Fight For The Faith

Jude 10-13
10 Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals-these are the very things that destroy them.

11 Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.

12 These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm-shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted-twice dead. 13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.
(from New International Version)

Cain

Cain was jealous and envious of his brothers blessings from the Lord. He could have had the same blessings if he had done that which was right with a right attitude. But he chose to blame his brother and murder him. People in churches today may not be resorting to physical violence, but they use character assassination. They begin to gossip, back bite and make false accusations about the ones they are jealous of.

Balaam

Balaam was the one who compromised for personal gain. Today many ministers and teachers are pressured to compromise the Gospel to keep their positions. Or feel they will get more financial support it they change what they are teaching to be more pleasing to certain groups. Or people begin to compromise their standards of conduct so they can keep a job, make a sale or run in a certain crowd and be popular.

Korah

Korah was the one led others in complaining about and challenging Moses’s authority. Today there are many in the church that are complainers, and  are constantly criticising those who are in spiritual authority. Remember the earth opened up as swallowed Korah and his followers. God does not bless those or their followers who work against His anointed.
“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.”
(KJV1 Sam 15:23

Conclusion

We need to examine ourselves and our attitudes that we don’t fall into one of these groups. And if we do we need to repent and make things right with both God and man.

It was our privilege and joy to attend Grace Community Church, Oct. 4th with our son Paul. Pastor Brooks Simpson preached a sermon entitled “Brokenness Road to Renewal: Why WE Need The Spirit.” One of the thought provoking questions he asked was, ” What do we want our Church to be: A movement, a monument or a Christian Mall.”

If you are in the Iowa City area looking for a church to attend I would encourage you to check out Grace Community Church.