Treat those antagonistic towards the faith with Mercy and Prayer (Jud 1:22,23). #Mercy #TheUnexpected
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
How do I treat and pray for those who malign faith in Christ and the biblical values I hold dear? Do the unexpected thing. Be merciful towards others whose faith is faltering; rescue those who have gone to the dark side. But do so cautiously, hating the sin and not getting caught up in their departure from faith. Galatians 6:1 comes to mind.
Certainly praying for those who malign the faith is implied here and made clear in Luke 6:28. As hard as it may be, pray for those who live and think contrary to you. Do the unexpected thing. Pray for them. Over time your attitude towards them will change. Mercy will kick in. Lord, create in me a desire to act mercifully towards those who have faltered or left the faith and to pray for them.
Stand fast in your faith; encourage the faithful (Jud 1:17–21). #StandFastInFaith #EncourageTheFaithful
“The Rock”
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
So, what are the sentry’s standing orders in these “last days,“ in the face of those who make a mockery of biblical values and live a hedonistic lifestyle, who create division and who do not live by the Spirit of God? Jude answers: Be strengthened in the faith (have a “Gibraltar“ sized faith).
Build one another up who do follow God faithfully. Be prayerful for each other (and those who deny the faith). Look forward to the merciful coming of Christ and eternal life. Thus you will stay safe in the saving, keeping grip of God‘s love. Lord, make of this old sentry a Gibraltar of faith to my friends and family. May I work tirelessly to encourage the faithful in my orbit of influence.
Walk humbly before God and man (Jude 1:11). #BeHumbleBeforeGodAndMen
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
I can avoid becoming apostate myself by avoiding the characteristics of three men listed in Jude. Don’t be like Cain, Balaam, or Korah of old. Cain was indifferent to God‘s instructions. He thought he could do things how he wanted. Balaam was greedy and used religion for his own selfish ends. Korah outrightly denied God. He led a rebellion against God.
There is one characteristic I can develop that would vaccinate me against a spirit of apostasy. Micah 6:8 points me to “humility.” The example of Christ points me to “humility“ (Phi 2:5–7). If I put God first in my life and the interests of others ahead of my own, I can walk humbly and avoid a spirit of apostasy. Lord, may I walk always humbly before you and before men.
Remain faithful to God‘s word and the gospel message (Jude 1:3). #DefendTheFaith #TestTheSpirits #StudyGodsWord #ConfessSin #ConnectWithGodsPeople #ShareYourFaith #Pray
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
Jude has a lot to say about false teachers (apostate deceivers). He minces no words and is clear about their judgment. So how does one remain vigilant and loyal to the faith?
Seek first the rebuke of God against deceiving spirits and evil authority in this world (Jude 1:5-11). #StandingAgainstSatan #StandingAgainstDeceivingSpirits
“The Lord Rebuke You Satan!”
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
Jude 1:9 presents an interesting account of a dispute between Michael the Archangel and Satan over the body of Moses. Nothing further is known about this specific account. Any explanation is conjecture. What we do know is that when Moses died, God buried him (Deu 34:5-8).
We also know that there is a mighty war being waged against evil in this world (2Co 4:3,4; 1Jn 5:19). The war against evil is also being waged in spiritual realms as well (Dan 10:12-14).
I take the Bible at its word. I believe it to be the inspired, inerrant word of God. I accept Jude’s account at face value. Read verse nine in context (vv5-11). After some study and prayer, this is my humble conclusion about Jude’s account:
Even the Archangel of Heaven, Michael, does not take matters into his own hands when dealing with those who have authority (bestowed or otherwise). Even satanic authority.
Michael doesn’t call Satan names. He doesn’t make accusations. He doesn’t command decrees. He doesn’t pronounce any curses. HE CALLS FORTH THE REBUKE OF GOD against the archenemy enemy of Christ. “The Lord rebuke you.” This same prayer is used against Satan in Zech 3:1,2 where he is the accuser of Yeshua, God’s High Priest (See note at the bottom*).
Herein lies a key weapon in the battle against deceiving spirits and evil authority in this world or in the church. PRAYER! Prayer that calls forth the the LORD of Hosts, the Mighty Commander of Heaven’s Armies to fight our battles.
PRAYER is a powerful and mighty weapon against evil. PRAYER, calling forth God’s intervention, will bring down all the mighty, all the corrupt, all the arrogant, all the perverted and (in this text) all the apostate. Prayer for God’s intervention into the affairs of men and the affairs of the church is the first plan of action, not a last resort. God will fight your battles (Exo 14:14). This is what I believe to be the point of Jude 1:9.
Jude is saying, in context, to this old sentry that I must be alert to apostate teachers (or any other deceitful authority), alert to the evil they represent. I must not be drawn into their web of deceit and assassination of the truth of the Gospel. BUT IN PRAYER, CALL ON THE POWERS OF HEAVEN TO INTERVENE. This is how I should respond first to those in any seat of authority. Then follow God’s counsel from there.
* Little is known about Jude’s accounting of the argument between Michael and Satan. But the phrase “The LORD rebuke you” is used elsewhere (eg. Zech 3:1-4). That should signal some thoughts of validation in Jude. My study of the Zechariah passage reveals to me that the prophet had a vision of the high courts of Heaven. The High Priest, Joshua [or Yeshua – symbolic of Christ], is standing before the LORD. Satan is at his side accusing him. “And the LORD said to Satan, ‘I, the LORD [rebuke you], I reject your accusations, Satan. Yes, the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you.’”
But it is not the sin of the High Priest in Zechariah’s passage that is represented here. It is all the sin of Israel, as it were, represented in him, and what befalls the nation, that is the image here. The “filthy clothes” of the High Priest is the familiar symbol of sin before God; and he wears it, just as he wore his sacerdotal dress before God, in his official capacity.
The High Priest was the embodiment of the nation. He stands before the judgment seat, bearing not his own but the people’s sins. This is a for-shadowing of our High Priest, Christ Jesus. He stands bearing all the sin, all the filth, of the world on the cross at Calvary. He is our substitution. He would die for our sin, be buried with our sin, then be raised from the dead cleansed from all our sin and clothed in robes of righteousness. This Christ did for all of mankind. HALLELUJAH!
It is for Satan’s accusations of the Son of Man, our High Priest; it is for Satan’s defiance of truth, that the Scriptures announce…
Be alert to false teaching; seek to know and speak the truth of the Gospel (Jude 1:10-13,16). #DefendTheFaith #BeTrueToChristsTeaching #KnowTheTruth
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
Jude closes the section of his letter in a flurry of examples of how false teachers (apostates) in the church are anything but clean, decent, pure, moral, honest or good. They were moreover corrupt, sinful, degenerate and reprobate. They were selfish, greedy, deceitful, full of pride and deny the supernatural.
False teachers in the church represent shameless lives out of control, focused purely on self. They will be judged accordingly. Lord, this sentry is on notice of their presence; my guard is up. I will seek to know and speak truth myself.
Be certain you are rightly related to God (Jud 1:5–8,10). #RightlyRelatedToGod #BeDiscerningOfTruth
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
An implied question arises out of the first few verses in Jude: would God really be that hard on false teachers? (ANS is YES!) Jude reminds us, God punished his own people for turning away from their faith (Deu 2:14). Paul points to this as a warning for those who abandon the faith (1Co 10:5–10). Jude goes on to point out that angels who defied heaven and left in rebellion are now imprisoned awaiting eternal judgment (Gen 6:1-6; 2Pe2:4).
Last reminder: Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire for their immorality and perversion (Gen 19:24). Apostate teachers were/are no different. They are immoral, rebellious and mock the supernatural. They are headed for a fiery end. Lord, I rejoice to know that I am in a right relationship with you. May I be discerning of those who espouse deceitful religious doctrines.
Be alert & defend against Sin’s tyrannical deceptions; live a life devoted to God (Jude 1:4). #BewareThe5thColumn #Apostasy #Heresey #NoLongerASlaveToSin
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
If I am to “defend the faith“ [core principles of salvation] (v3), what am I defending it from? Jude explains that ungodly people had deceitfully wormed their way into the church [an apostate “5th column”*]. They were teaching, espousing a heresy that used “God’s marvelous grace“ to permit living immoral lives (grace is abundant so have fun, sin the more).
These apostate forces (still at work today) denied the true call of Jesus to righteous, holy living. Paul and others in The New Testament condemned this heresy (eg. Rom 6:12–18). I am alert to Sin’s deception. Sin is no longer master over me. Jesus is my new master. Lord, you have freed me from the Sin master. It is you that I now freely serve.
* A fifth column is any group of people who undermine a larger group from within, usually in favor of an enemy group or nation.
Hold fast to the truth, that one “faith” entrusted to you (Jude 1:3). #OneFaith #DefendTheFaith
Truth; Chiseled In Stone
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
Jude further explains “the faith“ I am to defend. It is that faith “entrusted once for all time to God’s people.“ This “faith“ is the one eternal truth given in the gospel – that Christ lived a sinless life and became the sinless sacrifice for all men. In his death he satisfied God’s righteous anger against sin. Christ died that our sin be forgiven. He was buried and raised from the dead to secure men’s eternal life (1Co 15:1-4).
There may be different denominations, but there is only one “faith.” That is the Gospel of Jesus Christ, given “once for all time“ [its chiseled in stone]. Those who claim some “new truth” are false teachers (liars) and lead men away from the truth. Lord, my confidence rests in the sole immutable truth of the Gospel.
Defend the principles of the Gospel from all attacks (Jude 1:3). #DefendTheFaith
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
I am called to duty, to “defend the faith.” John MacArthur explains this “faith.“ He says, “It’s not describing a subjective act of faith; it’s referring to the content of Christianity, the Gospel, the whole body of doctrine that makes up Gods revelation.” Believers (I) have a duty to defend this “FAITH“ from any false teaching that would minimize its effect or impact.
The U.S. Army motto is, “This We’ll Defend.” What is that? It’s not subjective acts of freedom; it is the content, the whole doctrine of “LIBERTY” and what that means to America, even to the world. The soldier is called upon to defend that liberty from all aggressors.
In the same way, I am called upon to “defend the faith” and all that it means to those who have believed and will believe the Gospel.
Be assured of God’s complete work of grace in your life (Jude 1:1,2). #Grace #Mercy #Peace #Love #GospelAssurance
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
Jude writes to Christians across the centuries. He writes to me. Jude, the brother of Jesus, writes to all who have believed the Gospel. His opening prayer for us (me) is that we stand firm in the Gospel call of God, our father, who secures us by his Son, by the Shepherd’s care of Jesus.
Jude prays that we would receive more mercy, peace and love. That is, the supply of mercy for our sin, peace for our anxieties and love for our conditional acceptance of others is full, abundant and never ending. Whatever our need for mercy, peace and love, it is in eternal supply. Lord, I have no fear of slipping from your grasp or falling short of the Gospel attributes of faith and action.
Seek to experience and live out the transforming power of the Gospel (Jude 1:1). #TransformingPower #TheGospelTruth
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
Jude is considered to be, along with James his brother, a half brother to Jesus. This is interesting in that at one point these brothers were both skeptics (Jhn 7:3–5), thought Jesus was mentally off (Mrk 3:21). Yet, we find them in the Upper Room with their mother, Mary (mother of Jesus) at Pentecost after the resurrection (Acts 1:14).
Jude humbly recognizes his true place in the life of Christ – “a servant.” He and his brother James went from skeptics to leaders in the early church. This is nothing short of the transforming power of the Gospel. Lord, my faith to continue to pray and witness rests in the power of the Gospel to transform people and nations.
“Then I said, ‘I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.’” (Psalms 40:8 NLT)
MORNING WATCH NOTES:
When I began my “Spiritual R&R” on July 29, twenty-one days ago, I did not know the Gordian Knot of perplexity that I would face. I did not know how desperately I would need to create some space and time in my life for God to speak to my heart.
Within a couple of days of beginning my Spiritual R&R, I ran headlong into a spiritual dilemma (God knows our need even before we ask – Mat 6:8). It was not life-threatening. Nor would I call it a crisis. It was simply a matter of untangling some things in my life and finding the assurance of God’s will. It led me through 21 days of prayer, counsel and searching in God’s word.
I did not expect the dilemma. Nor did I expect from where or how the answer would come. But I can say with all certainty that our God is a mighty and all-knowing God. There is no knot in life so complex that God cannot untangle. There is no dilemma that I face for which God has not already prepared the path forward.
THE TAKE AWAY?
I didn’t really understand the need or the prompting in my heart from God to step back from my normal routine of reading God’s word and prayer. I needed to draw more deeply from his well. My confession is this: I know that if I am obedient to God, he will always see me through. I’m a better man for it. ALWAYS!
The Prayer Sentry 