We have to go back to verse 9 because there is something there that I

missed, that I said I would go back to last week, and then I didn’t. So

back to verse 11 we go…

Jude Chapter 1 Verse 9

 Michael the archangel contending with the devil about the body of

Moses. Oooooook. First of all, there is only one “archangel” in the

Bible and the title simply means the leader. He is the king of the

angels if you will, while the devil is the king of the demons. These two

battle over the body of Moses. Very odd portion of scripture and an

account that only appears here.

 Early church commentators remarked that Jude either got this

information because it was somehow known or it came from a writing

known as the Assumption of Moses, of which we only have a small

portion. The early Christian theologian and philosopher Origen lived

between 185 and 254 AD and in his writings, he references this text to

explain the archangel Michael’s dispute with Satan. It’s not considered

heretical, its considered historical or legendary and not divinely

inspired and therefore not inerrant.

 Jude may be pulling from the Assuption of Moses but he may not be

and what he says is mysterious. Why battle over the body of Moses?

Only speculation here… But it was Moses that appeared alongside

Elijah at the Mount of Transfiguration. Perhaps Satan was trying to

stop that… And it is interesting that during The Great Tribulation, two

witnesses appear in Jerusalem with specific abilities. One has the

ability to shut down the sky so that no rain falls, sounds like Elijah.

While the other has the ability to turn water into blood, sounds like

Moses. So, this argument could be about that as well.

 In truth, we don’t know because we are not told. All we know is that

the devil wanted the body of Moses, maybe he was buff, ha! But in the

dispute, even Michael wouldn’t personally bring a reviling accusation.

Say something negative or accusatory against even the devil! The

phrase in the Greek is blasphemia krisis! This is how strongly we

ought to care about controlling our tongue! Ok, why…? Holiness,

yes. But also, Michael knew and, in all ways, acknowledged that God

was the authority, not him! The mark of maturing in a Christian walk.

Jude Chapter 1 Verses 17 – 19

 The nail in the coffin and the sure mark of a problem person within the

flock. They cause divisions. If your goal is to bring people together in

the body of Christ, you will. No excuses, no whatever, no other

possible outcome. If your goal is to bring people together and bring

unity, you will. If you have any other reason beating in your heart, you

will naturally drive people apart. You don’t have to even be trying… If

you’re not goal-focused on building people up in the faith and building

unity, YOU WON’T.

 No one ever drifts into righteousness. No one ever drifts into love or

strength or courage or unity. You either set your compass for it or you

don’t get after it. The ungodly are not focused on the mission of

loving God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength, and loving

others as Christ loves them. It may happen if you like them, for a time.

Then the first time they don’t do what you want them to do, you

complain about them. This is ungodliness in the church.

 Not for you and not for me and not for anyone who says they serve

Jesus Christ. We are to KEEP ourselves in the love of God and BE

BUILDERS of the most holy faith.

Jude Chapter 1 Verses 20 – 21

 Jude says the same thing that Paul says in different words. Paul said,

run your race, finish well, fight the good fight…, Jude says, build

yourselves up in the MOST holy faith, pray in the Holy Spirit, keep

yourselves in the love of God and stand fast on the hope of eternal

life!

 Build yourselves. I like that, but I like even more that he didn’t start

with that. He started with, beloved. Remember that you are loved. You

are cherished by God and God is the King of kings. The Creator of

everything. He is the Alpha and the Omega. The One entirely and

eternally different than us. The unborn, undead, the One who just is.

His names is I Am. Higher and so much more than I am…

 And, He loves me. He watches over me. He provides for me. He

protects me. He secures me. Assures me. Leads me well and always.

And all the while never demands. He commands, but never demands,

and when I fail Him, He loves me still.

 Anyone can build on that from any starting position. That is a sure

foundation. Solid and without variation moment to moment, day to

day… So, whatever you look like and where ever you are, build on

that. Even if you have to start now, start now. Build yourselves up.

How?

 On your most holy faith. Most set apart. Most private. Most personal.

Most particular. Most unique. And most Godly. According to the His

Word. You cannot build a house with Legos… I mean, you can but it’s

not going to work as a home should. Build with bricks, precious

stones, even wood, hay and straw at some times… Build with the most

holy faith which is the word that we have received from the apostles.

 Pray in the Holy Spirit! Pray in agreement with God. Pray in

agreement with His Word. Pray and learn His word even through

prayer. Pray even in tongues. Pray in the Holy Spirit.

 Keeping yourselves in the love of God. Ok, you face this, you face

that, this person is easy, this person is hard, this situation is easy, this

situation is hard…, stay in the love of God. Imitate what He would do,

how He would do it, HE NEVER LOSES!

 God loves the ungodly. God sees the end from the beginning. God

works with patience, long suffering and gentleness. God has grit. God

has the personal strength to take the cross for the sake of loving His

enemies that will never love Him back! Christ died for the sins OF

THE WORLD, the Bible is very clear, and many in the world end up

in hell. He died for them anyway. Not because they are/were worthy

but because He is worthy. Not because they are/were good, but

because He is good!

 Keep yourselves in the love of God and remember His promise of a

kingdom coming. Do these things and you will build yourselves up in

faith. Faith, the thing that with one mustard seed of it, you can toss

mountains aside! Faith is ultimately what we are wired to walk in…

Not incessant flesh fulfilling. That will make us weak and

depressed… The world tells us what we want, God tells us what we

need…, and when we start to get what we need…, built self in faith,

we start to see that in the Spirit, that is what we actually want!

 Oh, one more thing here. I love what Jude says and I also love what he

doesn’t say. Which is the way some folks mistakenly read this. He

says, keep yourselves in the love of God. He doesn’t say keep

yourselves so that God will love you. God loves me. I am His beloved.

Jude Chapter 1 Verses 22 – 23

 I want to point out something so that you’ll notice it because while it

is very obvious, it is also a little bit controversial. We are being told

here to treat certain people differently. We are being told to treat

someone one way and to treat someone else a different way. Why

would that be controversial?

 James 2:8-9, “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the

Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; but

if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as

transgressors.” James is saying, treat people the same way or it is sin.

It’s actually quite simple to reconcile Jude and James…

 James is talking about giving preference to rich or more well-off folks

over the poor. It’s just that simple. Jude is talking about having

discernment on how to handle someone. James later outright agrees

with Jude in James 4:6 when he writes, “God resists the proud, but

gives grace to the humble.” Very clear there that it is Godly to treat the

arrogant and stubborn one way, and treat the humble and kind another

way…

 So, here we are. Jude says make a distinction. Sometimes people just

need to be held. Heard. Hear the word compass in compassion? For

you to understand where they are coming from, hear them out, not to

agree, disagree or correct or convince them otherwise. But just to be

there for them. Gentle, slow to speak, encouraging and strengthening

them. That is, according to James 4:6, reserved for the humble and

kind. Those willing to yield and the respectful.

 On others, the only thing that works is fear. They won’t change until

something hurts them because its all about them anyway. That’s the

underlying disease that manifests when we show stubbornness,

arrogance, a lack of humility…, all that is an aroma of self-service.

The Bible calls that, “proud.” So, you warn them and you call it as it

is hoping that they would get scared that they will be harmed if they

don’t change. So, it becomes their idea to change which is the only

thing that works for the unwise… They don’t listen to others.

Jude Chapter 1 Verses 24 – 25

 One of the most beautiful doxologies given in all of scripture. A

praise to God who by His sacrifice, His love for you, is not only able

to give you eternal life but is also able to guide you through the

darkness of this life giving you the clues and keys so that you don’t

fall into the same potholes, pits, and off the same cliffs as others.

 And He will one day present you and I faultless, entirely without sin,

before Himself because He is not only Savior but He is also God. Not

only Messiah but He is King. Who alone is wise. He is all by Himself.

Set apart. None like Him…

 To Him in truth and in reality, (not in every life but if you align your

life to truth and reality boy you will go places), to Him in truth be all

glory, majesty, dominion, ownership, and power… In the truth of

eternity, which is the forever, and Jude’s admonition to us and praise

to Jesus here, let it be now as well for you and for me in our lives!