Jude 1:8-11

Jude 1:8-11 8 Yet these false teachers, who claim authority from their dreams, live immoral lives, defy authority, and scoff at the power of the glorious ones.9 But even Michael, one of the mightiest of the angels, did not dare accuse Satan of blasphemy, but simply said, "The Lord rebuke you." (This took place when Michael was arguing with Satan about Moses' body.)10 But these people mock and curse the things they do not understand. Like animals, they do whatever their instincts tell them, and they bring about their own destruction.11 How terrible it will be for them! For they follow the evil example of Cain, who killed his brother. Like Balaam, they will do anything for money. And like Korah, they will perish because of their rebellion.


So, what is the Immoral life?  I believe we all know,  The Holy Spirit convicts us when we are about to be immoral...there is a nudging for us "not to do it".  Old comedian once said, "The devil made me do it!".....No he didn't, but he does have his hand in it some of the times....we can still choose not to act.

Examples (if you need them):
1.  Sexual perversion
2.  Insult rulers!  Well yes, we are told in 2 Peter 2:10 that we are to respect authority.  That the Lord is hard on those who despise authority.
3.  Speaking evil.
4.  Serving in religion for a gain.  This one is unique.  look at 2 Peter 2:15.  it reads of Balaam and getting rich for doing wrong
5. Murmur and complain.
6. Brag and boast.


See there are plenty of examples....and WE ALL FALL SHORT!..Stay in the Word, ask for forgiveness....often, cause we fall often!

verse 9 is an example of how we are to respond....with humility.  Even to Satan.  We are not to insult and continually "rail" on him.  It is not our place.  Just rebuke...enough said.  Hurling insults is not right, anytime.


Verse 10 is kinda self explanatory.  Just another description of what these people are all about.

Verse 11 says what is going to happen to them.  Who is "Korah"?  See Numbers 16, it is a good read.


Lets stop here.  Enough to digest today.



Blessing on all till next time,


Calabash

Jude 1:5-7

Jude 1:5 For even though you know all this, I want to remind you of how the Lord once rescued the people of Israel from Egypt, but afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 Remember the angels who did not stay within the limits of their proper authority, but abandoned their own dwelling place: they are bound with eternal chains in the darkness below, where God is keeping them for that great Day on which they will be condemned. 7 Remember Sodom and Gomorrah, and the nearby towns, whose people acted as those angels did and indulged in sexual immorality and perversion: they suffer the punishment of eternal fire as a plain warning to all.


There are several examples in the Bible where angles and people were destroyed because of sin.

Biggest example:
Lucifer!  Following that,in Revelation we find that the 1/3 of the angels rebelled with God and were condemned to hell.  These are the angels mentioned in verse 6.  The "proper authority" was God.  Not that they went to side with Lucifer, some did but these mentioned went to man to to have human relations.  For this fornication, they are bound in tartarus in chains.

Sodom and Gomorrah mentioned in verse 7 is another example.  Again, we are returning to the cravings of the flesh and the sin of sodomy.  

Adam and Eve, Nadab and Abihu, Saul, Judas, Ananias and Sapphira, Demas....plus others.  

All because of sin, they were cut off from God.  Proving, God will do it, I don't believe he really wants to but sin without repentance is just unacceptable.  As is the continual return to sin, there are warnings of the impending punishment through out the Bible for these persons.


We need to remember, it is not just sexual sin that we need to atone for, it is ALL kinds.....murder, hatred, slander, theft, gossip, coveting, etc.  We all SIN and fall short!  In the Old Testament the way to atone for any sins committed was by sacrifice and/or burnt offerings.  In the New Testament, Jesus has paid the price for us so we need to go straight to the Father in sincere repentance.


We all need to be able to go to the Father..."go boldly into the throne room" and ask for forgiveness the, try to walk the straight path with God, Christ and the Holy Spirit for help.



Blessings on all till next time,


Calabash

Jude 1:4

4 I say this because some godless people have wormed their way in among you, saying that God's forgiveness allows us to live immoral lives. The fate of such people was determined long ago, for they have turned against our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.


Notice Jude mentions a subject that many church establishments have issue with today.  The occurrence of people coming into the church and stir up trouble.  This is a way the enemy works.  These people get in and twist the word of the Bible to fit their own mission or to hide their own sins.  There is a small thread of doubt weaved into a persons mind and faith is tested. 

Look in Proverbs 6 starting on verse 16, there is a listing of things the Lord hates.  Verse 19 says a "false witness who pours out lies" is one of those things. 

Remedy?  Well, Prayer is always good.  God has promised to answer and give direction, David the psalmist knew that.

Psalm 116:1 NLT

I love the LORD because he hears and answers my prayers.

Ask the Holy Spirit for direction.

Seek advice from the elders.  They will need to know this is happening so they can address the issue.  Can these people be helped?  There is always Gods grace and mercy for those who seek it.  The problem here is these persons are not seeking that, they are looking for a "cover up".  These persons have fallen from grace.

Go directly to your own Bible and read and study.  The Bible mentions persons who have fallen from grace, who have wanted to continue in their sin and deny the grace and mercy:

Lucifer is number one in this category!  Followed closely by Adam and Eve.  We don't know of Adam and Eve's salvation, nothing is ever mentioned concerning that.

Saul fell from grace, (see 1Sam. 31:1-6 and 1 Chr. 10:13-14).  He committed suicide and died out of God's grace.

There are others as well….READ, study, pray.  Get into the Word for guidance.

There are 3 Chief Sins of the Ungodly, this is one of them.

God is a God of forgiveness and second chances.  No "but"s about that.  However,  there are persons who do not seek God who come into Gods grace and mercy only to "cover up" their sins, not for forgiveness or repentance.  

Let's stop here for now.

Blessings on all till next time!


Calabash

Jude back again!

Jude was probably written around 66 A.D. It was written by Jude. No one is really sure where.  

In verse 3 we find the purpose of the book which we will get to.

Jude is the only book in the Bible that has only one chapter.

Plus:

25 verses

no questions

1 verse of fulfilled prophecy

2 verses of unfulfilled prophecy

22 verses of history

Lets continue in the book:

Jude 1:2Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.3

✓

1Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.

Verse 2 is giving us blessings.  

Verse 3 talks about the blessings we share, meaning the Gentiles and the Jews alike, of salvation. 

Now, following is the purpose of the book:

the urge for us to "contend for the faith".

The Greek word here is epagonizomai.  It means to contend against others.  What has happened is false teachers have come onto the scene and now is a really good time to stay true to the original gospel.

Think, dear friends, of what is happening today!  The message is still very strong from John.  We are still urged to hold fast to the true gospel. To defend our beliefs with the Word.

My advice is to continually be in the Word, to question what is told you (even in my blog) to check things out for yourself. 

And the most important thing, PRAY.  Pray for wisdom, knowledge and answers.  Our God is a faithful God and will answer you.

Blessings on all till next time,

Calabash

Reference from the Dake's Annotated Reference Bible

Jude!!! Where are you? Where should WE be?

1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James, To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ:




Book of Jude:

1.  Book preceding Revelation.
2.  Jude was the author.
3.  Estimated time of writing: 66 A.D.
4.  There is one verse of fulfilled prophecy in the book and two verses of unfilled prophecy.
5.  There are 22 verses of history.


Who was Jude?  Half-brother of Jesus (shared the same Mom! ;)  )  So, Jame's full brother.

Jude calls himself a servant of Jesus.  Greek-doulos meaning bond servant.  We should all strive to be servants like Christ was.

Notice he is writing to "those who are called.."
Those who are sanctified by God and pressured in Christ there are Three blessings of Christians.  (there is actually a Doctrine of Sanctification created from the writings in the Holy Bible but lets save that for another blog.)

Anyway, the Three Blessings of Christians are as follows:
1.  Sanctification: It means to be set apart from our normal job, past time, hobby…whatever to be used for Gods's purposes.  It is not to be completely sinless, no one (except Christ) can do that.  It is a process, a beginning, a continual attempt to concentrate your life toward God and His purpose for you.

2.  Preservation: Greek: tereo 

to attend to carefully, take care of, to guard metaph. to keep, one in the state in which he is to observe to reserve: to undergo something (www.biblestudytools.com) 1Peter 1:4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, This is a preservation in us for us…for those who are "called" to be servants of Christ.   *Side note-Please realize that "being called" does not always mean you need to quit your job and go into full time ministry, to be a certified preacher, or even to pick up a Sunday school class.  It means you need to draw closer to God, to listen to what He is telling you and to do what He needs you to do.  It may mean one of those things mentioned above, or it may mean He wants you to write about John's book of Revelation! 3.  Calling:  Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 2 Peter 1:10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall,

This is what will happen if you accept the "calling".  We will never fall, and we will get God's best that He has for us. Let's stop here for now. Blessing on all, Calabash

Hebrews 7- Melchisedec Who was he and what is his purpose?

Melchizedek the Priest

1 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means "king of righteousness"; then also, "king of Salem" means "king of peace." 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever. 4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! 5 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people--that is, their brothers--even though their brothers are descended from Abraham. 6 This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater. 8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. 9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.  (NIV)


First we find in verse 3 that he didn't have any recorded Mother, Father, no birth record or death date.  He had no genealogy ever recorded. 

He was the King of Salem or King of Peace and called the King of righteousness, as mentioned in verse one.  He is also mentioned in Genesis 14:18.  Concerning Abraham and giving of a tenth of everything.  So, this tells us that Abraham paid tithe to Melchizedec, making Melchizedec greater than Abraham.  

It also mentions that Melchizedec was a Priest of God while Abraham lived, that they met while Abraham was returning from a military victory. (Hebrews and Genesis.

Melchizedek was a man and was counted greater than Abraham.  Therefore, counted greater than Levite priest, the offspring of Abraham.  Notice a tenth of the spoils of war from Abraham was given.  It was customary to give this to those you would worship, and while Abraham is not worshiping Melchizedec, he is honoring his commitment to God and his works (Melchisedec) is preforming in Gods name.  Melchizedek was a great priest, and recognized as such...just not in the order of Levi!  Like Christ.

In order for Jesus to bring us a new covenant through His death, that final unblemished sacrifice from the Old covenant and law.  It needed to be based on a new order.  Not the old order of Aaron, Levitical law but a new Priest order.  One from the lineage of Melchisedec, this made it necessary to change and abolish the old law.

Because Christ lead by example, through the order of Melchisedec, it paves our way to be the priest and disciples we must be for Christ.



Until next time.....

Blessings,

Cslabash

Ephesians 6:12.....Principalities, powers, Spirit rebels..REALLY? Devils, demons and spirits?

Eph 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.


Greek word here for wrestle is pale: meaning partake in warfare between the saints and the powers who are against God.

There are actually four kinds of "Spirit Rebels" or demons mentioned here:
1.  Principalities, greek word is archas.   In Satan's kingdom, these are the high rulers.  Those who carry the most in "rank" in a military standing. 
Thanks to Christ and the completion on the cross, we know these (as well as Satan) are defeated for those who believe in Christ.  See Eph 1:21 and Col 2:10.

2.  Next we see the Greek word of exousias meaning authorities.  These are those demons who get their empowerment  and orders from their "chief ruler", Satan.  Most of the modern version Bibles just read "Powers"

3.  Third is "rulers of the darkness of this age"  Greek word, kosmokratopas.  This type is seen many times in our Bible... Dan 10:13-21  Eph 1:21 and Col 1:16-18.  There are many in this world right this minute.  These are the Rulers of anything today who do not follow Christ and his teachings.  These are the rulers with no morals, with little to do with religion or even attempting to do the right thing.  These people are the worshipers of money, power and fame.

4.  The final kind is spiritual wickedness.  Greek word, pneumatika ponerias, we see they are in the heavenlies and are of Satan.

Heavenlies: http://biblesuite.com/greek/2032.htm

2032 epouránios (an adjective, derived from 1909 /epí, "on, fitting," which intensifies 3772 /ouranós, "heaven") – properly, heavenly, referring to the impact of heaven's influence on the particular situation or person.

[The prefix (epi) shows this always "fits" – from the standpoint of heaven.]

This was the best definition I could find on heavenlies, I think it is a pretty good one. 

So, does that mean there are devils and demons in Heaven?  No, not in the high heavens where God is.  The best reading I came across was this commentary by Jon Gill:

 "but in the aerial heavens, where the power or posse of devils reside, and where they are above us, over our heads, overlooking us, and watching every advantage against us;"

 http://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/ephesians-6-12.html

 There is the web site if you wish to read it all, good stuff!

So, are there demons, devils and evil spirits?    The Bible says yes.  Most Biblical scholars say yes.

What can be done about it?  Well read on in Eph and find we are to "Stand our ground" and there is a Full Armor of God that we can put on to protect us!

Eph 6:13-18 :
13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Blessings on all!! 

Calabash