A Serious Issue

Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. (Jude 1:11)

Anytime you see the word woe used in Scripture, you should pay close attention. God is trying to highlight a danger, a warning, and a considerable issue for us to avoid.

Here, through Jude, the Holy Spirit warned us about those who abandon their faith, their teaching, and their wisdom in order to secure financial gain.

Many times, I have seen believers decide to go against what God told them because it would bring them a raise or a bonus, or because it would provide them a better place to live, or even would give them a more popular reputation with friends, family, or co-workers.

Sacrificing obedience for money, things, or ego is incredibly dangerous, and lying to God about it is equally disastrous.

The Book of Acts records the account of a couple named Ananias and Sapphira. This couple was a part of the early church in Jerusalem, where certain believers were led by the Holy Spirit to sow tremendous offerings and nearly everyone sacrificed in big ways for the church to expand.

No one was forced to do so. They simply gave as God led. However, this couple saw the honor that others were given and wanted the same recognition and honor, but without the same amount of sacrifice.

When it came time to give, they lied and said they gave the totality of what their house sold for, but in reality, they held back a portion for themselves. They had the right to hold back whatever they wanted and to give whatever they wanted, but they lied to the Holy Ghost and pretended they did. When they lied to the leaders of the church, they died instantly. This issue is serious.

Practical Application

The most important job we have as believers is to obey the Holy Spirit. When you feel led to do something, do it immediately. When you hear the inner voice of the Holy Spirit, listen and follow. Do not sacrifice obedience for money.

2 Peter 2:15; Acts 5:3

Brute Beasts of Basic Belief

But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. (Jude 1:10)

Knowledge that comes from God’s Word leads to wisdom, but having knowledge of God’s Word also makes you responsible for living it.

Jude 1:10 talks about believers who have lost their way when it comes to what they minister and speak. They speak evil of things they don’t really understand and declare things over situations they have never researched in God’s Word or received His wisdom about.

These individuals, Jude wrote about, used to teach the Word clearly and spoke truth and wisdom from the Holy Ghost, but over time, they developed wrong motives. They spoke against people and situations about which they had no revelation, so the anointing lifted off of them. Jude likened them to brute beasts, driven by their basic instincts rather than wisdom from the Holy Ghost. It was a stark warning about the degradation that can occur when someone loses sight of accurate knowledge from God’s Word.

The illustrative image of brute beasts is powerful. Animals are devoid of reason and operate on pure natural instinct alone. In the same way, false teachers act out in ignorance and emotions. They act as if they alone have the truth of understanding, a knowledge that, in reality, is devoid of divine illumination.

Ignorance, in Jude’s context, is not simply a lack of information, but a deliberate choice to operate without revelation from the Holy Ghost. The consequence of this type of life is a self-inflicted corruption—a decay of the spirit that happens when people stop seeking God and serve only their emotions and fleshly instincts.

Practical Application

Don’t speak or act in emotions or define “truth” devoid of the Word or wisdom from the Holy Ghost. When you hear of a situation, or are given information about something, pray in the Spirit; search the Word, and get His wisdom before anything else.

Romans 1:22; 1 Corinthians 2:14

Tame the Tongue

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. (Ephesians 4:29)

Have you ever heard the idiom “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me?” That sounds good, but it’s not the truth. What you say has the power to uplift or to wound, and to build bridges or burn them.

Your tongue is one of the most powerful weapons you have at your disposal. In the same way that you should be careful with any weapon, you need to be careful where you point your words, especially in a marriage. Walking in love means that you decide you don’t have to have the last word. Love doesn't have to be heard; instead, it seeks to understand.

Many times, the Holy Spirit will tell me to “shut up” before I say the wrong thing. That’s exactly what Paul was saying in Ephesians 4:29—do not let corrupt communication come out of your mouth. Corrupt is the Greek word spares and it means rotten or putrid. Our words can be rotten and spoil relationships, opportunities, or even the character that we have developed in the eyes of others.

Instead of having corrupt communication, Paul admonished our words should edify, which means we should say things that build others up.

You may say, “But what if I don’t feel like being edifying?” Well, then you need to pray in the Holy Ghost. When you do, the desire to speak harmful words will fade and the Holy Ghost will give you words of edification. You can edify and speak words that build up anyone if you will listen to the Holy Ghost and obey what He is telling you to say.

Practical Application

Are you submitting your words to the Holy Spirit? When you feel emotionally heightened, upset, angry, annoyed, or aggravated, take a moment to pray and ask the Holy Spirit what He wants you to say.

Proverbs 16:24; Proverbs 4:24