The 11:45 Call
Brenda Blakely
The 11:45 Call is Bible study for the serious Bible student. How will you answer the Call in light of the coming of the midnight hour (Matthew 25:1-13)? Engage in personal or corporate Bible Study to "show thyself.. a workman...who need not be ashamed." Jude gives Christians a warning, be ready.

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book excerpt

Verse 4 “For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.” For certain men have crept in unnoticed. One of Satan’s most effective strategies to spoil the work of God is to sneak/creep in unnoticed, placing his workers in among the fellowship of true believers. This is done just as in the world of espionage; one country might send a spy or a double agent into the inner workings of the enemy’s government. He is also known to use someone who has a long relationship in the fellowship but, because of weakness, is vulnerable to the enemy’s wiles. Even in the early days of Christianity, Paul sent a warning to the Philippians that Christ was not always preached from pure motives. Philippians 1:15–16 “Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and stife, and some also from goodwill 16The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains;” “All that glitters is not gold.” Not everyone who has found a place of leadership and influence in the church is actually chosen by God and godly. Unfortunately, some are moles of Satan. Whatever a man says or does, compare/filter it through a Biblical worldview (a modern term for our view(s) based on values and our body of knowledge) and in the context of the entire Bible. Examine yourself and let God examine you. You do not want Satan to use you to weaken the body of believers. Paul warned the Romans to beware. Some Jews appeared to have accepted the gospel but continued to live under the law and taught the early Christians that they must live under the law. In their unrighteousness, they refused to accept the whole counsel of God and did not accept or believe the grace of the gospel. They were causing confusion with this false teaching. Romans 1:18 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.” The Jews were the first people God worked through to prepare the entire human race for salvation and holy righteous living. They used this advantage to move into the church, believing that God not judge them because they were under the law. Professing to be wise, they taught the law, but they did not keep it. Romans 1:22–25 “Because although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23and changed the glory of incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and bird and four-footed animals and creeping thing. 24Therefore God also gave them up to uncleaness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves 25who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” By breaking the law, they professed to raise the law alone (without the mercy and grace given to us at the cross) as the standard. The Jews blasphemed the name of God and lost the profit and witness. Romans 2:17, 23-25,29 “Indeed you are called a Jew and rest on the law and make your boast in God, . . . 23You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law? 24For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you, as it is written. 25For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision . . . . 29but he is a Jew who in one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.” Legalistic, ungodly teaching was a threat to the Colossians, as Paul warns them. Colossians 2:8,18, 20 “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. 18Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,.... 20Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves toregulations,” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Timothy, whom Paul called a true son of the faith, was also warned of those who would sneak in and teach false (ungodly) doctrine. 1 Timothy 1:4 “Nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Timothy was to “contend earnestly” by guarding what was committed to his trust. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Life Application Questions • In what areas of your life do you live as if it is okay to sin? • How does this affect your testimony regarding Jesus as Lord and Master of your life?