THE JUDAS IN YOU
Provocative Message Series
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JUDAS 1
Judging and misjudging
The debate between divine sovereignty and human choice. Predestination and election.
Greed, Fraudsters and Trickery
Slow distractions that lead to sin
Attitudes of the human heart that are treacherous in all of us
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LIST OF VILE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD
Adolph Hitler
Joseph Stalin
Serial Killers
Rapists
Pedophiles
Top of every List is Judas Iscariot
HE BETRAYED JESUS
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There have been greater unknown sinners the Judas but oh how we hate him so.
His name is the legendary byword for betrayal and nobody on the face of the earth names their child Judas.
It’s a wonderful name. You wouldn’t mind naming your child something that meant “God leads.”
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Matthew 26:14-16
14 One of the twelve apostles, Judas the locksmith,[a] went to the leading priests 15 and said, “How much are you willing to pay me to betray Jesus into your hands?” They agreed to pay him thirty silver coins.[b] 16 Immediately Judas began to scheme and look for an opportunity to betray him.
THE MOMENT OF SIN WAS NOT CREATED IN AN INSTANT
Sowing and Reaping Applies Both Ways
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GALATIANS 6:7
Make no mistake about it, God will never be mocked! For what you plant will always be the very thing you harvest.
Our worst moments are usually as a result of poor gardening…
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Mark 4:3-9
3 “Consider this: A farmer went out to sow seeds. 4 As he cast his seeds some of it fell along the beaten path and soon the birds came and ate it. 5 Other seeds fell onto gravel with no topsoil and the seeds quickly sprouted since the soil had no depth. 6 But when the days grew hot, the sprouts were scorched and withered because they had insufficient roots. 7 Other seeds fell among the thorns, so when the seeds sprouted so did the thorns, crowding out the young plants so that they could produce no grain. 8 But some of the seeds fell onto good, rich soil that kept producing a good harvest. Some yielded thirty, some sixty—and some even one hundred times as much as was planted! 9 If you understand this, then you need to respond.”[c]
JUDAS STARTED WELL
When Jesus called him, he responded to the call. He wasn’t only a disciple, he was called an apostle (Luke 6:12-16).
12 After this, Jesus went up into the high hills to spend the whole night in prayer to God.[a] 13 At daybreak he called together all of his followers and selected twelve from among them, and he appointed them to be his apostles.[b]
14–16 Here are their names: Simon, whom he named Peter; Andrew, Peter’s brother; Jacob;[c] John; Philip; Bartholomew;[d] Matthew; Thomas; Jacob the son of Alpheus; Simon, known as a fiery political zealot; Judah[e] the son of Jacob; and Judas the locksmith,[f] who later betrayed Jesus.
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He was endued with power to heal the sick, preach the gospel (Mark 6:7)
Jesus gathered his twelve disciples and imparted to them his authority to cast out demons. Then he sent them out in pairs with these instructions:
and cast out devils (Matthew 10:1-5).
Jesus gathered his twelve[a] disciples and imparted to them authority to cast out demons and to heal every sickness[b] and every disease.
2 Now, these are the names of the first twelve apostles: first, Simon, who is nicknamed Peter, and Andrew, his brother. And then Jacob[c] and John, sons of Zebedee. 3 Next were Phillip and Bartholomew;[d] then Thomas and Matthew, the tax collector; Jacob the son of Alphaeus; Thaddeus;[e] 4 Simon, the former member of the Zealot party,[f] and Judas the locksmith, who eventually betrayed Jesus.[g]
5 Jesus commissioned these twelve to go out into the ripened harvest fields with these instructions: “Don’t go into any non-Jewish or Samaritan territory.[h]
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Judas held a significant ministerial office too.
Being in charge of the ‘church’ money wasn’t a minor task. You don’t make a stranger your treasurer; such roles are reserved for people of trust.
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Evidences of Judas’s fall and sin
We learn from scriptures the inner battles in the life of Judas. Unfortunately, he left it too late.
Judas had a ‘love-of-money’ issue (John 12:4-6, 1 Tim 6:10), out of which the devil built a stronghold.
1 Tim 6:10
10 Loving money[a] is the first step toward all kinds of trouble. Some people run after it so much that they have given up their faith. Craving more money pushes them away from the faith into error, compounding misery[b] in their lives!
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He kept his sins hidden from his friends and ministry partners (John 13:27-30).
And when Judas ate the piece of bread, Satan[a] entered him. Then Jesus looked at Judas and said, “What you are planning to do, go do it now.” 28 None of those around the table realized what was happening. 29 Some thought that Judas, their trusted treasurer, was being told to go buy what was needed for the Passover celebration, or perhaps to go give something to the poor. 30 So Judas left quickly and went out into the dark night to betray Jesus.
“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy” — Proverbs 28:13.
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I’ve often been asked why Judas Iscariot should be blamed since it was prophesied before time that ‘he’ would betray Jesus. Let’s be clear, the Bible NEVER said Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, would be the one to fulfill that prophecy. Instead, he qualified himself.
HE MISSED THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS
On realization of his fall and sin, Judas failed to remember the word of Jesus:
“But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” — Matthew 9:6
Rather than turn to Christ, he turned to the very people with whom he covenanted to betray his Master. He felt remorse (Matthew 27:3-5) but not genuine repentance (Acts 20:21).
Matthew 27:3-5
Now, when Judas, the betrayer, saw that Jesus had been sentenced to death, remorse filled his heart. He returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and religious leaders, 4 saying, “I have sinned because I have betrayed an innocent[a] man.”They replied, “Why are you bothering us? That’s your problem.” 5 Then Judas flung the silver coins inside the temple and went out and hanged himself.
Acts 20:21
I urged both Jews and non-Jews to turn from sin to God and to have faith in our Lord Jesus.
Anointing without grace and the fruit of the Spirit can destroy your life. Nobody will get to heaven merely because they performed signs and wonders or received one — Mat 7:21-23.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the realm of heaven’s kingdom. It is only those who persist in doing the will of my heavenly Father. 22 On the day of judgment many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, don’t you remember us? Didn’t we prophesy[a] in your name? Didn’t we cast out demons and do many miracles for the sake of your name?’ 23 But I will have to say to them, ‘Go away from me, you lawless rebels! I’ve never been joined to you!’[b]
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Jesus is looking for fruits (of holiness), not leaves (of legalism)! — Matt 21:17-20.
17 Jesus then left at once for the nearby village of Bethany, where he spent the night.[a]
18 While walking back into the city the next morning, he got hungry. 19 He noticed a lone fig tree by the side of the path and walked over to see if there was any fruit on it, but there was none—he found only leaves. So he spoke to the fig treej and said, “You will be barren and will never bear fruit again!” Instantly the fig tree[b] shriveled up right in front of their eyes!
20 Astonished, his disciples asked, “How did you make this fig tree instantly wither and die?”
Confess your faults one to another (especially when our struggles involve or affect others) – James 5:16.
Confess and acknowledge how you have offended one another[a] and then pray for one another to be instantly healed,[b] for tremendous power is released through the passionate, heartfelt prayer[c] of a godly believer!
Jesus led a transparent life with his disciples and before all. Judas didn’t. We must.
Be careful how you live and what prophesy your life fulfills.
You cannot serve two masters. You’re either with Jesus or not. There’s no middle ground — John 6:70-71.
Then Jesus shocked them with these words: “I have hand-picked you to be my twelve, knowing that one of you is the devil.”[a] 71 Jesus was referring to Judas Iscariot,[b] son of Simon, for he knew that Judas, one of his chosen disciples, was getting ready to betray him.
“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” — Hebrews 10:31.
Your heart is ultimately shaped by where you lay your treasures. Where’s the treasure of your soul heart right now? What do you value above God? — Matthew 6:19-21.
Judas missed a lot he missed the forgiveness of Christ, the peace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, but you don’t have to.
JUDAS 2
JUDAS: 24 Now, to the one with enough power to prevent you from stumbling into sin[a] and bring you faultless before his glorious presence to stand before him with ecstatic delight, 25 to the only God our Savior, through our Lord Jesus Christ, be endless glory and majesty, great power and authority—from before he created time, now, and throughout all the ages of eternity. Amen![b]