Garment spotted by the Flesh
By:  Cherie Sheridan

 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Jude 1:23

I was in prayer the other day when the Lord placed a vision before me. It was a vision that changed the way I perceived myself and the way I
believe the Lord sees us.

In the past when I read the referenced scripture I believed the garment that we wore just had spots on it. You know, like a stain that you can wash off. In this vision I saw a person wearing a filthy garment with big gaping wholes in it. The person didn't know they were exposed. They thought they were covered. I could feel the wretched condition of the person I was seeing. I could also feel how the Lord felt concerning them. It messed me up inside. I wondered to myself, "am I that person?" The only thing I could begin to do was repent. This garment couldn't be repaired. It had to be replaced.

Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. Rev 3:4-5

Jesus himself has to change our raiment. Just as His was changed on the mount of transfiguration.

And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. Matthew 17:2

In this vision the raiment covered the individual from head to toe. It wasn't just like a coat. We are to be completely covered. Jesus wore a seamless garment. The implication of this never really meant much to me until I had this vision. There can be no holes, no openings. This raiment is like the armor of God we are to be wearing. The very Glory of God Himself!

You might say, Cherie, it's nice you had that vision but what does God say about this? I'm glad you asked. How's this...

Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. Rev 16:15

What are the things that cause us to have holes in our garment? I'm going to just give you the scriptures.

But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against t hem before the Lord.

But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. 
Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with atempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

While they promise them liberty, they themselves are theservants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment
delivered unto them. 2Pet 2:10-21

These are serious errors that many in the body of Christ are currently making! How many of us have despised government? That just doesn't mean the current administration, it means God's true governing body that has been set in our lives to train us and raise us up to maturity. How many people do we think we have the right to talk about? Read it! "

They are not afraid to speak evil of dignities"

God is not talking about earthly government here. He's talking about His dignities that He placed here for HIS Kingdom. That's just the beginning of the list.

Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Gal 4:1-2

How many of us have spoken evil of things of the Spirit that we don't have a clue about?

Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1Cor 2:13-14

Yes, there's more! We are greatly deceiving ourselves if we don't take an evaluation of our OWN garments.

Having eyes full of adultery.

 a·dul·ter·y 
Voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and a partner other than the lawful spouse.

Are we not married to the Lord? Is He not the Husbandman? Are we not the Bride? Are we looking to the world with lusts? With desire? Do we love the wages of unrighteousness?

These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with atempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

We are called have Springs of living water flowing out of us. Here we are warned not to be dried up wells. Moved about by every storm that comes our way. Not stable in faith, not trusting the Lord. Running here and there, looking to the world for answers and not to God. Not maturing in the things of God.

Listen, these scriptures are not talking about sex! These are talking about how we act and what we say.

speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through thelusts of the flesh,through much wantonness, 

What's your motive for why you say what you say?  Why do you go where you go?  Why are your "friends" your friends?

Here's an example: "Hello, mighty man of God, 

God really uses you mightily. Wish I was were you are...."

See the flattery, now here's the pitch, invite me to come where you are. I'm I stepping on some toes? Good! We have to stop this stuff. It's time to be real and stop playing the ministry game.

Can you really make a statement like that and be sincere?  Yes. It's all tied into motive. The garment you wear tells it all.

I'm sorry this is not a feel good message. But it is the Truth. Too many people think they are headed to heaven when they have a one way ticket to Hell! A great deception has been laid over the body of Christ. If it was possible for Paul to possibly loose his salvation what makes us think we are any different?

The Holy Spirit wants to save some with fear and pull them out of the fire!

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 1Cor 9:27

 The scriptures say in the mouth of two or three witness let every truth be established. Well, here is Jude's version too.

Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.

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.

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.

These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear:  clouds they arewithout water, carried about of winds; trees whose  fruitwithereth,without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots. Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.  Jude 1:8-13

Jude is talking about God's people here. He’s not discussing the unsaved. God's word is to His people!

 I am writing this with the Urgency of the Spirit of God. We must NOW take an evaluation of ourselves. We can no longer afford to be immature in the things of the Kingdom of God. We must come out of this wickedness. The Kingdom of God does not operate like the world. You cannot network yourself into the things of God. God Himself must bring us before the people He has assigned us to. EVERYONE in the Body of Christ is called. We are all called to be ministers of reconciliation.

We are to be reconciling the lost to King of Glory. The heart of God is for souls. If you find you are not concerned whether your family members, your neighbors, your boss, the people on the street are going to Hell for eternity you need to check yourself! Yes, you are called to that! How can you be walking in the love of God and let another human being go to hell without saying something? It doesn't matter if they hate you, whether they want to hear it our not. The love of God compels us to tell them.

19. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20. Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

 21. Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal 5:19-21

27. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. James 1:27

ASK GOD TO SHOW YOU WHAT HE SEES WHEN HE LOOKS AT YOUR GARMENT.


Prayer:

Father, please forgive me for all that I have done to cause my garment to become filthy. Wash me afresh with the blood of Jesus. I repent.
Help me Holy Spirit to walk in holiness and righteousness. Put a guard over my mouth that I do not sin against you with my words. Preserve my life. Quicken me and convict me when I am doing something that is displeasing to you. Lord I truly want your will and your way for my life. Help me. In Jesus name, Amen.

If you have not made Jesus the Lord and Savior of your life, do so, right now.

Repent (stop sinning), ask forgiveness for your sins. For we all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God. Ask Jesus to come into your heart and be the
Lord of your life. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with His presence. Get a Bible and read it daily. Ask the Lord to teach you His word. Ask the Lord to
direct you where you will learn His Truth in Love with other believers. If you sin again, repent and keep going on with God. Welcome to the Kingdom of
God.