We live in curious times. The church has the most liberty in our society that it has ever had, but many have lost their spiritual way. Too many churches are interested in being culturally relevant. They do this however at the expense of being cross relevant. The cross has never been culturally relevant. We must be aware of our culture, but it is more important that we remain rooted not in the culture, but the cross. When Jude began to write this letter, it was his intention to write a treatus on the faith. In the process of this writing, he became aware of the cultural elements that were against the faith. His writing changed and became a letter of encouragement to remain true and to not compromise the things that God had given to the church for their salvation. Our culture will never fit in with the purpose and plan of God, our faith has to fit into God's plan. Jude's writing addresses an attitude that seems to affect the church through he ages: that there is a way other than God's way. The way of Cain is a way of atonement without bloodshed. Cain recognized that God was God and that He was worthy of praise. However, Cain's sacrifice was not in keeping with the requirements that God set out. Cain convinced himself that he could worship God in his own way. Cain recognized God, but he did it in his own way, not God's. It was his lack of conciseness of what God wanted that got Cain into trouble. Cain made church about himself, not God. That same attitude exists today in some churches. There are churches today that are removing references to the blood. God requires that blood be applied to our life. God calls us to be set apart from our world. This is contrary to human nature. We want to fit in. We want to be liked and accepted. The way of Cain is a spirit that will make church about us and what we want, not what God wants. Bro. Hughes offers these points about Cain. Cain's offering was costly, but there was no heart or love in it it. He thought that God would be impressed with it, but He was not. When Cain's sacrifice was not accepted, he became angry. That anger grew to a rage and a hatred the resulted in him killing his brother. Finally Cain substituted culture for cleansing. Our culture is obsessed with our appearance. Our worth to God is viewed from within not without. God is looking for someone who will humble themselves and submit to Him.

There is a whole world of people that love God, but they do not love Him in the way that He wants. God has been very specific in the way to salvation. The gospel message is simple. We must not let the spirit of the culture alter that message. No matter what our culture says, our life must be based on the bible and what it says. We are not here to please the culture, we are here to please God. The way of Cain is a reality even today. It is a way without heart. It is a way without love. It is a way to failure. We must not go the way of Cain.

We live in curious times. The church has the most liberty in our society that it has ever had, but many have lost their spiritual way. Too many churches are interested in being culturally relevant. They do this however at the expense of being cross relevant. The cross has never been culturally relevant. We must be aware of our culture, but it is more important that we remain rooted not in the culture, but the cross. When Jude began to write this letter, it was his intention to write a treatus on the faith. In the process of this writing, he became aware of the cultural elements that were against the faith. His writing changed and became a letter of encouragement to remain true and to not compromise the things that God had given to the church for their salvation. Our culture will never fit in with the purpose and plan of God, our faith has to fit into God's plan. Jude's writing addresses an attitude that seems to affect the church through he ages: that there is a way other than God's way. The way of Cain is a way of atonement without bloodshed. Cain recognized that God was God and that He was worthy of praise. However, Cain's sacrifice was not in keeping with the requirements that God set out. Cain convinced himself that he could worship God in his own way. Cain recognized God, but he did it in his own way, not God's. It was his lack of conciseness of what God wanted that got Cain into trouble. Cain made church about himself, not God. That same attitude exists today in some churches. There are churches today that are removing references to the blood. God requires that blood be applied to our life. God calls us to be set apart from our world. This is contrary to human nature. We want to fit in. We want to be liked and accepted. The way of Cain is a spirit that will make church about us and what we want, not what God wants. Bro. Hughes offers these points about Cain. Cain's offering was costly, but there was no heart or love in it it. He thought that God would be impressed with it, but He was not. When Cain's sacrifice was not accepted, he became angry. That anger grew to a rage and a hatred the resulted in him killing his brother. Finally Cain substituted culture for cleansing. Our culture is obsessed with our appearance. Our worth to God is viewed from within not without. God is looking for someone who will humble themselves and submit to Him.

There is a whole world of people that love God, but they do not love Him in the way that He wants. God has been very specific in the way to salvation. The gospel message is simple. We must not let the spirit of the culture alter that message. No matter what our culture says, our life must be based on the bible and what it says. We are not here to please the culture, we are here to please God. The way of Cain is a reality even today. It is a way without heart. It is a way without love. It is a way to failure. We must not go the way of Cain.

Dr. Hughes shares a report of his recent trip to China and the opening of that country to the Gospel. He also shares a history and a background of the lineage of David. David's early life was difficult. He was treated as an outcast by his Father, his brothers and all in the city. It was during this time that David learned to rely upon God. David could have become bitter at this treatment. If he had, he would have never grown into the man of God that we know. He discovered the greatest source of life and he held on to it. Life is full of junk. The choice is ours: do we become bitter or better?

Dr. Hughes shares a report of his recent trip to China and the opening of that country to the Gospel. He also shares a history and a background of the lineage of David. David's early life was difficult. He was treated as an outcast by his Father, his brothers and all in the city. It was during this time that David learned to rely upon God. David could have become bitter at this treatment. If he had, he would have never grown into the man of God that we know. He discovered the greatest source of life and he held on to it. Life is full of junk. The choice is ours: do we become bitter or better?

We do not get to choose many things in life. We cannot choose when we are born, who our parents are, or what is in our background. Some people spend a lot of effort in tracing their genealogy. In some cases they are happy to know who are part of their history, but some findings are not as thrilling. We are not a victim of our genealogy or the history of our family. We do have a choice however, in how our life goes. Even in the family tree of Jesus, there were those who seem to not be fit to be part of such a holy lineage. The simple truth is that what we do with our life now is what is important. It does not matter if our family tree includes Jesse James or some other notorious criminal, what we do not is what will count. Paul gives us the genealogy of Hope in our text. It can be traced all the way back to trouble. Trouble produces hope. It is easy to ask "how can anything good come from this" The answer is in how we respond to it. We cannot let trouble derail us. We must not allow trouble to steal the praise from our mouth. It is time to put praise back in our vocabulary. It does not matter where we have been, it matters where we are going. Too many people become victims of their past. Paul tells us to look at trouble as an opportunity. It is no a overnight process. In our text, there is a process. That process takes time. Trouble will produce something. Trouble will either make us better or bitter. The decision is ours. Our text encourages us to not be discouraged by our present circumstances. It may be stormy now, but that storm will produce in us experience and hope. We cannot allow our present circumstances limit the rest of our life. Too many people let what is visible around us affect our outlook on life. We must make a decision to serve God no matter what our present circumstances are. We see trouble, but God sees training. We see a mess, but God sees a miracle. Things are not as they seem. What we seen in the natural is not always the complete story.

We do not get to choose many things in life. We cannot choose when we are born, who our parents are, or what is in our background. Some people spend a lot of effort in tracing their genealogy. In some cases they are happy to know who are part of their history, but some findings are not as thrilling. We are not a victim of our genealogy or the history of our family. We do have a choice however, in how our life goes. Even in the family tree of Jesus, there were those who seem to not be fit to be part of such a holy lineage. The simple truth is that what we do with our life now is what is important. It does not matter if our family tree includes Jesse James or some other notorious criminal, what we do not is what will count. Paul gives us the genealogy of Hope in our text. It can be traced all the way back to trouble. Trouble produces hope. It is easy to ask "how can anything good come from this" The answer is in how we respond to it. We cannot let trouble derail us. We must not allow trouble to steal the praise from our mouth. It is time to put praise back in our vocabulary. It does not matter where we have been, it matters where we are going. Too many people become victims of their past. Paul tells us to look at trouble as an opportunity. It is no a overnight process. In our text, there is a process. That process takes time. Trouble will produce something. Trouble will either make us better or bitter. The decision is ours. Our text encourages us to not be discouraged by our present circumstances. It may be stormy now, but that storm will produce in us experience and hope. We cannot allow our present circumstances limit the rest of our life. Too many people let what is visible around us affect our outlook on life. We must make a decision to serve God no matter what our present circumstances are. We see trouble, but God sees training. We see a mess, but God sees a miracle. Things are not as they seem. What we seen in the natural is not always the complete story.

This particular Psalm has a powerful message. There is something about this Psalm that appeals to our soul. This Psalm contains 22 verses which corresponds to the number of characters in the Hebrew alphabet. This psalm is known as an envelope Psalm which means that it begins and ends int he same way: "Bless the Lord Oh my soul." This form declares a wonderful truth that praise is the beginning and the end. When we praise Him it changes everything. Here is a way to surround troubles, fears, worries and doubts. If we surround these things with praise, we put ourselves in a position for victory. The psalmist not only praises, he states facts a bout what God had already done in his (and our) lives. All of the things mentioned are past tense. God has already proven himself. We need only look at the blessings, healing, comfort and strength that God has already done. If He did it once, He will do it again. We cannot let our present situation make us forget what God has already done. Not only does the psalmist praise God and remember what God has already done, he goes on to describe what God IS. He is slow to anger, he is merciful, he is gracious. More than all of that, God is still on the thrown. God is still in control. God will take care of His children. God knows exactly what is going on. He has not forgotten us and will not be taken by surprise. God still rules in the affairs of men. Bless the Lord Oh my soul. Surround our problems with praise, with His love, with what He as already done, and what He continues to be. That is the secret to a blessed life.

This particular Psalm has a powerful message. There is something about this Psalm that appeals to our soul. This Psalm contains 22 verses which corresponds to the number of characters in the Hebrew alphabet. This psalm is known as an envelope Psalm which means that it begins and ends int he same way: "Bless the Lord Oh my soul." This form declares a wonderful truth that praise is the beginning and the end. When we praise Him it changes everything. Here is a way to surround troubles, fears, worries and doubts. If we surround these things with praise, we put ourselves in a position for victory. The psalmist not only praises, he states facts a bout what God had already done in his (and our) lives. All of the things mentioned are past tense. God has already proven himself. We need only look at the blessings, healing, comfort and strength that God has already done. If He did it once, He will do it again. We cannot let our present situation make us forget what God has already done. Not only does the psalmist praise God and remember what God has already done, he goes on to describe what God IS. He is slow to anger, he is merciful, he is gracious. More than all of that, God is still on the thrown. God is still in control. God will take care of His children. God knows exactly what is going on. He has not forgotten us and will not be taken by surprise. God still rules in the affairs of men. Bless the Lord Oh my soul. Surround our problems with praise, with His love, with what He as already done, and what He continues to be. That is the secret to a blessed life.

At the time of our text, the throne of Caesar was held by Nero. History tells us that he was a wicked and corrupt man. He was not in any way friendly to Christianity. He is most famous for, after a night of debauchery, fiddling while Rome burned. He put people to death for little reason. In that unclean debauced stomsphere, saints managed to live and survive. They accomplished this by relying on their relationship with God rather than their surroundings. It must have required great courage to be a Christian in such an atmosphere. It begs the question: Does our environment decide our destiny? Some are born to privileged or comfort, while others struggle financially. There are those to whom things come easily, while others have to work harder. Our text validates to us that we are not a product of our environment. These early believers served the lord despite their hostile environment. God is not going to judge us by our surroundings but by what is in our heart. Not by our household, but by our heart hold. We have to settle in in our heart that no matter what, we will serve the Lord. Our surroundings can push us toward heaven or hell, but our surroundings do not make the determination; we do. Everyone at some point in life has to deal with some sort of household issue. It may not be the home, it may be the job. It may be an unexpected setback or situation. No matter what the circumstances, we must serve God. Circumstances change, but the constant is down deep in our heart. If we have a heart hold to God, that trumps the household situations. The greatest power is within us not without. More important than what one is in is what is within one. He that is within us is greater that that which in the world. So many people want to put conditions on God; they want to negotiate. "God if you will deliver me from this, I will serve you" The truth is for that person, they would not serve Him in any circumstance. God can deliver us from anything. God can bless us at any time. Our environment does not make us. We can be surrounded by wickedness and evil, and still live for God. His grace is sufficient no matter if we are in the ghetto or the country club. God's word can keep us wherever we are. The word of God that is within us can protects us in any circumstance. We must be Christians no matter what our circumstances. This text does away with the excuse that one cannot live for God because of what they have to live with. We can live for God no matter what if we have a heart-hold. No matter how evil this world gets, we can live for God.

At the time of our text, the throne of Caesar was held by Nero. History tells us that he was a wicked and corrupt man. He was not in any way friendly to Christianity. He is most famous for, after a night of debauchery, fiddling while Rome burned. He put people to death for little reason. In that unclean debauced stomsphere, saints managed to live and survive. They accomplished this by relying on their relationship with God rather than their surroundings. It must have required great courage to be a Christian in such an atmosphere. It begs the question: Does our environment decide our destiny? Some are born to privileged or comfort, while others struggle financially. There are those to whom things come easily, while others have to work harder. Our text validates to us that we are not a product of our environment. These early believers served the lord despite their hostile environment. God is not going to judge us by our surroundings but by what is in our heart. Not by our household, but by our heart hold. We have to settle in in our heart that no matter what, we will serve the Lord. Our surroundings can push us toward heaven or hell, but our surroundings do not make the determination; we do. Everyone at some point in life has to deal with some sort of household issue. It may not be the home, it may be the job. It may be an unexpected setback or situation. No matter what the circumstances, we must serve God. Circumstances change, but the constant is down deep in our heart. If we have a heart hold to God, that trumps the household situations. The greatest power is within us not without. More important than what one is in is what is within one. He that is within us is greater that that which in the world. So many people want to put conditions on God; they want to negotiate. "God if you will deliver me from this, I will serve you" The truth is for that person, they would not serve Him in any circumstance. God can deliver us from anything. God can bless us at any time. Our environment does not make us. We can be surrounded by wickedness and evil, and still live for God. His grace is sufficient no matter if we are in the ghetto or the country club. God's word can keep us wherever we are. The word of God that is within us can protects us in any circumstance. We must be Christians no matter what our circumstances. This text does away with the excuse that one cannot live for God because of what they have to live with. We can live for God no matter what if we have a heart-hold. No matter how evil this world gets, we can live for God.