Yesterday and today

[Curtis Pruett Sr]

Jude 1:6-12 (KJV)

^vs6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day….These are the fallen angels that were on satan’s side and were cast out of heaven with him. Some believe them to be “the sons of God” spoken of in Genesis.

^vs7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire….This is speaking of heterosexual sin as well as homosexuality. Sounds a lot like our world today doesn’t it?

^vs8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities….Angrily they are eager to putt down those who speak out against sexual immorality and sin

^vs9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee…..How do we respond to those that speak out against the Church for standing up the God’s word and righteousness? How do you respond in love? Our witness on the whole has long been a problem. Even with the best of intentions it’s easy to become angry and yell right back. Usually doing more harm than good. Michael simply said “ The Lord rebuke thee”. Not giving up on their salvation is the key. I heard a young Christian witness to another person once. After pleading with this lost soul for hours the man simply rejected salvation and walked away. To which the young Christian replied “well just go to hell then”. His heart was in the right place but being frustrated and young in the Lord, he let his anger get the best of him.  

^vs10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves….They cannot know God’s love without accepting Him as their Saviour! They don’t know at all what they’re talking about. Without experiencing God’s grace, love and salvation they continue in sin believing lies and deceive one another! They have to hear the Word of the Lord to have faith for salvation: “¹³ For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.¹⁴ How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?¹⁵ And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!¹⁶ But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?¹⁷ So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”  Romans 1013-17 (KJV)

^vs11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core….The world today happily rejects the Lord, and mocks the saints of God today! Loving darkness rather than light, enjoying sin, pleasure for a season. They have no regard for the coming judgment or for the unexplainable and fathomless love God has for them.

^vs12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;”…….Once again we see where these lost individuals are right there with us in church. Doing everything they can to change the way Holy traditions have dictated for years. Some churches have elected to ordain same sex marriages. They allow homosexuality to be in their very order of authority. As it was in the day of Noah:   “³⁷ But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.³⁸ For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,³⁹ And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matthew 23:37-39(KJV) The Church simply cannot forget why we witness, why God came in the form of a man, died on the cross and arose from the grave three days later. It’s ok to hate the sin and preach God’s Word but it has to be done in a way the sinner feels God’s love! Thus love the sinner but hate the sin! Pray for our great nation and the lost everywhere.