Boundaries! (Jude 16)

These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage. 

THE STUDY:

          This morning we are going to need to break this verse up into two parts. The first part deals with these false teachers who are disgruntled grumblers. Jude is pointing out that these men complained about the restrictions God’s rules and laws placed on their freedom to behave as they wanted.

These disgruntled grumblers were following their own evil desires. Sinful desires frequently carried the negative connotation of lustful desires in the NT (e.g., Rom 13:13–14; Gal 5:24; 1 Pet 4:3; 2 Pet 2:18). Thus, the phrase following their own evil desires probably alludes to their sexual immorality (vv 4, 8, 10, 12). But this phrase also highlights their preference for their own desires instead of God’s desires. Self-discipline or self-sacrifice for the sake of others is repulsive to them. They wanted to follow their own evil desires, while criticizing the moral restraints they had tossed aside.^[1]

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• We walk away this morning with the understanding that there is a reason why people are disgruntled grumblers; because they are following their own (Evil) desires instead of God’s (Good) desire! They resist the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit. Better yet, they mock and ridicule those moral restraints so to justify their own ungodly desires.

CONCLUSION:

          As a believer, God is still dealing with and working on issues and/or shortcomings that I have in my life. One of the false assumptions out in the world today is that when you become a Christian you have it all together. This is a lie straight from Satan himself! As believers, we still are still faced with temptations and problems that the world has to offer.

One of the things I have done in my personal life is set up boundaries. One example of these boundaries is counseling females in my congregation. I do not counsel females by myself! This is not only to protect the females but to safeguard my ministry as well. These boundaries are there to help me not hurt me. They are set up to protect me so I can accomplish God’s will for my life.

God has set up boundaries for us in His word. The problem is not the boundaries, it’s man’s desires. We have a natural tendency to pursue our desires opposed to God’s! We then try to justify our desires or manipulate God’s word so that we can feel good about these desires. What we are doing, is the same thing Jude points out concerning these “false teachers.” We start to become disgruntled grumblers who ignore self-discipline and self-sacrifice for the desires of the world.

This morning, let us place boundaries in our lives, become more self-disciplined, and be willing to sacrifice our worldly desires for the desires of God. Let us not forget, God has the best for us!    

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

---

^[1] Powers, D. G. (2010). 1 & 2 Peter/Jude: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary (285). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.