Preaching for Hire

"The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us." Micah 3:11

Doesn't this sound familiar? It was then in Israel as it is today. The priests, or ministers preached as the people desired instead of from the Word of God and with the unction of the Holy Ghost. The people said then as the masses say today, "See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:" Isaiah 30:10. Large TV and radio ministries need lots of cash to keep running so preachers today must appeal to the crowds in an entertaining way and yet give them a bit of challenge so folks will think they've "been to church." Unfortunately, they are not getting to the root cause of America's downfall and looming judgment and the coming massive falling away of many in the church into a false, yet somewhat Christ-like church. Notice I said "Christ-like." "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 Timothy 4:3 This has been happening and will continue to happen more and more as many in the church wil harden their hearts toward the true gospel and believe a lie because they have pleasure in unrighteousness. "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12. So because of this massive reach for the half-truth, men are providing for them and not addressing the root causes of their troubles and woe, which is sin.

Notice that Micah was speaking about a religious people, who thought that God would do nothing to them as we read, " yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us." They actually did not feel that God would intervene in any activity or that he had any more control over the events of the world and their local environment. They had the same attitude as the citizens of Jerusalem had a few years prior to its fall to Babylon. " Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not." Ezekiel 9:9 Doesn't this sound like modern humanism that has invaded the church as well? People with an attitude such as this have no fear of God. They feel that God really doesn't play a part in today's events or that he has control of the future. Unfortunately, they also don't understand his love toward them and how he would like to see them saved and delivered for their sins.

But there are also those who are clinging to his Word and walking in the light of his Word. There is still a remnant in the true church that fear God and know that his Word is real. There is a people who are seeking after God and the fullness of his Spirit and there are still preachers who are fasting and praying that they will preach with an unction of the Holy Ghost and preaching from his Wird. There are still those who are praying for a great outpouring in these very last days and that a revival can come to America before the coming of the Lord. If you are one of those, may the Lord bless you! May God help you and encourage you by his Spirit. Let us pray for one another as we see the day approaching when we will meet him in the air. " But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief." 1 Thessalonians 5:4