Sermon Central
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The Enemy Within Part 2 Series
Contributed by Terry Williams on Aug 26, 2013 (message contributor)
Summary: More characteristics of Apostates.
Sermon #7 of 11
Jude: A Call to Defend
The Enemy Within Part 2
Introduction
We looked at The Enemy Within when we studied verse 4 about 4 weeks ago.
4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
We saw that this enemy was
Sneaky
Ungodly and pervert the grace of Jesus
Deny the Lordship of Jesus
Condemned before God.
Today in verses 12-13 we see some more characteristics of this enemy of the church, as John MacArthur points out the terrorists within the church.
12 These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; 13 wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.
1. They are dangerous, fearless, and self-absorbed.
Reefs in the ocean were a hidden nightmare for ships.
If you hit one of them it could literally rip the bottom off of a ship and cause it to sink.
This enemy within the church, was just as dangerous.
They could sit within the church, act like they were a part of the church, but they have an undercurrent of destruction.
Instead of promoting unity, they promote disunity.
Instead of being encouragers, they inflict harm
Instead of being actively involved in God’s work, they criticize
and thwart God’s work.
Anything positive, they are quick to make it a negative.
As the church moved forward, they were pulling away.
They are vessels of Satan used to destroy God’s work within His church and they sit there unnoticed and without fear.
They are self-absorbed, or as one translation puts it, gluttons.
That word struck me this week.
A glutton is someone who always receives but never gives back.
That describes a vast number of church members today in the American church.
We are not disciples, we are consumers of a feel good religion. If a church does not make us “feel good”, we go down the street to find another church.
The false teachers that Jude describes here not only teach a false doctrine, they teach through their actions, the opposite of what being a church member is all about.
True church membership reflects ….
True salvation
True discipleship
True giftedness
True ministry
Any other membership is dangerous to the true church of God.
2. They are empty on promises.
waterless clouds, swept along by winds
Being from the panhandle we know all too well about waterless clouds.
This enemy, is an enemy who promises a lot, but delivers little, if anything.
Kinda sounds like Satan.
14 Like clouds and wind without rain is a man who boasts of a gift he does not give.
for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Those who are intentionally set on misleading the church will give empty promises to lure people away from the truth.
3. They are fruitless..
fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted;
What are the signs of a true believer? It is what comes out of one’s life on a consistent basis. We are known by the fruit we bear.
Notice what Jesus says.
Matthew 15:7-13, 18-20
7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: 8
