I trust you are all fairing well. My last week was good also. It has been hot here, in the upper 90’s, and very wet. It was raining so hard when I got to church this morning, I nearly took it as a sign from the LORD to switch messages from Jude to Noah.
Yesterday was the day of our monthly fellowship dinners. It was Italian day at Friendship Harmony. Of all the ethnic foods, Italian is my favorite. Don’t get me wrong, I like Mexican, Chinese, and some French, but put Italian food in front of me, and I’m as happy as a flea at a dog show. I hope my readers in France take no offence, but I am not crazy about most French foods. I studied French and still use it from time to time, but I never acquired a taste for the food. Once in French class, we had the opportunity to see chocolate covered ants, but were told we could not taste them. That was fine with me! I’ve never looked at French vanilla ice cream with chocolate sprinkles quite the same. All I can see is those little critters crawling all over my bowl. I don’t know what the theme will be next month, but I’m rootin’ for a dessert supper. So far I keep getting vetoed, but I’ve got to keep trying. Whatever they choose, though, it will be good. Our ladies are some of the finest cooks around.
Yesterday’s service was awesome. The singing was good, and as always, a warm spirit of fellowship was enjoyed by all. I speak the truth when I tell you that if you are looking for a church where you will be welcomed and treated as if you have been there for years, Friendship Harmony is the place for you. That is why the name “Friendship Harmony” was chosen. We are all friends, and we have harmony, not dissention in our church. Even though we are all friends, our group is eager to make more, so come be with us and experience Friendship Harmony.
For those of you who are elsewhere, the dream of a Friendship Harmony video ministry is getting much closer to becoming a reality. Our video project is nearly ready to get started, and soon you will be able to experience Friendship Harmony where you are. If you have been planning to help with a love gift toward the video ministry, please send your offering soon. We want each of you to become part of this world wide outreach. Mark your check “video,” and send it to the church at 2296 Date Street, St. James City, Florida 33956.
Below are the notes from our continuing series from the Book of Jude. Once again, Jude quotes from the patriarch Enoch. Enoch is predicting the rapture and the reason for the tribulation: God’s judgment upon the ungodly. I hope the notes are of benefit to you.
A Warning From Enoch! ©
Jude v 14 - 16
Encouragement From Jude Series
8/7,8,10/12
By Victor W. Cooper
Intro: Jude now tells us that as far back as Enoch - before the flood, God promised to execute judgment on the ungodly. It would come through the coming of His Son, Jesus Christ!
I. Jesus is coming! V14
A. The unbelieving Jews who had rejected Jesus as Messiah, would see this as the first coming.
B. Jude, however, was not writing to the Jews, but to the Church, who was convinced that Jesus is the Christ, thereby making this the rapture.
1. Theologians agree that the holy ones that Jude wrote of is angels.
2. This would make sense since the tribulation IS God’s judgment upon the earth.
C. Picture this --- Jesus comes back in the air with ten thousands (note plural) of angels to rescue millions more; dead and living believers who will escape the judgment to come.
1 Thes. 1:10 / 1 Thes. 4:16-17
And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. (italics mine) [16] For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: [17] Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord…
D. Note “delivered” not “will deliver.” It’s already a done deal spiritually, and the physical will follow.
II. The ungodly remaining masses. V15
A. Ungodly times four. Question: Why did Jude use the same word four different times in the same sentence?
B. Answer: He didn’t. He used three different words.
Jude 1:15 (NLT) He will bring the people of the world to judgment. He will convict the ungodly of all the evil things they have done in rebellion and of all the insults that godless sinners have spoken against him.
C. Jude is here quoting the Book of Enoch 1:9.
1. Bible Knowledge Commentary Jude received the information about Enoch directly from God, or that under divine inspiration he recorded an oral tradition. None of these views affects the doctrine of inspiration adversely. If Jude quoted the apocryphal book, he was affirming only the truth of that prophecy and not endorsing the book in its entirety (cf. Paul’s quotation of the Cretan poet Epimenides, in Titus 1:12).
III. Jude describes their character so that believers can recognize the destructive ones. v16
They are:
A. grumblers.
B. discontented; blaming fate.
C. Jude 1:16 (NIV) These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.
Bible Knowledge Commentary Vocally discontented, sinfully self- centered, extravagantly egotistical, and deceptively flattering—such are ` apostates, then and today.
Conclusion: Matthew Henry Commentary:
These evil men and seducers are angry at every thing that happens, and never pleased with their own state and condition. Their will and their fancy, are their only rule and law. Those who please their sinful appetites, are most prone to yield to ungovernable passions. The men of God, from the beginning of the world, have declared the doom denounced on them. Such let us avoid. We are to follow men only as they follow Christ.
I hope you have a good upcoming week. Wherever you are, please add this preacher and Friendship Harmony to your prayers. We sure appreciate them. Also, if you ever have a prayer request for yourself or someone else, please send it to us. We’d love to join with you in prayer. Remember, whoever you are, no matter where you are, what concerns you concerns us. We’d love to hear from you. Praise reports over answered prayers are sure welcome too. Bye for now, and I’ll see you next Monday Morning With Pastor Vic.
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