They all started off well intentioned. They were men or women of God who wanted to do good things. They paid the price, tried hard to help people and became skilled at doing what God had called them to do. Then the deceit of wealth began to whisper lies in their ears. They began to hear how they deserved more. How they were worth it. The Oxen should go unmuzzled became their life verse.
They became preachers of wealth obtained thru giving money to ministry. They preached the tithe and offering more than sanctification and repentance. They preached the Hundredfold return more than the Return of Jesus.
This error in the church of Jesus has been exposed and I tell you by the revelation of the Holy Ghost, will be exposed even more. Judgment is here. This is a warning to those pastors, Apostles, Bishops and others who have used the distortion of the word of God to fleece the flock. Stop now, or you will be exposed and deposed. The hand of Judgment is already on the church in America.
Paul the Apostle when leaving Ephesus for the last time revealed convictions that have been lost to most in the Church Today. Read them and consider how far we have drifted from the confession of Paul to today. Emphasis is mine.
Acts 20:18
“You know that from the day I set foot in the province of Asia until now 19 I have done the Lord’s work humbly and with many tears. I have endured the trials that came to me from the plots of the Jews. 20 I never shrank back from telling you what you needed to hear, either publicly or in your homes. 21 I have had one message for Jews and Greeks alike—the necessity of repenting from sin and turning to God, and of having faith in our Lord Jesus.22 “And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, 23 except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. 24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.
25 “And now I know that none of you to whom I have preached the Kingdom will ever see me again. 26 I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault, 27 for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know.
28 “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed (note, not Fleece) and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders. 29 I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. 30 Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following. 31 Watch out! Remember the three years I was with you—my constant watch and care over you night and day, and my many tears for you.
32 “And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself.
33 “I have never coveted anyone’s silver or gold or fine clothes. 34 You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me. 35 And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
36 When he had finished speaking, he knelt and prayed with them. 37 They all cried as they embraced and kissed him good-bye. 38 They were sad most of all because he had said that they would never see him again. Then they escorted him down to the ship.Ask yourself, how many ministers are working, outside of the offerings and tithes in the ministry, with callouses on their hands, not coveting gold or silver or fine clothes? Can that be said of the ministry superstars of today? Or the superstar wannabees? Sure, they all have a testimony of back in the day when where they were in want, where they did work. BUT NOW they are living off the backs of he needy from whom they draw offerings without shame. They have smooth hands. Paul the Apostle had been ministering for decades by the time this even happened. He was headed for Jail. He was in for some tough years. He was driven by the demands of his call. YET, he worked hard to provide money for his own provision in a secular manner and for the giving to others. Little of that goes on today. A sense of ministerial entitlement permeates the church. This important ethos the true Apostle Paul is lost in the church of today. How many big ministry leaders you see on television would or could say what Paul said in the RED and Bold. Few.
What's more disturbing to the Spirit of God is the invasion of this perception passed to young church leaders today. The gospel has become a vehicle for gain. They have become deceived faster and more easily than the previous generation. There is a curse on them, the curse of expectation to live high on the Most High. ""For me to live is Christ for me to minister is gain"" is how they read that verse. I know several good young men and women who have bought into building a ministry mentality over building the Kingdom. They make the assumption because God gifted them with an anointing they do not have to work, can beg for offerings or if they have a body of believers can press those who should be under their care for more and more. If the giving of money is a significant emphasis in your church or fellowship, you need to reconsider your ministry or connection. Did PAUL continue to beat people up over money? And he was more anointed than most Apostles or Prophets or Bishops walking the earth today. More than YOU, more than ME. It is more blessed to GIVE than Receive is not about giving to ministry, it's about sharing what GOD has given us with others freely. Not wealth (although it might contain some wealth) but the reality of God's glory and grace in action in our lives. YOU CAN LIVE THIS WAY should be our mantra.
This whole attitude and practice as is practiced in the USA is a stench in the nostrils of God. He speaks to the Church of Today thru the Prophet Amos Chapter 5:
18 What sorrow awaits you who say,
“If only the day of the Lord were here!”
You have no idea what you are wishing for.
That day will bring darkness, not light.
19 In that day you will be like a man who runs from a lion—
only to meet a bear.
Escaping from the bear, he leans his hand against a wall in his house—
and he’s bitten by a snake.
20 Yes, the day of the Lord will be dark and hopeless,
without a ray of joy or hope.21 “I hate all your show and pretense—
the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies.
22 I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings.
I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings.
23 Away with your noisy hymns of praise!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.
24 Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice,
an endless river of righteous living.
The day of the Lord is Coming to the Church. Judgment will be upon her. She is soiled and Father wants her clean. I appeal to you by the Holy Spirit IF any of this pricks your spirit and you see yourself in it at all, repent NOW before the Shame of Judgment comes upon you. The Spirit of God is saying, "I wounded you, now I can bind you up again. RETURN to ME!"
Hosea 6
A Call to Repentance
1 “Come, let us return to the Lord.
He has torn us to pieces;
now he will heal us.
He has injured us;
now he will bandage our wounds.
2 In just a short time he will restore us,
so that we may live in his presence.
3 Oh, that we might know the Lord!
Let us press on to know him.
He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn
or the coming of rains in early spring.”
Today is the Day of Repentance. Turn from your wicked ways. Become like Paul as he followed Jesus, follow him. Perhaps you will escape the day of Judgment and shame.
REPENT and LIVE!
2 comments:
I have not worked outside the church for the last few years. But it was the church, Jesus Lighthouse who came and said they needed me there. I do much more than just minister on Sunday and Wednesday, I do counseling throughout the week and consider that as my outside job. I do not just council those within the church, but because of the church's support of me, I am able to minister to people on the streets and anyone in need.
Do you believe that this as an acceptable work in the minister? Or are you stating that no one should use church finances in such a way?
Just askin'
P. A.
Pastor Al,
My concern is for those who are NOT willing to work. You are NOT among them.
Of course the word is for those who are NOT diligent in the work of the Kingdom.
I do think it's good to have some kind of outside work if you can. My spiritual Father, Pastor Dan Rothwell traded used cars for a living. He also repaired them. He made enough on that to offset his salary from the Church. Not everyone can do this. BUT some can. And if like Paul the Apostle you could, you should.
AND you don't have a Bentley
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