Apostasy.

Josh White sermon notes…eerily reminiscent of Gary’s comments about joy killers only 2 weeks later.  I don’t believe in coincidence.  I think there is something I am supposed to learn from this.  Here are the notes in a jumbled mess.  I will reconcile the two into a cohesive whole later…but here are the raw themes.

The source text:

Jude 12-13…”These are blemishes on your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, looking after themselves; waterless clouds swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.”

Apostasy is repentance in the wrong direction.  Taking God off of his throne.  Ezekiel 34:8b…”since there was no Shepard and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep, therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord.”

Looking after themselves…Selfishness…allowing our passions to dictate our actions.  The entire sea changes because of one rock.  Reckless abandon should only be true in speaking of my spiritual being; all other pursuits should be done cautiously.

Waterless clouds…Purposelessness…A cloud without rain only hides the sun/son.  How much larger would my world be if I were smaller in it?

Fruitless trees…Baroness…True fiath finds its home in commitment.

Wild waves of the sea…Destructiveness…Your sin will impact everyone.

Wandering stars…Directionless…Burn out and exhastion.

If doctrine does not lead to duty, it has no point.  The spirit is the device that allows man to behave as a man.