Little Foxes

Ezekiel 22:30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Christians must continually defending and obeying the Christ-centered, Christ-exalting faith that has been passed on through the true Church, Jude 3, because of the constant threat of false teachers and enemies of the gospel.

Little foxes are trying to get into the church, “certain people have crept in unnoticed...”

Little foxes that spoil the vine, “certain people...” Song of Solomon 2:15 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.

Vines are of no use unless they are bearing fruit.

You cannot construct houses out of vines, build bridges, or make furniture out of vines.

Vines must maintain a vital connecting to Jesus, John 15:5 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

If vines don’t bear fruit they are gathered like kindling and thrown into the fire, John15:5 “5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Little foxes are only interested in very fruitful vines.

Vine represents the churches life, her progress; progress that took a lot of time and hard work.

Grapes represent the fruit of the churches labor; souls saved, marriages restored, bad habits broken, devoted servants, missionaries sent out, preachers called to gospel ministry, etc.

Foxes represent the small things we ignore, little details unchecked, things we fail to deal with.

“If you have any sign of spiritual life, if you have any tender grapes upon your branches, the devil and his foxes will be sure to be at you; therefore, endeavor to get as close as ever you can to two persons who are mentioned hard by my text, namely, the King and his spouse. First, keep close to Christ for this is your life; and next, keep close to his Church, for this is your comfort.” (Spurgeon)

Little foxes manage their way through the gaps, infiltrating the fabric of the church.

We are a flock of sheep, not a den of foxes, they have no place here, they’re not of our kind, 1 John 2:19 “19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.”

These little foxes are looking for gaps in the churches faith. So many churches leave themselves exposed to all sorts of dangers and threats.

The gap of ignorance and illiteracy of Christians, people who do not know the scriptures.

The gap of passivity, Christians who are comfortable, not serious and doing nothing for God.

The gap of inconsistencies, in and out, up and down, serving and sitting, neither hot or cold, just lukewarm.

The gap of tolerance/compromise, not wanting to stir the waters or be offensive, politically correct.

What are these little foxes that want to destroy the church. (Note: they’ve rejected God’s authority Jude 4)

Grumbling foxes, murmuring under their breath, murmuring against God and the things of God. Murmur under their breath against the church and its leaders, methods and modes of practice. You’re a Christian but do you have to be such a fanatic.

Complaining foxes, stronger form of discontent, issues with God’s providence/goodness. It is complaining about the lot God has given to you in life, counting their gains and looses in life. Pride is at the root of complaining because things are not going the way I want them to go. Yea we know you’re a Christian, but if God was that good, why has life turned out the way it has.

Self-Entitled Foxes who did whatever they enjoyed without regard to right and wrong. No regard for what God says you cannot do and what sin is. You can have your faith and fun at the same time.

Exaggerating foxes who said things that were swollen or exaggerated. They stretched their stories to support their opinions. Stories became lies to promote their cause.

Manipulative foxes who were showing respect of persons. They did and said things that impressed those they were trying to convince while putting down others, using flattering statements to gain friends and followers, Proverbs 26:28 “28 A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.”

Character of these little foxes, “ungodly…turning the grace of God into sensuality.”

Claiming to be spiritual, but lack in godliness.

No reverence, no sacredness, no respect in the house of God or for the things of God.

Rather, a lightheartedness, irreverence with regards to the scriptures, playing loose with the Bible; needs based message.

Making up their own mode and method of worship styles, externalism, showmanship, gesturing that is out of line with Biblical worship, John 4:24 “24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.””

The first obvious point of their irreverence is they were “perverting the grace of God.”

“Perverting” means “to change and alter.” Changing the message to satisfy the masses. Take those things out that might get under people’s skin.

Grace was being altered to mean you could do whatever you wanted, taking advantage of the grace of God; they were gutting the faith of its moral imperatives. Grace is not a license to sin, but a responsibility to be upheld.

Softening the image of God, a social God than Sovereign, whose vengeance and condemnation slowly evaporates and disappears, a more accepting God.

The second point is a disregard and denial God’s authority over their life.

They had become their own authority and master over their life.

They are not denying Christ’s deity, or his work on the cross, but denying His sovereign Lordship over their lives.

They become a law unto themselves, accountable to no one.

Jude 8 Yet in like manner…these creeping into the church resemble Sodom and Gomorrah. (What does that mean?)

They push the boundaries beyond what God permits. They have lost touch with spiritual realities.

Reject the Bible and appeal to dreams (phony visionaries) and their own imaginations as a source of revelation and extrabiblical source of authority.

False teachers or little foxes often claim dreams to be authoritative, a divine source for their “new truths,” which are really just lies and distortions.

Claiming to have “a word from the Lord” or “God told me…” does not legitimize what one says, Deuteronomy 13:1-5 ; Jeremiah 23:25-32.

“Defile the flesh” think back on the so called “God Called” men who have fallen to sexual sin and have been caught in immoral behavior.

Devoid of the Spirit, Jude 19, abandoned truth, they have no divine power to control their sinful passions, Romans 8:7-8 “7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

Jude 9, Jude illustrates that even angels acknowledge proper authority, and they know their place and power in God’s plan.

Michael knew his place in God’s plan. The greatest of angels, he is still an angel, servant not sovereign, minister not the Master. Michael is not his own authority.

Michael would not do what false teachers and their followers dare do, that is rebuke Satan.

We are no match for Satan in our own strength, he will defeat us every time.

Believers must never exert more authority than what God has given to us.

To gain victory over Satan, we must submit to the highest authority, God’s authority, Matthew 4:4 “4 But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ””

They use words for effect, and misrepresent the truth, Jude 12-13.

Deception always disappoints because it never delivers on what it promises, “waterless clouds” only pretending, driven by a force beyond their control, 2 Corinthians 11:12-15 “12 And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.”

Dead from top to bottom. Fruitless and they are rootless, “fruitless trees.” There’s nothing to their message or ministry, no fruit of the Spirit, no fruit of regeneration, no fruit of character, and no fruit for Jesus.

They make a lot of noise with great swelling words, but they do not have a life to back it up, Jude 13 “wild waves.”

How are these pesty little foxes dealt with…designated for condemnation.

Cultural is moving in a downward motion away from God in the direction of unbelief, rebellion, and immorality, these characterize a great influence on our way of life.

Our culture has turned its back on God and his Word, shunned his standards, and mocked his character. The culture is the way it is because the church is the way she is.

It is not difficult to see what God thinks and what God will do, Jude 5-7.

Judgment is inevitable and unalterable, “designated for this condemnation,” 2 Peter 2:3-10

Unbelief will be judged, Jude 5.

Rebellion will be judged, Jude 6.

Immorality will be judged, Jude 7.

Ungodly will be judged, Jude 4 and Jude 15.

Jude makes another reference to non-biblical source, namely Enoch’s prophecy, Jude 14-15.

It comes from the Book of Enoch, a pseudepigraphic book which attempts to imitate scripture and written under a false name.

It’s a spurious (fake) book written by unknown authors who ascribing the names of famous biblical persons to the book.

Jude extracts this prophecy, Enoch 1:9, it is historical, valid, and accurate context, to support his thesis.

There is no escaping the judgment of God. No evil action, thought, or word will go unpunished, nor will it be erased from the divine memory, Proverbs 11:21 “21 Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.”

Concluding Remarks

Popular expressions of cultural Christianity contradicting biblical truth. Preaching that lies to people by telling them nothing is wrong with them. An affront to God’s to use the gospel as a license to sin. When it is easy to take Jesus as Saviour but not Lord over our lives.

Christians and the church must contend for the faith, but we cannot become contentious about the faith. We fight because we must fight, not because we want to or enjoy it. Christian’s must remember our commission, Jude 22-23; 2 Timothy 2:23-26 “23 Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. 24 And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.”