“And I remind you of the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority God gave them but left the place where they belonged. God has kept them securely chained in prisons of darkness, waiting for the great day of judgment.” Jude 1:6 NLT
The second sign of the “secret-slipper-inner” is that they are like “the angels who did not stay within the limits of authority.”
This verse is referring to Satan and the angels who followed him in rebellion against God. The Bible indicates that those beings we refer to as demons today were once angels who chose to declare war on God in hopes of deposing Him. Satan himself was an angel called Lucifer…“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.” Isaiah 14: 12-15 KJV
I cannot imagine being likened to the devil but God says the “secret-slipper-inners” are like Satan in that they emulate his rebellion against authority.
I once worked briefly with a young man who made it his habit to undermine our manager by not following through with his responsibilities and then reporting our manager for dereliction of duty. The rest of us could easily see the fatal flaw in the young man’s plan but for some reason he thought he had the clout to take on people above his pay grade. He was soon displaced.
Secret-slipper-inners are men or women who are constantly trying to destroy the authority of their church leadership. They are not just complainers they are underminers. The saddest truth though is that they are often good at building consensus and wherever they go division seems to ride their wake. I wonder how many church splits could have been avoided if Jude verse 6 had been committed to memory.
Lord in our days make us discerning!
If you missed the first parts of this study:
https://jelillie.wordpress.com/2012/09/01/pastor-wrinkles-hey-jude-pt-1/
https://jelillie.wordpress.com/2012/09/02/pastor-wrinkles-hey-jude-pt-2/
https://jelillie.wordpress.com/2012/09/06/pastor-wrinkles-hey-jude-pt-3/
https://jelillie.wordpress.com/2012/09/07/pastor-wrinkles-hey-jude-pt-4/
https://jelillie.wordpress.com/2012/09/08/pastor-wrinkles-hey-jude-pt-5/
https://jelillie.wordpress.com/2012/09/12/pastor-wrinkles-hey-jude-pt-6/
https://jelillie.wordpress.com/2012/09/13/pastor-wrinkles-hey-jude-pt-7/
https://jelillie.wordpress.com/2012/09/15/pastor-wrinkles-hey-jude-pt-8/
https://jelillie.wordpress.com/2012/09/16/pastor-wrinkles-hey-jude-pt-9/
Reinventing the We'll 
I never understood why, if people aren’t happy in their church, they don’t just leave–it’s not like you sign a contract, you know? And there are a gazillion other churches. Unless there’s an issue of legality, or serious moral trespass–then I’m pretty sure there are specific steps, a process, by which the issues are addressed. Right, or no? God bless you, Pastor J! love, sis Caddo
As I have walked through church life Sis I have come to feel that it really has nothing to do with being happy with the church at all, because most people even after they have ousted the pastor or won the perceived battle are no happier than they were before. In fact they often end up leaving the church only to cause another problem somewhere else. I think this issue has a lot to do with control.
Thank you, Lord for discernment may many more embrace Your word. Great teachings, Pastor J may we all learn from it.
Thanks Deb!
There was one of these in a Church where I was the secretary. He was sooooooo well liked and admired by the pastor and most others in the Church, and held up as an example, but I and three others discerned he was ‘of the devil’. We would get goosebumps when he entered a room, even though we didn’t know he was there until we turned round. He showed a vile temper to us, but was meek and mild to others. He caused quite a problem in the Church.
After a couple of months it was revealed that he had abused two ‘wives’ (one wasn’t a wife) and not long after, our suspicions were confirmed that he was a child molester. One boy was badly affected.
Praise God that He gives gifts to His people for the good of the Church. Discernment is one and should be recognised by the Church.
The gift of discernment is one of the most needed and underpracticed gifts of the Holy Spirit. God always sends a message of warning to the body when there is trouble. I am glad that in your church’s moment of danger God raised up three intercessors to battle for the Holy ground!
Thank you for showing us another sign of a slipper-inner. This is so sad. Praying with you for discernment! God bless you, Pastor J!
Indeed it is sad. But God told us that His church would be embattled until the end. What we do know is that those remain faithful to the end will see a mighty salvation! Keep battling sister!
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