WeLoveGod RallysPublic Forums: pastormailSermon 1 In Jude Series--(Also At …

You need to log in to create posts and topics.

Sermon 1 In Jude Series--(Also Attached In WordPerfect 9.0 Format)

#1 · June 2, 2002, 3:04 pm

Quote from Forum Archives on June 2, 2002, 3:04 pm
Posted by: jnthrower <jnthrower@...>

CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH

THE BOOK OF JUDE

"JUDE, THE SERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST" (VS 1A)

INTRODUCTION

The author of the Book of Jude is generally accepted as being Jude, the brother of James and the half-brother of Jesus Christ Himself.

(See Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3 where He is called "Judas").

The Book of Jude was slow in being accepted into the canon as Scripture. In fact, it was not fully accepted by the church until about A.D. 350. Jude's quoting some apocryphal books

(See Jude 9, 14-15) probably led to its slow acceptance. The apocryphal books are those books that were written between the Old Testament and the New Testament, but that have never been counted as Scripture except by the Roman Catholic Church. The Book of Jude eventually proved itself as Scripture and was fully accepted by the church.

I. NOTE THE CHANGE IN JUDE'S PERCEPTION OF JESUS--

FROM A HALF-BROTHER TO THE MESSIAH.

A. None Of Jesus' Half-Brothers Or Half-Sisters Believed On Him Until

The Resurrection. (John 7:5; Acts 1:14)

B. Note That He Says He Is "The Servant Of Jesus Christ."

The word "Christ" in the New Testament is equivalent to the "Messiah"

of the Old Testament.

Messiah-- anointed; usually a consecrated person (as a king, priest, or saint); specifically the Messiah: (Daniel 9:25-26)

Christ--anointed, that is, the Messiah, a descriptive word used of Jesus.

Jude now believes that his half-brother Jesus is the Messiah, the Anointed One of God.

He believes that his half-brother Jesus is the Son of God who came into the world to save man.

He believes that his half-brother Jesus can save him from sin, death, and judgment.

He believes that his half-brother Jesus can make him acceptable to God.

What an enormous turnaround! What a testimony to the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ this is!

II. NOTE THE CHANGE IN JUDE'S ACTION TOWARD HIS HALF-BROTHER--

FROM AN UNBELIEVER TO A SERVANT.

A "servant" is literally a "bond-slave."

The word "servant" (Greek-- "doulos") means far more than just a servant.

A look at the slave market of the day in which Jude lived shows more clearly what He meant when he said he was a "slave of Jesus Christ."

A. The Slave Was Owned (Totally Possessed) By His Master. This is what Jude meant. Jude was purchased and possessed by Christ. Christ had looked upon him and had seen his degraded and needful condition. And when Christ looked, the most wonderful thing happened: Christ loved him and bought him; therefore, he was now the possession of Christ.

B. The Slave Existed Only For His Master.

He had no other reason for existence. He had no personal rights whatsoever. The same was true with Jude: he existed only for Christ. His rights were the rights of Christ only.

C. The Slave Served His Master.

He existed only for the purpose of service of the master's beck and call. He was at the master's disposal any hour of the day. So it was with Jude: he lived only to serve Christ—hour by hour and day by day.

D. The Slave's Will Belonged To His Master.

He was allowed no will and no ambition other than the will and ambition of the master.

He was completely subservient to the Master and owed total obedience to the will of the master. Jude belonged to Christ.

E. The Title "Servant Of Jesus Christ" Meant That He Had The Highest And Most Honored And Kingly Profession In All The World That Is Available To Men.

Men of God, the greatest men of history, have always been called the servants of God.

It was the highest title of honor. The believer's slavery to Jesus Christ is not a cringing, cowardly, shameful subjection.

It is the position of honor—the honor that bestows upon a man the privileges and responsibilities of serving the King of kings and Lord of lords.

1. Moses was the servant of God (Deut. 34:5; Mal. 4:4).

Deut 34:5-- "So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD."

Malachi 4:4-- "Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments."

2. Joshua was the servant of God (Joshua 24:29; Judges 2:8).

3. David was the servant of God (2 Samuel 3:18; Psalm 78:70).

4. The prophets were the servants of God (Amos 3:7; Jer. 7:25).

Amos 3:7-- "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."

Jeremiah 7:25-- "Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them."

5. Paul was the servant of Jesus Christ and God (Rom 1:1; Tit 1:1).

6. Paul and Timothy were the servants of Jesus Christ (Phil 1:1).

7. Peter was the servant of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:1).

8. James was the servant of God (James 1:1).

9. Jude was the servant of Jesus Christ (Jude 1).

III. NOTE WHAT OUR POSITION SHOULD BE IN CHRIST.

Christian believers are said to be the servants of Jesus Christ

(Acts 2:18; 1 Cor. 7:22; Eph. 6:6; Col. 4:12; 2 Tim. 2:24).

A. We Should Be Following Christ Closely.

John 12:26--"If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour"

"serve"--to be an attendant, that is, wait upon; technically to act as a Christian deacon.

B. We Should Be Presenting Ourselves Willingly To God For Service.

Romans 12:1--I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

C. We Should Be Stedfast In The Work Of The Lord. (1 Cor 15:58)

To be in a settled position.

Many are stedfast, but in the wrong areas.

D. We Should Be Unmovable In The Work Of The Lord. (1 Cor 15:58)

To be immovable.

Many are unmmovable, but in the wrong place to begin with.

E. We Should Be Always Abounding In The Work Of The Lord.

(1 Cor 15:58)

F. We Should Do The Will Of God From Our Hearts. (Eph 6:6)

Eph 6:6-- "Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;"

Col 3:23-24--"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ" (Col. 3:23-24).

Deut. 10:12--"What doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul"

G. We Should Do It Acceptably With Reverence And Godly Fear.

Hebrews 12:28--"Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear."

acceptably-- "quite agreeably"

reverence-- "awe"

Psalm 2:11--"Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling"

H. We Should Do It With Gladness And Singing (Joy).

Psalm 100:2--"Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing"

Philippians 4:4-- "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice."

CONCLUSION

Jude, the Lord's half-brother, humbled himself to see Jesus in His rightful position.

Should we not do the same? Who are we really serving?--Satan, Self, Someone or Something Else, or the Saviour?

Put Jesus in His rightful position where He belongs--He is Lord of all or He is not Lord at all in your life. Luke 6:46; Malachi 1:6-8

Posted by: jnthrower <jnthrower@...>

CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH

THE BOOK OF JUDE

"JUDE, THE SERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST" (VS 1A)

INTRODUCTION

The author of the Book of Jude is generally accepted as being Jude, the brother of James and the half-brother of Jesus Christ Himself.

(See Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3 where He is called "Judas").

The Book of Jude was slow in being accepted into the canon as Scripture. In fact, it was not fully accepted by the church until about A.D. 350. Jude's quoting some apocryphal books

(See Jude 9, 14-15) probably led to its slow acceptance. The apocryphal books are those books that were written between the Old Testament and the New Testament, but that have never been counted as Scripture except by the Roman Catholic Church. The Book of Jude eventually proved itself as Scripture and was fully accepted by the church.

I. NOTE THE CHANGE IN JUDE'S PERCEPTION OF JESUS--

FROM A HALF-BROTHER TO THE MESSIAH.

A. None Of Jesus' Half-Brothers Or Half-Sisters Believed On Him Until

The Resurrection. (John 7:5; Acts 1:14)

B. Note That He Says He Is "The Servant Of Jesus Christ."

The word "Christ" in the New Testament is equivalent to the "Messiah"

of the Old Testament.

Messiah-- anointed; usually a consecrated person (as a king, priest, or saint); specifically the Messiah: (Daniel 9:25-26)

Christ--anointed, that is, the Messiah, a descriptive word used of Jesus.

Jude now believes that his half-brother Jesus is the Messiah, the Anointed One of God.

He believes that his half-brother Jesus is the Son of God who came into the world to save man.

He believes that his half-brother Jesus can save him from sin, death, and judgment.

He believes that his half-brother Jesus can make him acceptable to God.

What an enormous turnaround! What a testimony to the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ this is!

II. NOTE THE CHANGE IN JUDE'S ACTION TOWARD HIS HALF-BROTHER--

FROM AN UNBELIEVER TO A SERVANT.

A "servant" is literally a "bond-slave."

The word "servant" (Greek-- "doulos") means far more than just a servant.

A look at the slave market of the day in which Jude lived shows more clearly what He meant when he said he was a "slave of Jesus Christ."

A. The Slave Was Owned (Totally Possessed) By His Master. This is what Jude meant. Jude was purchased and possessed by Christ. Christ had looked upon him and had seen his degraded and needful condition. And when Christ looked, the most wonderful thing happened: Christ loved him and bought him; therefore, he was now the possession of Christ.

B. The Slave Existed Only For His Master.

He had no other reason for existence. He had no personal rights whatsoever. The same was true with Jude: he existed only for Christ. His rights were the rights of Christ only.

C. The Slave Served His Master.

He existed only for the purpose of service of the master's beck and call. He was at the master's disposal any hour of the day. So it was with Jude: he lived only to serve Christ—hour by hour and day by day.

D. The Slave's Will Belonged To His Master.

He was allowed no will and no ambition other than the will and ambition of the master.

He was completely subservient to the Master and owed total obedience to the will of the master. Jude belonged to Christ.

E. The Title "Servant Of Jesus Christ" Meant That He Had The Highest And Most Honored And Kingly Profession In All The World That Is Available To Men.

Men of God, the greatest men of history, have always been called the servants of God.

It was the highest title of honor. The believer's slavery to Jesus Christ is not a cringing, cowardly, shameful subjection.

It is the position of honor—the honor that bestows upon a man the privileges and responsibilities of serving the King of kings and Lord of lords.

1. Moses was the servant of God (Deut. 34:5; Mal. 4:4).

Deut 34:5-- "So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD."

Malachi 4:4-- "Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments."

2. Joshua was the servant of God (Joshua 24:29; Judges 2:8).

3. David was the servant of God (2 Samuel 3:18; Psalm 78:70).

4. The prophets were the servants of God (Amos 3:7; Jer. 7:25).

Amos 3:7-- "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."

Jeremiah 7:25-- "Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them."

5. Paul was the servant of Jesus Christ and God (Rom 1:1; Tit 1:1).

6. Paul and Timothy were the servants of Jesus Christ (Phil 1:1).

7. Peter was the servant of Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:1).

8. James was the servant of God (James 1:1).

9. Jude was the servant of Jesus Christ (Jude 1).

III. NOTE WHAT OUR POSITION SHOULD BE IN CHRIST.

Christian believers are said to be the servants of Jesus Christ

(Acts 2:18; 1 Cor. 7:22; Eph. 6:6; Col. 4:12; 2 Tim. 2:24).

A. We Should Be Following Christ Closely.

John 12:26--"If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour"

"serve"--to be an attendant, that is, wait upon; technically to act as a Christian deacon.

B. We Should Be Presenting Ourselves Willingly To God For Service.

Romans 12:1--I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

C. We Should Be Stedfast In The Work Of The Lord. (1 Cor 15:58)

To be in a settled position.

Many are stedfast, but in the wrong areas.

D. We Should Be Unmovable In The Work Of The Lord. (1 Cor 15:58)

To be immovable.

Many are unmmovable, but in the wrong place to begin with.

E. We Should Be Always Abounding In The Work Of The Lord.

(1 Cor 15:58)

F. We Should Do The Will Of God From Our Hearts. (Eph 6:6)

Eph 6:6-- "Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;"

Col 3:23-24--"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ" (Col. 3:23-24).

Deut. 10:12--"What doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul"

G. We Should Do It Acceptably With Reverence And Godly Fear.

Hebrews 12:28--"Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear."

acceptably-- "quite agreeably"

reverence-- "awe"

Psalm 2:11--"Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling"

H. We Should Do It With Gladness And Singing (Joy).

Psalm 100:2--"Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing"

Philippians 4:4-- "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice."

CONCLUSION

Jude, the Lord's half-brother, humbled himself to see Jesus in His rightful position.

Should we not do the same? Who are we really serving?--Satan, Self, Someone or Something Else, or the Saviour?

Put Jesus in His rightful position where He belongs--He is Lord of all or He is not Lord at all in your life. Luke 6:46; Malachi 1:6-8