Guarding Against False Teachings: Lessons from Jude

Devotional

Day 1: Worship Beyond Transactions

True worship is about giving to God out of love and devotion, not as a means to receive something back. Cain's story in the Old Testament illustrates the danger of treating worship as a transaction. Cain's offering was rejected because he approached God with a mindset that expected blessings in return for his gifts. This transactional approach to worship is a common pitfall even today. We must examine our motives in our acts of worship and giving, ensuring that they stem from genuine love and devotion to God rather than a desire for personal gain.

[13:34]

1 Samuel 15:22 (ESV): "And Samuel said, 'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.'"

Reflection: Think about your recent acts of worship or giving. Are there any instances where you expected something in return from God? How can you shift your focus to worshiping God out of pure love and devotion?

Day 2: The Perils of the Prosperity Gospel

Balaam's story warns against the love of money and the misuse of spiritual gifts for personal gain. The prosperity gospel, which promises health and wealth in exchange for financial contributions, is a modern manifestation of Balaam's error. This false teaching distorts the true nature of God's blessings, which cannot be bought but are given out of His grace. We must be cautious of teachings that equate financial contributions with guaranteed blessings, as they lead us away from the true gospel.

[19:02]

2 Peter 2:15 (ESV): "Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing."

Reflection: Reflect on any teachings or beliefs you have encountered that promise material blessings in exchange for financial contributions. How can you guard your heart against the allure of the prosperity gospel and focus on the true grace of God?

Day 3: Submission to Divine Authority

Korah's rebellion against Moses serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of disputing God's chosen leaders and His authority. This story underscores the importance of humility and submission to God's will, even when it challenges our personal desires and ambitions. Rebellion against divine authority leads to chaos and destruction, while submission brings peace and alignment with God's purposes.

[22:44]

Numbers 16:11 (ESV): "Therefore it is against the Lord that you and all your company have gathered together. What is Aaron that you grumble against him?"

Reflection: Consider a time when you struggled with submitting to God's authority or the leadership He has placed in your life. What steps can you take to cultivate a heart of humility and submission to God's will?

Day 4: The Unchanging Nature of God’s Justice

Jude reminds us that the God of the Old Testament is the same today. His justice and expectations have not changed. This continuity calls us to live lives of integrity and faithfulness, knowing that God’s standards remain constant. We must strive to align our lives with His unchanging standards, recognizing that His justice is unwavering and His expectations for us are consistent.

[11:25]

Malachi 3:6 (ESV): "For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed."

Reflection: Reflect on areas of your life where you may have compromised God's standards. How can you recommit to living a life of integrity and faithfulness, knowing that God's justice and expectations are unchanging?

Day 5: Vigilance Against False Teachings

In an age where false teachings are prevalent, Jude's warning is more relevant than ever. We must be discerning, guided by the Holy Spirit, and rooted in the true gospel. This vigilance protects us from being led astray by those who distort the message of Christ for their own gain. By staying grounded in Scripture and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can navigate the challenges of false teachings and remain faithful to the true gospel.

[26:56]

1 John 4:1 (ESV): "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world."

Reflection: Think about the sources of spiritual teaching and guidance you rely on. How can you ensure that you are discerning and testing these teachings against the true gospel? What steps can you take to deepen your understanding of Scripture and seek the Holy Spirit's guidance?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we delved into the book of Jude, a small yet powerful letter situated just before Revelation. Jude's message is a stark warning against false teachers infiltrating the church, much like infomercial salesmen who promise life-changing products but deliver disappointment. Jude shifts from discussing salvation to urgently warning about these deceivers who preach a gospel contrary to the apostles' teachings. They promise freedom without consequences, echoing the same misleading messages we see in some modern churches.

Jude uses three Old Testament figures—Cain, Balaam, and Korah—to illustrate the dangers of these false teachings. Cain's story teaches us about the wrong motives in worship; he treated his offering to God as a business transaction rather than an act of love and devotion. Balaam's tale warns against the love of money and the perils of using spiritual gifts for personal gain. Lastly, Korah's rebellion against Moses highlights the consequences of disputing God's authority.

These stories remind us that God’s justice is unwavering and that His expectations for us remain consistent. Jude's message is timeless, urging us to remain vigilant and discerning, especially in an age where false teachings are rampant. We must hold fast to the true gospel and live lives that honor God, not out of a desire for personal gain, but out of genuine love and devotion.

###

Key Takeaways

1. The Danger of Treating Worship as a Transaction: Cain's offering was rejected because he approached God with a transactional mindset, expecting blessings in return for his gifts. True worship is about giving to God out of love and devotion, not as a means to receive something back. This challenges us to examine our motives in our acts of worship and giving. [13:34]
2. The Perils of the Prosperity Gospel: Balaam's story warns against the love of money and the misuse of spiritual gifts for personal gain. The prosperity gospel, which promises health and wealth in exchange for financial contributions, is a modern manifestation of Balaam's error. True blessings from God cannot be bought; they are given out of His grace. [19:02]
3. Rebellion Against Divine Authority: Korah's rebellion against Moses serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of disputing God's chosen leaders and His authority. This story underscores the importance of humility and submission to God's will, even when it challenges our personal desires and ambitions. [22:44]
4. The Unchanging Nature of God’s Justice: Jude reminds us that the God of the Old Testament is the same today. His justice and expectations have not changed. This continuity calls us to live lives of integrity and faithfulness, knowing that God’s standards remain constant. [11:25]
5. Vigilance Against False Teachings: In an age where false teachings are prevalent, Jude's warning is more relevant than ever. We must be discerning, guided by the Holy Spirit, and rooted in the true gospel. This vigilance protects us from being led astray by those who distort the message of Christ for their own gain. [26:56]
### [26:56]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[07:23] - Infomercial Analogy
[10:00] - False Teachers in the Church
[11:25] - Examples from the Old Testament
[12:37] - Cain’s Transactional Worship
[17:28] - Balaam’s Love of Money
[22:44] - Korah’s Rebellion
[26:56] - Vigilance Against False Teachings
[32:36] - Father’s Day Segue
[33:50] - The Importance of True Doctrine
[35:39] - Conclusion and Encouragement

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What was Jude's initial intention for his letter, and why did he change his focus? ([10:00])
How does Jude describe the false teachers infiltrating the church? ([10:29])
What are the key lessons from the stories of Cain, Balaam, and Korah as mentioned in the sermon? ([11:25])
How does Jude emphasize the unchanging nature of God's justice? ([11:25])

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jude use the analogy of infomercial salesmen to describe false teachers? How does this analogy help us understand their tactics? ([07:23])
What does Cain's story teach us about the motives behind our worship and offerings to God? How can we ensure our worship is genuine? ([13:34])
How does Balaam's story serve as a warning against the prosperity gospel? What are the dangers of using spiritual gifts for personal gain? ([19:02])
What does Korah's rebellion teach us about the importance of respecting God's authority and chosen leaders? How can we apply this lesson in our church community? ([22:44])

Application Questions

Reflect on your own acts of worship and giving. Are there times when you have approached God with a transactional mindset like Cain? How can you shift your focus to genuine love and devotion? ([13:34])
Have you ever encountered teachings that promise health and wealth in exchange for financial contributions? How did you respond, and what steps can you take to discern true gospel teachings from false ones? ([19:02])
Think about a time when you struggled with submitting to God's authority or the leadership in your church. How did you handle it, and what can you learn from Korah's story to improve your response in the future? ([22:44])
In what ways can you remain vigilant against false teachings in today's world? How can you ensure that you are rooted in the true gospel and guided by the Holy Spirit? ([26:56])
How can you cultivate a heart of humility and submission to God's will, especially when it challenges your personal desires and ambitions? ([22:44])
Identify one specific area in your life where you need to trust in God's unchanging justice. How can you remind yourself of His consistent expectations and live a life of integrity and faithfulness? ([11:25])
Discuss with your group how you can support each other in staying true to the gospel and avoiding the pitfalls of false teachings. What practical steps can you take together to encourage discernment and spiritual growth? ([26:56])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "These are the promises that these people make in order to lure you in. Jude here is talking about the same thing only he's not promising stuff that's going to happen. He's telling about these guys that are coming into the church and they are making these promises to the church. Basically he's saying listen I was going to write you about salvation about Jesus Christ but now I have to warn you that there's something happening within the camp, within the church. These bad people have infiltrated in the church and they are preaching a different gospel than the apostles and they are turning the minds of the people around and they're saying listen you can do whatever you want and there is no consequence there's no problems whatever you do it's going to be okay." (55 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "And it's interesting because this book was written 2,000 years ago and it echoes so much today. We're seeing the same thing over and over again in today in churches where pastors, leaders are saying to the people you know what you can do whatever you want God is love at the end of the day everything will work out. What we're going to look at today is actually three names that Jude mentions in this passage and that is Cain, Balaam and Korah. So these false teachers are coming in and they're saying listen everything is going to be okay no matter what. Jude is saying listen there are some pretty good examples in the Old Testament that actually it didn't turn out okay at all." (48 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "And if we know the word of God we know that the God of the Old Testament is still the same God as the New Testament and God is still the same he doesn't change so his justice will prevail at the end. And it's interesting because in this passage Jude mentions these people by name and he's saying listen look what happened to them. He talks about the fallen angels that disobeyed God they paid a price for it. He talks about Michael and the devil fighting for Moses' body. What is that all about? He goes back into Jewish ancient history to rescue those themes that they had. And he says listen this is who we serve." (45 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "So it is not the amount but the attitude that you give. And then he goes on to say okay well that was Cain but then he mentions Balaam. Now the story of Balaam is found in the Old Testament and 2 Peter actually echoes what happened in this story. This is Balaam this is where the donkey speaks. Okay if you went to Sunday school you know this story. And so many people have a hard time believing that how can a donkey speak? Well God can do anything but King Balak wanted Balaam the prophet to curse Israel as they were wandering through the desert. Wandering through his land. And Balaam said what? Awesome. Pay me and I'll do it. Came to it and said I can't do it. Second time I can't do it. Third like he wanted to curse Israel as a prophet from God and he was not able to do it." (60 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "So Peter, excuse me, Peter says that Balaam loved money. So first we have the business transaction. I'll give you something you give me something back. And now you have Balaam who is prophesying for money. If you've been around this church long enough you will know that I have a bone to pick with the prosperity gospel which is no gospel at all. And that is people that go around the world go around the country and they claim to be prophets and they claim to prophesy and they claim to heal all for a loving offering of a thousand dollars you can get your prophecy too. For a thousand dollars you can get your healing too." (56 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "And sadly these people walk away from God disappointed because look at me I was faithful with my tithes and offerings for over a year and now I lost my job. I was faithful in all my giving for so many decades and my children walked away from the Lord. I've been faithful in everything that I do and now this happened. Are you perhaps having a business transaction with God? Where you expect something in return. Right? Today is Father's Day. I got a gift this morning at home. My wife gave me a gift and she wasn't expecting anything in return. Why? Because it's Father's Day not Mother's Day. But the same thing when it's Mother's Day she gets a gift and I don't get anything in return. Why? Because it's not about me. It's about her. Today is about me. When we give back to God it's not about us it's about Him. Who He is." (63 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "And we all know that what the love of money is the root of all evil not the money the love of money. And when we know that we know that money everyone has more or less we all have it. But what we do know is that it is necessary for us to live and because we are required because it is necessary for us to live we know that when we give to God we are honoring God and saying you know what I want to thank you for everything. I am standing here alive today because of God. Oh I look both ways before I cross the road I try to eat healthy I try to exercise. Right? We do all these things but how many times have we seen this happening more and more recently? People are just dropping dead. Age of 30 age of 40 age of 50." (52 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "So you must come back to the Bible and say, okay, what are they teaching? What are they talking about? Because it is not the Bible. It cannot be the Bible. It cannot be the Word of God. And every single one of us from the Old Testament to the New Testament to the Book of Jude, we are still being warned, listen, don't listen to these guys. They will deceive you. They will fleece you. Because at the end of the day, they're only looking for their own pockets. They want money. They want fame. They want status. And they care nothing about you. And I know that many times I talk to people and they're like, oh, I watch this minister on TV. I watch that minister on TV, which I always say, awesome. Do you send offerings as well? Oh yeah, I send money to this ministry and to that ministry. Question comes in, if you're in the hospital, who's going to visit them? Or who's going to visit you? Them or me?" (62 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "So we must know that this is a stark warning for us today. That no matter as we go forward, and there's more and more YouTube channels being created every moment, and there's more churches popping up, and there's more, oh, new revelations coming to mind, right? Oh, I got this new revelation. Be steadfast in God's word. We're going to look a little bit more in depth about this next Sunday. Where Jude is going to say now, remember. Remember what the apostles talked about. Remember the words of God. Remember the words of Jesus. Because that is what's going to keep you grounded and moving forward. So that new theology or new things don't tickle your ears, because that's what you want to hear, but many times we ought to hear or we need to hear that which many times we do not like." (56 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "As a father, I know that I ought to protect. As a father, I know that I ought to lead. Each and every one of us has this mission. Oh, but I'm a woman. You ought to protect. You ought to lead. Oh, but I was saved last year. You ought to protect. You ought to lead. And as we gather together, this does not mean that there's not going to probably be differences in our theologies, right? I like saying this. I don't think I've ever met anyone in the world that has the exact same theology that I do. We have differences. That's not the point of Jude here. The point of Jude here is he's calling out false teachers who know that they are deliberately doing something wrong. You can change from Calvinism to Arminism. You can go back and forth. You can believe in one thing or another. You can believe in certain types of communions. These are all things that we can have our differences and we can learn together and disagree." (64 seconds)(Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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