MalachiÂ’s Warning Comes to Pass
Hardly a day goes by that we donÂ’t see some type of wrongdoing coming from pastors and leaders in the churches of America. Many times these sins are of a monetary nature such as the California Pastor who sold his church to buy himself a BMW and a few other luxuries. If they are not money related they seem to be sexual in nature such as the recent Earl Paulk scandal.
What is going on with the so called leaders of todayÂ’s church?
Simple, God is keeping his promise.
The book of Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament. It is only four chapters long but few Christians know anything about it except for the oft quoted warning in chapter 3 regarding the failure to tithe. And thatÂ’s a shame because anyone who takes a few minutes to actually read Malachi would find that the warnings (including the curse of the tithe) were given not to the people but to the wicked apostate priests and Levites of that day.
And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. Mal 2:1-2
Malachi prophesied not to the people but to the priests. The entire book is a warning of judgment but also a promise of redemption based on the condition of repentance. And it is all directed to the faithless shepherds of that generation.
Â…Â…. O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts. Mal 1:7-8
According to the Law of Moses the priests were only supposed to offer for sacrifice animals that were without spot or blemish. But these priests were offering the sick and the lame. They kept the best animals for themselves.
Could anything like that be happening today? Are the shepherds of this generation guilty of similar sin?
How about the preacher who keeps the best of the offerings for himself? The guy who takes his cut right off the top to ensure that he himself is able to wear the finest suits, drive the nicest cars, live in luxury homes while making a pretense of giving a relative pittance toward the poor. Could this apply to the preacher who lives the high life while many in his congregation have serious material needs?
What about the modern mega-church leader who uses the bulk of the money donated to build ever larger buildings? Or perhaps the money is used to buy more and more TV time which they claim is reaching the world with the gospel but is in reality little more than a vehicle to promote the sale of that mega-pastorÂ’s books and tapes.
Do you think God is pleased with this?
For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law. Mal 2;7-9
Is there partiality in the church today? Do preachers today deal equally with rich and poor or do they cater to the rich? Who sits in the front row of todays big churches? Who sits on the deacon boards today? Who sits on the boards of trustees? Are they equally accessible for the haves and have notÂ’s or are these governing bodies dominated by the rich and well to do. Who does the preacher listen to today, the poor man who Jesus said was rich in faith or the rich man who gives the largest tithes and offerings?
And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. Mal 2:14-15
How many in pulpits today have dealt treacherously with the wives of their youth? I can tell you that some of the biggest names in American Christianity are guilty of this sin.
Richard Roberts divorced his first wife to marry his current wife who was an ORU student at the time.
John Hagee was pastoring a church in San Antonio Texas when he admitted to adultery. His wife divorced him and took custody of their children uncontested by Hagee. A few months later he married the woman with whom he had been committing adultery, the current Mrs. John Hagee.
Robert Tilton divorced his first wife and soon after secretly married his second wife. That marriage subsequently ended in divorce. Tilton is now on his third marriage while still claiming to speak for God, asking people to make a $1,000 vow of faith.
Clarence McClendon divorced his wife of 16 years (and mother of their 4 children) claiming that he had a call to preach, not to be married. Seven days after his divorce was final he married a woman who was a member of his Los Angeles congregation.
Earl Paulk, the man who counseled Clarence McClendon during his marriage and divorce episode has been accused of multiple adulteries going all the way back to the early 60Â’s. His brother Don Paulk has likewise been accused of many sexual indiscretions. Both men have admitted to some, but not all, of the accusations. Paulks wife of over 60 years continues to stand by her man.
Paul Crouch has been accused of periodic drinking binges and multiple homosexual dalliances. While he has not admitted to any of the accusations he has settled at least one claim from homosexual Lonnie Ford by paying Ford over $400,000 to keep his mouth shut. Witnesses claim that Jan Crouch is aware of her husbandÂ’s homosexual tendencies which is why the two of them have not lived together as husband and wife for over fifteen years.
Charles Stanley, Pastor of First Baptist Church of Atlanta was divorced by his wife of 44 years who cited irreconcilable differences. To his credit he has not remarried however prior to the divorce he stated, "If my wife divorces me, I would resign immediately." His failure to resign would apparently make him a liar.
Dr. Peter Ruckman, a popular Baptist preacher and promoter of King James only-ism, has been divorced twice and married three times yet still manages to keep a full preaching schedule.
These are just a few of the higher profile names that have dealt treacherously with the wife of their youth. How many more are there? How many smaller church pastors are guilty of this sin?
Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment? Mal 2:18
Where is the judgment of God? Where is the discernment in the leaders of the Body of Christ today? How can con men like Gregory Setser take advantage of GodÂ’s people through major ministries like Kenneth Copeland, Robert Schuller, Mike Hayes, Marilyn Hickey, and Reinhard Bonnke?
How is it that people who claim the name of Christ yet live in open sin can be welcomed into the church and even given positions of authority within these bodies? How many smaller churches include adulterers, covetous, drunkards, and liars serving on boards, teaching in Sunday school, and working in various ministry outreaches? Why is it that church leaders today excuse sin and say those who do evil are good in the sight of the Lord?
What does God promise to do about all this?
And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts. Mal 3:5
Sorcerers, adulterers, liars, and oppressors of the poor. That is what fills the pulpits of America today, and God has had enough! Judgment has begun at the house of the Lord. God is exposing these men and women just like he said he would.
Â…Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people,Â….Mal 2:9
Â…Â….I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it. Mal 2:2-3
There was a time in this nation when even those who were not Christians respected preachers and church leaders. Those times are long gone. God has made the church leaders of America a curse word among the people. He has spread dung on their faces just as he promised. The blessings have become a curse and God is exposing their sin for all to see.
And what about those tithe scriptures that many preachers are so fond of quoting?
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Mal 3:8-9
To whom is God speaking here? ThatÂ’s right. He is still addressing the priests and Levites. It wasnÂ’t the people who were guilty of robbing God. It was the priests. They were the ones who were heaping up the offering to themselves. They were the ones who failed to serve God with the tithes and offering entrusted to them. They were the ones who had brought a curse not only upon the people but upon the whole nation.
It is interesting to note that during the last 60 or so years we have seen the rise of the modern mega-church and mega-ministry. Before that, the body of Christ consisted primarily of small local congregations, many controlled by large denominational bureaucraciesÂ’ but still, for the most part subject to local oversight. That all changed in the late 40Â’s and early 50Â’s first with the rise of the healing evangelists and then with the Charismatic renewal in the early 70Â’s. These changes brought forth Christian television and ultimately huge sums of money making large national ministries possible.
And during this same time our nations has changed. We have gone from being a creditor nation, lending to many, to being a borrower nation, in debt to the whole world. Could it be that we are cursed with a curse, even this whole nation? Could it be that the wicked covetous leaders of the apostate church who regularly heap up riches to themselves have brought about the curse promised by God in Malachi 3:9?
So, the next time your favorite preacher drags out a couple of selected verses from Malachi in order to manipulate you into giving, why donÂ’t you tell him to go look in the mirror when he quotes those verses. Tell him what God says. Tell him this;
And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you!
By Steve Lumbley
Hardly a day goes by that we donÂ’t see some type of wrongdoing coming from pastors and leaders in the churches of America. Many times these sins are of a monetary nature such as the California Pastor who sold his church to buy himself a BMW and a few other luxuries. If they are not money related they seem to be sexual in nature such as the recent Earl Paulk scandal.
What is going on with the so called leaders of todayÂ’s church?
Simple, God is keeping his promise.
The book of Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament. It is only four chapters long but few Christians know anything about it except for the oft quoted warning in chapter 3 regarding the failure to tithe. And thatÂ’s a shame because anyone who takes a few minutes to actually read Malachi would find that the warnings (including the curse of the tithe) were given not to the people but to the wicked apostate priests and Levites of that day.
And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. Mal 2:1-2
Malachi prophesied not to the people but to the priests. The entire book is a warning of judgment but also a promise of redemption based on the condition of repentance. And it is all directed to the faithless shepherds of that generation.
Â…Â…. O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts. Mal 1:7-8
According to the Law of Moses the priests were only supposed to offer for sacrifice animals that were without spot or blemish. But these priests were offering the sick and the lame. They kept the best animals for themselves.
Could anything like that be happening today? Are the shepherds of this generation guilty of similar sin?
How about the preacher who keeps the best of the offerings for himself? The guy who takes his cut right off the top to ensure that he himself is able to wear the finest suits, drive the nicest cars, live in luxury homes while making a pretense of giving a relative pittance toward the poor. Could this apply to the preacher who lives the high life while many in his congregation have serious material needs?
What about the modern mega-church leader who uses the bulk of the money donated to build ever larger buildings? Or perhaps the money is used to buy more and more TV time which they claim is reaching the world with the gospel but is in reality little more than a vehicle to promote the sale of that mega-pastorÂ’s books and tapes.
Do you think God is pleased with this?
For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law. Mal 2;7-9
Is there partiality in the church today? Do preachers today deal equally with rich and poor or do they cater to the rich? Who sits in the front row of todays big churches? Who sits on the deacon boards today? Who sits on the boards of trustees? Are they equally accessible for the haves and have notÂ’s or are these governing bodies dominated by the rich and well to do. Who does the preacher listen to today, the poor man who Jesus said was rich in faith or the rich man who gives the largest tithes and offerings?
And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant. Mal 2:14-15
How many in pulpits today have dealt treacherously with the wives of their youth? I can tell you that some of the biggest names in American Christianity are guilty of this sin.
Richard Roberts divorced his first wife to marry his current wife who was an ORU student at the time.
John Hagee was pastoring a church in San Antonio Texas when he admitted to adultery. His wife divorced him and took custody of their children uncontested by Hagee. A few months later he married the woman with whom he had been committing adultery, the current Mrs. John Hagee.
Robert Tilton divorced his first wife and soon after secretly married his second wife. That marriage subsequently ended in divorce. Tilton is now on his third marriage while still claiming to speak for God, asking people to make a $1,000 vow of faith.
Clarence McClendon divorced his wife of 16 years (and mother of their 4 children) claiming that he had a call to preach, not to be married. Seven days after his divorce was final he married a woman who was a member of his Los Angeles congregation.
Earl Paulk, the man who counseled Clarence McClendon during his marriage and divorce episode has been accused of multiple adulteries going all the way back to the early 60Â’s. His brother Don Paulk has likewise been accused of many sexual indiscretions. Both men have admitted to some, but not all, of the accusations. Paulks wife of over 60 years continues to stand by her man.
Paul Crouch has been accused of periodic drinking binges and multiple homosexual dalliances. While he has not admitted to any of the accusations he has settled at least one claim from homosexual Lonnie Ford by paying Ford over $400,000 to keep his mouth shut. Witnesses claim that Jan Crouch is aware of her husbandÂ’s homosexual tendencies which is why the two of them have not lived together as husband and wife for over fifteen years.
Charles Stanley, Pastor of First Baptist Church of Atlanta was divorced by his wife of 44 years who cited irreconcilable differences. To his credit he has not remarried however prior to the divorce he stated, "If my wife divorces me, I would resign immediately." His failure to resign would apparently make him a liar.
Dr. Peter Ruckman, a popular Baptist preacher and promoter of King James only-ism, has been divorced twice and married three times yet still manages to keep a full preaching schedule.
These are just a few of the higher profile names that have dealt treacherously with the wife of their youth. How many more are there? How many smaller church pastors are guilty of this sin?
Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment? Mal 2:18
Where is the judgment of God? Where is the discernment in the leaders of the Body of Christ today? How can con men like Gregory Setser take advantage of GodÂ’s people through major ministries like Kenneth Copeland, Robert Schuller, Mike Hayes, Marilyn Hickey, and Reinhard Bonnke?
How is it that people who claim the name of Christ yet live in open sin can be welcomed into the church and even given positions of authority within these bodies? How many smaller churches include adulterers, covetous, drunkards, and liars serving on boards, teaching in Sunday school, and working in various ministry outreaches? Why is it that church leaders today excuse sin and say those who do evil are good in the sight of the Lord?
What does God promise to do about all this?
And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts. Mal 3:5
Sorcerers, adulterers, liars, and oppressors of the poor. That is what fills the pulpits of America today, and God has had enough! Judgment has begun at the house of the Lord. God is exposing these men and women just like he said he would.
Â…Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people,Â….Mal 2:9
Â…Â….I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it. Mal 2:2-3
There was a time in this nation when even those who were not Christians respected preachers and church leaders. Those times are long gone. God has made the church leaders of America a curse word among the people. He has spread dung on their faces just as he promised. The blessings have become a curse and God is exposing their sin for all to see.
And what about those tithe scriptures that many preachers are so fond of quoting?
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Mal 3:8-9
To whom is God speaking here? ThatÂ’s right. He is still addressing the priests and Levites. It wasnÂ’t the people who were guilty of robbing God. It was the priests. They were the ones who were heaping up the offering to themselves. They were the ones who failed to serve God with the tithes and offering entrusted to them. They were the ones who had brought a curse not only upon the people but upon the whole nation.
It is interesting to note that during the last 60 or so years we have seen the rise of the modern mega-church and mega-ministry. Before that, the body of Christ consisted primarily of small local congregations, many controlled by large denominational bureaucraciesÂ’ but still, for the most part subject to local oversight. That all changed in the late 40Â’s and early 50Â’s first with the rise of the healing evangelists and then with the Charismatic renewal in the early 70Â’s. These changes brought forth Christian television and ultimately huge sums of money making large national ministries possible.
And during this same time our nations has changed. We have gone from being a creditor nation, lending to many, to being a borrower nation, in debt to the whole world. Could it be that we are cursed with a curse, even this whole nation? Could it be that the wicked covetous leaders of the apostate church who regularly heap up riches to themselves have brought about the curse promised by God in Malachi 3:9?
So, the next time your favorite preacher drags out a couple of selected verses from Malachi in order to manipulate you into giving, why donÂ’t you tell him to go look in the mirror when he quotes those verses. Tell him what God says. Tell him this;
And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you!
By Steve Lumbley
There will come a day unlike any other day,
an event unlike any other event and a crisis unlike any other crisis.
It will emerge out of nowhere at a time no one expects.
It will be an event that no one anticipates—a crisis that experts didn’t foresee. will be “The End Of The World As We Know It”….in America.re Spiritually, Mentally and Physically, NOW!strong>n>ZCODE FONT END-->
an event unlike any other event and a crisis unlike any other crisis.
It will emerge out of nowhere at a time no one expects.
It will be an event that no one anticipates—a crisis that experts didn’t foresee. will be “The End Of The World As We Know It”….in America.re Spiritually, Mentally and Physically, NOW!strong>n>ZCODE FONT END-->
