Jeremiah 3:15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
What a wonderful promise! But many that read this scripture feel like "WHERE ARE THEY LORD??" Where are the men that will care more for God's truth than the dollar? Where are the men that will lead God's people against the world instead of INTO the world? Where are the men that don't have a church full homo's and lesbo's faking the funk and turning out the next generation? Where is the man that doesn't have to bring in big name entertainers to have a big name or bring in big name celebrity preachers to boost his own platform? WHERE or Lord, WHERE?
Well, the answer is simple. EVERYWHERE! There are pastors like this everywhere. In every city and every state. I travel and preach in churches like these almost every weekend of the year and I can honestly say, they are out there! There are thousands of pastors that haven't bought into the politics of being seen and known. There are many that will not bow down and grovel in the presence of a celebrity sodomite Bishop! There are many that don't need the affirmation of bringing a sell out musical artists to make them feel like they are "in". There are good men out there and God knows where they are. They have to be sought out and the first rule in seeking for pastors like this is to first die of your own carnality! In other words, you must allow God to deal with your own heart and mind before you can expect him to lead you and guide you. I know many are saying, "but i need a church where I can get help now!" And I understand that request very well, but you must learn that help is there for you in the Word and the bible says in1 John 2:27 that "no man has to instruct you" once you have the unction of the Holy Ghost which is what will lead you to the right place. If you are not spiritually sound, then you are taking a big chance on getting to the wrong place and under the wrong person.
You must seek out God for yourself in order to even know when you are in a place that is wicked and against what God has planned for you. So, in essence, there is a level of maturity that all believers must maintain to know the truth from the lie. If you are naive and totally dependent upon the words of others, then you will be misled! So, you must learn the word and get a good understanding of what God is requiring of you before you can effectively judge whether you are on the right track. I am not saying stay out of church until you hear from God, but what I'm saying is to keep your eyes and ears open! Always seek God for guidance and never believe that just because a person is a pastor with a large or small church, that they have God's best interest at heart. And always, spot the flags! The flags will always warn you of impending danger. You will not be totally in the dark, but God will always provide flags to warn you and protect you from harm. The problem is, that many will accept a flag or two for the sake of comfort or familiarity. But you must read the signs and when you get the flags, know that where there is usually one flag, there will be several!
What flags? Some stuff is easy and doesn't even require a bunch of evaluating. If your church has a bunch of happy homosexuals and lesbians, then that's a flag! Something is wrong with your leadership. If your church is always bringing in recording artists that promote themselves and not God, then that is a flag. No man of God will allow a bunch of BET dancing, wild antics and foolishness in his pulpit! There is something internally wrong with a man like that! If you hear about blessings more than you hear about sin then you better know that something is wrong! The bible tells the preacher in 2Tim. 4:2 to preach against the sins of the people in season and out of season! And of course, if a man has his ears pierced, dreadlocks, apart of a fraternity (or sorority), freemason, black panther, hip hop culture, gothic, inclusion, player, pimp, gangsta, a ho, getting girls pregnant in the congregation, divorcing his wife, smoking, partying, clubbing, effeminate, lustful, prideful, always name dropping, yoked up with corrupt men, preaching false doctine, changing the bible, always talking about his accomplishments, or just plain, UNSAVED, then no flags should be needed. After all, how can a man love God and the world or the things of this world. All these things I named are attached to some kind of fleshly desire that will hinder spiritual growth and a man's ability to hear God. A pastor is basically a leader by example. Remember, sheep follow a shepherd and that's what a pastor is, a leader of sheep. So, if the pastor has no proof of his messages, examples of the results of following God, or power over his own flesh, then where can he lead you? You can do bad all by yourself and don't need a fleshly pastor to lead you into more mess.
It doesn't take rocket science in most cases to figure out when a man is for God or when he's for himself! The thing that works as a blinder for people to miss these flags is usually their own desire to be carnal. When you are evaluating with a carnal mentality, then you won't see truth! And this is why men of these types of corruptions prosper and flourish in our communities. The people that follow them want what is being offered. When a person wants the truth, the bible said that they will find it! But when you want the lie, it's readily available. So, the bottom line is, check your motives and your desires to see if they are causing you to chase after something that is damaging you and your future in Christ. Even though corrupt men will have to give an answer before God, it will not excuse those that chose to follow after them. The bible says that YOU must give an account also, so that means that you cannot get comfortable surrounded by foolishness. You must seek God and the Godly man for yourself!
Jeremiah 23:1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.
Ezekiel 22:26 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.
2 Timothy 4:2 Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.] And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching. AMP
Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
Romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
1 John 2:27 But as for you, the anointing (the sacred appointment, the unction) which you received from Him abides [apermanently] in you; [so] then you have no need that anyone should instruct you. But just as His anointing teaches you concerning everything and is true and is no falsehood, so you must abide in (live in, never depart from) Him [being brooted in Him, knit to Him], just as [His anointing] has taught you [to do]. AMP
In his name always,
G. Craige Lewis
http://www.exministries.com
