Worthless Clouds Without Water Carried By The Changing Winds –jude 1 Verse 12 Series

WORTHLESS CLOUDS WITHOUT WATER CARRIED BY THE CHANGING WINDS –Jude 1 verse 12

In our last message we were looking at these false teachers Jude was battling when he urged his readers to contend for the faith. They had to be positive, and a lazy and don’t care less approach would achieve nothing. He lived in serious times, and for us today it is very critical as we are on the last page of the Church age, and attack is coming from every quarter.

We looked at the descriptions Jude gave of these teachers of error and considered just one of the descriptions, that of hidden reefs (or sunken rocks). Today we will consider the empty clods with no water.

Jude 1 v 12 These men are those who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit doubly dead, uprooted;

(A). CARING FOR THEMSELVES

This is a terrible indictment on these false teachers from verse 12, but it is not surprising. Those who are false are not the Lord’s, and therefore do not have the spiritual change in their lives that causes the godly caring for one another. These evil, false teachers care only for themselves, usually, for their own wealth and prestige and position. I think all of us can call to mind examples of caring in this world that come from non-Christians. Some people have a sacrificial, caring behaviour that is so commendable, even though they have not given their lives to the Lord. They can de devoted all their lives to a beautiful care for others. What a shame these wonderful people can’t take that extra step and be converted.

However our attention is on the false teachers. They have less care for God’s people than the world has for its own. They are condemned even by the world. Jude makes special mention of them in this verse 12 by using 5 illustrations, 3 of which are metaphors. The accusation is simply “caring for themselves”. They prey on God’s people or they prey of the religious minds of those who are not God’s, BUT they do it in the name of God. Some stand before TV cameras and parade around the world’s stages like showmen, but they don’t deal with individuals who need help. The worldings may connive and deceive each other, and that is one thing; BUT to do it in the name of God as pretenders, that is altogether another thing. It is devilish and reprehensible.

God hates those with secret agendas and falsehood, especially those who make a prey of others for personal and financial gain such as Benny Hinn does. These care for themselves, not for God’s people. There are hundreds of these, with about a dozen of them having worldwide recognition.

PREYING ON GOD’S PEOPLE

The preying on God’s people for your own benefit is nothing new. It is part of the evil Satan brings against what is good. An examination of the scriptures shows that fact very clearly, and Ezekiel was one of the loudest voices raised up against these treacherous men. He wrote in these terms – {{Ezekiel 34 v 1-3 “Then the word of the LORD came to me saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to those shepherds, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Woe, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock? You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool. You slaughter the fat sheep without feeding the flock.”}} God pronounces a woe on these evil shepherds who cared only for themselves, not for the flock; who ravaged others in their own greediness. This was a terrible time in Judah and God brought those evil shepherds to justice when the overthrow came.

Ezekiel continued – {{Ezekiel 34 v 8 “As I live,” declares the Lord GOD, “surely because My flock has become a prey, My flock has even become food for all the beasts of the field for lack of a shepherd, and My shepherds did not search for My flock, but rather the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock.”}} - and again, there is more condemnation for the despicable behaviour the false shepherds that was shown to those who should have been cared for. Caring only for themselves.

The great prophet Zechariah also spoke against the hypocrisy – {{Zechariah 11 v 15-17 “And the LORD said to me, “Take again for yourself the equipment of a foolish shepherd, for behold, I am going to raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for the perishing, (or) seek the scattered, (or) heal the broken, or sustain the one standing, but will devour the flesh of the fat sheep and tear off their hoofs. Woe to the worthless shepherd who leaves the flock. A sword will be on his arm and on his right eye. His arm will be totally withered, and his right eye will be blind.”}} We can be absolutely sure that the judgement of God will fall heavily on those who use the name of God to promote themselves, care only for themselves, and feed themselves off the sheep, and mislead the people of God.