JUDE This letter comes from Judas, Jude for short, one of the slaves bought by King Jesus and the brother of James you well know. It is addressed to those who have been called out of the world who are now love ones in the family of God the Father and who are being kept for presentation to King Jesus. May you have more and more of the mercy, peace and love you have already experienced?Loved ones I was fully intending to correspond with you about the wonderful salvation we share but found I have to write quite a different kind of letter. I must urge you to keep up the painful struggle for the preservation of the true faith which was passed on to the early church ones and for all. I’ve heard that certain persons who shall be nameless have sneaked in among you, godless men who’s sentenced for doomed long ago. They twist the free grace of God into an excuse for blatant immorality and they deny that King Jesus is our only master and Lord.Now I have to remind you some of those absolute truths which you already know perfectly well. Particularly that God is not someone to be trifled with. You will recall that the Lord bought the whole nation safely out of Egypt but the next time He intervened, they were all exterminated for not trusting Him. No were His angels any more exempt than His people. When some of them deserted their rank and abandoned their proper station, He took them into custody and He is keeping them permanently chained in the lowest and darkest dungeon until their trial on that great Day of Judgment. And in the same way, the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah together with those from two neighboring towns, gloated themselves with gross debauchery, craving for abnormal intercourse just as the angels had done. And the faith they suffered in the fire that burned for ages is a solemn warning to a soul.In spite of such example in history, these people who have wormed their way into your fellowship pollute their own bodies’ on exactly the same manner. They belittle divine authority and smear angels in glory. Yet even the chief of all angels, Michael whose very name means god like did not dare to accuse satan directly of blasphemy about arguing who owned the body of Moses. And he was content to leave accusations to God Himself and said simply, “the Lord rebuke you’. But these are men among you don’t hesitate to malign whatever they don’t understand and the only things they do understand will prove their undoing in the end for their knowledge of life comes only from their animal instincts like brute beast without any capacity for reason. Woebitide them, they’ve gone down the same road as Cain. They have rushed head long into the same mistake as Balaam and the same motivation, money. They come to the same end as Korah did in his rebellion.These people have the cheek to eat with you at your fellowship meal of love though they are only looking for pasture for themselves. Like submerged rocks, they could wreck everything. They are like clouds driven pass so hard by the wind that they give no rain. They are like uprooted trees in the autumn with neither leaves nor fruit, doubly dead. They are like wild waves of the sea stirring up the filthy foam of their own audios disgrace. They are like shooting stars falling out of orbit destined to disappear down a black hole forever.Enoch who lived only 7 generation after the first men, Adam, saw all these coming. He was refereeing to these very people when he made his prophetic announcement, “Look out, the Lord has arrived with ten thousand of His angels to put all human beings to trial and convict all godless people of all godless deeds they have committed in their godless lives. And of the heart sings these godless sinners have spoken against Him.These people are discontented grumblers, always complaining and finding faults. Their mouths of fall of big talks about themselves but they are not about flattering others when it is to their advantage. Now love ones you should have remembered what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said what would happen. They predicted that in final age they are abound to be those who post con on godliness, whose lives will only be governed by their own godless cravings. People like these can only create divisions among you since they only have their natural instincts to go by and they lack the guidance of the Spirit.As for you love ones, be sure to go on building yourselves up on the solid foundation of your most holy faith. Praying in the way of the spirit gives you. Stay in love with God, waiting patiently for the time when our Lord Jesus Christ in His sheer mercy will bring you into immortal living.As regards the others, here is my advice. To those who are still wavering, be specially kind and gentle. Those who’ve already been led into error must be snatched from the fire before they are badly burned. And those who had been thoroughly contaminated should be treated better than they deserve though you must never loss a healthy fear of being infected yourself even by their stained underwear. Let us just praise the one person who is able to keep you from stumbling and to make you stand upright in His glorious presence without any imperfection but with great jubilation. The only God there is and He is our savior too, through Jesus Christ or Lord. For to Him alone belongs all glory, all majesty, all power and all authority before history began, now in this present time, and for all ages to come. Two Main Themes:1.     To expose false teachers in the church2.     To encourage believers to contend earnestly for the faith and finish strongHow do false teachers promote corruption in the church? Corruptions in    1.  Creed    2. Conduct   3. Character  4. Conversation Contend for your faith by depending on God’s work (v.1-2, 24-25)1.     Called2.     Beloved (Sanctified)3.     Preserved  

Petra Church International Ministries

The Letter of Jude Part II

1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James,To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:2 Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.3 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.  BackgroundWriter: Jude (“Judas” Half-brother of Jesus and brother of Jesus)Date: Unknown (65-80 AD) Two Main Themes:1.     To expose false teachers in the church2.     To encourage believers to contend earnestly for the faith and finish strong Examples of those who did not contend for the faith1.     Israelites in the wilderness (v.5)2.     Angels who rebelled with Satan (v.6)3.     People in Sodom and Gomorrah (v.7) Contend for your faith by depending on God’s work (v.1-2, 24-25)1.     Called2.     Beloved (Sanctified)3.     Preserved  

The Letter of Jude

Luke 9:23-26, 57-6223 Then he said to them all:“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 57 As they were walking along the road,a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Manhas no place to lay his head.” 59 He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” 62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Expectation vs. ExperiencesCommitment vs. Compromise Christianity is a balance of grace and commitment.  Consider the Cost! 

The Cost of Following

John 15:1-8 1I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.5I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.        Focusing on the person of Jesus       I am the true vine!  Background        Psalm 80: 8-9 “You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. You cleared the ground for it and it took root and filled the land.” Call to Fruitful Life 1.     God expects us to bear fruits in our lives.2.     Fruitful life is only possible through our attachment to Christ.  3.     God helps us to bear fruits in our lives.  4.     Fruitful life is for the glory of God! 

I am the True Vine

John 11: 1-43The Death of LazarusNow a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.)3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” 4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days,7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” 8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light.10 It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.” 11 After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” 12 His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.”13 Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. 14 So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead,15 and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16 Then Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”Jesus Comforts the Sisters of Lazarus17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.18 Now Bethany was less than two miles[b] from Jerusalem,19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother.20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”28 After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.”29 When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him.30 Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him.31 When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked.“Come and see, Lord,” they replied.35 Jesus wept.36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.39 “Take away the stone,” he said.“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”:       Focusing on the person of Jesus I am the resurrection and the life     His Desire: The glory of God Jesus wants to reveal Himself and His glory for us to see.             2. Jesus wants to reveal His glory out of love for us.       3.  Jesus wants His glory to be accepted by our faith.  Revealing His Glory:      His Word     His Emotion     His Action 

I am the Resurrection and the Life

John 6:22-4022The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. 23Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus. 25When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?" 26Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval." 28Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" 29Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." 30 So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”       Focusing on the person of Jesus      I am the bread of life        v.35: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger.”       v.41: “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”       v.48: “I am the bread of life.”        v.51: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.”        v.55: “My flesh is true food.”        Working by Faith      John 6:27 “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”      1.     The Father’s Seal on Jesus      2.     Food that endures to eternal life      3.    The Food that perishes

I am the Bread of Life

John 14:5-75Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" 6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."       Focusing on the person of Jesus      1. Jesus is the way       2. Jesus is the truth       3. Jesus is the life 

Jesus is the Way

John 10:1-10“Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. 7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them.9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.       Focusing on the person of Jesus       Concept of the Gate       1. Jesus is the gate of salvation         9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.        2. Jesus is the gate of protection         10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy      3. Jesus is the gate of provision            They will come in and go out, and find pasture… I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.           Jesus is the gate to the Kingdom of God 

I am the Gate

I Corinthians 13:6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

Living in the Radical Love and Truth in the Deep Darkness

John 10:11-18“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” Focusing on the person of Jesus"I am the good shepherd"  The concept of shepherdPsalm 23:1 “The Lord is my shepherd”Ezekiel 34:12, 15 “As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them. I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down.” God is the Shepherd of Israel  The Good Shepherd1.     The good shepherd is sacrificial 2.     The good shepherd is protective 3.     The good shepherd is providing 4.     The good shepherd is relational. 5.     The good shepherd is inclusive/missional. 6.     The good shepherd is sovereign.

I Am the Good Shepard

Matthew 16:13-1713 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?”he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. Who do you say Jesus is? What does it mean by the Son of God? Jesus is God        1. Jesus the Savior                 Jesus came to save us                Matthew 18:11 “For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost” (Matthew 18:11)              2. Jesus the Teacher                  Jesus came to teach us what God is like.                John 14: 6-7 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”          3. Jesus the Lord                 Jesus came to establish the Lordship over us              Matthew 10:34, ""Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn " 'a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law -a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.         4. Jesus the Champion                Jesus came to give us victory.                I Corinthians 15:57 "But thanks be to God, who give us the victory through Jesus Christ     Who do you say Jesus is? 

Who Do You Say I Am?

Matthew 17:24-2724 After Jesus and his disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your teacher pay the temple tax?” 25 “Yes, he does,” he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” he asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own sons or from others?” 26 “From others,” Peter answered. “Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus said to him. 27 “But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for my tax and yours.”  Gospel Witnessing: INFLUENCING Influencing Negatively:                1. Putting stumbling blocks                2. Causing scandals Influencing Positively:      1. Wisdom of Christ       2. Mind of Christ       3. Power of Christ        4. Purity of Christ         5. Heart of Christ 

Gospel Ministry of Jesus II

Luke 9: 1-5, 10When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases,2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.3 He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt.4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town.5 If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”6 So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere… 10 When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Summer 2021: Gospel Witnessing Ephesians 5:16 Make the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Gather & Scatter 1.     We gather to receive His power       v.1 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases,  2. We gather to Be Trained by Jesus     v.10 When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. 3. We scatter to preach the kingdom                    v.2  He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

Gospel Ministry of Jesus

John 4:27-4227 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?”28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.”32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?”34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers. 42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”Sowing the seed of Faith: Gospel Witnessing Revival in Samaria: A revived heart will cause revival in other peoples’ lives.Revival of Jesus        1. Food of Jesus "I have food you know nothing about. My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work." (v. 34).          2. Harvest of Jesus 35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.” (vv. 35-38)          3. Instrument of Jesus 39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers.42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

Revival Makers

Galatians 6:6-106 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.7 Do not be deceived:God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.8 Whoever sows to please their flesh,from the flesh will reap destruction;whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.9 Let us not become weary in doing good,for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do goodto all people, especially to those who belong to the familyof believers. Summer 2021: Gospel Witnessing Attitude of Gospeling: Sowing the seed of Faith Three Fundamental Principles of Sowing     1. We reap what we sow  (v.7) 7 Do not be deceived:God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.    2. More Sowing, More Reaping (v.8) 8 Whoever sows to please their flesh,from the flesh will reap destruction;whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.    3. Reaping requires patience (v.9) 9 Let us not become weary in doing good,for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.Purpose of Sowing Ministry (v.10) 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Sowing Ministry

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Petra Church International Ministries

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