What to Watch Out For

What to Watch Out For
Words of Faith 7-15-24
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2024
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Jude 1
[8] In the very same way, these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority, and slander celestial beings. [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.

Jude was deeply concerned about the infiltration of the Church by teachers who had once followed the way of the Lord but had fallen away from the truth of the Gospel. After giving three historical references-- the rebels in the desert during the Exodus, angels who rebelled against God, and the sodomites of the plain-- Jude again addressed the false teachers.
Those infiltrating the Church had preached a "cheap grace" excusing sinful behavior and had denied Jesus's Lordship. Jude focused on three specific actions that revealed the utter rebellion in these men, who may have appeared very spiritual and innovative.
First, Jude called the rebels "dreamers" who pollute their own bodies. The word translated "dreamers" means simply "imaginations during sleep," but the context implies the polluting effect of fleshly imaginations. These were not "dreams" inspired by God, like Joseph's. These were the sort of pretentious imaginations that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God (2 Cor. 10:5). The word "pollute" literally means defilement or depravity. The false teachers polluted "their own bodies" with various forms of sexual excess, including homosexuality.
Secondly, these dreamers rejected authority like the unbelieving Israelites, who rejected the authority of both Moses and Yahweh. Their rejection of authority refers to repudiating Jesus' lordship over their lives.
Finally, the early church rebels slandered celestial beings. How and why they did this is not stated. They may have scoffed at the existence of angels, demons, or even the devil.
Jude referred to a Jewish tradition in a writing called "The Assumption of Moses," in which the devil argued with the archangel Michael about who had the right to dispose of the body of Moses. In this tradition, though powerful and authoritative, Michael did not even dare dispute with Satan and instead left the matter in God's hands, saying, The Lord rebuke you! The point here is that there is no place for scoffing at or slandering the existence of angels or demons.
These three actions reveal the inner attitudes of physical immorality, intellectual insubordination, and spiritual irreverence, which do not make for godly leadership.
The warning is obvious: Beware of leaders and teachers who make "grace" a license for sin and reject Jesus's Lordship. Beware of those whose "dreams" and visions for ministry are really imaginations that exalt man against the knowledge of God. Beware those who speak abusively against whatever they do not understand and even slander or scoff at the work or character of angels—even the devil. Beware those who reject authority and act on "instinct," like unreasoning animals.

Father God, give me discernment in these days. Help me see the error of those who endorse immorality, reject Your Lordship, and are irreverent to angels. Give me clarity in my walk with You, patience within the Body of believers, and grace in my personal faith journey. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2024
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2024 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.