***Disclaimer*** This is an angry message…Jesus flipping tables in the temple kind of anger. This is not a feel good message. It is a wake up message and hopefully a call to action.
***WARNING***This message also deals with some very frank subject matter that may offend some people but it needs to be said.
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Yes I said it! What in HELL has gotten into churches? No I didn’t just cuss. I mean literal hell. The devil has gotten into the churches and we are just sitting back and letting it happen! What is wrong with you people? Jesus would have been flipping tables by now!
When I mention these incursions I know many of you are going to say “Well thank goodness that’s not happening in MY church”. BUT IT IS!!! I don’t care if you are Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, Pentecostal, Unitarian, or any of the other denominations, or what ever else you want to call it. If it is happening in one church it is happening in your church because it is happening in God’s Church and that is not ok. When are we going to realize that we should all be one body under Christ? Oh and by the way…it may not be happening in “your” church right now but if we do not stand up and do something guess what? It will be in “your” church soon!
We have “priests” and “pastors” molesting children, “pastors” living in million dollar mansions while members of their congregation live in poverty not knowing where there next meal is going to come from, an abundance of false prophets, “pastors” and “churches” condoning abortions, “churches” allowing openly practicing homosexuals to pastor their churches,, and the list goes on and on. This is actually a short list of how the devil has infiltrated churches.
Now I am sure I made some of you angry with at least two of those being classified as evil but I’m ok with that. I would much rather you be angry and on the road to salvation than happy and on the road to hell. It’s like I say about this website…”You might get offended but at least you will know the truth”. Some may label me as an “extremist” and I will were that badge with honor in this world where the above is normal. I will never apologize for being an extremist for God!
Now when I say extremist let me clarify that I am not calling for, nor condoning, acts of violence against any person or church etc. I wish more people would be more “extreme” by speaking the truth even when it’s not popular, speaking up when you see the devil at work, and being a catalyst for change in your church and community.
Now, as I said, the short list above is not meant to be all inclusive but rather a sampling, from recent headlines, of the devils incursions into the modern church. I want to address each one and the biblical principals that they each violate without opinion or subjectivity. Afterwards I will give a list of a few things that you and your congregation can do to help institute change in God’s Church, your community, and the world.
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“Priests”, “pastors”, and “elders” molesting children
There should be zero argument on this one. This is one of the most evil, vile, and disgusting things that could happen in a church or anywhere.
But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea.
Mark 9:42 NKJV
This is the devil working, through a weak and false leader in the church, to try and destroy the life and will of a precious child of God while also weakening the faith and hope of a church or congregation. This trusted figurehead of the church has become a tool of the devil to destroy lives and the church from within. Priests, pastors, and elders should be strong in their faith for they fight the devil constantly. They must be constantly suited up in the Armor of God for they know not when the battle may come. Yet, time and time again, we elect or follow those week in faith and character.
Then, to save face, the church tries to cover up this evil deed. Most of the time it is not to protect the evil doer but the church itself. What would happen if people realized that the devil had infiltrated their church? Attendance would fall which in turn would reduce the coffers. Yes it boils down to the almighty dollar. Many churches god of choice.
RICH pastor POOR congregation
I know we have all seen, heard of, or even know a “pastor” of a mega church who lives in a multi-million dollar mansion while many of the members of their community live on the street and in hunger. Their churches are filled to capacity, the donation plates filled to over flow, the pastor laughing all the way to they bank. All of this while the homeless on the street in front of their church beg for a dollar, a quarter, just to try and eat for the day.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9 NKJV
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1 Timothy 6:10 NKJV
Is it ok for a pastor to have money? Yes of course. Is it ok for a pastor to live in excess as those around them starve? No! Let me repeat that for those of you in the back…NO!! This is the devil entering the church through greed.
So many “preachers” preach the “prosperity gospel” because it is a feel good doctrine but in most cases the only person prospering is the “pastor” and the “church” but it is not a biblically sound doctrine. It does however fill the seats and the coffers.
I know that when God blesses me it is so that I may bless others. When the devil makes you rich it is balloon your ego and your greed. Always wanting more. Please God let me always be thankful if I am poor in life but rich in grace.
False prophets
This is one that you must be very VERY careful about. The devil uses false profits to lead a church down a very strap dark path.
For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
Matthew 24:24 NKJV
There have been many false prophets that have come along over the years and they have deceived many. Jim Jones, David Koresh, Marshall Applewhite, and Benny Hinn to name a few. Some have deceived only a few while others have deceived and continue to deceive the masses. Many have ended in mass deaths.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
1 John 4:1 NKJV
False prophets tend to be after three things…money, fame, and/or power. They use scare tactics or threats to get you to believe and follow them. They prey on emotion and sometimes greed but they will always, eventually, be brought to light…sometimes too late.
When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that isthe thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.
Deuteronomy 18:22 NKJV
Bottom line is this is the devil entering the church to kill faith.
Church sanctioned abortion
Ok this is the first of two heated topics that are plaguing many churches. I will not interject my opinion or get into the topic of “exceptions”. This is a biblical perspective on abortions as a whole and for this I am speaking only to abortion as a form of contraception.
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
Psalm 127:3-5 NKJV
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one’s youth.
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;
They shall not be ashamed,
But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.
For You formed my inward parts;
Psalm 139:13-16 NKJV
You covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written,
The days fashioned for me,
When as yet there were none of them.
These six things the Lord hates,
Proverbs 6:16-19 NKJV
Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.
Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning;from the hand of every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man’s brother I will require the life of man. “Whoever sheds man’s blood,
Genesis 9:5-6 NKJV
By man his blood shall be shed;
For in the image of God
He made man.”
You shall not murder
Exodus 20:13 NKJV
There are more but I figured this would be enough to show that abortion is the devil’s equivalent of Herod’s murder of the first born sons. It is the devils way of killing over future leaders, Christians, and world changers. There is no fathomable defense that the church could have to sanction or support abortion. NONE!
Practicing homosexuals serving in the church
This is another heated topic so therefore I will not interject opinion but,instead, only give the biblical perspective .
You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.
Leviticus 18:22 NKJV
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NKJV
For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
Romans 1:26-27 NKJV
as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
Jude 1:7 NKJV
Again there are many more but I feel this is enough to show that this is the devils way of bringing false doctrine into the church to destroy it from within. If any sinner repents and asks for forgiveness and ceases their sinful ways then he or she shall be forgiven and may hold office within the church. All are welcome in church but only those who have truly repented and turned from their evil ways shall enter the Kingdom of God. The Bible is very clear on who may lead the church.
This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
1 Timothy 3:1-7
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15
Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
John 14:23
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While these are only a few examples it shows that the devil is getting into churches on many fronts and destroying them from within. The worst part is that Christians, by and large, are doing nothing about it. They are standing idly by while the devil is hard at work. There are things you can do though to stop the carnage.
What can the congregation do?
1. As a Christian it is your duty to hold the church accountable. Wrong does not cease to be wrong just because a “church” says it is ok. Speak up and call out the wrong you see. If you are not sure, read your Bible. If the church won’t change then get out! Find a church that does stick to biblical principles.
2. Read your Bible daily so that you won’t be deceived by the great deceiver. Knowledge is power.
3. Question everything. We all know the saying “The only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked” but this time it could actually be the difference between Heaven or hell.
4. Don’t be afraid to be politically incorrect. The devil is depending on you to be complacent and passive…till the very end. Be ok with not being socially acceptable if it means you are following God’s word. It is Him you have to please not the world.
What can the church do?
1. Hold your people accountable (both elders and your congregation). If someone is leading your church or your people astray call them out and follow the steps outlined in the Bible and your church bylaws.
2. Don’t give into social pressure. It’s not worth the judgement.
3. Don’t be part of the “inclusion movement”. While we should love all of our fellow humans we should not become accepting of their sins and transgressions.
4. Always remember that Jesus died for all of our sins but we must be willing to accept the price of admission. True repentance shows itself in a change of the person and their actions. If they refuse to give up that sin then they have not truly repented and therefore cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven or serve in the church period.
While I do not claim that this will be all the steps you will have to take to take God’s Church back it is a good start. The devil will put up a good fight but with God on your side remember…
No weapon formed against you shall prosper,
Isaiah 54:17 NKJV
And every tongue which rises against you in judgment
You shall condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And their righteousness is from Me,”
Says the Lord.