Who Should Rule Our Lives? Jude 1:25

Introduction: Jude has written a warning, challenging the people against the tendency of our flesh toward rebellion. He gave us several examples of rebellious persons:
Israel rebelled against the provision of God
The angels rebelled against the authority of God
Sodom and Gomorrah rebelled against the commandments of God
The devil rebelled against the will of God
Cain rebelled against the true worship of God
Balaam rebelled against the power of God
Cora rebelled against the servants of God

Now Jude draws a picture of the character and greatness of God and Christ. He lists God’s eternal qualities which reflect the opposite of the those rebellious qualities exposed in our human nature. To be like Christ, is to pray for wisdom to develop qualities of life which honor His greatness and not our own. As we examine each principle see these distinctions drawn by Jude as challenges, to give up any vestige of self, which does not honor the Lord.

We Must View Human Wisdom as Insufficient to Run Our Lives - To the only wise God our Saviour - Israel rebelled against the provision of God (Verse 5). Each time it appears that we will not have enough for our lives and existence, we are to see that the Lord has the wisdom
to meet every need. Our greatest need was salvation, as Jude rightly points our, our Savior.
The Lord would not be challenging us to get wisdom, if our own wisdom was sufficient.

Prov. 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Prov. 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
Prov. 2:7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
Prov. 1:20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:
Prov. 2:2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
Prov. 2:6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
Prov. 2:10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
Prov. 3:13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

We Must Determine To Never Desire Our Own Glory - be glory -
Sodom and Gomorrah rebelled against the commandments of God (Verse 6) Sin generally falls under three categories (1 John 2:16): ...The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. All sin is for our own glory.

For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. I Peter 1:24-25

We Must Relinquish Our Sinful Desire to Rule Our Own Lives - and majesty, dominion -
The angels rebelled against the authority of God (Verses 7-8). Man seeks his own glory, but all glory belongs to the Lord.

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 2:3-11

We must Recognize That We Do Not Have the Strength to Rule Our Lives - and power-
Balaam rebelled against the power of God (verse 11). Our strength is made perfect in weakness.
Prov. 8:16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
Prov. 25:28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

We Must Realize That The Temporal Needs and Decisions In This Life Affect Eternity - both now and ever. - Cain rebelled against the worship of God (verse 11). Every decision in life is and will be reflected in eternity. Adam and Eve made decisions which affected the whole earth, and their sin is reflected in the necessity of Christ’s death, along with eternal damnation and salvation by grace. The decisions we make will affect our place in eternity!

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:17-18

In Later Years We Will Agree with Our Decision To Have Him Rule - Amen -
*Prodigal Son: He realized the failure of his own life, and found that the Lord should rule, rather than him. He pled with his earthly father, ...Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. Luke 15:21

*Woman at the well: She realized her sinful ways and repented. She turned from self-rule to God’s sovereign direction for her. She found peace, and, as a result, many others found that same peace.
The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.

*King David: His failure with Bethsheba resulted in his complete repentance. Practically, he repented of his self-rule, and turn back to the Lord and found forgiveness. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Psalm 51:17