UFC - ULTIMATE FAITH CHALLENGE

UFC - THE ULTIMATE FAITH CHALLENGE

Restoration Fellowship, May 5, 2019

CONNECTION

In the midst of World War II with tensions running high

Off the eastern seaboard one dark and foggy night,

A captain sighted out ahead just off the starboard side

The beacon of another ship, the two would soon collide.

“Adjust your course 10 degrees to the north” he radioed ahead

And much to his amazement the ship replied instead.

“Adjust your course 10 degrees to the south”, the captain felt a chill.

His eyes grow cold and narrow as the two grew closer still.

"I’m the captain of this vessel and this is a command;

Adjust your course 10 degrees to the north or receive a reprimand"!

Again, the voice replying was calm and smooth as glass,

"Adjust your course 10 degrees the south, I’m a seaman second class".

“I’m a U.S. naval destroyer” snapped the captain with a shout;

"Now adjust the course 10 degrees, no discussion, over and out"!

They drew unnervingly closer; his eyes fixed on the light.

This time the voice ripped through the air like lightning tears the night;

I am the lighthouse, what you do is up to you!

Although this anecdote is probably fiction, the application rings true.

TENSION The game of life is changing around us today. Some of the changes may be for the better; but many are not. People have decided that the things the Bible teaches are outmoded and irrelevant. What the church believed the Bible taught is either misinterpreted or has evolved to match the contemporary culture.

The problem with this is that there is no clarion call that sounds from the rocks of destruction to warn the traveling pilgrims that danger is near. There is not a clear line of demarcation between light and darkness, right and wrong, sin and holiness.

The light from the lighthouse is being disregarded by arrogant believers who sincerely think they are right, but soon will be in the rocky shores of disappointment, broken to pieces by their well intentioned but misguided choices.

SOLUTION What we are observing is not new. Just a few years after the church was birthed at Pentecost there were already problems. The epistles were written to correct many of these issues. One such book was the book of Jude. It is just one chapter, but full of practical warnings and instructions.

INSTRUCTION Jude was one of Jesus’s brothers. Along with his brother James, they became believers soon after the Resurrection and quickly rose to leadership in the early church. James became the pastor of the church at Jerusalem and and wrote the book of James. Paul recorded that Jude and his wife were traveling missionaries.

Jude penned this pastoral letter to warn young Christians that false teachers were going about wrecking havoc.

I have a similar purpose this morning. As your pastor, I would love to speak about some felt need that we all feel, I am burdened to warn you that there are dangerous teachings getting mainstream attention. I want to teach you how to recognize them and how to prepare yourself to meet their challenges.

You may ask why? Three basic reasons:

First: Truth brings freedom! “What the world says will set you free will enslave you; what the world says will enslave you will set you free.”

John 8:31–32 (NLT) Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Second: Truth gives us a firm foundation to build our lives on!

Matthew 7:24–27 (NLT) Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

Third: The Lord Jesus Christ is the only foundation worth having.

1 Corinthians 3:11 (NLT) For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ.

PRAYER

Jude’s greeting

Jude 1:1–2 (NLT) This letter is from Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James. I am writing to all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more mercy, peace, and love.

We must defend the faith.

Jude 1:3 (NLT) Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people.

The word "defend" is only used here in the New Testament. It means to struggle intensely as in an athletic contest! We must train, fight, be ready to go into overtime to win the game!

There is a body of faith that has existed from the foundation of the church. It was delivered once for all and for all time. It has never changed and will never change.

Hebrews 13:8 (NLT) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Matthew 24:35 (NLT) “Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.”

1 Peter 1:24–25 (NLT) As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. But the word of the Lord remains forever.” And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.”

2 Peter 1:20–21 (NLT) Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet’s own understanding, or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.

Two characteristics of false teachers.

Jude 1:4 (NLT) I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

1.              They teach a moral flaw.

Here they are teaching license to sin. Because you are under grace, then sin doesn’t matter.

Romans 6:1–2 (NLT) Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?

This is also true of all cults, except there is also some form of sexual aberration. They may practice polygamy, pedophilia, homosexuality, forced abstinence, forbidding people to marry, and many others.

2.         They deny the deity of Christ.

1 Timothy 3:16 (NLT) Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith: Christ was revealed in a human body and vindicated by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and announced to the nations. He was believed in throughout the world and taken to heaven in glory.

1 John 2:22 (NLT) And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist.

They may not come right out and say it; they just do away with the attributes of His deity!

The issue is that false teachers deny Jesus His rightful place as Lord and Master. Remember that every debate about Jesus has a moral root. We will not have Jesus rule over us! We will not have God tell us what we can or cannot do with our bodies!

Romans 1:21–25 (NLT) Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools… They traded the truth about God for a lie…

APPLICATION How do we apply this?

1.              Does the teaching lead me closer to God and to a holy life?

Matthew 5:8 (NLT) God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.

Hebrews 12:14 (NLT) Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.

2.         Does the teaching lead me to honor Jesus more as my Lord or does it lead me to rule my own life?

John 3:30 (NLT) He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.

INSPIRATION Jude gives us some tools to help us in the fight.

Jude 20–21 (NLT) But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, ²¹ and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.

Jude 22–23 (NLT) And you must show mercy to those whose faith is wavering. ²³ Rescue others by snatching them from the flames of judgment. Show mercy to still others, but do so with great caution, hating the sins that contaminate their lives.

Eugene Peterson translates this as "Hate the sin but love the sinner"! The church has been quick to pronounce the judgment of God against moral travesty.  In my generation it was mono and hepatitis. Herpes was God's judgment on the sexual revolution. AIDS was God's wrath on homosexuality and IV drug users. Then, one of our loved ones was infected through no fault of their own. How did we feel then?

It keeps popping up. Just this week one of America's most popular Christian authors, Rachel Held Evans, passed away from natural causes at the age of 37.  Evans was one of the leading proponents of churches recognizing and being fully accepting and affirming of the LGBTQ community.  I agreed with little she had written.  I hate to admit it, but the thought crossed my mind that her early death was God's judgment on her for her stance. How horrible, how unmerciful of me.  I thought I had to defend God's integrity instead of weeping for her husband and her two young children. God help me.
The Bible says that "if we rejoice over the punishment of the wicked, God will turn their judgment on us!"

This is a great opportunity for the church! As people explore the options that license affords, they will find it doesn’t satisfy. When that reality sets in, a deep darkness and depression will settle in. That is our opportunity! We can light into that darkness and life into that depression. We can give them hope, peace, love, and joy!  Don’t gloat and say, “I told you so!” Weep with these that weep. Share the Gospel, the Good News with those who have become disillusioned with the empty promises of license and autonomy!

EPILOGUE Jude 24–25 (NLT) Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. ²⁵ All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.