Is Judas Among US?

Today we are going to look at Judas and how he lost favor with God.   He like the other disciples left all to follow Jesus.  He healed the sick, preached the kingdom, cast out devils.  He experienced the glory of God and yet he eventually betrayed Jesus.   Some might speculate that this was his role in history, that he had no choice.  Jesus had twelve disciples and each of them were tried, tested and tempted.  Anyone of them could have betrayed Jesus, but Judas was the one that failed the tests.  Yes is was written that one of them would betray him, but no where does those prophecies specify that it had to be Judas.   Jesus even looked at Peter and rebuked him and told him he was of the devil, he called him Satan!  He told Peter he had his mind on worldly things and not on the things of God.  Thomas had his doubts, and had to see Jesus and touch him before he would believe.  Even John the beloved felt the need to ask Jesus, "Is It I Lord?"  when they were told that one would betray the master.   All of them felt the pressure to betray Jesus because the enemy was pushing on all of them, but Judas was the one that failed the test.   What do we see in the life of Judas?  We must be careful not to be like him, or we may find ourselves failing our test as well.

John 12: 4Then said one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray him,

5Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

6This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bore what was put therein.

What do we see of Judas here?   We see that his mind was on money.   He not only held the money bag, but sometimes helped himself to what was in it.   He felt like this ointment was wasted on Jesus.  He was hungry for the money, and had his mind on this instead of on the will of God.  We see this today in our churches.  Decisions are made for money instead of the will of God.   Men are hungry for money so that mostly what they talk about from the pulpit.   Men want to prosper so they water down sin, and promote a self-help gospel to tickle the ear of the wealthy because they are greedy for gain.  They have gone after the way of Baalam, and Judas and went after the love of money.  

Jude 1 11Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.

12These are spots in your love feasts, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about by winds; trees whose fruit withers, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

13Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.

True religion is laying down  your life just as Jesus laid down his life, for if we suffer with him, we will also reign with him, but these men like Judas are greedy for gain and teach that godliness is a means to gain, which is a perverted gospel.  

1 Timothy 6:3If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

4He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting over questions and disputes of words, out of which comes envy, strife, railings, evil suspicions,

5Perverse wranglings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw yourself.

6But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8And having food and clothing let us be with these things content.

9But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which plunge men into destruction and perdition.

10For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Notice vs. 4 is talking about doting over questions and disputes of words...this is the false teaching of today that places a greater emphasis on the words of your mouth instead of the condition of your heart!    Yes, we must confess with our mouth, but words from our mouth that come for a heart full of sin and greed are not pleasing to God.   We have people today that are confessing the blessings of God, yet they are not doing the will of God, and they have been taught that confession is all that is necessary to please God and find his favor.   True devotion to God will cause you to lay down your life, it will cause your confession to be OF CHRIST.   People are teaching today that our confession should be of the things we WANT and NEED.   They have gone the way of Balaam and Judas, thinking that godliness is a means to gain.   Let's look at verse 5 again:  

5Perverse wranglings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw yourself.

We must withdraw ourselves from people who put our focus on money, material wealth, and a gospel of gain.   They will betray Christ for gain, wealth and money.  They will follow what the people want to hear instead of following the Word of God.   When the opinions of society change, they too will change because their goal was gain all along and not Godliness.  

 People have talked about Judas have political agendas and other conspiracy theories as to why he betrayed Jesus.  The simple truth is that every time he is mentioned in the Bible, money is also mentioned, his focus was always on money, and getting more of it and helping himself to it.   Do not be deceived, if someone is begging you for more money so that they can 'spread the gospel' and they are living in a mansion and driving an expensive car, paying for maids, servants and body guards, and have several recreation houses on the beech front,  this person like Judas is dipping into the pot and helping themselves.    Judas betrayed Jesus for 40 pieces of silver because that is where his mind always was, it was always about the money for Judas.   Where is your mind today?  Where is your focus.  If your mind is gravitating towards money, and how to get it or spend it or what you want to do with it you stand at a risk of being like those who have betrayed Jesus.  Stop, drop and pray.   It is time to repent.  We took nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out of it.