The Spirit of Present Day Church

Author Pastor Reggie Joseph

Text: Leviticus 25:1-24 (You must read the text to comprehend this article)

Any good student of the bible will agree that the current wave of rivalry, competition and pursuit of fame among church leaders and church people have greatly contributed to the emergence of manipulation, exploitation, high handedness, and greed in our churches. The spirit of “taking advantage” has taken a deep hold on our churches. Following the wickedness and stinginess of congregational members, pastors have resorted to the preaching of manipulative sermons designed to afflict the hardened consciences of their members whose greed and selfishness have prevented from fulfilling their biblical obligations toward their spiritual leaders. About 58% of professing Christians do not bring their tithes into their local churches, and nearly 32% of those who even attempt to bring do not “bring the entire tithe”. Many of these defaulters claim that tithing was under the law which Christ came to destroy, but they also fail to read Mathew 23:23 in the New Testament. Regardless, the apostle Paul admonished Christians to render unto their leaders all good things which includes, and is not limited to, money (Galatians 6:6-7). Consequently, the failure to obey these spiritual rules has led to the increased poverty rate of believers, especially tithe cheaters and eaters in the kingdom, as well as impoverishing their leaders who labor to watch over their souls.

Our text contains a set of laws given to Moses while the Israelites were still at Mount Sinai, and according to Exodus 24:4, Moses wrote these laws down. “When ye come into the land” suggests that the laws were for the future, when the Israelites would have entered the Promised Land. During the Sabbath year, Israelites were forbidden to perform their primary agricultural functions of planting grains and pruning grapes. This is a similar principle that God himself applied during creation. After six days of creation, God rested on the seventh day; so also he demanded that the Israelites should provide rest for the land: after six years of production, rest the land on the seventh year.

The implication is that all work and no rest will kill both the work and the worker.  Apparently, anyone who is so busy to rest on God may have become busier than God actually intended. Interestingly, I have observed that Christians who always use “being busy” to excuse their lack of commitment to spiritual things are among the 58% of tithe defrauders, and they indulge in all forms of reckless lifestyles. Observing a divine rest promotes our natural growth because some things usually spring up on their own when we learn to obey and lean on God, for by it faith is demonstrated. “Things that grow on their own” (verse 5) suggests a sudden breakthrough, and God expects us to share and not to store it. We are expected to share blessings with others: rich, poor, strangers, servants, cattle and even beasts. Truly, the animals of the rich often feed better than the children of the poor. However, the greedy mind will always question if there will be enough? Yes, there will always be enough because the Lord has made the promise and leaning on the promises of the Lord releases the provisions we need. In verses 20-21, the Lord said there will be a two-year supply in the sixth year and a three year harvest in the 48^th year before the jubilee.

While the people enjoyed their sudden supernatural blessings, they were equally commanded to teach their children the law (Deuteronomy 31:10-13). Regrettably, we are living in a time when the pursuit of material acquisition has robbed us of our children because they were not taught the basic tenets of life and living by parents who abandoned them for materialism. We now have more bibles in the prisons than in our homes, schools and even our churches. A pertinent conclusion then arises; had these bibles been kept at their right locations—schools, homes and churches—our children would not have ended up in prisons to be taught the bible. Many parents can spend a fortune to buy toys and other gifts for their children but do not even have a bible in their homes. Regrettably, preachers have turned ministration of God’s word into motivational speeches designed to make their audience feel good on the outside but sick inside. The real jubilee is when we are free from spiritual ignorance which keeps us bound to satanic desires. After the sabbatical years comes jubilee: the proclamation of liberty throughout the land. Lands are eventually returned to their original owners on the Day of Atonement. Restitution precedes restoration. The current exploitation of leaders by their congregation and vice versa in our churches only suggests that the present day church is still under the bondage of financial slavery different from the early church where they had all things….

 Galatians 5:1 says “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery”. My prayer for you, my reader, is that God will restore unto you things that you were dispossessed of during your years of bondage when you did not know Jesus. Amen.  The sale of lands was priced accordingly because during jubilee the lands were returned to their original owners: these generous provisions of God were anchored only on their reverence for God, obedience to His rules, and their avoidance of taking advantage of each other (verse 17). Sadly enough, Israel departed from their covenant, and after 490 years of neglecting their God and His rules, they were taken into captivity into Babylon. Like the proverbial Israelites, the present day church has trashed reverence, and divine rules have been replaced by religion hence the dog-eat-dog fight between the pulpit and the pew continues to rage while an enemy continues to destroy God’s people because of their ignorance caused by their sacrilegious attitudes toward God. This internal war depicts a divided kingdom, and a kingdom divided cannot stand. Unfortunately, neither the pastors nor the members are aware of the devastating effects of this war to the faith they profess.   Isaiah 1:18-19 reads: “Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord, though your sins are as scarlet they will be as snow; though they are red as crimson, they will be like wool. If you are willing and obedient you will eat the good of the land, but if you refuse and rebel you will be devoured by the sword”.

Listen, my dear reader, your willingness is your attitude whereas your obedience is your action. In God’s context, attitude is important in how we carry out His assignments. God frowns at actions carried out with nasty attitudes. Therefore, let your service, submission and sacrifice be with gratitude. The psalmist encourages us to serve the Lord with gladness and singing (Psalm 100:2).

With 2015 being declared “the year of settlement”, my prayer for all my readers is that God will teach you the art of pure service, humble submission and sacrificial living for the kingdom of God with due reverence to His holy name  for the benefit of mankind. If you are not born again, your first expression of sweet attitude is inviting Jesus into your life. Please say these words prayerfully and solemnly: Dear Lord Jesus, Please come into my heart, forgive me my sins as I repent of them. Wash me in your blood and make me a new creation. I believe in my heart and I confess with my mouth that you are the Lord of my life. Thank you for saving me, Amen. Beloved, if you sincerely said those words, I congratulate you for joining the family of God. Please contact me or visit us in any of our power-packed services, and I can assure you that your life will never be the same after the visit.