Dr Paul Allen

Planets of the Solar System (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “[They are] wandering stars , to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.” ( Jude 1:13 ) This short reference is somewhat enigmatic. The five “wandering stars” of Mercury, Venus , Mars , Jupiter , and Saturn were clearly known in Jude’s day, and their behavior had been plotted for many centuries. The Bible also uses “stars” as figures of speech for angelic beings in Job and Revelation. It is clear in context that Jude is referencing ungodly people, most likely influential leaders in the churches who are damaging and defiling the work of the Kingdom. The particular focus of this example is that they are “reserved” for a “blackness of darkness for ever.” Earlier, Jude cited “the angels which kept not their first estate” as being “reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day” (v. 6). Peter alludes to the same punishment of “angels that sinned” who were delivered “into chains of

“For there are certain men crept in unawares . . . ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ .” ( Jude 1:4 ) The special word chosen by the Holy Spirit is most helpful in understanding this warning. The Greek term translated “crept in unawares” is pareisduno, a uniquely compounded word meaning to “sink down in alongside.” What could be more descriptive? These kinds of sneaky people have been written about before, Jude says, and are prime examples of those who transpose the grace of God into uncontrolled lust. Paul uses a similar word in his letter to Timothy to warn him about the ungodly men of the last days who “creep into houses” and undermine the lifestyles of “silly women” ( 2 Timothy 3:6-7 ). The imagery implies the subtlety and cleverness of these “ungodly men,” but there is a horrible consequence of this replacement of God’s grace with “lasciviousness.” Jude lists the terrible judgment on the peop

Image via Wikipedia Image via Wikipedia But when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. - Matthew 6:6 - In this verse, Jesus contrasts praying ostentatiously for the praise of men with praying privately for the reward of our Father . In fact, He says of the hypocrites, “Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.” What does that mean? It means that those who consider that their reward for praying is to be praised and well-thought of by other people will indeed have that reward. However, that’s theonly reward they’re going to get. They will have no reward from God . In contrast to the hypocrites, though, Jesus’ disciples are commanded to pray in secret, considering that the Father who sees what is done in secret will reward that true, God-centered worship. It may seem strange at first that Jesus commands us to pray so that we can receive a reward.