Spiritual Warfare

Jude 9 But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals – these are the very things that destroy them.
 
WE begin to understand Jude when we read Deuteronomy 34:5-6 And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said. He buried him in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is.
   We see, then, that the Lord buried Moses. An historical Jewish book called The Assumption of Moses describes this spiritual dispute between the archangel Michael and Satan. Because the Bible is God’s inspired, inerrant word, Jude confirms this. How does Michael’s refusal to bring a slanderous accusation against Satan relate to Jude’s warning against false teachers?
   This is about placing the sinners into God’s hand. Michael is one of  seven archangels who have special rank in God’s presence: Revelation 8:2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. Scripture identifies Michael three additional times in Daniel 10, 12 and Revelation 12 as he leads the wars against Satan: Revelation 12:7 Michael and his angels fought against the dragon. A second archangel you know is Gabriel. Remember, he came to Zechariah and Mary in Luke 1, and he also appears in Daniel 8 & 9. His primary role is to deliver messages from God to his anointed servants.
   Why, then, did Michael not bring a slanderous accusation against Satan, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” Jude’s point is that Michael respected the LORD God’s authority to deal with Satan. In his lessons from God’s history of judgment, Jude stresses the church must stand on Gods’ authority by doing two things: battle for the truth and rebuke the sinners in the name of the Sovereign Lord Jesus.
   Those who taught that God’s grace permitted a license for immorality and denied Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord rejected all authority. In their own eyes, they were God’s authority. They were the same as Pharaoh, who said, “Who is the Lord, that I should obey him?” (Exodus 5:2) False teachers defraud the world with their pompous words and self-proclaimed knowledge. Jude teaches us God will judge. We are to be aware as Michael before Satan. Know what’s right and rebuke the false teachers. Trust you have the same power at your disposal as Michael does. Remember, you are of Christ, and Christ is of God (1 Corinthians 3:23).