Let the Shepherd Lead

Originally Proclaimed: 05/10/20

Intro:

• One of the longest running gameshows, Family Feud pits two ordinary families against one another as they try to guess the top results of a survey question. 
• While the answers to the survey questions may be interesting, it is the way these families interact with the host, their family members, and the other family that makes for the gameshow’s success.
• Just like in real life, some families are like train wrecks: horrific but we cannot look away, while other families are like well oiled machines.
• We can also see that those families who work well together by…
  • Offering encouragement with gratitude
  • Focusing on overcoming mistakes or failures rather than criticizing the family member
  • and picking the right family members to play in the bonus rounds.
• These families are the ones that survive and thrive. 

Hook:

• Those simple lessons from Family Feud sound an awful lot like the kind of things my mama taught us as we were growing up. 
• Some of her favorite sayings to us tried to communicate those lessons about family togetherness.
  • She would quote Ephesians 4:32 when my brothers and I would fight and argue; telling us “be ye kind and tenderhearted forgiving one another”.
  • When we would act ungrateful and critical she would quote from Shakespeare’s King Lear “how sharper than a serpent’s tooth is it to have a thankless child!”
  • When we were trying to make decisions weighing between what we selfishly wanted and what was best for all,  from Robert Frost she would quote “two roads diverged in a wood and I – I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.”
  • In the moment, I hated hearing these phrases; but through life these words ring in my head and I would give anything to hear her quote them once again.
• Family Feud’s keys to success, and for most of us the advice of our mothers teach us the value of cherishing and encouraging our families.
• These qualities true for our families at home also prove true for our church family. 
  • When churches encourage each other with gratitude, round out our weaknesses with each other’s strengths, and minimize criticism they can advance Christ’s commission to make disciples and win our community for Christ.
  • But, if these are the values to strive for, Jude makes the point in our text today that some in church seem to promote a family feud. 
  • Jude has surveyed Scripture and put the top three answers to the following question for us to see in the text: What are the top ways that a church can ruin its witness for the Lord?

Message Points:

• As we begin to guess the answers to this survey question, remember that Jude originally desired to write to these believers about their common salvation (3).
  • But instead he became aware that his brother’s congregation, spread all over due to persecution, had false professors slip in among them (4).
  • Last week he showed us three ways that we could identify these false professors as those who diminish the importance of meaningful membership, who abandon all accountability, and who defile their spiritual health (5-8).
  • As I shared last week, there is debate about whether verse eight ended the ideas of last week’s passage or it begins the ideas of this week’s passage.
  • I chose to include it in both of our messages.
• So we begin by reviewing that which we learned in verse eight.
  • As we read that verse, the little phrase “in the very same way” draws a parallel between the current false professors and those who in the Old Testament claimed faith, but actually had none.
  • Then we should note the next phrase that describes the source and motivation for the false professors’ actions. 
  • Jude tells us they act out of “the strength of their dreams”.
    • Dreams have often been considered a source of divine revelation.
    • We can think of those in the Old Testament like Joseph and Daniel who were dreamers and clearly received their dreams from the Lord.
    • It was very common in Roman though according to credit dreams with divine communication. Philosophers like Cicero identified a natural source of divine revelation as dreams (Green, 74).
    • As we have discussed before, the false professors hold an aberrant view of God’s grace as giving them license to sin as they please.
    • Evidentially, according to Jude’s refence, they justify this view by claiming to some special, secret revelation that supports their understanding.
• So from this quick look at verse 8 we can already see the first major response to Jude’s question. The Survey Says Pleasing Self instead of Pleasing the Savior is one of the ways a church can ruin its witness. 
  • Anytime we choose what serves our self over what God’s Word says; we have chosen not to please our Savior.
    • Now most of us would argue to say that we don’t ever choose something over God’s Word, but lets be careful.
    • Have we ever claimed that we are called or compelled to do something that God has told us in His word we should not do?
      • Those who make the claim that there is no difference between the male and female, or that gender is a meaningless category do so by belittling what God has said in Scripture in favor of how they feed led.
      • Women might make the claim that they can do anything a man can do; even though God calls men of the church to lead in a different way than he calls women in Scriptures like Titus 2.
      • And those advocating for transitioning to another gender do so claiming that they feel compelled that their gender is not good for them even though God says both male and female is very good in Genesis.
    • Or perhaps we will use the excuse that we really can’t help doing what God’s Word says is wrong because we’re just made that way.
      • Friends that is the same kind of argument made by those who seek to purse a homosexual lifestyle or who claim to not be able to help their addiction to drugs, alcohol, or pornography.
      • They reject the Scriptures promise in Galatians 5 that a fruit of the Spirit is self-control available to help all who believe do differently than we would naturally.
  • Jude mentions as his examples of those false professors who please themselves rather than God the three examples from last week.
    • Those who “pollute their own bodies” corresponds to Sodom and Gomorrah who chose to gratify their own lusts and by doing so defiled their spiritual health. 
    • Those who “reject authority” corresponds to the angels who left their place in heaven and by so doing abandoned all accountability.
    • Those who “heap abuse on celestial beings” may be a misleading translation. 
      • The original says those who blaspheme or “slander glories”. 
      • This corresponds to the people of Israel who grumbled against the God who delivered them from Egypt and made them his people.
      • By questioning his glorious plan and those He chose to lead, they  diminished meaningful membership.
  • But we should note that each of these three examples is really a way of pleasing self rather than pleasing the Savior.
    • Jesus tells us in John’s gospel that we please Him when we keep his commandments.
      • In chapter 13:34-35 that by loving one another as He exemplified and commanded all people will know that we are His disciples. 
      • In chapter 14:15 as Jesus promises the coming of the Holy Spirit he tells us “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
    • True Christians then are not selfish, but selfless. 
      • So let me ask us to consider which one of those options each of us most naturally pursues.
      • Consider this story that illustrates the point as we think. https://lifehopeandtruth.com/life/blog/a-mothers-selflessness/
        • A wildfire raged through a rural area with several farmsteads. 
        • Firefighters were called in to help bring the blaze under control and salvage what they could of the houses and farm outbuildings.
        • After the fire was extinguished, several firefighters spread out to walk back through, identifying any areas that might need more attention. 
        • In the process, one firefighter came across an unusual-looking lump near the ashen remains of what must have been a small chicken coop. 
        • As he got closer, he noticed it was the charred body of an adult hen. Since most of the chickens in this area were free-range, they were left with wings unclipped, meaning they were able to fly. Why didn’t this one flee as the fire approached?
        • When he poked her with the toe of his boot, four tiny chicks scurried out from underneath. 
        • At that point it became clear—while this mother had the ability to save herself, her chicks did not. 
        • Instead of flying away, she hunkered down to shield them with her own body, instinctively protecting as many of her brood as would stay under her wings.
      • That hen naturally understood the point Jesus was making in those Scriptures. 
        • She selflessly protected her chicks.
        • Friends, how many of us would suffer like she did to protect and provide a better life for our families whether at home or at the church?
        • Maybe even now some of us are realizing how selfish we have been.
        • Friends it does not have to remain that way. 
        • Turn away from selfish desires and turn to Christ.
        • It doesn’t take but a moment to seek His forgiveness and to be filled with a new resolve to live for him.
• As we press onward, in verse 9 we find a very curious account of Michael burying Moses which we may not recognize from Deuteronomy 34:5-6. 
  • We read there that Moses died on Mount Nebo which overlooked the promised land from Moab just as the Lord said.
    • Then it tells us that God buried Moses in a valley of Moab opposite of Beth Peor but with no exact locaiton.
    • Nowhere do we read of Michael in this account.
    • But Jude and his audience knew well the Jewish tradition about the burial of Moses. 
    • That tradition was recorded in many extrabiblical texts including the Assumption of Moses, which the early church claims Jude is quoting here.
  • That angel’s name should be familiar to those who have read Scripture.
    • He is one of only three named angels in Scripture. 
      • Those are Gabriel, Michael, and Lucifer.
      • The fact that they receive names may be the reason Jude refers to them as archangels. 
      • Michael’s name literally means “who is like God?”
    • Of the three Michael is best known as the defender and champion of God’s People.
      • In Daniel 12 we read that he is the defender of Israel against the demonic forces influencing other nations. 
      • In Rev. 12 we read that he is the defender of God’s New Covenant people against Satan.
    • And amid Michael’s role commonly attributed him in the extrabiblical Jewish sources, he is seen as an angel who comes to protect dying believers against final attacks of Satan. 
  • This tradition seems to constitute what Jude refers to in verse nine, but the words Michael offer come almost directly from Zechariah 3:1-2.
    • There Zechariah is describing prophetically the Messiah to come. 
    • He indicates that the high priest Joshua should be crowned as a prototype for the Messiah. 
    • In that same passage we read that Joshua and the Messiah will have Satan at his right hand trying to oppose him.
    • In the text, the Lord says to the devil “the Lord rebuke you, devil, even the Lord who chose Jerusalem rebuke you.”
    • While it may seem strange for the Lord himself to say “the Lord rebuke you” this is like a parent reminding a wayward child who is already being punished that they are not supposed to be out of their room.
    • The punishment and judgment has already been made and decreed from eternity past for Satan.
    • God has declared it and by stating it again does not waver from his declared and revealed judgment. 
  • This leads us to consider exactly what Satan was doing in verse 9.
    • We are told that Michael was “disputing with the devil about the body of Moses.”
    • While we are not told why there was this dispute, we see that the “disputing” is a present tense participle which means that this disputing over every detail of God’s plan is ongoing and has not stopped.  
    • The critical nature of Satan is in view here and we see that the criticism is toxic.
• Here in verse 9 we find the second response to the survey question. Survey says criticizing others instead of calling them to Christ is another way a church can ruin its witness. 
  • Even though most everyone like the opportunity to criticize others, very few people enjoy being a part of a critical family, at home or at church.
  • When criticism begins to be the main focus of church meetings or the quiet gossip that goes on after church meetings it will not be long before people begin to look elsewhere for a place that will focus on Christ. 
  • At one of the churches I served there was a situation where two volunteers were seen to often together.
    • One of the ladies at the church noticed this and told everyone she could about it.
    • Without every really sharing anything false, she would talk with others about the two volunteers and subtly criticize their working together since they were both married to other people.
    • Words were said like “can you believe that?” as a question to what was seen.
    • When I spoke with her she defended herself by saying I’m just telling the truth about these people working closely together.
    • It would have been right for any believer to confront those two volunteers and call them to Christ, asking them to think about the appearance given by their working relationship.
    • But it most certainly is and was destructive for believers to criticize with gossip and slander those two volunteers behind their backs. 
  • Whenever we choose to criticize rather that directly call another believer to Christ we ruin the witness of the church and sin against God by taking his place as their judge.
  • Look exactly at the words of this passage.
    • The devil was certainly wrong! 
      • God had promised in Deuteronomy 34 to bury the body of Moses. 
      • So the devil could not be right in advocating for anything else.
    • Michael was certainly right!
      • According to the traditions God had given him the job of actually burying Moses’ body. 
      • He was on a mission and had every right to reject his attempts to control him and even the right to offer a warning.
    • But Michael did not dare to take God’s place as Satan’s judge to criticize or condemn him.
      • Quoting from God Himself, Michael said “the Lord rebuke you”.
      • He reaffirmed his belief that God is the only judge and what he says goes.
    • If Michael would not criticize and condemn the clear, eternal enemy of God’s people how much less should we criticize and condemn those who might be brothers and sisters in Christ. 
  • This should be a lesson to us as we try to relate to erring family members. 
    • We may need to reject their sinfulness and warn them of what should change.
    • But in doing so our main goal is to call them to Christ.
    • They are ultimately accountable to Him. 
  • Friend lets all ask ourselves if we harbor a critical spirit before we move to the next point. 
    • If we do lets repent of that sin and trust that Christ can help us to cease criticizing.
    • And if our criticism has some warrant let us resolve to trust Christ to rightly confront the person involved by warning and calling them to Christ. 
•  Finally then we read verse 10 in which Jude again turns to warn the false professors. 
  • He offers two distinct aspects of their activity as a warning.
    • Unlike Michael, they slander or blaspheme what they do not understand.
    • And the things they do understand, by instinct like lusts, will become their destruction.
  • These aspects of the false professors proceed directly from what has already been said, but note with me how these two warning offer us our third response to Jude’s survey question.
• Survey says gut reactions instead of grace reactions are a way that a church ruins its witness.
  • Friends, I do not understand why people choose to sin.
    • It boggles my mind why some people choose to focus on criticizing others instead of evangelizing and making disciples. 
    • I cannot fathom how people would say that things God says are good like gender are meaningless or even evil.
    • The way that people will chase after their desires sinning, breaking relationships, and hurting others all so they can gratify their lusts confuses and convicts me.
  • But we do not do anything that pleases Christ or helps others when we respond with a gut reaction.
    • (Speak of funeral with homosexual partner who was ignored)
    • If we ostracize others or ignore other who disagree with us – whether inside our church or outside of our church we have chose to follow our gut rather than God’s grace.
    • We have chosen our base instincts.
      • Either we fight, criticize and condemn those things that we do not understand and potentially hate.
      • Or we choose flight, ignoring or leaving those that we do not understand or like to their own devices.
    • But God’s grace says that everyone, whether in the church or outside the church, deserves to hear the gospel message that if they would repent and trust Jesus they can be saved.
      • We are never too righteous to be called back to Christ.
      • And we are never too far away for Christ to save us when we call.
    • Jude speaks directly of those who are choosing to chase their own passions rather than denying self and choosing to please Christ. 
    • We might say we don’t have to worry about that because we have trusted Christ, but friends if we attack or ignore others we have chose our way instead of Christ’s way. 
    • Christ calls us to warn others and call them to
  • Anyone who would slander or blaspheme a focus on this gospel message is likely a false professors. 
    • But note this in verse ten. 
    • Jude warns the false professor that God will judge our base instincts. 
    • There will be no excuse for rejecting his Word and gospel message. 
    • We will not be able to say we had a dream or a leading or some sort of natural instinct and be excused. 
    • Just as surely and finally as he judges Satan himself, God will pronounce those who do not turn to Christ as worthy of paying the penalty for their sin with eternal destruction.
    • The reason Jude would mention this at all is as a warning to call people to Christ here and now before it is everlasting too late. 

Conclusion:

• Friend, do not get caught up in the Family Feuds of this world and this life.
  • Respond by pleasing the Savior rather than self.
  • Respond by calling other to Christ rather than criticizing.
  • Respond by offering grace reactions instead of gut reactions.
• In short, friends let us prove that we are a part of God’s family by repenting of our feuding and trusting Christ for our forgiveness and future.