“IN TIMES LIKE THESE - Sermon Outlines. Org



“IN TIMES LIKE THESE!”

JUDE 1-25

TEXT VERSES: JUDE 17-25

INTRO: In 2 Timothy 3:1-5 Paul reminds Timothy of the perilous times that

will occur in the last days, “This know also, that in the last days

perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves,

covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,

unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false

accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors,

heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having

a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn

away.” The word “perilous” here means “dangerous, difficult.”

Friends, we are surely living in some dangerous and difficult times!

Who could have ever imagined that we would see a day in the history

of man when men are marrying men? A day when women would be

allowed to kill their own babies? A day when truth has been set aside

for fables and fables exalted to truth? A day when premarital sex and

promiscuity are considered as normal and expected? A day when

pornography can be piped right into our homes? According to a new

Los Angeles Times poll, 51% of Americans believe it is morally

acceptable to have children out of wedlock. A Barna Research poll in

November 2003 found that 61% view gambling as morally acceptable

and 60% view cohabitation apart from marriage in the same light. The

root of America's steep moral decline can be traced back to the

nation's apostate and compromised pulpits. "Therefore thus saith the

LORD of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with

wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the

prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land" (Jer.

23:15) --Friday Church News Notes, February 13, 2004 (David W.

Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368,

Port Huron, MI 48061, fbns@, ,

866-295-4143). Grant Jeffrey in his book, Jesus-The Great Debate

writes: “We have sown a wind of secularism, modernism, and shifting

moral values. As a direct result, we are now reaping a whirlwind of

immorality, sexually transmitted disease, corruption, and violent

crime. The only hope that exists for our individual, national, spiritual

and institutional recovery is to return to the spiritual values that

originally formed the foundation of North American national life--the

teaching of Jesus Christ, as found in the Word of God. --Grant R.

Jeffrey, JESUS - THE GREAT DEBATE, p. 267.

Friends, We are living in the last days. Those verses we read in the

book of Jude give us instruction, and supply us with encouragement to

live godly IN TIMES LIKE THESE! We are living in days when standing

for the truth is considered an act of intolerance. Being willing to

compromise is considered an act of graciousness. Being loose with the

truth is [considered] better than standing for the truth. --G.

Christopher Willis, quoted in Milk & Honey, October 2003. Ruth Caye

Jones wrote:

In Times Like These

Ruth Caye Jones

 

(1) In times like these you need a Savior, In times like these you

need an anchor; Be very sure, be very sure, your anchor holds

and grips the Solid Rock!

 

Refrain

This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He’s the One, This Rock is Jesus, The

only One; Be very sure, be very sure, your anchor holds and grips

the Solid Rock!

 

(2) In times like these you need the Bible, In times like these, oh

be not idle; Be very sure, be very sure, Your anchor holds and

grips the Solid Rock!

 

(3) In times like these I have a Savior, In times like these, I have

an anchor; I’m very sure, I’m very sure, my anchor holds

and grips the Solid Rock!

Jude in his short epistle gives us what we need as God’s people to

stand for the truth and stay true for God IN TIMES LIKE THESE! Note

four things with me this morning.

IN TIMES LIKE THESE:

(1) REMEMBER THE APOSTLE’S WORDS

JUDE 17-19—“But, beloved, remember ye the words which were

spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How

that they told you there should be mockers in the last time,

who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they

who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.”

A. THERE WILL BE DENIERS. Jude said “But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.” (vv. 17-18). Peter wrote in 2 Peter 3:3—“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts.” Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 4:1-2—“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” What will they deny? :

• THE VIRGIN BIRTH. Do you know there are those today who preach and teach that Jesus was not truly born of a virgin? Former Bishop John S. Spong said, “In time, the virgin birth account will join Adam and Eve and the story of the cosmic ascension as clearly recognized mythological elements in our faith tradition whose purpose was not to describe a literal event but to capture the transcendent dimensions of God in the earthbound words and concepts of first-century human beings." (J.S. Spong, "Born of a Woman," P. 74-79). Listen friends, the virgin birth is the cornerstone of our faith! Without it Christ would have been born a sinner just like us and would have needed a Savior Himself. Can a true Christian deny the virgin birth? The answer to that question must be a decisive "No." Those who deny the virgin birth reject the authority of Scripture, deny the supernatural birth of the Savior, undermine the very foundations of the Gospel, and have no way of explaining the deity of Christ…Christians must face the fact that a denial of the virgin birth is a denial of Jesus as the Christ. The Savior who died for our sins was none other than the baby who was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. The virgin birth does not stand alone as a biblical doctrine; it is an irreducible part of the biblical revelation about the person and work of Jesus Christ. With it, the Gospel stands or falls. –R. Albert Mohler Jr., President of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.

• THE VICARIOUS DEATH. There are those today who deny that Jesus had to die on the Cross for our sins. Peter warned in 2 Peter 2:1—“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” The Scripture makes it plain that the death of Christ was a necessity for the redemption of mankind. (Hebrews 2:9; 1 Peter 3:18). Why? Because none of us are righteous, worthy, or acceptable unto God apart from His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus died so that we might become righteous, worthy, and acceptable unto God (2 Corinthians 5:21).

ILLUS: "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our

righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade

as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us

away." Isaiah 64:6

There is none good, no not one. If you asked every single human being on planet earth to deposit in a cup all of his or her goodness, there would not be enough goodness in that cup to save even one person! Isaiah 64:6 says our righteousness is as "filthy rags" in the sight of God. The cross of Jesus Christ is our only hope. Without Jesus, you are going to face the wrath of God. Jesus paid the debt of your sin that God's justice required. And now as His child, you share in His righteousness. In 1906, Jessie Brown Pounds wrote these words: "I must needs go home by the way of the cross, there's no other way but this; I shall ne'er get sight of the gates of light, if the way of the cross I miss."—Adrian Rogers

• THE VICTORIOUS RETURN. In Jude 18, Jude asks us to recall the apostle’s words, “How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.” The word “mockers” here means “deriders, scoffers.” Peter wrote in 2 Peter 3:1-3—“This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Savior: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished. But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” Friends, the one reason that Christ has not already returned for His own is that He “is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9b).

B. THERE WILL BE DEFILERS. Jude describes these as those “who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.” (Jude 18b-19). He describes them in v8 as “…filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.” The word “defile” means “to contaminate.” Peter speaks of these defilers in 2 Peter 2:10, 12—“…chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption.” Jude gives us in vv. 18-19:

• THEIR COURSE. “Who walk after their own ungodly lusts.” Jude says of them in v16—“ These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.” The word “walk” in v18 and “walking” in v16 are both from the same Greek word which means “to travel, or take a journey.” The course of their life is contaminated. The thought and intent of their heart is bent on evil continually.

• THEIR CHARACTER. “These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.” Paul said in Romans 8:9—“… Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” The words “having not the Spirit” show us their true character and condition. Jesus said in John 3:5—“Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

IN TIMES LIKE THESE! REMEMBER THE APOSTLE’S WORDS and IN TIMES LIKE THESE…

(2) RELY ON THE SPIRIT

JUDE 20—“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most

holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost…”

A. WE NEED THE SPIRIT’S INSTRUCTION. Paul said in Colossians 2:6-8—“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Jude said, “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith…”. IN TIMES LIKE THESE believers are not to “walk after our own lusts, or separate ourselves,” but believers are to be “building up ourselves on our most holy faith…”. The word “faith” here speaks of “truth, conviction.” We are to build ourselves up on the Word of God! Peter tells us in 1 Peter 4:6b-7 that we are to be “nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.” Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:23—“But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do engender strifes.” How do we “build ourselves up on our most holy faith”? We must be taught by the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in John 16:13—“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.” Listen friend, you cannot know the things of God unless the Spirit of God reveals them to you. 1 Corinthians 2:11-14 tells us, “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” Why must we rely on the Holy Spirit’s instruction?

ILLUS: "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of

the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory,

even as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Corinthians 3:18

We are changed from glory to glory by the power of the Holy

Spirit. That doesn't mean it happens overnight. But, one step

at a time. Today you ought to have a little more glory than

yesterday. Today you ought to be a little bit more like Jesus

than you were yesterday. And tomorrow, you ought to be even

more like Jesus. Are you becoming like Jesus? Not if you're

not in the Word. Don't you think it's time for this generation to

get serious about the Word of God?--Adrian Rogers

B. WE NEED THE SPIRIT’S INTERCESSION. Jude tells us IN TIMES LIKE THESE we need to be “praying in the Holy Ghost.” Friends, we don’t know how to pray as we ought. We need the Spirit’s intercession for us. Romans 8:26-27 tells us, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Paul said in Ephesians 6:18 we are to be “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”

(3) RESCUE THE PERISHING

JUDE 21-23—“Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the

mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some

have compassion, making a difference: And others save with

fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment

spotted by the flesh.”

A. THE NEED OF THE SINNER. Man, as v23 tells us, must be “pulled out of the fire”! The person without Christ is not only lost but condemned already! Jesus said in John 3:18—“He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:36 says, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” Our sins require that someone die for them. Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” God required that the sins of man be paid for by death and that death by the shedding of blood (Hebrews 9:22b). Christ loved us so much that He shed His very life’s blood to redeem our souls (Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18-19). To escape the condemnation of God the sinner MUST place his trust in Christ and believe that His blood can save his soul! Sadly many go through this life giving little or no thought to their eternal destiny. Hebrews 9:27 tells us, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Friend, there are two certainties in the is life: DEATH and JUDGMENT. So few today consider that when they die they will stand before Almighty God! Despite God’s warning: “…prepare to meet thy God…”! (Amos 4:12b).

ILLUS: The uncertainty of life and the inevitability of death are two of

the most basic elements of human existence. Logically, then,

what may lie after death deserves at least some serious

attention and planning before it may be forever too late. And it

is only reasonable that prior to that awesome moment of death,

which overtakes all in its own time and without

discrimination, one needs to be absolutely certain what death

will bring and exactly why.

ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN? Of course, because nothing less will

do. Regardless of one's religious belief or lack of it, death puts

its terminating stamp upon every earthly passion, position,

possession, and ambition. There is a finality to death that

shouts, “Too late! Too late!”

Inasmuch as death could come knocking at any time,

regardless of one’s age, health, or expectations, there is great

urgency in knowing with absolute certainty what lies beyond

death’s door. No matter how young we may be or how healthy

we may seem, that dread event draws steadily and inexorably

closer for each one of us--and often comes as an unwelcome

surprise. --Dave Hunt, SEEKING AND FINDING GOD p. 6

B. THE NECESSARY RESCUE WORK. Jude tells in v23 IN TIMES LIKE THESE “…others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.” Notice the words “pulling them out of the fire”. There are only two ways to rescue a person in a blazing fire: either put out the fire, or else pull them out of the fire. We cannot put out the fire of sin, so we must pull sinners out of the fire! The Lord has given the Church this commission, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:19-20). This is the Church’s GREATEST WORK! It is the work of every believer—“ pulling them out of the fire”! You may ask, “Preacher, why is this so necessary, so urgent?” It is such a necessary work because someone has estimated that 3 lost souls slip off into eternity every 2 seconds. If those statistics are true that’s 90 a minute and 5400 an hour! Our Lord Jesus said in Matthew 7:13—“ …wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat.” Friends, can we not all see the urgency now, the necessity! If you saw someone burning alive in a building or car you would do your utmost to save them wouldn’t you? Why not the same urgency for the lost, which are but one heartbeat away from the fires of hell? In this world, the Church is God’s fire brigade—a rescue party to pull men out of the fire! (James Smith. Handfuls on Purpose. Series 3. Volume 7. p. 283).

ILLUS: WHY DOESN'T SOMEONE DO SOMETHING?

Someone has to tell an unsaved friend how to accept Christ as

Savior before he does it. Someone has to "be a friend" to an

indifferent non-attender before he will get the church-going

habit. Someone has to "pick up" and bring people who prefer

not to "break the church barrier" alone. Someone has to

forgive an enemy before God's Spirit can work properly in a

Christian fellowship. Someone has to pray that the unchurched

and unsaved will be responsive to the urgings of God's Spirit.

Someone has to be loyal to the services so that the church

can be a real spiritual lighthouse in the community.

Then I realized I was "Someone."

(The Timothy Report, Swan Lake

Communications, Swanlake@jam.)

IN TIMES LIKE THESE! REMEMBER THE APOSTLE’S WORDS, RELY ON THE SPIRIT, RESCUE THE PERISHING and finally…

(4) REJOICE IN THE SAVIOR

JUDE 24-25—“ Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling,

and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory

with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Savior, be glory

and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.

Amen.”

IN TIMES LIKE THESE! :

A. REJOICE IN THE SAVIOR’S ABILITY. Jude gives us two things that should be the basis of our rejoicing in spite of the wicked days in which we live:

• THE SAVIOR’S ABILITY TO PRESERVE OUR SOULS. “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling…”. Notice it is “HIM that able to keep…”. Paul wrote in Romans 8:31—“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” Paul said in Philippians 1:6—“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” I rejoice this morning because it is “him that is able to keep you from falling…”. Friends, we are living in “perilous times.” IN TIMES LIKE THESE we see Satan working overtime to tempt God’s people to sin and we see many falling to Satan’s temptation! From the pulpits to the pews, we see many falling into sin. That is why it is so important we have a Savior with the ability “to keep you from falling.” We are powerless to “keep from falling”! But we have a Savior that promises “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (John 10:28). We may stumble, we may yield to temptation but we have a Savior “that is able to keep you from falling”! If WE are truly saved we CAN NEVER be lost again!

• THE SAVIOR’S ABILITY TO PRESENT US SPOTLESS. “…to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy…”. The word “faultless” here means “unblemished, without spot, unblameable.” We sin while in this body but one day Christ will present His own “faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy…”. Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:25-27—“ …Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” One day the Bridegroom will present His bride as redeemed and sanctified and made worthy by grace to live in His presence forever! Those who are redeemed, who have been rescued from sorrow, sin, and death, will reside in Heaven their eternal home!

B. REJOICE IN THE SAVIOR’S AUTHORITY. “To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” Jude mentions four facets of our Savior’s authority: glory, majesty, dominion, and power. Let us look at these four attributes briefly:

• GLORY. The word speaks of “honor, praise, and worship.” Truly He is worthy of glory. Psalm 115:1 says, “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.” David said, “I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.” Why should we worship? “Worship helps us find who we are and why God has placed us here on the earth. When we bow in God's presence with worship, only then are we made complete.” -- Judson Cornwall. Leadership, Vol. 16, no. 2.

• MAJESTY. Majesty speaks of “greatness.” Psalm 96:4 says, “For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.” Imagine the One who is so infinitely high being so intimately nigh to each one of us, as miniscule as we are in the universe! --Author unknown. This should cause us all to rejoice!

• DOMINION. Dominion shows us his “might” and “strength”. The Lord is sovereign as Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:21-23—“Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.” He is mighty! He is in control! We must only trust HIM!

ILLUS: The hymns are right. Peace is like a river - moving,

turning, plunging forward, carrying us downstream. It's

not a static resting place, but an attitude of heart and

mind that enables us to relax and let the current bear

us up. Sometimes we don't want to go with the flow. We

get comfortable where we are. We'd prefer to dig our heels

into the riverbed and refuse to budge. But if we're to live

in peace, we need to accept the movement of the stream.

The only peace we'll ever find that does not involve

change is the final "rest in peace" on our tombstone.

The good news is, God knows where the river's going. The

Lord's control, not our own, enables us to accept what we

can't see and be at peace with what we don't know.—

Penelope J. Stokes, "Beside A Quiet Stream" (Nashville: J.

Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc.), 1999

(The Timothy Report, Swan Lake Communications,

June 21, 2004)

• POWER. Power speaks of the Lord’s “privilege, mastery, and authority.” He not only has the power to do as He wills, but also the privilege and authority to do as He wills! Psalm 135:6 tells us, “Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.” God is an absolute sovereign. He has formed a plan, and has carried it out. He has made the world as he chose, and he has ordered all its arrangements according to his own pleasure. (Albert Barnes’ Notes On The Bible). Because of His sovereignty we can rejoice! The psalmist said, “Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.” (Psalm 40:16).

CLOSING: IN TIMES LIKE THESE! We must REMEMBER THE APOSTLE’S

WORDS, RELY ON THE SPIRIT, RESCUE THE PERISHING, and

REJOICE IN THE SAVIOR. Friends, are we doing that? The best

way to prepare for the coming of Christ is never to forget the

presence of Christ. -- William Barclay in You Can Say That Again.

Christianity Today, Vol. 39, no. 8.

Friend, are you prepared to meet God this morning? Is He your

Savior? Christian, Is your life pleasing to God? or Is there

something you need to surrender to HIM today? I want to share

one last thing with you this morning before I close:

WOULD I BE CALLED A CHRISTIAN?

by Mrs. J.F. Moser

Would I be called a "Christian"

If everybody knew

My secret thoughts and feelings

And everything I do?

Oh, could they see the likeness

of Christ in me each day?

Oh, could they hear him speaking

In every word I say?

Would I be called a "Christian"

If anyone could know

That I am found in places

Where Jesus would not go?

Oh, could they hear His echo

In every song I sing?

In eating, drinking, dressing

Could they see Christ my King?

Would I be called a "Christian"

If judged by what I read?

By all my recreations,

And every thought and deed?

Could I be counted Christlike

As I now work and play?

Unselfish, kind, forgiving

To others every day?

Friends, IN TIMES LIKE THESE! it’s time for God’s people to live

worthy of the Lord who saved us and reflect His grace and glory.

ARE WE DOING THAT?

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