Choosing Direction: The Path to Purity and Grace
Summary
Taking a deep breath, I reflect on the profound truths shared today. The essence of our journey is not determined by our intentions but by the direction we choose. We can have the best intentions, but without a change in direction, we remain stagnant. This requires the hard work of introspection and behavioral change. Jude's message is a timely reminder for us as a church, warning against the dangers of sin, disbelief, pride, and sexual immorality. These are not just historical lessons but relevant warnings for us today.
Jude's letter, though brief, is packed with powerful lessons. He reminds us that sin is the greatest danger we face, leading to destruction and pain. The history lessons from Jude are not just stories of the past but warnings for our present and future. The Israelites' disbelief delayed their future, the pride of the angels led to their fall, and the sexual immorality of Sodom and Gomorrah resulted in their destruction. These examples serve as a cautionary tale for us to trust God, avoid pride, and pursue purity.
Our culture often promotes the idea that happiness is the ultimate goal, but God prioritizes our purity over our happiness. The path to true joy and fulfillment is found in aligning our lives with God's will. This requires us to take responsibility for our actions, learn from our past mistakes, and make intentional changes in our behavior. We must not repeat the past but instead, seek God's grace for a different outcome.
In conclusion, the call is to examine our lives, identify areas where we need to change direction, and rely on God's grace to guide us. We are reminded that Jesus is the one who saves, heals, and redeems. As we come to the table of communion, let us confess our sins, embrace God's grace, and commit to a path that leads to life and fulfillment in Him.
Key Takeaways:
- Direction Over Intention: Our intentions, no matter how sincere, do not determine our destination. It is the direction we choose that shapes our future. This requires a willingness to change our behavior and align our actions with God's will. [21:51]
- The Danger of Disbelief: Disbelief can delay the promises God has for us. Like the Israelites, our lack of trust in God can lead to wandering and missed opportunities. Trusting God is essential for moving forward into the future He has planned for us. [07:20]
- Pride's Destructive Power: Pride can ruin our environment and relationships. The fall of the angels serves as a reminder of how pride can lead to downfall. We must guard against pride and remain humble before God. [13:03]
- The Consequences of Sexual Immorality: Sexual sins have unique consequences that affect our bodies and relationships. The story of Sodom and Gomorrah highlights the destructive nature of sexual immorality. We are called to pursue purity and align our lives with God's design for sexuality. [16:20]
- The Importance of Repentance and Grace: We all have areas in our lives where we need to change direction. By acknowledging our sins and seeking God's grace, we can find redemption and a new future in Christ. This requires honesty, repentance, and a commitment to follow Jesus. [33:00]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [02:50] - The Greatest Danger: Sin
- [04:50] - Jude's Triad: Called, Beloved, Kept
- [06:17] - History Lesson: Disbelief and Delay
- [08:39] - Trusting God Through Transitions
- [10:16] - Consequences of Disbelief
- [11:07] - History Lesson: Pride and the Fall of Angels
- [13:03] - Pride's Impact on Environment
- [13:52] - Unnatural Relationships and Consequences
- [15:14] - History Lesson: Sodom and Gomorrah
- [16:20] - Sexual Immorality's Destruction
- [18:54] - Two Judgments Await
- [21:06] - Learning from Past Mistakes
- [23:00] - Changing Behavior for a New Future
- [32:16] - Words of Grace and Redemption
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Jude 1:5-7
2. Isaiah 14:12-15
3. Genesis 19:24-25
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Observation Questions:
1. What are the three historical examples Jude uses to warn the church, and what do they signify? [06:17]
2. How does Jude describe the consequences of disbelief for the Israelites? [07:20]
3. What does the sermon say about the nature of pride and its impact on the angels? [13:03]
4. How does the story of Sodom and Gomorrah illustrate the consequences of sexual immorality? [15:14]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why does Jude emphasize the importance of remembering past lessons, and how does this relate to the concept of direction over intention? [21:51]
2. How does the sermon interpret the role of Jesus in the historical examples provided by Jude? [06:17]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that pride can ruin one's environment, and how does this apply to personal relationships? [13:03]
4. How does the sermon address the cultural view of happiness versus God's priority of purity? [26:26]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when your disbelief delayed a promise or opportunity in your life. How can you work on trusting God more in similar situations? [07:20]
2. Identify an area in your life where pride has negatively impacted your relationships. What steps can you take to cultivate humility? [13:03]
3. Consider the cultural messages about happiness and purity. How can you align your life more closely with God's design for purity? [26:26]
4. What specific behaviors or habits do you need to change to ensure your direction aligns with God's will? [21:51]
5. How can you actively seek God's grace and redemption in areas where you have struggled with sin? [33:00]
6. Think about a past mistake you have repeated. What practical steps can you take to avoid repeating it again? [21:06]
7. How can you incorporate regular introspection and accountability into your life to ensure you are moving in the right direction? [23:00]
Devotional
I'm ready to provide the 5-day devotional based on the steps outlined. Here it is:
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Day 1: Choosing the Right Path
Our intentions, no matter how sincere, do not determine our destination. It is the direction we choose that shapes our future. This requires a willingness to change our behavior and align our actions with God's will. The journey of faith is not passive; it demands active participation and a conscious decision to follow the path that leads to life. Reflecting on our current direction is crucial, as it determines where we will ultimately end up. By aligning our actions with God's will, we can ensure that our journey leads to fulfillment and purpose. [21:51]
"Thus says the Lord: 'Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.' But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'" (Jeremiah 6:16, ESV)
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to ensure your actions align with God's will, rather than just relying on good intentions?
Day 2: Trusting Beyond Disbelief
Disbelief can delay the promises God has for us. Like the Israelites, our lack of trust in God can lead to wandering and missed opportunities. Trusting God is essential for moving forward into the future He has planned for us. The story of the Israelites serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of disbelief. Their journey was prolonged because they failed to trust in God's promises. In our own lives, disbelief can manifest as doubt, fear, or hesitation, preventing us from stepping into the fullness of what God has prepared for us. By choosing to trust God, we open ourselves to His guidance and the fulfillment of His promises. [07:20]
"Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called 'today,' that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin." (Hebrews 3:12-13, ESV)
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where disbelief is holding you back. How can you actively choose to trust God in this area today?
Day 3: The Humility of Angels
Pride can ruin our environment and relationships. The fall of the angels serves as a reminder of how pride can lead to downfall. We must guard against pride and remain humble before God. Pride is a subtle yet powerful force that can distort our perception and lead us away from God's truth. The story of the fallen angels illustrates the destructive nature of pride and its ability to sever our connection with God. By cultivating humility, we acknowledge our dependence on God and open ourselves to His transformative work in our lives. [13:03]
"For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly." (2 Peter 2:4-5, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you practice humility in your daily interactions, and how might this change your relationships and environment?
Day 4: Pursuing Purity
Sexual sins have unique consequences that affect our bodies and relationships. The story of Sodom and Gomorrah highlights the destructive nature of sexual immorality. We are called to pursue purity and align our lives with God's design for sexuality. In a culture that often prioritizes personal happiness over holiness, the call to purity can seem countercultural. However, God's design for sexuality is rooted in love, respect, and commitment. By pursuing purity, we honor God and protect the sanctity of our relationships. This pursuit requires intentionality and a commitment to live according to God's standards. [16:20]
"Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own." (1 Corinthians 6:18-19, ESV)
Reflection: What practical steps can you take to pursue purity in your life, and how can you support others in their journey towards purity?
Day 5: Embracing Repentance and Grace
We all have areas in our lives where we need to change direction. By acknowledging our sins and seeking God's grace, we can find redemption and a new future in Christ. This requires honesty, repentance, and a commitment to follow Jesus. Repentance is not merely an acknowledgment of wrongdoing; it is a transformative process that leads to renewal and restoration. God's grace is abundant and available to all who seek it. By embracing repentance, we open ourselves to the healing and redemptive power of Christ, allowing us to walk in newness of life. [33:00]
"Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus." (Acts 3:19-20, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to seek God's grace and make a change? How can you begin this process today?
Quotes
1. "Your intention didn't determine your destination direction determines destination not intention you can try really really really hard and you can hope and you can want change to happen in your life but intention doesn't determine that direction does so unless you're willing to change behavior to change behavior you're going to end up in the same spot changing behavior will lead to somewhere different this is a this is difficult this isn't just a simple button you push it's not a class you take it is doing the hard work of identifying why did I get to where I am today I need to take some time how we doing you're like whoa that passage uh what in the world is going on so we we are looking at in a series is on the book of Jude. Jude is the book right before Revelation." ([00:00:02] (59 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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2. " today. And what Jude is going to do, he's giving us a warning, a warning church. Hey, I want to remind you of some things today. Now, last week, the context was there were certain individuals within the church that had used or teaching grace as a license to live however you want to live. It cheapens grace when we do that. And so he's warning. There are people in the church that want to teach the church how God is love. So live however you want to live. God doesn't mind how you live. And first point today, sin is the greatest danger that you and I will ever experience." ([00:02:13] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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3. "There was probably a point in your life where your parents pulled you aside. It might have been on the curb or on the sidewalk. And they taught you a really, really important lesson. For some of us in the room, we probably remember that right now. We're going back to that day. And it wasn't just one time, but it was many, many, many times. And so I remember I asked my daughter yesterday, because we lived on a busy road when we were living in Wisconsin. We lived on a really busy road. So it was so very important to teach them. When the ball goes across or when they're riding their bikes in the driveway, look both ways before you cross the road. So oftentimes we step to the curb and we look to the left. And we look to the right. And we look to the left. And we look to the left. And we look to the right. And what do we do? We look back to the left. Because maybe something's changed when I look to the right. It is so very important, friends." ([00:03:18] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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4. "Wherever you find yourself today, whatever you're wrestling with, whatever challenges you have, it is Jesus who can bring the healing. It is Jesus who can save you from addiction. It is Jesus who can save you. It is Jesus, Jude writes. He could have said, oh, my brother, the guy I grew up in my home with, my stepbrother, that Jesus. Jesus. Jesus saved me." ([00:05:54] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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5. "Disbelief is a sin that will delay our future. And so what were the consequences? Because they didn't go and take the land at that moment. They go and they wander around for 40 years. They didn't have GPS or they couldn't Google where to go. And so they just wandered around 40 years. And the consequence was a whole generation of people did not inherit the land, did not physically go into that land, including Moses." ([00:07:20] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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6. "Pride will ruin your environment. Pride ruined the environment. The angels, about a third of them. Now, we learned a little bit about more. Jude gives us a little bit more insight into the fall of the angels. That not all of them are roaming this world as demons. Some are captive and held in chains, Jude says, awaiting the great eternal judgment one day. History lesson. Pride." ([00:13:00] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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7. "The sins of Sodom included pride and apathy and complacency and idleness and unconcern for the underprivileged. But it also was an area that was known for the sexual immorality. Sexual sin will hurt relationships. Sexual immorality will destroy, ruin, hurt, cause pain to the relationships within your life." ([00:16:41] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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8. "Direction determines destination, not intention. You can try really, really, really hard. And you can hope and you can want change to happen in your life. But intention doesn't determine that. Direction does. So unless you're willing to change behavior, to change behavior, you're going to end up in the same spot." ([00:21:00] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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9. "The common denominator of all the sin in my life is me. It's not you. It's me. You cannot blame your way into a better future. And so some of us find ourselves in really difficult positions throughout the course of our life. And it could be career. It could be something to do physically with our bodies. It might be sex, as we talked about. It might be finances. It might be church. And whatever has happened, what went wrong, what did you bring to that? And so take ownership of that. Take responsibility of that." ([00:22:59] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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10. "If you don't want the next time to be like the last 40 years, then let me encourage you to do the hard work in the meantime. God offers you that. God offers you grace for a different outcome. And so Jude uses these three examples to teach us a history lesson." ([00:27:34] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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