Lessons from JUde (3)
Here we go again. Jude the brother of Jesus is seemingly putting on an Elijah mantle with his evisceration of anyone who uses grace as an opportunity to turn from the faith, or live for themselves.
8 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. 9 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.
Jude is pointing out people you may know in church. You don’t think you do, but you do. Have you ever been around someone who always has a ‘word’ from the Lord? Often these people put themselves at the forefront of every conversation. They know more, they understand more, always. But Jude is saying they’re just dreamers.
These same people will be the first ones who will reject authority. Well, they would never portray themselves as rejecting God, because, ‘for heaven’s sake they are godly!’ But they always know more than their teachers, or their Pastor just doesn’t have the understanding….and they have no qualms about saying so. Maybe not out in public, but if you go to lunch with them, they’ll let you know they think the Pastor missed it when he told everyone to not worship down front by the altar for a week or changes when/how they do Children’s Church. Jude is saying these people have missed it…they’re rejecting authority. Christ Jesus himself stated plainly…if you want to be known in the kingdom of heaven, become least of all, not know-it-all.
Have you ever heard anyone call Satan names? Stupid, ignorant, filthy…blah blah? Jude calls anyone who speaks in a foul manner toward ANY celestial being an irrational animal. Why? Because we human beings to be so incredibly weak, think ourselves strong. To be incredibly ignorant, we think we know it all. But Paul consumes it all when he says that the most foolish thing of God is wiser than all mankind’s ‘wisdom.’
But we started this entire chapter about an abuse of grace. All of these things listed in this message are found in that same hyper-grace because at the heart of hyper-grace is pride. Living for yourself, thinking highly of yourself, expressing yourself instead of humbly, quietly following Jesus. Woe to the man looking for limelight on the earth, for he will find darkness in the end.
