Trusting Leaders

This summer in the Encourager, we have been letting one of Jesus' younger brothers, Jude, disciple us. God wanted to prepare the church to be aware that certain people will seek to infiltrate the leadership of the church to change the message of Jesus Christ. The big question is how do we know who these people are? How will we recognize them?

God gave Jude three descriptions to look for in the following passage. “Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.” ‭Jude‬ ‭1:3-4‬

1. "They are ungodly people." 
God is describing their Character.

2. "Who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality." 
God is describing their Conduct.

3. They "deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord."
God is describing their Creed.

Three powerful descriptions for us to ponder and evaluate.

Does anyone set out to fully adopt these three descriptions as their mission in life? Maybe some. Maybe there are others who slowly drift away from Jesus and slip into one of these. Maybe they let the busyness of life unknowingly draw them away from closeness with Jesus. Maybe some let cultural values slip in and change their thinking and slowly erode their Christian convictions and values.
Maybe it's a good idea for all of us to evaluate our own lives and see if any of these descriptions have infiltrated our heart or mind. If so, Jesus loves for us to ask Him for help, for forgiveness, for changing our character, thinking and behavior. Ask Jesus to be our one and only Sovereign Lord.

Seeking to always be like Jude, a bond servant of Jesus Christ,
Pastor Chris