Transcript for:
Jude 7,25 -Earnestly Contend !- (Part-2) Guest Speaker Mark Dinsmore 2023-07-30

Good morning, church. Clip and go. Good to see everyone here. Hope I didn't run anybody off last week. There's some new folks here. So I said, be sure to return back next Sunday for Pastor Rick, you'll get the full meal deal. But, blessing to be here. We had an amazing week. It's always, and I'll share a little bit about our weekend in the time of our message this morning, but, hope that all of you were blessed and had opportunity to be ambassadors for Christ. And, we look forward to reading it again today. Last week, we began our study in the book of Jude. It's an amazing book. It's kind of the doorstep or the doorway to revelation, which of course is the unveiling of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. And so, Jude is a fitting book for that. Last week, we began ambitiously to tackle half the book. I think we made it through the first six verses. So, I'm going to have to crank it up to Rick speed in order to finish today. I don't know if I'll quite be able to do that, but, Lord willing, we'll go as far as we can go. But, it's kind of a package deal. So, rather than splitting the book and reading just the second half, I thought we would stand together this morning and read the entirety of the book of Jude. So, turn with me, if you will, to almost the back of the book, right before revelation, the epistle of Jude, beginning in verse one. Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father and preserved in Christ Jesus and called, mercy unto you and peace, let love be multiplied. Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith that was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. I will, therefore, put you in remembrance, though you once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not, and the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their habitation, he is reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities round about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise, also, these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion and speak evil of dignities. Yet Michael, the archangel, when contending with a devil he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a railing accusation, but said the Lord rebuke thee. But these speak evil of those things which they know not, but what they know naturally as brute beasts. In those things they corrupt themselves. Woe unto them, for they have gone in the way of Cain and ran greedily after the heir of Balaam for reward and perished in a gainsaying of Korah. These are spots in your feasts of charity when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear. Clouds they are without water carried about of winds, trees whose fruit withereth without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots, raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame, wandering stars to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these saying, Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his saints to execute judgment upon all and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed and of all their hard speeches, which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. These are murmurs, complainers walking about after their own lusts, and their mouth speaks great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage. But beloved, remember you the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, how that they told you that 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. But you, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Keep yourselves, verse 22, and of some have compassion, making a difference, and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garments spotted by the flesh. 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 forever. Amen. Father, we're so grateful for these precious promises. God, we thank you that you alone are God and have determined the end from the beginning. Thank you for making yourself known to us through your word and through the gift of your son or savior. Thank you for your Holy Spirit that you have left with us, Father. We pray that you will speak to us this morning as we study your precious word. And we thank you for it in Yeshua's name. Amen. You may be seated. So our notes pick up in verse seven this morning. Let's back up to verse six. And the angels which kept not their first estate but left their own habitation, he is reserved in everlasting chains under darkness, under the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrah and the city is about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. So, of course, these cities were characterized by gross immorality, extreme sexual lust and perversion. It was like 24-7, 365, Mardi Gras, gay pride parades and drag queen story hour all wrapped into one. We must be getting close. As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be when the son of man returns. So the city is about in like manner. We often think of Sodom and Gomorrah exclusively, but the fact is that it affected surrounding towns. And it's interesting that in 1976, a cuneiform tablet was found in the city of Ebla, the archaeological excavation, and it contained the names of all five of the cities of the plain. They were listed in the same order as Genesis 1019. Isn't that it's always a blessing when archaeological records, of course, confirm the scriptures as being the true living word of God. These cities were Sodom, Gomorrah, of course, Adma, Zeboim and Abela. But in our time, it used to be the flagrant sexual sin was committed only in a few cities and only at certain times of the year. You know, Mardi Gras in New Orleans or certain times in San Francisco. But beginning a few years back, just in recent history, the Obama administration really uncorked the bottle, opened Pandora's box, let the cat out of the bag, whatever metaphor you choose to use. And that's not going back. You know, tragically, God's judgment has to come at some point, has to come. So now it's in every small town, every state, every institution. And the agenda is very clear. They want to absolutely crush and destroy all vestiges of our Christian faith and of God's holy representation. So these have given themselves over to fornication. They've gone after strange flesh. They're set forth an example and they will suffer the vengeance of eternal fire. It's absolutely incredible to me that liberal theologians, Bible skeptics and, of course, the LGBTQ Christians have corrected what they perceive to be gross misrepresentation of Sodom and Gomorrah in the scriptures. One popular website called Quora supplies us with these examples. So these are quotes from people who wish to rewrite the scriptures. One says, quote, Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed because of the way the citizens behaved toward foreigners and the weakest in society. The individual personal desires matted more than justice, equality, care and support. I didn't know that, did you? Somehow I missed this in the Genesis 19 account of how men from every quarter of the city literally surrounded Lot's house and wanted to rape the angels that were inside. Another person wrote, quote, I know we can get into the debate about whether homosexuality is a sin or not, but I don't see it as a major reason that Sodom was destroyed by God after their hardness of heart arrogance. It was their lack of care for the poor and needy. Wow. Again, I just don't see that in the KJV. They must be reading from the SJT, the Social Justice Translation. Of course, these ideas are preposterous. They're not represented in scripture. In fact, sodomy used to be criminalized in nearly every state in America. And sodomy, of course, is named after the city of Sodom. So it's irrefutable and controvertible that homosexuality and sodomy is the reason God destroyed this evil and wicked city and the city's roundabout. But in our lifetimes, it's gone from secret taboo to open celebration and public display to the point of teaching it to impressionable young children and even encouraging them in these behaviors. So in verse eight, we see these filthy dreamers defile the flesh. They despise dominion and they speak evil of dignities. This is rebellion against God. It's kind of a complicated passage, which is confusing, so we'll try to break it down a little bit this morning. Filthy dreamers. And they likewise, so likewise means in like manner, so Jude's referring to the egregious and abominable actions of the angels who rebelled and he applies them to men here whom he calls filthy dreamers. So it's a filthy dreamer. Well, it's one whose mind and imagination have become spiritually dark. Romans 121 says, Because that when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkened. Also, Jesus warned in Matthew 623, But if thine eye be evil, though thy whole body shall be full of darkness, if therefore the light that is in you be dark, how great is that darkness? And, of course, Paul explained further in Ephesians 4, 17 through 20, he says this, I say, therefore, in testifying the Lord that you should walk no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk in futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart, who being past feeling have given themselves over to the lewdness to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned from Christ. So these men defile the flesh, despise dominion and speak evil of dignity. Speaking evil, defile, of course, means to desecrate or violate. It turns something sacred into something profane. So in this case, these men and women to devote themselves to uncleanness and they celebrate it much as we observe today. We see that in Romans 1 very clearly. If you want to keep a finger in Jude, go ahead and flip to Romans chapter 1 real quick. We'll take a look, beginning with verses 21 through 27. Romans 1, 21 says, because that when they knew God, they glorified him not as God. Neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkened, professing themselves to be wise. They became fools and they changed the glory of the uncorruptible God unto an image made like to corruptible man and to birds and four footed beasts and creeping things. Verse 24, wherefore, God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts to dishonor their own bodies between themselves because they changed the truth of God into a lie. And they worshipped and served the creature more than the creator who is blessed forever. Amen. So it's for this reason, verse 26, God gave them up to vile affections. Even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature. And likewise, also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men with men working that which is unseemly and receiving in themselves their recompense of their error, which was fitting or meet. So does that describe our culture today? It sure does, doesn't it? So they despised dominion. This phrase simply describes a hatred of authority and government, in particular, in this particular case, godly authority and his righteousness. So this is the same attitude of demonic rebellion that we've seen in Psalm chapter two. Verse one says, why did the heathen rage and that people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord, against his anointed. That's our savior saying, let us break their bands asunder and cast away their cords from us. So freedom from religion. They want to cast off the cords of righteousness and godliness. So, of course, this is anarchy. This is lawlessness. But it's spiritual rebellion. This is evident in the old saying, if it feels good, do it, which is similar to the satanic read or creed, which is which says, do what thou wilt, this be the whole of the law. The Wiccan read or the which the creed of witchcraft is very similar. It says, do what thou wilt, but harm none. So both are two sides of the same coin of rebellion against God. And so this is why sex of all kinds between all ages and relationships is perfectly fine according to both of their creeds. Do what thou wilt and harm none. Do what thou wilt, this be the whole of the law. And contrary to what a lot of folks don't realize or recognize is that the two fastest growing religions in our country are not Islam and Christianity, but Satanism and witchcraft. So that's the late stage of the game. We're at prophetically. So in verse nine of Jude, we see yet Michael, the archangel, when contending with the devil, he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring a rant against him, a railing accusation, but said the Lord rebuke thee. So we've touched on briefly in the past how many Christians, some entire denominations, take out of context and they rebuke the devil for everything at all times. Here we see the archangel Michael wasn't even willing to rebuke the devil, but says the Lord rebuke thee. So we can't bind Satan. Satan's going to be bound for a thousand years. Only the Lord Jesus Christ can bind Satan. And that day is coming. Hallelujah. But we see, so Michael didn't want to get in a verbal battle with Satan, but he entrusted Jesus to speak for him. Sadly, we see here in verse 10, many humans are not so wise, but these speak evil of those things which they know not. But what they know naturally is brute beasts. In those things, they corrupt themselves. So speaking evil is something we're commanded not to do against one another. James 4.11 says, speak not evil of one another, brethren. So here the word evil, to speak evil is to speak against, to criminate or traduce. Traduce means to speak badly of or tell lies about someone, to damage their reputation, to commit slander, to commit libel. So speaking evil is not just common gossip. It's similar to bearing false witness, which is one of the Ten Commandments. Thou shalt not bear false witness. It's also done with malicious intent. But here in Jude, they're reviling against God. So flipping back to Romans 1 in verse 28, we see the source of their heart. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind to do those things which are not fitting. Being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness, they are whispers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful, who knowing the righteous judgment of God that those who practice those things are deserving of death, but they not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. So open celebration of wickedness, open celebration of Satanism, open celebration of debaucherous rebellion against God. What does this generation Paul describes remind you of? We're living in it, aren't we? Present day. This passage describes the prevailing political attitude of BLM, Antifa, social justice warriors, LGBTQ plus, and neo-pagans, also called witches and Satanists, the fastest growing religions in our country today because they promise freedom and power, freedom from God to do what they want. So the tide has turned in our culture, hasn't it, from what many have called a Judeo-Christian ethic to now that that ethic is being overrun. But that's okay because as another watchman loves to say, the more things fall apart, the more things fall into place, right? God's word is true and is showing itself to be true. It's trustworthy. And so we know that God has the victory in the end and all who put their faith in Jesus Christ will be overcomers. So here in verse 11, Jude says, Woe unto them, for they have gone in the way of Cain. And ran greedily after the heir of Balaam for reward and perished in the gainsaying of Korah. Woe unto them. That's kind of an interjection. It means ho or alas, which precedes judgment. Matthew 23, 15 is an example of this judgment upon false teachers. Jesus declared, quote, Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for you compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, you make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. So false teachers leading people astray. They've gone in the way of Cain. They do this in a number of different ways, three ways that Jude explains here in this verse. First of all, they've gone in the way of Cain. Of course, we know that Cain killed his brother Abel because Abel's offering pleased God while Cain's offering did not. In Genesis 4, 6, we read, So the Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry and why is your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door and its desires for you, but you should rule over it. And Cain talked with Abel, his brother, and it came to pass when they were in the field that Cain rose up against Abel, his brother, and slew him. So we won't unpack that fully this morning, but let me just suggest a direct application for our time, given the context of the book of Jude. Is the church divided today on matters of sexual purity and acceptance and embrace of the LGBTQ plus agenda? Unfortunately, yes. Are people angry enough to express hatred in their hearts and in their speech toward one another over this issue? Absolutely. In fact, the vitriol is as hot as molten lava. And in Matthew 5, 21 through 22, Jesus equates hatred of a brother or sister with murder, right? He says, You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not murder and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment. But I say to you, whoever is angry without cause with his brother or sister shall be in danger of the judgment. So anger, angry without cause, because Cain's beef wasn't really with his brother. Well, it was with God, as the prophet Samuel declared, Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice and to heed, to listen and obey than the fat of rams. So God takes more delight in our obedience than he does in our offerings. And I think that was clearly depicted with Abel's anger that resulted in murder, or excuse me, Cain's anger, which resulted in the murder of his brother. In contrast, today's church embraces and teaches Burger King theology. Have it your way, right? And if you've seen the newer, I mean, that that slogan has been around as long as I've been, I think. But the new commercials have changed slightly. Have you noticed that at the end they tag it with, they not only say have it your way, but they punctuate it with the phrase, you rule, you rule. And so that elevates it to another degree. Everyone does that, which is right in his own eyes. And so the way of Cain is one of the roots of rebellion and apostasy. Next, Jude says that some ran greedily after the heir of Balaam for reward. Of course, this is one of the more unique and unusual accounts in scripture found in Numbers 22 through 25 and chapter 31 also. It's a familiar story, so we won't cover it in detail. But as many of you know, Balaam was the prophet of God whom King Balak of Moab sought to bribe and bring a curse upon Israel. Of course, Balaam knew this was wrong, but his lust for riches and prestige were so great it caused him to defy God. In Numbers 22, 34, he said to God, I have sinned now, therefore, if it displeases you, I will turn back. But he didn't turn back, he continued on, refusing to see that when God says no, we must take it as a no. In the end, God gave Balaam what his sinful heart desired. So can we draw an application from that example today, again, in the context of Jude? Absolutely. I'll submit that the LGBT plus agenda in the church is a powerful parallel. They're pushing forward, completely ignoring the clear teachings of scripture. Again, out of Romans 1, God is giving this generation up to uncleanness and the lust of their hearts to dishonor their bodies among themselves because they've exchanged the truth of God for a lie. Paul points out in verse 32 of Romans 1, knowing the righteous judgment of God that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. As I think I mentioned last week, there are so many headlines coming out every week, more troubling information about churches in entire denominations, much of it in the Southern Baptist denomination, that are now several churches, megachurches are not only baptizing homosexuals, but they are bringing them into leadership over kids clubs, children's camps, and they are in turn baptizing. And meanwhile, on social media, they are proudly declaring that they're married to their husband, a man is married to his husband. So we see a striking parallel to the account of Balaam. In the end, he prophesied over Israel, but he then advised Balaam on how to bring Israel under a curse by leading God's people into fornication and adultery, exactly what these false teachers are doing in churches today. We also see that they're running greedily for reward. That would certainly describe many of the ministers in the so-called prosperity gospel movement. And second, excuse me, 1st Timothy 6-7, Paul rebukes these false teachers, calling them useless wranglings, useless wranglings of men, of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. What does Paul say? From such people as that, withdraw yourself. Right. Mark them and avoid them because they teach not sound doctrine. Next here in Jude, we see a third category of apostates in verse 11. And these are those who perished in the gainsaying of Korah. Again, a fascinating account. The word gainsaying is archaic, but it simply means opposition or rebellion. It's creating a faction. It's similar to mutiny. All right. This mutiny wasn't on the bounty, but it was mutiny against Moses and against God's appointed authority. This account is found in number 16. Korah incited 250 other men of Israel, men of renown, to rise up against Moses and Aaron to demand their equal rights to oversee worship. Wow, does that ring any bells for today? In number 16, three, we read, they gathered together against Moses and Aaron and said to them, you take too much upon yourselves for all the congregation is holy. Every one of them and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord? Who's exalting who exactly? So when Korah said this, Moses fell on his face, knowing that the judgment of God would soon come. And it did. As Keith Green so eloquently commemorated, the ground opened up and had some of them for lunch. And as Korah's supporters fled in fear, fire also fell from heaven and consumed them as well. So the issue here is that Korah and his followers resented the authority God gave to Moses and Aaron, and they rejected God's appointed mediator, and they were ready to come to blows because they were simply not obedient to the word of God. And so, as Jude describes here, certain men, when certain men reject authority and they speak evil against dignitaries, they're walking in the rebellion of Korah. Is there still such a rebellion today? Without a doubt. And it's increasing at an exponential rate, even in the professing evangelical church. This is called the apostasy, as first Peter 417 declares, for the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God. And if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? In verse 12 of Jude, we see that these men are spots in your feasts of charity, the kind of like the potluck suppers, the love dinners. When everyone brought food to share, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear, clouds, they are without water carried about of winds, trees whose fruit withers without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots. What a description. So when these men came to the feasts of the church, they basically served themselves, they were there to get everything they needed and wanted and had no regard for anyone else in the meeting. And many of the believers at that time who were slaves that came to Christ, this would have been their only decent meal all week long. And so they were literally stealing food out of the mouths of these other believers without care or concern. In like manner, Paul warns of false teachers who do not serve the Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. And here in Jude, these men are called clouds without water, carried about of winds. And of course, clouds without water are good for nothing. They bring no life giving rain and they only block out the sun, says one commentator. But these clouds are carried about of winds which cause believers to go astray, as Paul exhorts in Ephesians 414, that we speaking to the church be no more children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the slight of men and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive. It's amazing to me how many people fail to recognize that so much of what is broadcast today, so much of what is taught today, so much of the material and bestselling books by megachurch pastors is falsehood, is lies, is deception. One of the examples I've mentioned in the past, these are books like Jesus Calling, right, by Sarah Young. And I've mentioned The Shack, which ironically is published by windblown media. You know, the devil has a sense of humor, doesn't he, as he tosses the church to and fro on every wind of doctrine, false doctrine. So these are trees whose fruit withers. They are without fruit. They're twice dead. They're plucked up by the roots. So that tree is dead, dead, dead, kind of like some of the things in our garden. It would seem that these men are like trees that didn't bear fruit for two seasons. You know, one might have a bad year and the tree withers and and you think, well, it might come back, you know, the next time it rains or the next season. So two seasons in a row, they're gone, they're yanked out by the roots. And we know what happens to these trees, as Jesus warned in Matthew three, verse 10. And even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So here we see a picture of the second death. What's the second death that comes after the first death or physical death? This is spiritual death, which is separation from God for all eternity. So it's fitting that Jude is placed as the doorstep to the book of Revelation. It's the only book that actually uses this phrase second death and it does it four times. Let's just go to the last dimension. Briefly, I'll read Revelation 21, verse eight. But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. So as the scriptures tell us, it's appointed unto man once to die and then the judgment. Where will you stand in the judgment? That's a question we all must answer. And encourage others to answer before it is their time. Verse 13 of the book of Jude. These are raging waves of the sea foaming out their own shame, wandering stars to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. And we've seen what that darkness is. But how many of you like seafoam candy? My wife loves seafoam candy. I'm trying to learn to enjoy it. There's one back there. I see that hand. I just don't have a taste for it, but maybe it's because of this verse. But growing up on the Oregon coast as a youngster and a teen, we would love to see a good winter storm, you know, the wind would whip and howl and the waves would roar and the rain would, would pour and flood the streets and we would, when I was 16 or 17, we would just find the most flooding we could and try to drive through it with our vehicles, not the brightest thing to do. One time I turned a corner, I thought it was a road and ended up in somebody's front yard, stuck overnight and had to call my dad to, for rescue the next day, but he wasn't too happy about it. I was driving his pickup truck. But these storms can cause some incredible seafoam. You've probably seen pictures of extreme weather. I've walked through a couple of feet of it on the beach before, but sometimes it'll fill entire streets to where you can't even see the cars. The thing about this foam, it's not very clean. It's kind of like Mr. Bubbles blew into town, but it's dirty, stinky, slimy foam. And I think it's quite a picture of the, these false teachers foaming out from their mouths. They rage, though they rage against righteousness like rabid dogs, their words have no substance, they fill the streets with filth, they are tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine, deceiving and being deceived. That's why here in verse 13, they're called wandering stars to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. So wandering star in astronomical terms is a visitor, quote unquote visitor. It doesn't have a fixed place in the night sky. In ancient times, there were no doubt some of these were a great mystery. You know, they didn't have telescopes. And so with unaided eye, they associated planetary objects with gods and with goddesses. But the Greek here for wandering is the word planetes from, of course, we get the word planet. It means a rover, a wanderer. And the word for star is the word from which we get aster or asterisk, you know, that shift eight character on your typewriter or your keyboard that nobody can pronounce. So they're wandering stars, they're roving stars. So figuratively, they are erratic teachers, right? They wander from the truth and they're not fixed. They have a course of their own. And there is no short supply of those teachers today, is there? So in antiquity, the planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn were all believed to be heavenly bodies that moved across the sky differently compared to the fixed stars and constellations. And so they became termed wandering stars. And of course, these were named after Greek and Roman deities. So it's appropriate here that Jude, inspired by the Holy Spirit, draws a parallel between wandering stars and false teachers, both of which are connected not only to false teachers and false worship, but to past and future judgments of the earth. Some believe that wandering stars could be explained or connected to comets and meteors. Comets and meteors, of course, are not part of God's originally created order and not part of his very good earth, because we're always thinking comets and meteors signal the apocalypse. And for good reason, the Book of Revelation indicates that stones will rain upon the earth in that period of judgment. So where did these comets and meteors come from? That's a quick, interesting aside, but as Dr. Walt Brown explains in his book that I've mentioned before, which I'm privileged to be working on, the ninth edition, but he explains that they originated from the judgment of the flood when the fountains of the great deep burst open, tearing a 46,000 mile scar around the earth that we observe in the middle of the oceans called the Mid-Oceanic Ridge. The fountains burst forth with such great force, erupting with the power of trillions of atomic bombs that it actually ejected rocks and water into space. So when you hear of proteins and biological elements found in some of these celestial objects, such as comets, which are dirty ice balls, it's because that material came from the earth. It didn't come from somewhere in outer space. They aren't being manufactured out there. They're actually disappearing. So evidence, again, for a young earth and evidence for the flood of Noah's time. But what goes up must come down, right? And so it's fascinating to me that Dr. Brown, in his book, has traced the periodicy, I can't pronounce that right, the date of origin from these comets and meteors, because they ejected in a similar plane, mathematically they can be traced back to a period of time when they most likely came from the earth, were ejected from the earth, and that is about 32 to 3300 B.C. And so that's fascinating to consider as a date for the flood of Noah's time. And wouldn't it be interesting if those rocks returned during the Great Tribulation, during the time of Jacob's trouble? And so it seems like there's a high likelihood that is a great possibility. In the beginning, in the beginning, yeah, we're working on version nine. All right, so all of these descriptions underscore the eternal consequences of rebellion against God, and these false teachers like false prophets have a reservation there, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. But eternal separation from God is not party town, is it? No, as Jesus describes it in Matthew 8, 11, and 12, it's a place of unimaginable terror and torture. And I say to you that many shall come from the east and west and shall sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, but the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. The phrase here, many shall sit down, refers to the Gentile believers from around the world, which was a revolutionary concept at that time, while children of the kingdom refers to unbelieving Jews. As Jesus explained in Matthew 13, 40 through 43, as therefore the terrors are gathered and burned in the fire, so shall it be at the end of the world. The son of man shall send forth his angels and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend and them which do iniquity and shall cast them into a furnace of fire. Thou shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their father who has ears here. Let him hear. So contrary to popular belief today in false teaching, Jesus had a lot to say about hell. It's real and it is eternal. Of course, this offends people who believe that a loving God would never send people to hell. But the reality is they send themselves. It's their choice. There isn't going to be anyone in heaven that didn't want to be there, right? Ezekiel 33, 11 says, say unto them, as I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked would turn from his way and live. He's crying out to Israel, turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel? So this might be a good place to interject. I alluded to the crazy week we had on our little island where we live, Anderson Island in the southern Puget Sound. Some dear saint, some believing Christian, took it upon themselves to send a form letter, a mass mailing to the zip code of Anderson Island. And there's between one and two thousand residents, depending on the time of year, probably 1,500 full timers now. And so it went to every address and it said, dear neighbor, and it was a love letter and it was written to in a very as a warning to repent and receive the Lord Jesus Christ. And it was it was written. There's not a scriptural problem with it, but people took offense. They took such great offense that the the wolves and the demons came out of the woodwork to attack this person on Facebook and decried that, well, they're anonymous and they're wasting postage. And the poor postman that has to deliver this rubbish and this trash and and just started a whole tirade of opposition against this loving neighbor who actually used ink to to sign all of these form letters, probably 1,500 of them. And sadly, even some from within the local church there and. Decided to join the opposition and say this is not the way the Lord would communicate the gospel. He's he's a loving he's a loving savior. He would never say these things in this way. Of course, again, I think they're reading from a different Bible or maybe they're not reading their Bible at all. Because clearly, Jesus warned and spoke of eternal damnation, eternal separation from God and in no uncertain terms. So it's very, very sad to see this, and we've been praying for how to respond. We've we've written some letters already. We're in the process of editing to those who appreciate your prayers because we're not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of salvation unto with our Lord Jesus Christ. And so we want to, again, exhort our neighbors. We also want to exhort the believers to not be ashamed of the gospel, but. The tide is turning against Christians. Are you ready to be persecuted? Many some of you experienced that already. Many believers are being forced out of positions of tenure and in their work, in their careers, in the military. And so these things must come. And Jesus spoke of these things coming, as did the other apostles. So put on our spiritual armor. So here we see in verse 14, a curious mention. Jude says that Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these saying, behold, the Lord comes with ten thousand, ten thousands of his saints. Praise God. There's a reference to the rapture. They come to execute judgment upon all the Lord does and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds, which they have ungodly committed and all of their hard speeches, which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. So these hard speeches, that's what we're seeing increasingly. So it's interesting that Enoch here is mentioned as the seventh from Adam on a biblical timeline. This puts Enoch living between 4400 and 4000 BC. So about a thousand years before the flood of Noah. But he was clearly a pre-tribber well ahead of his time. Seriously, it's fascinating to note that Enoch is actually a type of the rapture because he was caught up. It says Enoch walked with God and he was not, for God took him. So that means that that's just an indication that we as a church, as believers, as the body of Christ, do not have to fear the wrath of God and the tribulation. He's not appointed us unto his wrath, but to salvation. Praise God. So Enoch was caught up. We see that in Genesis 5, verse 24. So in like manner, the church is going to be caught up to be with the Lord prior to this judgment of God. When God will execute judgment upon all. But it can't be long, can it, church? As it was in the days of Noah. So in verse 16 of Jude, we see these are murmurs, complainers walking after their own lusts and their mouth speaks great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because, excuse me, because of advantage. So a murmur is one who discontentedly complains against God. You know any of those? We're probably guilty of murmuring at one time or another, too. A complainer is one who complains of one's lot. They're always the victim, playing the victim. They're querulous, they're discontented, they're petulant, sulky, whining, bad tempered. Yeah, I think we all know a few of those. Spurgeon wrote, quote, you know, the sort of people alluded to here. Nothing ever satisfies them. They are discontented even with the gospel. The bread of heaven must be cut into three pieces and served on dainty napkins or else they cannot eat it. Spoiled children, right? And again, that's the Burger King mentality. Have it your way because you rule. They're going to get a great awakening, aren't they? A rude awakening. So they speak great swelling words, that's flattery, and there's a parallel in 2 Peter 2, verse 18 and 19, for when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them, who live in error. While they promise them liberty, do what thou will, they themselves are slaves of corruption, for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. So today the church is being brought into bondage, isn't it, by these great swelling words, whether it's how to have your best life now, right? Or how it is that you can sow a seed and reap a thousandfold return if you send in your best offering now. But it's also a perfect picture of the so-called pride movement that is shipwrecking the faith and is literally undermining and destroying once sound Bible teaching denominations and churches. But these proud talkers also have men's persons in admiration. That means that literally the faces, the front of the human head, and you can't help but think of social media, all of the social media options, everybody's got to have their face in it. The me generation, the YouTube generation, the my space, my face generation, culture used to idolize pop stars, but now everyone wants to be one. So because of advantage, obviously they're making profit, they're monetizing their videos, they want to create a following, they're drawing away disciples after themselves. And these men loved money and they used people rather than loving people and using money. So again there are parallels in Jude to 2 Peter 2, which identifies these murmurs as false teachers and false prophets. In 2 Peter 2, 1 and 3, we read, but there were false prophets among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you who privily or secretly shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them and bring upon themselves swift destruction, and many shall follow their pernicious ways by reason of whom the truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness, they shall with feigned words, false words, make merchandise of you, all right, whose judgment now of a long time lingers not and their damnation slumbers not. So judgment day is coming. For the time has come that judgment must begin where? At the house of God. Exciting times, church. Verse 17 of Jude says, but beloved, remember you the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, how they told you that there should be mockers in the last time who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. But you, beloved, remember, all right, we're to be different, aren't we? We're to be called out, we're to be separated, we're to be consecrated. We're to remember what Jesus and the apostles said, which were spoken of by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. The word of God is always the answer to dangers in or out of the church. But we see every day now that there should be mockers in the last time. All right, we've we've taught in before that some of these mockers are in the church, they're denying the rapture. Where is the promise of his coming for all things continue as they were from the beginning, right? This is Christian uniformitarianism. Or which is similar to evolutionary and geologic uniformitarianism, right? The past is the key to the present. All things continue as they have since the beginning. Of course, that isn't the case, is it? The earth had a supernatural origin. It had a catastrophic judgment by flood. There's a future catastrophic judgment by fire. And so it is high time that the church should awake and arise. So here Jude could have had by those who mock the idea of Jesus' return. Or he may mean the kind of men who mock those who don't go along the same path of destruction. That they travel on. I think both are probably true in our time. This is another of the many parallels between Jude's epistle and those of Peter. In 2nd Peter 3, 3 through 4, we read, knowing this first that there shall come in the last day scoffers. Doing what? Walking after their own lusts. And saying, where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, the prophets of old, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation. So it would seem that these last days mockers are spiritual and religious people who are sadly embracing the false doctrines of evolution. And sadly, the majority, vast majority of churches and seminaries actually teach evolution, which is a denial of the account of creation in God's word. And really is a root, it's a root of most, if not all modern problems. If a pastor or minister can't get Genesis right, they're not going to get the rest of the scriptures right. So in verse 19 of Jude, we see, these be they who separate themselves, they're sensual, not having the spirit. So this refers to those who have divorced themselves from the truth of God's holy word. As 1st John 2, 19 explains, they went out from us because they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us. But they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. So these are false factions in the church. Men drawing away disciples after themselves. They're sensual. These are the new pseudo-Christian Pharisees who mock the righteous children of God. They are lovers of self. They're carnal. They're fleshly. They're indulging the senses. They're hedonists. Not having a spirit. Sadly, this could be said of many Christian churches today, organizations and individuals. Ichabod, the glory has departed. As the Lord laments in Isaiah 29, 13, inasmuch as these people draw near to me with their mouths and honor me with their lips, but they have removed their hearts far from me and their fear toward me is taught by the commandments of men. And so it is today, isn't it? Paul prophesied of our times in 2nd Timothy 3, 1 through 5. But know this, that in the last days, perilous times will come. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanders, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form, a form of godliness, but denying its power. And from such people turn away, turn away. Sadly, many are drawn to these types increasingly, but Bible-believing Christians are to turn away. In verse 20, Jude offers this exhortation, but you, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, prayed in the Holy Ghost. One commentator writes, this means that we're responsible for our own spiritual growth. It means that we cannot wait for spiritual growth to just happen or expect others to make us grow. As one person has asked, how many psychologists does it take to change a light bulb? Did I get that right? Just one, but he has to be willing to change. All right, so how do we do this? Well, we've got to be washed in the water of the word. How often do we need a bath? How often do we take a shower? At least once a week, right? Whether we need it or not. No, we wash our hands and our faces every day. How much more do we need to be bathed in God's holy word, which is how we are transformed by the renewing of our mind. Give us this day our daily bread. But sadly, most Christians only come for a 20-minute snack once a week and then return to their regularly scheduled programming. Not this church, of course. Rick always brings a full course meal every week, so praise God for that. But furthermore, we can't just be unengaged, spoiled students who show up for class because they have to. We've got to put our faith into daily practice, don't we? As James 1.22-25 exhorts, But be doers of the word, not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror. For he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he is or was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, there's the key, is not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work. Thus one will be blessed in what he does. Amen. So Jude also says that we should build ourselves up on our most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. Does that mean we all need to speak in tongues? Some believe so, but not necessarily, as the Apostle Paul makes clear not every believer is given this gift. And yet, here in Ephesians 6.18, he exhorts all believers to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. All kinds. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all of the Lord's people. So we're to pray without ceasing, aren't we? How do we do that? We can't close our eyes while we're driving, obviously. Does it mean we need to be on our knees continually? Um, whatever posture, whatever time, we still have open access to God through his Son, by the Spirit. Many times we pray, we wonder if God hears us. But Paul gives us this assurance in Romans 8.27-28. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God. So the point is, we just have to orient our hearts in the right direction and the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. Isn't that marvelous? Isn't that wonderful? So it's just the attitude of our hearts always turn toward God. Verse 21 in Jude. Are we at Rick Speed yet? Right. All right. Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Wow. That's an amazing statement. As Titus 2.13 puts it, looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ. Wow. As one pastor I know likes to say, there's not one difficulty, there's not one problem I have in life that the rapture wouldn't solve. How about you? But how many in the church today are watching? And how many professing Christians can give a reason of the hope that lies within them? Sadly, the church is asleep in the light, isn't it? As Keith Green once sang, can't you see, can't you see all the people sinking down? Don't you care? Don't you care? Are you going to let them drown? How can you be so numb not to care if they come? You just close your eyes and pretend the job's done. As Jesus declared, the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. I hope the harvest is plentiful, but it's getting increasingly difficult to to work in the fields. But there is a reward if we're faithful to do that, because as Jude says here in verse 22, 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. There's a picture of a fireman, a rescuer rushing into a burning building, right? You're going to save someone. They might get angry with you for banging on the door in the middle of the night, but you're pulling them out of the fire because you have compassion and you were fearful for their lives. And they should, once they know there's a fire, they should also be afraid. But on some have compassion. So Jude begins here to tell us we must do with those who have been influenced by these certain men, and we need to make a distinction based on where they're coming from. So we need to use wisdom and a different approach with different manners in different individuals. So we are sensitive to the Holy Spirit, and then we can know when we should comfort and when we should rebuke. We should always speak the truth in love, right? The trouble is the majority of believers today are unable to receive correction. And perhaps that's why so few are willing to confront sin by speaking the truth in love. Others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. It is an act of obedience when we share the gospel. It's also laying down our life for the sake of another. It's taking up a cross and following Christ, partaking in his sufferings. Others save with fear. So I love what the great evangelist Ray Comfort teaches in his Way of the Master program. He says, Lot of the proud, grace to the humble. And so if any of you are needing hints or tips on how to share the gospel, how to evangelize, I definitely recommend checking out Ray Comfort's Way of the Master. Lots of materials, lots of programs. He typically goes out every Saturday faithfully on Huntington Beach, down where Pastor Rick is, and preaches the gospel. So a great, great ministry and great, great resource. In verse 24 of Jude, we see, 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. So it's not within our human ability to present ourselves faultless, is it? No, try as we may, we can never clean ourselves up. As Paul wrote in Philippians 1.6, Being confident of this very thing, that he which has begun a good work in you will perform it under the day of Jesus Christ. So that's why we have trials in life, isn't it? And it shapes us. It's an escort to Christ. It causes us to turn to our creator and cry out to him to minister to us and to strengthen us. As one writer observes, In mountain climbing, the beginning hiker attaches himself to the expert, so that if he loses his footing, he won't stumble and fall to his death. In the same manner, if we keep connected with God, we cannot fall. He keeps us safe. So Jude began the letter by addressing those who are preserved in Jesus. Then he exhorted Christians to avoid dangerous men and to keep themselves in the love of God. Here at the end, he concluded with the recognition that it is ultimately God who keeps us from stumbling and falling. Isn't that wonderful? Paul put the same idea in Philippians 2.12 and 13. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for his good pleasure. Amen. In verse 25, Jude says, To the only wise God, our savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen. So Jude closes his singular epistle with this beautiful and well-known doxology. And it shows that when we acknowledge and declare the truth about God, it glorifies him. We're not giving God more majesty and more glory. We can't add to that. We're just recognizing it and declaring it. We ascribe it. We proclaim it. We publish with the voice of thanksgiving and tell of all his wondrous works. As Jesus declared to the Pharisees in Luke 19.40, I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out. Isn't that something? Well, church, the body of Christ, it's built with living stones. But the question for today is this. Are you keeping silent or are you crying out? Are you earnestly contending for the faith which was once delivered to the saints? I'd like to close with an article that's fitting for our time. As we see our nation sinking down, as we see the world sinking down, we can't bail it out. We can't patch a hole in it. And so I've often compared it to a sinking ship. We're not going to rearrange the deck chairs. We're not going to try to make it a more comfortable place for people to be. We're going to get them into lifeboats, aren't we? And so here's an account called Unlikely Hero by Paul Wilkinson of a pastor named John Harper. He was a Baptist minister from Glasgow, Scotland. He had spent three months ministering at Moody Church in Chicago, during which time the church had experienced one of the most wonderful revivals in history. He had not been back to Britain long, though, when he was asked to return and continue his ministry. Harper quickly made arrangements for himself and a six-year-old daughter, Nana, to travel back to America on board the Lusitania. But he decided to delay their departure for one week so they could sail on a brand new ship which was about to make its maiden voyage, the Titanic. Well, the Titanic struck an iceberg at 1140 p.m. April 14, 1912. As the call was issued for passengers to vacate their cabins, Harper wrapped his daughter in a blanket, told her that she would see him again one day, and passed her to one of the crewmen. After watching her safely board one of the lifeboats, he removed his life jacket and gave it to one of the other passengers. One survivor distinctly remembered hearing him shout, "'Women! Children! And the unsaved! Into the lifeboats!' Harper then ran along the decks, pleading with people to turn to Christ. And with the ship sinking, he called upon the Titanic's orchestra to play, "'Nearer, my God, to thee!' Gathering people around him on the deck, he then knelt down and with holy joy in his face raised his arms in prayer. As the ship began to lurch, he jumped into the icy waters and swam frantically to all he could reach, beseeching them to turn to the Lord Jesus and be saved." Finally, as hypothermia set in, John Harper sank beneath the waters and passed into the Lord's presence. He was thirty-nine. Four years later, a young Scotsman by the name of Aguila Webb stood up in a meeting in Hamilton, Canada, and gave the following testimony. I am a survivor of thy Titanic. When I was drifting alone on a spar that awful night, the tide brought Mr. John Harper of Glasgow, also on a piece of the wreck, near me. "'Man,' he said, "'are you saved?' "'No,' I said, 'I am not.' He replied, "'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.' The waves bore him away. But, strange to say, brought him back a while later, and he said, "'Are you saved now?' "'No,' I said, "'I cannot honestly say that I am.' He said again, "'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.' Shortly after that, he went down. And there, alone, in the night, and with two miles of water under me, I believed." I am John Harper's last convert. In a tribute to Harper, which was published in 1912 under the heading The Three Themes of a Hero, William Andrew of Glasgow noted that the three themes of John Harper's preaching had been the cross of Christ, God's marvelous grace to man, and the soon coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is coming soon. Amen. Can you see, can you see the people sinking down? At this time, I would like to invite, if we're prepared to distribute communion at this time, the beautiful thing about today is that none of the events are catching God off guard, are they? No, in fact, they all feed into his purpose and his plan. Thank you. The Father turns his face away, as wounds which mar the chosen one, Bring them, ye sons, to glory. Behold him there upon the cross, My guilt upon his shoulders. Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice. Cry out among the scoffers. It was my sin that held him there, Until it was accomplished. His dying breath has brought me life. I know that it is finished. I will not boast in anything, No gifts, no power, no wisdom. But I will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection. Why should I gain from his reward? I cannot give an answer. But this I know with all my heart. Your wounds have paid my ransom. Why should I gain from your reward? I cannot give an answer. But this I know with all my heart. Your wounds have paid my ransom. But this I know with all my heart. Your wounds have paid my ransom. Praise God. If you're here with us today and we're listening online, if you've never confessed your sin before God, if you've never asked the creator of heaven and earth who gave you life to forgive your sin and to cleanse you of all unrighteousness, that you might be born again to receive eternal life, invite you to do so today, right here, right now. Don't put it off. Don't try to clean yourself up. We can't make ourselves presentable to God. It's not possible. Ephesians 2, 8 and 9 declares, For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. So we can't earn our salvation. We can't pay our own debt. We can't climb into heaven on our own merit. You must be born again spiritually to enter the kingdom of God. Only the shed blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ, by his death on the cross, can make us whole again. In John chapter 6, Jesus declared to the Jews, I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eat of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I shall give is my flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world. The Jews therefore quarreled among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Jesus said to them, Most assuredly, I say to you, Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. So these are beautiful words, but they've caused confusion and controversy among the Jews, and they continue to cause confusion today among some. In particular, the Roman Catholic Church takes them literally, teaching that the bread mystically becomes the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus, a process they call transubstantiation. Of course, this would be cannibalism if it were true and would require Jesus to be in a perpetual state of immolation, in a constant state of crucifixion, which is contrary to the word of God, which declares that Jesus died once for all when he offered himself up. There's only one sacrifice for sins forever. And so we recognize that these elements, the unleavened bread and the juice of the vine, are symbols of Jesus' sacrifice, which is the propitiation or the payment for our sin. So Jesus does not have to keep on continuing to pay for our sin. He's not in a perpetual state of sacrifice. In John 19, 30, he declared on the cross, it is finished, which means paid in full. He paid our fine. We broke the laws of God. He paid our fine. All we have to do is acknowledge that we've missed the mark. We've all come up short. We can never pay for our own sins. And we accept the free gift of God, which is salvation. So if this is what you believe in your heart, in your mind, and have confessed with your mouth, you're welcome to partake and do this in remembrance of our Lord. Father, we thank you for these precious promises. And Lord, that while we were at sinners, Christ died for us. He gave us the gift of your only begotten son, that we might be redeemed. So we thank you for this bread. Ask you to bless it and strengthen our faith. In Christ's name we ask. Amen. Let's eat. So the cup or the wine is the fruit of the vine. It's another symbol that represents the blood of Jesus as the sacrifice of the spotless lamb who takes away the sins of the world. In Matthew 26, 26 through 29, we read that he, Jesus, took the cup and he gave thanks. And gave it to them, saying, drink ye all of it. For this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my father's kingdom. What a glorious day that will be when we dine with Jesus at the marriage supper of the lamb. Lord, we look for your kingdom. You asked us to pray thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Father, and so we thank you for this, the symbol of this cup. We ask, Lord, that you would continue to refresh us with the knowledge of salvation. That we might be stronger and better ambassadors for Christ. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem. We pray for the Prince of Peace, Father, to return for his bride. And then we look forward to drinking the fruit of the vine with you. God, we're so grateful. We're so thankful that you pay the price we can never pay. And that when we confess our sins, you're faithful and just to forgive us our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. In your son's name we pray, amen. Let's partake. Well, church, it's been a real blessing to be with you these past two weeks. I really mean that. Shelly and I so much enjoy the fellowship. We thank you for your devotion to God's word, your dedication to the ministry here at the Calvary Chapel Bremerton. And Pastor Rick returns next week. So keep him and his wife up in your prayers. We're so glad that they could get away for a time of refreshment, celebrate their anniversary, attend a high school reunion, and to be rejuvenated and refreshed. So we look forward to them being back home. And may God richly bless you this week as you earnestly contend for the faith. God bless you all.