Jude 1:1-11

Numbers 22-24 - Balaam and Balak

Not enough love for the truth.

II Thessalonians 2:10-12

Hypocrisy

Balaam loudly proclaimed his love for the truth, but then proceeded to work against what God instructed him to do.

Cast a stumbling block before God’s people by means of false doctrine, and that for personal gain.

Greed

In the beginning, Balaam started as a true prophet of God, but he ended up caught up in greed and hypocrisy.

Acts 26:9-11 - Paul speaks about his former days of persecuting Christians.

We don’t want to be in the category of people who are sincerely wrong!

People become sincerely wrong by following false standards of authority:

Conscience

Proverbs 14:12 - Paul lived with a good conscience even when persecuting Christians. God was the source of authority, not his conscience.

Wisdom of people

I Corinthians 2:4-5 - Our faith must rest on the power of God.

I Corinthians 1:18-20 - God will destroy the wisdom of this world.

Jeremiah 10:23

The majority

Matthew 7:13-14 - Many enter through the gate that leads to destruction.

Family tradition

Matthew 10:37

Galatians 1:13-14 - Paul was zealous for his ancestral traditions even though they were wrong.

People become sincerely right by following the Bible.

Galatians 1:1 - Paul was clear about where his teaching came from.

I Timothy 4:1-7 - Instructions for Timothy for sticking to sound doctrine.

I Timothy 6:1-5 - More warnings about sticking to sound doctrine.

II Timothy 2:15

I Peter 2:9-10 - All Christians are a chosen race and a royal priesthood. There is no clergy/laity distinction before God.

I Peter 2:18 - We are to be submissive to our masters even if they are unreasonable.

Because of your good deeds (I Peter 2:12

How much good are we doing? We can’t just refrain from evil - we must actively do good.

Daniel 6:4 - We should be like Daniel in the sense that people can find no wrongdoing in us.

Follow in His steps (I Peter 2:21

Now is the time to follow in Jesus’ footsteps!

Like newborn babies (I Peter 2:2

We should all long for God’s word like newborn babies long for milk.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 - The Bible gives answers to man’s questions about the universe.

The effect of the “milk” is to help us grow in respect to salvation.

Strategies for retaining self-control (continued)

Learn/grow/get better (I Corinthians 9:27

What are the practical benefits of a Christian truly exercising self-control?

It shows others that Christians have what it takes to deal with the world and makes us better examples to others.

It helps us to serve God better and practice not being selfish.

Conclusion (Galatians 5:19-6:1

How would all of these qualities come into play when helping one who is caught up in sin?

Love - John 10:17 - Love would take the initiative in trying to help one who needs it.

Joy - Acts 11:22-23 - When people see our joy in serving God, it will make them more likely to turn back to Him.

Peace - II Peter 1:1-2 - People should be able to see that we live in peace as we serve God.

Patience - Acts 18:1 - Paul showed much patience in how much time he spent with the Corinthians. We must show the same kind of patience and remember how much we have needed God’s patience in the past.

Psalms 37:1-9

Godly people knew how to wait.

Genesis 6:3 - Noah worked and waited for the flood to come.

Genesis 12:2-5 - Abraham waited 25 years for Isaac.

I Samuel 16:1 - David waited many years to take the throne after he was anointed.

Luke 2:25-32 - Simeon and Anna patiently waited to see Jesus come into the world.

Physical relations (“waiting until marriage”)

II Samuel 11 - David and Bathsheba

I Corinthians 7:1-5 - Physical relations are to stay inside marriage.

James 1:14-15 - Temptation and lust lead to sin.

Material possessions

I Timothy 6:6

Hebrews 11:24-26 - Moses looked past the pleasures in Egypt to the greater reward.

Philippians 3:17-20

Why must we have self-control in the following areas? (continued from last week)

Desires (Romans 6:12

God gave us permissible outlets for our desires. We must make sure we use only those to be free from sin.

Strategies for maintaining self-control

When possible, leave the situation (Genesis 39:12

Use righteous outlets (I Peter 5:7

Trust in God as the final judge (Romans 12:19

Jude 1:10-11

The way of:

Human opinion substituted for the way of the faith (Romans 10:17

Envy, hate, and intolerance toward those who adhere strictly to God’s Word

Willful contempt for divine authority (I John 3:12

Divine condemnation (Genesis 4:11

Eternal regret

It is a disastrous thing to walk in the way of Cain.

The way of Abel

Let us walk in the way of divine approval and eternal glory!

Galatians 4:4 - Jesus came when the time was right for Him to come.

The balanced truth about Jesus…

He complimented, but He also condemned.

Matthew 8:10 - Jesus compliments people for their faith.

John 2:13-17 - Jesus drives the moneychangers from the temple.

Matthew 23:13-33 - Jesus calls out the religious leaders of the day for their unfaithfulness.

He praised family life, but He also made severe regulations.

Matthew 15:3 - Jesus rebukes the traditions of the Pharisees.

If Jesus spoke out about marriage like this today, would he be popular?

Serving God must always come before family.

He offered salvation, but He also demanded obedience.

Matthew 11:28-30

Matthew 7:21-27 - We can’t be acceptable to God with just lip service. We must obey!

He spoke of heaven, but also of hell.

Matthew 25:31-46 - Jesus describes the scene at judgment.

Matthew 5:22 - Jesus warns of punishment for those who do not obey.