With all the preachers falling in public view, and all the scandals breaking out in the body of Christ, it's safe to say that judgement has begun in the house of the Lord. The Word says it would and now we see the ends of it. Famous preacher after famous preacher getting caught and their personal lives are coming to the forefront of their national ministries. They sought fame and fortune, yet didn't count the cost of it all. When you are high and lifted up, the fall back to earth is long and hard! I'm telling you, I've never seen this many mega ministries, and definitely have never seen as many famed preachers fall. But the bible speaks about a falling away in the last days and it seems like this is the only way the blind folks that follow these guys will see the truth. But it's a shame to have to give all your money and support to these folks for years and NEVER really see that they were jokers from the beginning. That kind of blindness is costly and time consuming.
But the real truth of the matter is that judgment for most of these wayward preachers and church leaders had already begun before most people realized it. I hear people saying all the time that they are praying that God "exposes" this person because of their spiritual shadiness, or that God will "bust out" this preacher because of their antics. But you don't have to pray for exposure. Men that take advantage of God's people are judged already! You may not realize it and they may not even see it, but judgment has come. God's judgment usually doesn't come in the form of a sexual scandal or a nationally publicized immoral deed. But God's judgment in the scripture was different when it came to his people acting up. Usually, God would strike the home of the people that did wayward deeds while they held leadership roles in God's camp. He would punish them by affecting their seed and lineage.
When David killed a man to take his wife, God punished him by taking the child of that union and cursing his children so the sword would continue in his home. In other words, David had success in the natural realm as far as being King, but he was a failure in his home as a father because his children paid the price for his sins. We hear preacher after preacher justify their behavior by using David as the example. How, even though he was a man after God's own heart, he sinned and repented and all was well. But is that the end of the story? NO! Although God forgave David, God judged him swiftly! His family was a wreck and he hid for years from his own sons sword! His house was a mess and he felt like a failure because of it. Though he had successful battles, his personal life was in turmoil and he cried out in agony to God continuously because of it.
I'm telling you people, OPEN YOUR EYES. Judgment has come. These Bishops that are homosexual in private and lift themselves up as gods in public are already judged by God. These Gospel Music Icons that are merging the sacred and the profane have already begun paying the price for it. Their children are messed up to the highest degree. Homosexual children, teen pregnancy, divorce, AIDS, jail, and the like are plaguing their homes. These false prophets and prophetesses that proclaim lies for gain are already judged by God. Their marriages are torn up, and their own words are reversed on them because they took advantage of God's people and must pay the price. Sure, they consistently seek fame and fortune, even after public scandals but the truth is, their marriages have failed and that speaks volumes! You will not get away with doing God's people wrong or deceiving them for selfish gain. The price of it is expensive and though you see them flossing their money, power, and wealth in public, they are poor in spirit because they have no one to share it with and no one to pass it down too. In the real world, which is the home, they are failures and judged by God. Now, I'm not saying that every preacher that has home issues is being punished because there are things that happen to all of us that may just be circumstantial, but when you are in a leadership role or very visible, you must maintain the integrity God requires to function in that capacity. To whom much is given, much is required right?
Don't think for one moment that these famous bishops and celebrity gospel stars are not hurting in private because they are secret failures in their homes. This is God's hand of rebuke and it is a terrible price to pay. No matter how much money you have and how many fans follow you, your private life as a regular human being is what measures real success. And when your own children don't want to have anything to do with you or your spouse no longer believes in you, then you are punished! You can fake the funk in public as much as you want but it will never take the place of that child or spouse believing in you and supporting you. The worse punishment you could give a person in the Old Testament was to cut them off from their people or destroy their lineage. And that's the same thing that's happening to these preachers and recording artists that desire gain over godliness.
So, people of God, don't despair. Never worry about God dealing with wolves that steal and rob in the name of the Lord and take advantage of the hurting to be lifted up. They have already fallen in God's eyes and if we would see it as God does, we will see that real success is not measured by money and fame. But if your home is a wreck you have failed in this life. If your children don't heed your own message, then you are not qualified to lead as a Bishop or Pastor according to the bible. These folks have failed in this life and it doesn't take a media scandal to break out on them to prove it. Look at their homes and you will see God's judgment in full effect.
1Pet. 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
1Tim. 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
1Tim. 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
In his name,
G. Craige Lewis
