THE EPISTLE OF JUDE

          Welcome back to Daily Bread, and the study of The Epistle of Jude. This is a short letter, written to Christians, encouraging them to be strong in their faith, because of the many deceivers who use the church to do their own will instead of the Lord’s will. James warns about things that happened in the past to show Christians that we need to be alert and to stand up and fight when evil tries to lead Christians astray.

          Jude says: I will remind you again, even though you once knew this, how the Lord, having saved the Israelite  people out of the land of Egypt, He then afterward destroyed those who didn’t believe. (In The Great Flood) And the angels who didn’t keep their original place with God, (Genesis 6:1-5) but left their own habitation, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness until the great day of judgment. (The Book of Enoch, chapters 6 and 7)

          This brings us to the question of the book of Enoch being a trustworthy place to seek TRUTH. I mean, the book of Enoch was not placed in the Bible just as many others were chosen by man not to be placed in the Bible. In fact the book just as others and even the Bible has been translated and rewritten by others over the years. However, we see that the Bible not only mentions Enoch but agrees with many things in the book of Enoch. Therefore, we have provided the book of Enoch study for you to ponder and decide upon.

          Even like Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities around them in the same way, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are made as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise authority, and speak evil of dignities. (Exodus 22:28) says, Thou shalt not revile God, nor curse the ruler of thy people.)

          Even Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil (Zechariah 3:2) he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

          But these people I’m talking about, speak wickedly of things they don’t know about: but what they know naturally, like wild animals, in those things they destroy themselves. Woe unto them! They’ve followed in the footsteps of Cain, (Genesis 4:1-15) and ran greedily for money, like the sin of Balaam, (Numbers 22:7-8) and perished in the contention of Korah (Numbers 16:32). These people are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear.

          What is Jude saying here? The people who use the Church for their own gain, and to deceive others, are dirt in your celebrations of love, when they act like they’re in agreement with you, and profit without a guilty conscience. He goes on: They’re like clouds without water, blown around by the wind, trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots. They’re like raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame, like wandering stars, to whom darkness belongs forever. And Enoch also, the seventh (generation) from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. (The Book of Enoch, chapter 1, verse 9).

          Jude further explains who these people are. These are grumblers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and they speak great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage. What does that mean? It means that these people will speak against the church, and fight for their own desires instead of God’s will. They also want the respect of men, because they feel like it gives them power. Now listen to what Jude concludes about them.

          But, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, how they told you that there would be mockers in the end, who would walk after their own ungodly lusts. These are the people who cause divisions, they are worldly and do not have the Spirit of God. But you, beloved, strengthening your faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the LOVE of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.

          Let’s talk about this from another perspective too. The Shepherd's ... You’re dealing with the lost. That means that they’re in a place where they shouldn’t be, but the only way to get them out, is to go and get them. If your sheep is fallen into the mud or is hanging on the side of a cliff, you’ll have to get dirty in order to save it’s little soul. People may look down at you, and say, Ewww, you’re all dirty, but God knows WHY you’ve gotten dirty. You sought to save a child of HIS. Just know TRUTH and despise the place they are in. Hate the sin, not the sinner. And by the way, Jude says, hate the dirt (sin) that you had to see, sense, fight, when you went in to help the lost sheep.

          Another thing to remember is that each sheep is different. And in addition to that, each instance is different. You may have to rescue the same sheep with compassion one day, fire the next, and compassion the day after that. Just ask the Holy Spirit to guide you, and He will help you to understand what method to use to bring them back to the fold.

          Although The Epistle of Jude is brief, let not the brevity of his words deceive you ... It’s a very good reminder of a few different things. Be alert. Be reminded. Beware. Be compassionate. Be stern. And beloved, be reaching up and adoring to God.

         The next, and very last study of the New Testament is next, called The Revelation of Jesus Christ to St. John. You definitely don’t want to miss this wonderful prophecy of the End Times. You’ll be anxious to get from one chapter to the next, so hurry back and you’ll discover things you never knew before. It’s all right here, in your Daily Bread!