I was once a United Methodist Pastor and I was expected to have a relatively inspirational and academically sound sermon every Sunday. Sometimes I was expected to preach three times per Sunday at three different churches in three different locations during which time I was enrolled in full-time graduate studies, raising a family and undergoing treatment for a life threatening illness. It was a grueling and unfulfilling existence.
Many times, a few of my fellow United Methodist pastors and I would discuss possible messages for the upcoming Sunday services. More often than not, many sermons were exchanged among us. Some copied other folk’s sermons and preached them as their own.
We were sometimes encouraged to use the United Methodist Lectionary for the purpose of discovering a scripture text and developing a sermon topic. Many sermons were created out of our collaborative creative imaginations and word artistry. I can testify for myself that many sermons were no more than motivational speeches and an exercise in hermeneutics. The Holy Spirit had nothing to do with the message being delivered. The only spirits present in many of those sermons were of the intoxicating, entertaining and hypocritical kind. Preaching was only part of the vocation in a career in the United Methodist Conference where one could expect to be adequately paid on a regular basis with significant and long-term benefits and financial security. It was apart of a job description in the business of United Methodist Pastoral ministry. Pastoring/Preaching had nothing to do with being truly saved, Holy Spirit filled and sent by God on His divine mission and with His divine message. Pastoring and preaching was all about being a good United Methodist and being compliant with the United Methodist Book of Disciplines as opposed to being compliant with the Eternal Word of God and His Holy Spirit.
Many preachers today are still stealing sermons and making up sermons as they go. They are not divinely chosen, sent, endowed, empowered or otherwise authorized by FATHER GOD to say anything on His behalf (Ezekiel 13). They are simply hired and paid orators that trade in misguided, deceived and damned souls. They are ministers of deceit and duplicity – Satan’s messengers. Some are unaware of their lost and confused condition while others know better and work hard to keep up appearances and justify their status as pastors. They measure their success as Christians Pastors by their educational accomplishments, ecclesiastical promotions and attained titles.
Thank God I was delivered from Satan’s churches. Now I am blood washed by water baptism in His name and saved according to His eternal commands and endowed with the power of the Holy Ghost that made Himself known through the speaking in tongues. It is He that inspires sermons and reveals God’s Holy and Eternal Truth. I would not dare preach a message that had not been inspired and authorized by God for fear of God’s wrath. (Ezekiel 33, John 3:3-7 and Acts 2:37-42)
Many preachers and Pastors or preaching while unsaved, unsent and unauthorized. They are in need of salvation themselves. They practice effective speaking techniques, leadership skills and well rehearsed performances in order to win a following and public acceptance. They don’t have a saving Word to tell you. They don’t fear God because they don’t know God and therefore, they can’t tell you any appreciable TRUTH about God. Their god is their bellies. Their appetites are for earthly symbols of success, accomplishments, public recognition, praise, academic certifications, power, money and vain glory. They don’t have a genuine appetite or reverence for God but for their on belief systems and religious institutions. They are idolaters and just don’t know it.
I pray that everyone would consider God’s Word carefully and repent.
Repent of denominationalism, credentialism and ultimately the doctrines of demons.
Repent and die to sin. Be baptized according to God’s Command and buried in a watery grave in the name of Christ Jesus and have Him wash away your sins in His Sanctified Blood.
Repent and diligently seek God The Father for He promises to reward you with the gift of the Holy Ghost that shall speak out of you in a new tongue – confirming your acceptance and sealing you for the day of redemption.
I am a witness to the Truth that God will save and deliver you if you would Repent and Obey His Ordained and Eternal Command to die to sin and be buried with Christ and raised with Him to the newness of Life Eternal.
Repent of pride and self-reliance. You can depend on God!
Repent of man-made religious services and churches. God has only One True Community of Faithful and Obedient Souls that He calls His Ekklesia.
Repent of credentialism and man-made certifications for Pastoring.
God chooses, sends, authorizes and empowers whomever He wills as His preacher-teacher.
Repent of serving a church and try serving YHVH!
Repent of obeying a church or Christian institution. Obey God’s WORD and be led by His Holy Spirit!
Don’t allow the allure of worldly pastoral prestige, ministerial glamour and ecclesiastical gold send your soul to hell and damnation.
REPENT!
Preach because you are sent by God to preach!
Pastor because you are authorized by God to pastor!
Teach as you are instructed by the Holy Spirit to teach!
Serve as if you are employed by the Kingdom of God to serve.
Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus (Yehowshua), giving thanks through Him to God the Father.
Whatever you do in word or in deed, do it all to the Glory of God!
REPENT!!!