Jude 12 - Clouds

Introduction

Last week

Jude uses some examples of nature to describe those determined on destroying the church

False teachers and leaders

These spots or blemishes on their charity or love.

That without fear they are out for themselves

That without fear are full of hypocrisy

Continuing in verse 12 Jude speaking of the apostates, those that have turned away from the things of God.

Likened unto clouds

They are without water

Carried about of winds

Exposition

Clouds

Visible

Look out and as far as the eye can see, there are clouds

Ever present

Come with expectations

Can bring a cooling to the day with some shade

Always think rain at some point those clouds are going to produce rain

Ever present reminder after the flood

Genesis 9:16 - And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.

Clouds without water

Israel rains from 2”- 21”

People see clouds would be in great anticipation, just to be let down as they would produce no rain.

Those clouds promised much, but delivered nothing

Connection Jude is making is that these that crept in would not be doing what was expected.

Looked to them, you would be let down.

As Christians, we look to Christian leaders to

Produce teaching that glorifies Christ

Produce action that magnifies Christ

Phil 1:20 - According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

It’s the preaching of Christ that satisfies and quenches man’s thirst for truth

The focus of their teaching was everything but Christ-centered.

Come in with great promise, but deliver nothing.

Leave total parched, spiritually

Proverbs 25:14 - Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift Is like clouds and wind without rain.

Clouds carried about of winds

Can’t see the wind, but you know it is there

They are influenced by the unseen forces of this world

Eph 4:14 - That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

We need more preachers standing up saying that the Devil and the Devil’s influence is real.

Was there in the Garden of Eden

Influenced the events around Job’s life

Pressed upon Herod

Tempted Jesus Himself

Got in the head of Judas

John 8:44 - Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

I believe Satan is behind all false doctrine

If it is a lie, he is behind it, the father of it.

Recap

Without water - disappointment, delivers nothing

Carried about - driven by a force of evil

Application

The Christian response to a warning like this in Jude is to be seriously rooted and resolved to the Word of God

The Word of God is never disappointing

Never leaves you thirsty

Always does what it is expected to

Is 55:11 - So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Doesn’t return void

Always produces something prosperous

Just as I believe Satan is sending forth false doctrine

God is sending forth truth

I sent it

His Word, He sends through you and I

One side of the spectrum - disappointing and no doubt charged up by Satan himself

The other side of the spectrum - prosperous, thirst quenching, spiritually satisfying and sent by God