Jude 1:2 Mercy unto you, and peace and love, be multiplied.

Jude 1:3 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 ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

Jude 1:4 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.

Jude 1:5 I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.

Jude 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

Jude 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities 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.

Jude 1:8 Likewise also these [filthy] dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

Jude 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

Jude 1:10 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.

Jude 1:11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

Jude 1:12 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;

A. v:6-And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

Commentary: Author of this book is unknown, but it is dealing with a couple of things I want to bring out this morning. One is the warning against false christians and leaders v:4. The second is the condition of your relationship with God. I believe this book in the bible is talking directly to the Church and is very accurate of the Church today. Evidently the church had some that were part of the church, they perticipated in the daily rituals and sacrifices but they like the fallen angels had left behind there first estate.

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if [it were] not [so], I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, [there] ye may be also.

a. I want to talk to you today, the Church about what I feel to be the most important issue in the Church today.

b. The question I want each person to ask themselves this morning is how is your relationship to Jesus Christ? and does it line up with the new testament church and the bible.

c. We can not judge ourselves buy ourselves but must judge ourselves by the word of God.

d. Lets look at Jude this morning and see what was going on.

a. v:4 says turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

1. Lasciviousness= lust, carnality, wantonness

2. We have taken God and made him a santa claus for our own worldly lusts and wants.

3. We pray about houses, and cars, and jobs, but how much time do you spend praying about souls and healings, and the church or the pastor or your brothers and sisters in the Lord.

4. v:4 talks about the leaders that would come and preach a prosperity gospel a gospel of material and bliss. And the church has followed them.

5. Serving God is a battle its long and its hard and the devil is attaching on every side but it is a battle worth fighting. Just like for democracy, what if America said yes we want democracy but we won't die for it. We would be living in communism today.

6. There is always a sacrifice for something worth having.

7. The Church today is just like v:4 says we have turned to our own lusts.

8. Ask yourself today were is your priority in life is it in the Church in prayer meetings, witnessing to the lost, reading your bible, studying and preparing for your ministry, helping other people, being faithful to God and the Church in your time and also your money.

9. Or are you just to busy to go to Church, to busy to pray, to busy to read your bible, to busy to witness, to busy to help others, to busy to spend time in the Church in ministry, or to selfish like anninas and sefira to give God what is his.

10. However you answer that question will give you your answer.

b. Lets pay close attention to v:5, it is a warning on what will happen to the church when it falls into the practices of v:4.

1. He says here I will put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this,

2. Remember how you once were on fire for Jesus ready to do anything for Jesus or the Church. You had a burning desire to serve God.

3. This is what v:5 is talking about it is something we all once knew but forgot.

4. He goes ahead and talks about loosing your estate in v:5, he says "how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not".

5. v:7 is a continuation of the warning about Sodom and Gomorrha, v:7-Jude 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities 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.

A. John 1:1-7 knowing of Him but not really knowing him.

John-1 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

John-1 1:2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen [it], and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

John-1 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship [is] with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

John-1 1:4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

John-1 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

John-1 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

John-1 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

b. Notice here it is not saying they didn't know him on the contrary they did know him very well but still choose to walk in darkness.

c. There are churches full of people with head knowledge about Jesus, why they can usually answer questions about God a lot of times better than the ones that have a real relationship with Jesus. I think its because they have studied the scriptures to justify their sin.

d. Jesus spoke about this in his word he said we must have a heart knowledge not a head knowledge.

e. Are we walking in darkness (sin) maybe those little areas in our lives that only we know about, it doesn't seem that much, but to God it is darkness.

v:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

v:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

v:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

1. What did God think when his people failed to carry out the 10 commandments in the old testament or the law in reference to sacrifice. Did God just wink at there disobedience.

2. We seem to think that since we are living in the period of grace that the commandments we don't follow is no big deal. But to God it is disobedience.

3. If we are not following the commandments the bible has given us we have lost our estate with God because we don't really know him.

4. This means keeping the Word of God in every area.

5. Paul put it like this-Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

Hebrews 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

Hebrews 6:3 And this will we do, if God permit.

Hebrews 6:4 For [it is] impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

Hebrews 6:5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

Hebrews 6:6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put [him] to an open shame.

Hebrews 6:7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:

Hebrews 6:8 But that which beareth thorns and briers [is] rejected, and [is] nigh unto cursing; whose end [is] to be burned.

a. See it is very possible to loose your first estate just like the angels did even more proof of this is found in the following scripture for those who think they are once saved always saved.

Hebrews 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end;

Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

Hebrews 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

Hebrews 10:28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

Hebrews 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

Peter-2 2:20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

Peter-2 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known [it], to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

Peter-2 2:22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog [is] turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Ezekiel 3:20 Again, When a righteous [man] doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

a. In Jude verse 12 it talks about those that are among us who are spots in our feasts.

b. In the old testament God was saying these people that had lost there estate were carrying on like nothing ever happened. They were taking part in sacrifices and feasts like everything was ok but it wasn't and God wasn't very pleased with it.

c. We need to check ourselves and take a good look in a spiritual mirror at ourselves. And them ask ourselves are we living in darkness, following Gods commandments, serving the Lord with all of our hearts?

d. It doesn't matter if you feel ok coming to Gods house or not possibly your conscience has been hardened along with your heart like these men.

e. Does your life have fruit in it or are you like these men in verse12 clouds without water, trees without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots.

f. Have you taken a good look at your roots lately are they still buried in the furtile ground of Jesus Christ.

a. Jude verse 12 speaks about these men not having any Godly fear anymore.

b. Do you even fear God any more or does it not even bother you to live in darkness or be spiritually lazy or dead.

c. If the answer is yes then you probably have lost your estate.

a. You can find your estate again if your in this situation.

b. Remember the prodigal son that lost every thing even his very soul to this world.

c. The bible brings out in this story the key to finding your estate in Luke 15:

Luke 15:16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

Luke 15:17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

Luke 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

Luke 15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

Luke 15:20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

Luke 15:21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

Luke 15:22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put [it] on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on [his] feet:

Luke 15:23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill [it]; and let us eat, and be merry:

Luke 15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

d. And when he had came to himself is the key to getting back to your estate.

e. You must realise you have lost what you once had then you must go to the next step.

1. Luke 15:18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

Luke 15:19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

f. Jesus is always their waiting on you to return like the prodigal sons father waiting to take you back if that is your hearts desire.