The greatest act of worship is to surrender our will to the will of God. Our obedience to God’s Word is worship. Our love for God and one another is worship. What happens when we do not worship? What happens when we say we follow Christ but refuse to walk in love? What happens when we say we follow Christ but refuse to obey His word?
Jude speaks of people who fail to worship. He says that there are people scattered among true worshippers who pretend to worship. “For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. ” (Jude 4, NIV84) We know that these people say they love God because they are secretly moving among the true believers. They are false because they have not surrendered their will to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
What are the characteristics of those who do not truly believe? “In the very same way, these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority and slander celestial beings. […] Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; […] They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion. These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame;” (Jude 8–13, NIV84)
These are people who reject authority are those who do not submit themselves to Godly authority. Many times these people start their own ministries outside of the church. They make decisions based only upon what they feel God is saying to them. Because they say that God spoke to them, they discount the opinion of anyone who would try to correct them. Those who reject authority try to disrupt the authorities in place in the local church. They try to bring correction to people that they have no authority over. Those who reject authority speak negatively about those in authority.
These are people who slander celestial beings. Angelic encounters happen regularly in the Scripture. Angels are sent by God to help us. “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? ” (Hebrews 1:14, NIV84) Angels spoke to women who discovered that Jesus had risen (Luke 24:23). An angel gave Philip direction (Acts 8:26). An angel spoke to Peter (Acts 12:7). An angel spoke to John (Rev 1:1). Interacting with the angelic was a common New Testament occurrence. “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. ” (Hebrews 13:2, NIV84) Those who slander people who say they have seen an angel or have spoken to an angel are slandering celestial beings.
These are people who speak abusively against what they do not understand. There are many things that I was not taught growing up. My lack of awareness does not make those things any less real. They slander people who have the experience because it is something they have not experienced or understood. Your lack of a personal spiritual encounter does not negate the reality of my experience with the Lord Jesus. I am healed. I speak in tongues. I have seen angels. I have seen demons. I have visions. I have dreams. The spiritual and the natural at times are co-mingled. God has given me precious stones. He has let me smell the incense of heaven. I have shaken in His presence. I have been mute. Every experience has been tested by the Word of God and its fruit. They stand.
These people follow in the footsteps of Cain who killed his brother. His brother was pursuing God and trying to worship God from the depths of his heart. Because Cain was jealous, he murdered his brother. These people think nothing of destroying the reputation of people who are trying to worship God and obey God. They think nothing of hating people who love Jesus but express that love in ways that they do not understand.
These people follow the path of Korah (Number 16). Korah thought that he was just as good as Moses. Korah thought that he heard from God just as much as Moses. Korah rejected the leadership of Moses. These people stand outside the bodies of local churches and local leaders. They say that they hear God and condemn the leaders of the local churches.
These people are clouds without rain. They look like they are real. They have the appearance of a Christian, but their lives have nothing positive. There is no rain to help the crops grow. There is only a negative and a bitter spirit against those who want the rain of God’s presence. They are clouds blown by every wind. They have no inward strength. They are blown about by people’s opinions.
These people are trees without fruit. They lack love to brothers and sisters in Christ. They lack love toward to local church. They have no peace and instead want to stir up division. They do not understand joy and laughter. They do not try to encourage the body, but rather they try to divide the body. They are unfaithful. They wander from place to place because “God told them” and they never find a place to submit.
These people are wild waves. Like a tsunami, they are noticed by many but the their effects bring destruction. And after their words have hurt and harmed, they go back into the sea to wait for the next round of destruction.
Jude continues his description of these people. “These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage. ” (Jude 16, NIV84) These people look for the problems in others. They seek to find where people make mistakes. They set themselves above people. Their words are negative. They are only positive if you agree with them.
These are the people who are the reason the church lacks strength and unity. Jude says, “These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. ” (Jude 19, NIV84) When they speak, the seek to divide and not unify the body of Christ.
What are we to do with these people? The natural mind wants to call out and argue. However we are worshippers. We live by truth and by the Spirit of God. Although these people are around us, we are not to focus on them. We focus on Jesus. “But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. ” (Jude 20–21, NIV84)
As I watch some bring turmoil to the churches in my beloved state of Wisconsin, what will I do? I will build myself. I will continue to listen to my Pastors. I will continue to participate and serve in my church. I will pray. I will read God’s word. I will worship. I will obey. I will surrender. I will love God and I will love others. I will continue to let God guide me into supernatural encounters. I will pray in the Holy Spirit. I will pray with the Holy Spirit. As I do these things, I will become a greater light and the darkness will flee.
As for those people that Jude wrote about, I will not argue with them. I will not condemn them. I will shine my light and trust that God will care for them.
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