy Spirit is one of the triune God head and knows much more that the human can know or understand. That is why allowing the Holy Spirit make the utterance through us gives us advantage over just praying from or in our own understanding. There are many Christians who believe that advantage was only for the first church. I can find no scripture to back that up. The Holy Spirit, including His aid, is to be with us until Christ returns. Christ as of this writing has not returned. It is possible that He will come before I get this posted.
�Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. On some have compassion, making a distinction, and some save, snatching them out of the fire with fear, hating even the clothing stained by the flesh. Now to him who is able to keep them from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory in great joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.�
I have a lot more to add to this, but it is already too long.
VERSE FOR THIS ENTRY!
Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
ULTERIOR WORDS OF WISDOM� OR/NOT!
The best parts of life are all of the little parts added up!
~Old Indian Saying~
May you be filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit!
