Sunday the Lord took me on a road trip. He led me to visit two different churches, one in the morning and one in the
evening.
Both of these churches love Jesus. But it was very obvious that important information and revelation that the Holy Spirit has already released to the Church was missing. It has also been missing in other churches the Lord has also had me visit.
Why is there such a disparity between the different parts of the body? Why is it, they may have one little revelation and build a whole cultural doctrine around it?
Why is it that they all conform to the same image in their church group or there pastor, but are not truly conforming to the image of Christ?
How is it that we can be students of the Word of God and miss key information that He is now releasing to us?
During my adventure I was greeted by loving people, that is until you question them on their doctrine.
There is a blanket that covers the people. It is demonic in nature. As long as the people don't try to break out of this blanket the devil leaves them alone. He may give them a little warfare to make them feel like they are doing something, but that is mostly for his entertainment. He watches and laughs. You foolish Christians. You don't even know who you are. In your little box, your little world. What should be obvious is not even visible because of the delusion and ignorance we choose to walk in.
The church chooses to focus on certain scriptures because it will make man feel important. Yet, there is no power, no miracles. The very function of the Holy Spirit in the church has been relegated to certain duties as though you can put God in a box. Show up here when we sing this certain song or pray this certain prayer. We don't need your anointing to draw the people, we can go advertise and create events that will draw people. We don't need to believe God to bring in the resources, we'll just have another bake sale, chicken-q or yard sale. Let's just merchandise the people so we can get our needs met.
The church has failed to go to God for their instructions. They do what they do out of habit. It worked 20 year ago so it must work now. Or God gave instructions to hold a bake sale 1 time for 1 event and now it's become a habit. The church is being run as a business instead of a representation of the Kingdom of God. We preach the message “believe” God, yet the majority of the church doesn't know what that means. They don't know how to let God build HIS house.
Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: Ps 127:1
Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Acts 7:49
Are we so vain to believe that we can build God's house? Do we really believe we can make it happen? You might say no. Yet, everyday you struggle to figure out a new gimmick to keep your church afloat you are doing just that. How much money do you think you can pump out of the people that attend your church? What if God called you to pastor homeless and penniless people? Are you going to pump them for your needs? Will you quit or not do it at all? Will you go beg money from other resources? Do you believe God truly called you to this task? If you do, trust Him to provide for it. There has been a great deception in the body of Christ. It is insidious. It is undermining. It is stopping the move of the Holy Spirit. We are so insensitive to the presence of the Holy Spirit we have failed to notice He is not even showing up to our meetings.
We say we are preaching the word yet we are failing to be “doers” of the word.
I have seen manipulating by the worship teams. They know how to lull people into the mood they want. I have seen times when the people were not entering in to the worship and the leader go back and play nostalgic songs just to manipulate the people in. Why do they have to manipulate people? It's because they are not pressing into God to have the anointing to release to them. They are not taking serious the privilege and the responsibility they have been given by God to lead His people into His presence. It's just a gig.
Manipulate into giving, manipulate into doing, manipulate, manipulate, manipulate.
I want a new truck, manipulate. I need to pay this bill, manipulate. We need a shed, manipulate. I want to expand the building, manipulate. I'm supposed to be on T.V., manipulate. On and on it goes. Sincerely presenting something is not a manipulation. It's how it's presented and the motives behind it and if it's God-led or not.
What happened to believing God? What happened to waiting on the Lord? Do we actually think that we need to help God? If God wants us to do something He is more than able to bring everything we need to do it to us. The problem is we are not willing to wait for Him to do it and/or we think we know what He wants us to do when He actually has a different interpretation to the instruction He gave than that which we understood. Surprisingly, God doesn't need us to help Him. He needs us to obey Him and be in position to receive what He gives to us. When God brings things to us we don't have to strive to maintain it or keep it. That is His responsiblity. If we do it, then we have to take care of it all.
Over and over again, I have seen God doing a house cleaning. Churches are being closed down. Pastors or I should say people who call themselves pastors and are not. Don't have the first clue about what is going on in the lives of the people they are to “serve”. Yes I said it. They are supposed to be “serving” the people. Not the other way around. Strutting around as though they are above the“lay people”. What is worse, they have taught the people that this is God's order! So the people unwittingly submit to this abuse. The Lord rebukes these pastors who mistreat HIS sheep.
Jer 23:1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.
Jer 23:2 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.
Jer 23:3 And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.
Jer 23:4 And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.
If you have been misled and have been one of those deceived, self-centered “pastors”....REPENT! While you still can. Ask God to forgive you for destroying the sheep of His pasture. Ask for His forgiveness that you may yet be able to become a true pastor. If your not called to be a pastor don't call yourself one. You can be a part of the five-fold ministry and not be a pastor.
Pastors, pay attention to the people that God is sending into your congregations. Some of them are being sent there by God and carrying His judgment with them. What do I mean? God is sending His true prophets into His house. They may never say a word. They may never pray a prayer. But they walk in the Presence of God. When they come in, they come in to see. They may present an opportunity to you. They may introduce a revelation to you. They may not fit your mold of what a prophet is. None the less, they are sent by God. Pay attention. Go to God immediately if they bring something to your attention. Check it out with God.
How often do we as leaders make off the cuff decisions or statements based on knowledge and not because the Holy Spirit led us that way?
As leaders, we must remain flexible and pliable in the hands of the Holy Spirit. We must be willing to pack up and move with the cloud. We may have gotten comfortable being camped out by the pillar of fire but when God moves on and you decide to stay all you have is a camp and no fire.
Here is something else that I saw on my journey. I went into a church where the women don't wear makeup. They feel it makes them more holy. Yet, at the same time, they wear stiletto shoes, fishnet stockings and skin tight dresses. Hello, am I the only one who sees the hypocrisy here? Holiness comes from the inside out. If you like to dress nice, wear makeup or not that should be a personal decision. When the Holy Spirit is leading us it should be appropriate and modest. Here's what Jesus had to say about taking certain things to extremes.
Mat 23:24Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
So I ask again. How do we as the body of Christ come into the same Truth?
RELATIONSHIP with Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the Father. There is only one way. We must spend time with Him. More than 5 or 10 minutes a day or week. How can you take on the mind of Christ when you don't spend time talking to Him to find out what He means when He says things in His word?
The congregation also has the same responsibility as the leaders to have a relationship the Jesus. As individuals we must be able to hear God and discern His voice for ourselves. People can make mistakes. Just because Pastor “So & So” says something doesn't make it Truth. You are to take what He says to the Lord to confirm whether it is Truth. There is a lot of things being said and taught that is not the Lord at all. If you are truly the Lords then you will know if what is being said is from Him or not. When you stand before the Lord your pastor won't be standing there with you. It will be just You and God.
Joh_10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
I was in a discussion the other day with a Pastor. Every response he gave in the discussion was natural, horizontal. I was trying to talk to him on a spiritual level and he wasn't able to hear me. He was not spiritual. He was carnal. Yet, these are the kind of pastors leading some of God's sheep.
Please don't misunderstand me. I am not trying to bash pastors or the church. I am addressing a real problem that exist.
Gal_6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
1Co_14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
We have a responsibility to hear God's voice no matter who God is using to do the speaking, man, woman, child or donkey (Num 22:27).
What is the solution? We must pray and ask the Spirit of Truth to inhabit His church once again. That the Spirit of Truth would be poured into the body of Christ corporately and individually and drive out the spirit of error. Also, that a hunger to know God, His Word, His Presence would come back to the body of Christ once again. A pricking of the heart. A stirring of the Spirit. A tarrying at the altar of God.
Joh_14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you
Joh_16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
1Jn_4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
CAN YOU HEAR ME?
Cherie Sheridan
11/12/2012
http://www.ontrackrestorationproject.info
www.amazon.com/author/cheriesheridan
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