This Sunday service Pastor (Mrs) Silvia Lia Leigh preached another sermon in the series titled ‘Love is The New Commandment’. Her main scriptures were taken from the book of Jude 1:1-25.

THE AGAPE LOVE OF GOD

Love is the greatest word in the Bible. In Greek, there are three words for love. Eros refers to sexual love. Philio refers to friendly attachment. Agape means unconditional sacrificial love. In the New Testament, the word Love appears about 200 times, and it is always ‘agape’ love. This Love is not just a feeling. It is the highest, most pure form of love, born not out of natural attraction or obligation, but a willful choice and a command to be obeyed.  It is the unselfish, pure, powerful, and sacrificial love that desires the best in another person. This love is best expressed as the Fatherly Love of God for human beings. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn 3:16). This is the Gospel: God the Father sent God the Son to become a Man and die on behalf of sinners. This agape Love of God ignites love in the heart of the believers. It also helps them to love their ‘neighbors’ as they love themselves. The unbelievers may be religious, but they do not know this agape love. It is a gift given only to the children of God, who are saved by grace and thru faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Agape love is a sacrificial love that saves, unites, and heals. It is the love of God that we see through the cross of Jesus Christ. This love saves and restores humanity in the face of sin and death. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (Jn 15:13). Because we are born sinners, agape love does not come naturally to us. Agape love requires faithfulness, commitment, courage, strength, wisdom, faith, and sacrifice. When we love others, we do it expecting nothing in return from them. Love trusts God alone to respond and reward the sacrifice. It is the Spirit filled lives of the Christians, their love for God and for one another that is the magnet God uses to attract the world to Jesus! It was like that in the early church, during the time of the Reformation and it is the same during all the revivals in the history of the Church! Selah!

THE NOMINAL CHRISTIANS

There is an increase of nominal Christianity in many churches. It is dangerous to be a nominal Christian. True Christians are also in danger by being ignorant of this infiltration. The presence of false Christians is a serious concern to any pastor who is truly born again. The increase of nominalism reduces the power of the church to lift up Jesus, to change the world and to usher true revival. Generally, nominalism is described as empty formalities and ceremonies with no influence on people. It means having a title, but no authority connected with that title. For example, a nominal king is a king that has no power; he is just a figurehead. His title is useless.

A nominal Christian is a religious person who claims to be a Christian and attends church, but he (she) is not saved. The nominal Christian is a Christian in name only.  There is very little about his life that reflects the truths of Jesus Christ and the gospel. Nominal Christians are church goers. They seem faithful to church attendance, especially on Sundays. They are also called ‘Sunday-Sunday Christians’. They proudly belong to a church or a denomination. They quote scriptures, they want their families to come to church, they owe a Bible, they give offerings to church, but they are not saved. To them, Christianity means going to church on Sunday. They view religion as a social benefit and not as a spiritual transformation. Faith in God is not part of their daily life, in making decisions. There is a radical difference between the nominal Christian and the baby Christian. The first one is spiritually dead and the second one is spiritually alive. They may look the same for some time but eventually, the baby Christian starts making spiritual progress that will be evident to all. The nominal Christian attends church for years but his life does not change at all. He is still the same. Selah!

What is the cause of nominal Christianity? The first reason is superficiality, laziness. To become a nominal Christian is much easier than to repent and surrender your life to Christ, desiring true salvation. The second cause is legalism. This starts from believing a false Gospel. People imagine that just by doing good works in the church, or by changing some few sinful habits, they go to heaven. They are ignorant of God’s Grace, and they lack a true faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. A third reason is the environment. If you live in a country or an area where it is fashionable or beneficial to be called a Christian, then you become one. These are countries in the world where Christianity is the official religion: England, Norway, Denmark, Costa Rica, Georgia, Greece, Malta, Monaco, Serbia, and the Vatican city. These are some African countries where Christianity is the official religion: Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Rwanda, and Namibia. Most of the countries in the world are secular, having no particular religion. Others are Islamic countries.  Nigeria is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious state. The constitution states that Nigeria is a secular state, and that no government or state can adopt any religion. The two main religions in Nigeria are Christianity (mostly in the south) and Islam (mostly in the north). Based on research, the number of nominal Christians is by far higher in the south than in the north.

The resurrected Christ addressed the Nominal Christians in His letter to the church at Sardis. He said: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead” (Rev 3:1). The nominal Christian walks on a dangerous path. He has a false hope of ‘making heaven’. He resists the true Gospel. He refuses to repent and truly convert. The genuine Christian surrenders unconditionally to Christ and receives the Holy Spirit. The presence of the Holy Spirit in his heart is the major sign of a true believer. The nominal Christian may pray in tongues, but he knows nothing about the Holy Spirit. He lacks this power working in him ‘both to will and to do’ God’s pleasure (Phil 2:13). He is spiritually weak. The baby Christian starts to hate sin and he repents from it. But the nominal Christian does not hate sin. He can only hide it from others. The true Christian sees the world with different eyes. The world is the system of men who live like God does not exist. The world is the enemy of the Kingdom of God. Once the true believer becomes saved, he sees the world thru the eyes of Christ. He used to love the world, with its wealth and fame, but now, he is dead to its attraction. The nominal Christian still loves the world. There are many politicians who say that they are Christians, but they love the world, with its lusts and sinful entertainment. To be a friend of the world means to be an enemy of God (Jam 4:4).

“Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us” (1 Jn 2:18, 19). Apostle John connects the nominal Christians with the Spirit of the Antichrist. This is a religious spirit that brings people to church, but they are not saved. They can only feel comfortable in a church where the true Gospel is not preached. Once the pastor preaches the Cross, they leave that church, and they criticize it. May the Wind and Fire of Pentecost in our church do the work no man can do! Jesus is Lord!

SPOTS IN THE LOVE FEASTS (Jude 1:1-25)

Brother Jude introduces himself as ‘a bondservant of Jesus Christ and a brother to James’. He was half-brother to Jesus Christ and full brother to James, a leader in the early church. He was not an official leader in the church. He did not introduce himself as the brother, but as bondservant of Jesus. This is genuine humility. He greets the believers wishing them multiplication of mercy, peace, and Love! Jude is concerned with the state of the church. He warns the believers against the false teachers, the nominal Christians, who have infiltrated the church. He calls us to spiritual warfare, ‘to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.’ This ‘faith’ is the Gospel of Christ crucified and resurrected. There is a false gospel preached by false teachers. As a Christian, you must be sure that you know what the Gospel is. It is not just a general idea about Jesus. The Gospel is made from clear doctrines and can be defined and thought accordingly.

Jude describes the false teachers (preachers, pastors, prophets) and God’s judgment on them.

*They are wicked men. They are religious unbelievers. They came in the church secretly, like illegal immigrants who have no visa. “For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 1:4). They say that God’s grace gives us freedom to live in the flesh, to commit sexual sins. They reject the Lordship of Jesus Christ. They do not submit to God or to the delegated authority in the church.

*God “destroyed those who did not believe” (Jude 1:5). They are religious but do not have a genuine faith in God the Father and God the Son.

*These dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries” (Jude 1:8). Their authority is not from the Bible, but from their dreams and prophecies. They ‘defile’ (pollute, stain) their bodies. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. We are to keep them clean and holy. But these people don’t care about their bodies. They proudly commit sexual immorality. They do not submit to any authority in the church. They speak ‘evil’ of leaders in the church. They are rude. Love is never rude! Selah! 

*They “speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves” (Jude 1:10). They are ignorant of God and of His Word. They are bold enough to insult things they are ignorant of. They cover up their ignorance with loud extravagant sentences. They insult the true teachers. They are like dangerous wild animals, without self-control in speech or behavior. 

*They are cursed, and not blessed by God. “Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah” (Jude 1:11). They are haters like Cain, ready to kill anyone. They love money and fame like the false prophet Balaam, who deceived the Israelites to commit sexual immorality so that God will punish them. They are like Korah who led the rebellion against Moses, the God approved and instituted leader for the Israelites. Balaam died by the sword and Korah died by God’s judgment.

*These “are spots in your love feasts, while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; 13 raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever” (Jude 1:12, 13). These false teachers are ‘spots in your love feasts’. In Greek, the word ‘spots’ means hidden rocks in the sea. The captain of the ship is warned to avoid such rocks that can damage and sink the ship. They pretend to love the Christians, but they are very dangerous. By their words and actions, they wound and betray the brethren. They ‘feast without fear’. They are shameless in their wickedness. Their conscience is dead. They ‘serve only themselves’. The word ‘serve’ is the same as the word ‘feeding’. A true shepherd feeds his sheep with fresh green grass, which is the Word of God. These false teachers do not preach the Word of God. These false pastors leave their congregation hungry. They only care about themselves. Love is never selfish, but these people are completely selfish. Jesus commanded Peter, and all the pastors: ‘Feed My Sheep… take care of My lambs’ (Jn 21:15-17). These people are totally ignorant of the commands of Jesus! They use their positions to ask for money and favors from others. They are ‘clouds without water carried about by the winds.’ Clouds without rain are almost useless to the earth. They are driven by any wind of doctrines. They are not stable in their preaching. They are ‘late autumn trees without fruits, twice dead’. A baren tree, without fruits and no roots is twice dead and useless to men. They increase the expectations of men, by telling them that during the autumn season there will be a great harvest. But these are lies. There are no fruits. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick” (PV 13:12). They are ‘wondering stars’ that have gone astray into the deepest darkness of the sky. Like the waves of the sea, they are restless and dangerous.

*These people “are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage… 18 There would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts” (Jude 1:16, 18). These are all sins of the tongue: 1. They are grumblers. 2. They follow after their own lusts and speak arrogantly. 3. They flatter people for their own gain. Flattery is very common in the church. These false teachers mock the true believers. They are not led by their flesh, their ungodly lusts. Many church leaders have been caught in sexual immorality and financial scandals, dishonoring the name of Jesus.

*These “are sensual persons who cause divisions, not having the Spirit” (Jude 1:19). The root of the problem concerning these false teachers is spiritual. They are of the world. They are ‘sensual’, of the flesh. The ‘flesh’ is what man has inherited from Adam, the totality of man that is NOT under the influence of the Holy Spirit. These people are like animals, ruled by their natural instincts. They do not have the Holy Spirit. Jesus said about the Holy Spirit: “the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you” (Jn 14:17). Paul also said: “The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1Cor 2:14). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth, love, and unity among the brethren. Any other religious spirit brings division in the church. God will surely judge these false teachers. Their place is in hell.

“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jude 1:20, 21). We are commanded to do three things: 1. ‘to keep ourselves in God’s Love’; 2. ‘to build ourselves up in the most holy faith’; 3. To look for the mercy of Jesus!

“Keep yourselves in the Love of God” (Jude 1:21). How does God love? The way a mother (father) loves her baby. It is unconditional, sacrificial love. The baby does not love the mother. It is the mother who loves her baby. She takes care of the baby day and night. The mother is not rich, but she will never sell her baby for any amount. She spends money for her baby. The baby does not spend any money to buy something for his mother. When the baby is sick, the mother does not sleep. She takes care of her baby. As you can see, God loves us first.

What does it mean to ‘keep ourselves in the love of God’? It means to live in that reality. All plans and decisions are done in that consciousness. This creates an atmosphere of love. Jesus said to the Pharisees: “I know you, that you do not have the love of God in you” (Jn 5:42). They love religion, money, fame, the praise of men, but not God. “He who hates Me hates My Father also” (Jn 15:23). Because of our knowledge of the Love of God, there is a limitation on our lives. We cannot commit sin because we know that God loves us. We don’t want to hurt God or to grieve His Spirit. Ex. My husband likes some things. I don’t care about the same things. But because he likes these things, I do them. Why? Because I love my husband! When you love somebody, you desire to please him. That means to keep myself in the love of my husband! It is the same with God. You do everything to please God. You do not grieve God’s Spirit. “The love of Christ compels us…” (2 Cor 5:14). The unbelievers care nothing about the love of God! They are careless with their thoughts, decisions, and actions. Not so with us!

We are commanded to ‘keep ourselves in the love of God’. The word ‘keep’ means to guard against enemies, against the deception of these false brethren (‘yahoo boys’ type of lovers). We are commanded ‘to keep ourselves in the love of God’. This is a command to be obeyed, not just a suggestion. This command is given to us, the believers. This command does not mean that we should behave well so that God will love us more. In Christ, we are already loved by God. God’s Love, like His Grace, is unmerited favor. What then does it mean? It means to acknowledge and abide in His Love. Practically, it means to reject every form of sin that can grieve the Holy Spirit. Jude gave us three men as negative examples: Cain, Balaam, and Korah. These were religious men. Each one did something good, but the evil they did was greater. Cain offered God a sacrifice, he worshipped God just minutes before he got angry and killed his brother Abel. He was a man of hatred. Balaam prophesied some of the most beautiful verses about Jesus, as the King of kings. But because of greed, he deceived the men of God to commit adultery with the Moabite women, and to worship their idols. He was later killed in the war with Israel. Korah was a cousin of Moses. He was a leader in the camp of Israel. Many trusted and followed him. But he became jealous on Moses and rebelled against him. God killed him and his followers. These three men committed sins against love and grieved the Holy Spirit. They went away from the spiritual territory where the Love of God covers sin. They grieved the Holy Spirit of Love. “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph 4:30-32). Lesson: God loves us unconditionally. But it is our responsibility to stay within the boundaries of His manifested love. Responsibility means to be accountable to someone for things that are under your power to control or manage. God has given us His Love, His Spirit, and His Word. We must live a life that honors Him. Like a branch connected to the vine, abiding in Christ we are totally protected from false brethren. This is the only place where the mercy of God is revealed and released, morning by morning. We must abide in His Word, Love and Spirit. This is our duty and responsibility. Being careless with our gifts and blessings, ends in punishment. May God help us all!   

“And on some have compassion, making a distinction; 23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh” (Jude 1:22, 23). It is a public duty to warn others against false and fake people!!! We are commanded to help the doubters and the victims of false brethren. But we are also warned not to submit of cooperate with the false brethren. We should ‘make a distinction’.

This is the recommended strategy:

1-Have mercy on some who are doubting- the doubters (these are the nominal Christians)

2-Save others by snatching them from fire- the contaminated (these are the Backsliders, the true believers who have become hurt and bitter)  

3-Save hating their clothes polluted by flesh- the contaminators (these are false Christians, wicked, tools of the devil, trying to ‘spoil’ as many believers as they can). These are the men who have secretly crept in the church to spy the liberty we have in Christ and to bring many in bondage (Gal 2:4, 5).   

We are told to intercede and save the backsliders. This is extremely dangerous work. Love alone is bold and strong enough to go close to the fire of hell and pull those going towards it. We are to show compassion (mercy), and love. We are to be wise and ‘make a distinction’. To save a backslider from the devil’s grip is hard work. We are to love the sinner and hate his sin, even the garment stained and defiled by sin.

“Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins” (Jam 5:19, 20). Love is a champion. Love is a Savior. Love is not easily provoked by foolishness and error. It covers many sins. It is the champion of all emotions. “Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others]” (1 Pet 4:8; AMP).

“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal 6:1, 2). The word ‘gentleness’ is also translated as ‘humility.’ Intercession, restoration of a backslider, is done only by those who are spiritual, genuinely humble, filled with the Holy Spirit, and acting from pure motives of love. Proud people cannot love and cannot help others in need. The danger here is to try to intercede from fleshly motives. The devil will attack and injure you. This work is as difficult and delicate as brain surgery. Any little mistake can end in bigger problems.

REEFS, WAVES, CLOUDS, TREES, AND STARS

These deceivers who crept in the church are compared with things found in nature: reefs and sea waves, clouds, trees, and stars in the sky.

“These men are hidden reefs [elements of great danger to others] in your love feasts when they feast together with you without fear, looking after [only] themselves; [they are like] clouds without water, swept along by the winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted and lifeless; wild waves of the sea, flinging up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of deep darkness has been reserved forever” (Jude 1:12, 13; AMP). These men are like ‘spots in your love feasts’ (Jude 1:12, NKJ). The real translation is this: ‘These men are hidden reefs in the sea’. A reef is a rocky structure built by corals and many other organisms in the flat bottom of the sea. Many organisms and fishes live and feed among the reefs. The greatest reef is The Great Barrier Reef in Australia. It covers a surface of almost 350,000 kilometers square. Meso-American reef is the second coral reef in size, almost 1,000 kilometers long, from Mexico to Honduras. Ships that sunk become a home for many organisms in the sea and turn to reefs too. A reef can damage and sink a ship, which adds to the reef!!!  

When a ship hits the reefs, it is hard to control it and it can get stuck. It is also hard to save the people because other ships cannot get close. The ship can be damaged and get sunk. Because of their beauty and help to marine life, the reefs are protected by international law. The owner of the ship that damages the reefs may have legal problems as the fuel can spill and damage the marine life.

The false brethren who sneak in the churches are compared to these reefs. They look beautiful. They help many others. But they can hurt the true believers who ignorantly go close to them. They are fault finders. These reefs are not visible rocks. If you get close to them, they may drag you into their world and you become a reef like them. They use deception as the hunters or fishers. They trap foolish birds and over-curious fishes. They are hidden rocks. You try to get close to them, but they can hurt you badly. They are not kind. They have no mercy. You are not safe being close friends with them. True believers are filled with love. They protect others. Pray before you open your heart to other ‘Christians’. The great Titanic ship was sunk because of an iceberg! Selah!

These are waterless Clouds carried by the wind. They give false hopes, but they disappoint. “Hope deferred makes the heart sick” (PV 13:12). The word ‘deferred’ means something that takes a long time. The word ‘sick’ means ‘weakness.’ False hope is the main reason for spiritual ‘heart failure’. Be careful whom do you trust! Elijah was a true prophet. He did not disappoint the people. After Elijah prayed and the fire fell from heaven, he warned king Ahab that rain is coming. He sent his servant 6 times to see if there is any cloud. On the 7^th time there was a cloud that brought the long-awaited rain (1Kg 18:44). True believers are clouds filled with rain. They receive refreshments from heaven. They water others and they too are watered. They bring true hope and prosperity to others. People are thirsty. They need the water of life, the rain from the cloud. They are people who bring revival. But these fake people promise many things that they cannot perform. They are dry clouds. They quench the zeal of others. They are like dry breasts to a hungry baby. There is a curse upon such people (Hosea 9:14).

These men are like trees without roots and without fruits, twice dead. They promise men fruit, but they are barren. Jesus cursed the barren fig tree that only had leaves (Mk 11:12-25). All nominal Christians disappoint others. Selah!

These men are not gentle waves of the sea. They are wild dangerous waves that can sink a ship or swallow people walking on the beach. During the storm Jesus stopped the wind and the waves with His Word (Mk 4:35:41). Only special ships can fight and conquer these wild waves. “But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. 21 “There is no peace,” Says my God, “for the wicked” (Is 57:20, 21). The word ‘troubled’ means to be driven away from your possession or to divorce. Mire is thick and deep mud, wet swampy sticky land. It is like quicksand. Figuratively, it means to be trapped into a difficult situation where you can lose your reputation. In Hebrew, the word ‘peace’ is Shalom. It means peace, prosperity, health, wealth, favor, and friends. Wicked are restless! They lack shalom. Spiritually, only a mature Christian can conquer these false brethren to save a victim from their spell.

These men are like moving stars. God placed the stars in the sky in specific spots. They are supposed to stay there and shine. The seamen are able to read the stars to guide themselves. The wise men followed the star to the place where Mary and the baby Jesus was. When the people see a true Christian, they are directed to Jesus. But these false brethren are not stable. They are falling stars. They do not have a fixed address. You cannot trust them. They do not direct others to Jesus. They direct people to themselves. They cause confusion. They are wandering, restless people, useless and dangerous to others. They cannot help any lost soul to find its way to God. Trust God and the true believers only!

Do spiritual warfare, expose, and resist evil. “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing” (Edmund Burke, 1729-1797).

Let’s end in praise! “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless, Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, 25 To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion, and power, Both now and forever. Amen” (Jd 1:24,25). Some people say that backsliding is unavoidable. But that is a lie. By God’s grace you can start and finish your race filled with the Holy Spirit. God is able to keep us from stumbling into sin. Jesus washes His Bride with His Word to present her to Himself, in glory, free of any faults. Our going to heaven is filled with exceeding joy. To God be all the glory! Worship the Lord!