Prophecy

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God¡¦s Church: Sheep or Pack Mules?
Shared by Patricia Backora, author of the book
Tough Love in Christ¡¦s Millennium
Which you can order online from: http://www.publishamerica.com
Ezekiel Chapter 34; Isaiah 2:3; Luke 11:46; Rev. 7:17

Many pastors look at what other religious leaders have and they grow green with envy. Palatial sanctuaries, impeccably groomed grounds with ¡§inspirational¡¨ landscaping, vast office and Sunday School complexes, even conference centers with visitor facilities. There is such a competitive spirit controlling some of these men that they will scarcely pause long enough to count the cost of being a copycat. Only perfunctory prayers, if any, are offered before these men rush off to the bank to sell My people into bondage.

Even congregations of very modest size have been informed by their leadership that they¡¦ve ¡§just gone into escrow¡¨ and they¡¦ve all just taken out a monstrous mortgage to finance a spiritual wonderland which will surely attract more visitors unto Jesus. The new burden of debt is praised as a blessing of the Lord, something to give Me thanks and glory for. But that¡¦s just a smokescreen to prevent resentment. Any member of the congregation who objected would be made to feel like a sinful rebel after the show of ¡§praise and worship¡¨ offered up for the decision taken to sell My people down the river. Carnal leadership can always spiritualize away any reservations about how the ¡§laity¡¨ might feel about being saddled with a gigantic debt, to be paid for with unscriptural money tithes and offerings given out of guilt, not love.

I am against those shepherds which feed themselves and not the flock, who lade My people with burdens too heavy to bear. These men (and occasionally women) cannot feel the strain they¡¦ve placed on others, because they themselves are supported by the labor of the flock and are spared the weariness of day-to-day toil. But I will deliver My flock out of their hand. I will lead them out of the House of Bondage. I will lead them into a higher spiritual place: the Mountain of the Lord, where they shall find streams of Living Water which have never been tainted by sin. I will give them a choice pasture to graze in and I will rid them of parasites. All these things I shall do unto them as their Good Shepherd. But the overfed wolves in sheep¡¦s clothing will I judge for muddying the clear waters of refreshing with their dirty feet, and for making pack mules out of My sheep whom I have called unto rest.

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