JUDE: The Fallacy of the Prosperity and Spirituality Theologies (cont.); "they are carried about by the winds, walking according to their own lusts, not having the Spirit!"

For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:4) Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries. (Jude 1:8)

We must reiterate from the previous study the behavior and character of these false teachers that came into the church during Jude's time and that are in the church now: But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain [Genesis 4:1-15], have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit [Numbers 22], and perished in the rebellion of Korah. [Numbers 16:1-40] (Jude 1:10-11)

These are spots in your love feasts [feasts of charity], while they feast with you without fear, serving only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried about by the winds; late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, pulled up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. (Jude 1:12-13)

Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, [Genesis 5:18-24] prophesied about these men also, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” (Jude 1:14-15)

These are grumblers, complainers, walking according to their own lusts; and they mouth great swelling words, flattering people to gain advantage. But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit. (Jude 1:16-19) 

In the previous lesson, we focused on the fallacy of the prosperity theology.  We conclude with studying the fallacy of the spirituality theology, which teaches the ability for one to have a spiritual connection with a "higher power", a spiritual awakening within oneself without any acknowledgement of God, or a relationship with God outside of having a relationship with Jesus Christ and obeying the Word of God. *Google search results

Seeking inner peace is a good thing, because God has called us to peace. (I Corinthians 7:15)  And He is the God of love and peace ... (II Corinthians 13:11) Therefore, if we want to have true knowledge of ourselves, our seeking must begin with Him! O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it. (Psalm 139:1-6)

Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. (Psalm 139:7-8, 13-16)

God knows everything about us, and He will not only reveal the truth of ourselves to us, but He will also fill us with His Holy Spirit, Who will help guide us through the rest of our lives here on earth. This is true spirituality, to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God! For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (I Corinthians 2:11-13) 

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (I Corinthians 2:14-16)

And this leads us to how to attain true spirituality, and it is only attained through a relationship with Christ Jesus. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. ... And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you." (John 14:6, 16-17)

The only way we will get to a place of true peace and contentment is through a relationship of faith in Christ Jesus. Therefore, ...seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4) ...and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

The spirituality teachers and teachings deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ as being the only way to having a relationship with God, and that we can have a relationship with a "higher power" in other ways.  Well first, there is only One "higher power", One God, for He has said, "I am the Lord, and there is no other; there is no God besides Me. ... I am the Lord, and there is no other; I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things.’ Rain down, you heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness; let the earth open, let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together. I, the Lord, have created it. ... I have made the earth, and created man on it. I—My hands—stretched out the heavens, and all their host I have commanded. (Isaiah 45:5-8, 12)

Secondly, there is only one way to have a relationship with God, and that is through His Son, which He confirmed before the apostles. Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. ... While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!” (Matthew 17:1-5)

And if we hear Him, then we will also believe Him when He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." Therefore, Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38) For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” ...for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” [Joel 2:32] (Romans 10:10-13)

Lastly, once we accept God's free gift of salvation through faith in Christ Jesus, we shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is true spirituality!  However, for those who refuse to believe, we are to follow the example of God's archangel, Michael; Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” [Zechariah 3]  (Jude 1:9)

We are not to argue back and forth with people who don't believe, but, speaking the truth in love,... (Ephesians 4:15) avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. (II Timothy 2:23-26)

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. (Jude 1:20-23) For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. (II Corinthians 7:10)

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen. (Jude 1:24-25)