The Daily Word of Righteousness

Jude, #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 1:7)

We are going to experience much suffering in America. If you want to save yourself and your household, pray much, and ask God to lead you in iron righteousness, fiery holiness, and stern obedience to the Father.

Do not put your trust in a "rapture" to save you. The millions of Christians who have suffered throughout the Church Era were not delivered by a rapture, and neither shall we be. Rather, prepare yourself for the dark days that lie ahead.

We are no different from Sodom and Gomorrha. Why should God spare us Americans? Are we His pets?

Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities. 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. 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 1:8-10)

We are too big for our britches these days. We are going around rebuking demons, sometimes Satan himself. We do not know what we are doing.

Find one verse in the Epistles that advises Christians to rebuke the devil.

The Bible tells us to submit to God and resist the devil. But we Christians would rather engage in our little sins, our flirtations, and then come to church and rebuke the devil.

We should not be rebuking the devil unless we are hearing from Christ that this is what we should do in this particular circumstance.

The Book of Jude does not advise us to bring slanderous accusations against celestial beings.

I used to hear the children in Sunday School sing "If the devil's in the way we'll run right over him." I cringed when I heard this.

It sure is a good thing that God is patient with us.

In the years to come we are going to see manifestations of Satan we never thought would be present on the earth. We are not to be afraid of Satan or any fallen angel. Christ is greater than all. But neither are we to be continually challenging Satan to a fight. He loves this kind of attention and soon outwits us.

We have not been called to attack Satan. We are to put on the whole armor of God and stand our ground. We can pray that God will bind the powers of darkness, this certainly is scriptural. But remember: Only Jesus has the authority and power to confront Satan and his followers. We should look to Christ humbly before we take it on ourselves to go about rebuking and confronting the dignitaries that fell because they were doing many of the things present-day Christians are doing.

Well, you do what you will. But I think this is what Jude is warning us about.

To be continued.