Las Profetas
It happened again, the response was, they did not come.
We provided the free food, we prepared things, we went out
to Raleigh, we distributed the food and talked to people; and, they did not
come.
The last time I heard that was from a Wendell Pastor; we did
so and so, had these programs, and no one came.
And, prior to that I heard it from a pastor in Wilson; same
scenario, they came, participated in the benefits of the event, and they
left.
Membership drives is what I term it. It is being of a purposeful heart to provide
an event, free clothing, free food, free X-mas gifts, free-whatever, with the
purpose of enticing people to come to church.
Come to my church and you will get this free.
The pastoral responses then are, we will focus on
ministry. We will focus on preaching the
word. We will win souls for Christ
without providing services. That is the
response from more than one church pastor.
In the midst of all that, you forget the purpose should be
to win people to Christ. If I can help
SOMEBODY. One body is somebody. That help can be a word of encouragement. That help can be a prayer.
God provides the increase.
It you engage in an activity for the wrong purpose, God will not provide
the increase to your church. Just purely
membership drives do not work.
And, I just heard the same absurdity this past week again,
from a Profeta. The Profeta says do not
have these ministries and programs and focus on the word. It is easier to
divine and discern the truth here. If
you have programs and ministries, you spend the tithes and the offerings, and,
in doing so, you do not have the offering for the profeta and pastor. So, Preach the Word, they say, because, I want
that offering, and the bigger the church, the better the offering. So, why hire a profeta to tell you a lie,
because your focus and intent is wrong, and the increase is not there because
God sees your heart.
Do you really want to help, is the questions? Do you really want to save the lost and
perishing? Or, do you just want a
massive church with members? They are
coming you say. But the question is when
they come, will God provide the increase when right around the corner from you
lies a Church of God that provides the programs you are refusing to
provide.
Duet 12: 6 &
7 in the Holy Bible
And thither ye shall bring your burnt
offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your
hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your
herds and of your flocks: [there
is a colon here for a reason; it is a continuation colon]
7 And
there ye shall eat before the
Lord your God,
and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households,
wherein the Lord thy God hath blessed thee.
One thing to point out here is the intent and purpose was a
combined celebration and eating of the sacrifices and burnt offerings. An underlying question is what do you do with
all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.
Was it just for the priest in the Old testament? Or was it for the Priest to eat and rejoice with
the people. I think it was the
later.
The church was the government, and it provided the
services. One of the most notable was
the church as the court system, the judicial branch of government:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+18&version=KJV
Exodus 18: 14-20 in
the Holy Bible
14 And when Moses' father in law saw all
that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the
people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from
morning unto even?15 And Moses said unto his father in
law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God:
16 When
they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and
I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws.
17 And
Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good.
18 Thou
wilt surely wear away, both thou, and this people that is with thee: for this
thing is too heavy for thee; thou art not able to perform it thyself alone.
19 Hearken
now unto my voice, I will give thee counsel, and God shall be with thee: Be
thou for the people to God-ward, that thou mayest bring the causes unto God:
20 And
thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein
they must walk, and the work that they must do.
This here does not happen in the modern church. Councils and elders do not intervene in
controversies, but they continue to say bring the tithes and the
offerings. If you do not have elders and
judges to help the people decide, then, why are you requesting the tithes and
offerings. Let that lie with the ones
whom are providing the services, the government. You cannot have it both ways; use a scripture
or scriptures that show and point to a time when the church was the government that
provided everything. That is really bad
because if you bulk at providing food and clothes and counseling, then, are adamant
about the tithes and the offerings. It
should come natural, God mandated, provide the services and He will provide the
increase,
THE TITHES AND OFFERINGS.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+4&version=KJV
Acts 4:32 [I do not think this
scripture can be fulfilled in the United States Churches]
32 And the multitude of them that believed
were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the
things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.33 And
with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord
Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
34 Neither was there any among them that
lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and
brought the prices of the things that were sold,35 And laid
them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man
according as he had need.36 And
Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted,
The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,
37 Having
land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet. [even the Levites did the same, wow]
This is a reutterance of the purpose again. The church was revived. It was providing the services. And, No one lacked and everyone had according
to their need. Not so in the US. Churches here do not have properties for the people
to live if they have a need or go homeless.
There is not reserves of food for the hungry. There is not reserves of clothing for those
without clothing or shelter. But, Bring
the tithes and offerings. We will preach
to you all, you say.
I have been a part of those ministries with homes and
services and programs. I have seen the
glory of the Lord. So, It is hard to
hear again, as recently heard it said, “We must focus on the Word and preaching
the Gospel”, while providing nothing, Let God show His power with the Increase
once the Mandate is fulfilled. Membership
drives cannot be the church. God Bless and He knows the purpose of your heart
as a pastor. God Bless and in Love; May
be by a False Prophet, you might say. It
troubles my heart.
