There are those who are feverishly trying to save the institutional house called “church,” through evangelistic programs and revivals, church reformation attempts, mass media marketing campaigns, and ecumenical collaborations and compromises.
These are those who believe that emphasis should be placed on saving the institution of the organized church. However, I believe the Lord’s declaration of the prevailing power of the church was not referring to her as an institution, but as a spiritual body of believers who, by not denying His name and keeping the faith, would remain His. The question is not whether or not the burning house SHOULD be saved.
No, the question goes a lot deeper. The question is “CAN the burning house be saved?” Quite frankly, sin and deception have permeated the house so deeply, that only a profound, deep move of repentance and contrition can save the organized church. As Jesus declared to the 7 churches in the book of Revelation, “Remember therefore, from whence thou art fallen, and REPENT, and do the first works, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick from its place, except thou REPENT.” (Revelation 2:5) Since He clearly states that the candlestick is a metaphor for the church, it is apparent that Jesus Himself will bring down the organized church system, the entire thing known today as “church.” However, the most important question to ask today is “has the opportunity for the church to repent expired?”
Well, I believe it has. For three reasons.
First of all, too many preachers, even the sincere ones, have made ministry a career rather than a calling. They can’t repent because their pocketbooks are tied to church donations. Unlike TD Jakes, Juanita Bynum, Joyce Meyer and Joel Osteen, they did not make themselves independently wealthy from the donations of churchfolk who gave them their start in the first place, a foundation they usurped and became best selling authors. The livelihood of most full time pastors is dependent upon continuing to do whatever they can to pay their bills and provide food on their tables and care for their families with something left for retirement. Most pastors can’t come out of the church simply because they would experience financial ruin in a failing economy.
Secondly, repentance would necessitate a fundamental change in how the gospel is preached. Preachers are proud folk. They would rather confess to some kind of sin of the flesh before admitting that preaching a decisional, come to the altar and accept Jesus, repeat a sinner’s prayer gospel has caused people to invite the fake Jesus into their hearts.
Thirdly, I suspect pulpits have already been taken over by religious demons and devils. The grip of these unseen forces has occurred because God Himself has sent forth a spirit of strong delusion, causing churchfolk to believe a lie. Preachers, even good, sincere, righteous men and women are already under the power of seducing spirits whose doctrines they continue to preach.
So it is time to come out. If I am wrong, you can go back. I suggest that you simply ask the Lord in prayer, “Say Lord, is this woman, Pam Sheppard correct? Are the days of the organized church “done?” Is it a dangerous place? Should I leave?
I can tell you that if you ask Him sincerely and you are willing to obey His answer to you, then I can tell you right now that He is going to show you Himself, that you need to come out for your own safety.
If you want to talk to me personally, I’m hear for you. Call me at 518-477-5759