We’re now going through the epistle of Jude, that tiny book toward the end of the Bible. He helps us to understand and identify false teachers and preachers in the body of Christ.
Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals — these are the very things that destroy them.
Jude 10 NIV
This is a very important verse that we need to pay careful attention to. Again, the word he uses for speak abusively against is the Greek word for blaspheme. But, what is it that they blaspheme in this verse?
That word, understand, literally means to know by seeing. In other words, they blaspheme things that they haven’t personally experienced.
Jude goes on to say that these people have a level of understanding. The Greek words that he uses mean that the knowledge they stand upon is in the natural.
That’s an important concept. He says that this natural knowledge will cause them to shrivel, wither, and become ruined.
The Apostle Paul dealt with this exact same issue in his first letter to the Corinthians.
The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 2:14 NIV
That phrase, man without the spirit, is literally natural or soulish man in the Greek. In other words, like Jude tells us, they don’t accept what they don’t understand.
I’ve seen this many times in my ministry. If you were to label me, I’d be called a Charismatic preacher. That means I’ve received the baptism in the Holy Spirit as evidenced by speaking in tongues.
I regularly pray in the spirit (in tongues). I know, by experience that I cannot minister fully in God’s power without it.
However, I also know that there are many believers who haven’t experienced this manifestation in their lives. I don’t judge them or look down on them.
But, there are also those who preach and teach against this experience. Many of them go as far as to say that what I experience is of Satan. I have a big problem with this.
I’m about to say something that may sound like I’m bragging. I assure you I’m not because it’s all based upon the power of God and not my own strength or intelligence.
I have brought many people into the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. I have laid my hands on the sick and have seen them healed in the name of Jesus Christ. I have cast out demons in the name of Jesus Christ.
Why would the devil ever allow me to do that if I was operating in the power of the enemy. Like Jesus said to His accusers…
“If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?”
Matthew 12:26 NIV
I believe Jude is talking about this. These people are blaspheming what they haven’t experienced. We need to be very careful about how we treat others in the body of Christ, especially if we don’t understand their ministries.
Question: How do you respond when you hear someone preaching against other ministries?
© 2026 Nick Zaccardi
The Spirit and the Word 