Railing Accusation...the Wayfarer 8/2/17
Railing Accusation
8/2/17
Jude vs 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.
Every day, contention with the devil facing each of us is impossible to avoid as that contention is forced upon us by that contentious being, in contention with God Himself, strives to make his lie more believable than the TRUTH.
The volume of that lie is not overcome by the attempt to shout it down, nor by the volume of accusation leveled against it, but by the quietude of that unquestionable truth.
That TRUTH is, in, and of itself, more than adequate rebuke.
Anger generates only anger, rather than comprehension.
Even the devil cannot deny the TRUTH when faced with that TRUTH despite the volume with which the lie is given.
The rebuke of men, despite the volume and tenacity of that rebuke, is inadequate when that rebuke is fostered by the invocation of ever more volume rather than ever more quiet, ever more pertinent, ever more patient delivery of that TRUTH.
Jude, in his short epistle spoke of the necessity of contention for the faith, and a COMMON salvation already delivered that brooked no contention once that delivery had been accomplished.
Earnest contention for that faith exceeds any increase in volume and cannot be overcome by the volume of the lie no matter how often or at what volume that lie is repeated.
Mercy, peace and love are the theme of the opening verses of this precious scripture, and are the tools of contending with those not yet having found them.
Jude King James Version (KJV)
1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
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.
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.
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.
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;
13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.
17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Jude's warning was his contention for the faith, that contention providing guidance as well as warning .
Compassion for those not yet having heard the TRUTH is demanded of each of us, as is the necessity of action when compassion is ignored.
Not all can be pulled from the fire, but some may, by the gentle rebuke of the TRUTH if it is recognized.
When recognized and ignored, that fire will consume them despite all attempt to force them from the comfort they think to have taken from its glow.
Compassion cannot reach those refusing that compassion, nor can fear, when the need for that fear is ignored.
Difference can be made in lives of those willing to hear, comprehend, and obey the simple message delivered by Christ Jesus.
It is that difference that must be contended for if it is to be of effect, it is that difference that must be accepted also for salvation.
The only profit to be gleaned from contention is the effectiveness of that contention.
Railing accusation is the weapon of the most contentious of beings, rebuke by means of the truth, is the only means of defeating the volume of the denial of that truth.
Glory, majesty, dominion, and power remain the purview of that TRUTH, salvation is possible only through the acknowledgement of that TRUTH.
Michael's example, allowing that TRUTH to speak for itself remains the effective means of contention for those who have accepted it no matter the volume employed against us.
"REPENT! For the kingdom of heaven is at hand"
Allow the volume of faith to be heard and seen rather than allowing the volume of the lie, and its frequency to hinder the TRUTH.
Contend for that faith, daily, both with compassion when that compassion is received, and with action that is proof of the TRUTH when required as well.
Both will be effective to those unable to deny the rebuke of the lie when that rebuke comes from a heart receptive to the message of that rebuke.
2 Timothy 1:12
12For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Amen and Amen
the Wayfarer
12For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
Amen and Amen
the Wayfarer
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