Why I do what I do

Many of you, particularly our new readers, may be wondering why I do what I do on this website.  I know that some of you may have gotten the impression that I somehow enjoy pointing out the mistakes and foibles of various high profile ministers.

The simple answer is that God has called me as a watchman according to Ezekiel chapts 2 & 3 and Ezekiel 33

Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman:

Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.

He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.

But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.
Ezek 33:2-6

I take this charge very seriously. As you can see from the scriptures above God takes this seriously as well. Woe is me if I do not sound the alarm. I refuse to have your blood on my hands.

A watchman stands on the wall of the city and watches for any threat that may be coming toward that city. From his vantage point he can see potential threats before they arrive. But he also sees something else. Not only does he watch outwardly, he also is able to see what’s going on within the city.

What is happening within the Body of Christ?

Many Christians today see the signs spoken of in Matthew 24 as occurring just prior to the return of Christ. These are signs from God to both believer and unbeliever. Yes, we’ve always had wars and rumors of war. We’ve always had earthquakes and storms and famine and plague. But Jesus said when you see all these things happening at once, look up because your redemption draws near.

So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Math 24:33

But before God can judge the world, He must first clean up the church.  I am convinced that judgment has begun at the house of God.

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1Peter 4:17

This is happening now. It is not some future far off event. I am telling you by the Spirit of God that this verse is being fulfilled every day right before your eyes.

God is exposing the apostasy of the so called church. He is exposing the hearts and true motives of those who claim his name and those who claim great authority within the body of Christ.

According to scripture most who claim the name of Christ are false brethren. A recent Barna survey showed that 80% of adults in the U.S. claim to be Christians. Do you really believe that 80% of the adult U.S. population is “Christ like”? I don’t.

Jesus said: 
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Math 7:13-14

Those words may be the scariest verses in the Bible. According to Jesus many will be deceived and follow a way that leads to eternal destruction. Only a few will ultimately find eternal life. You’ve probably always been taught that the world was on the broad path and the church was on the narrow but Jesus was not talking to worldly people here. He was speaking to His chosen ones. Within Judaism of that day there was a wide gate that led to destruction and a narrow gate that led to life. The same is true for His covenant people today, that is the church.

Most of those who lead the church today are false apostles, false prophets, and false teachers, and yes that probably includes your local pastor or your favorite mega church preacher. Some started out with good intentions but became corrupt through the lusts of the flesh. In other words they desired the things of the world more than they desired the things of God.

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
1Tim 6:10    

Others were false brethren from the beginning. They have always been ministers of Satan masquerading as angels of light.

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
2Cor 11:13-15

Understand that we are not speaking here of the obvious false leaders like Jim Jones or David Koresh.  Peter said that false prophets and false teachers shall be among you, or within the body.

But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2Peter 2:1

These are not a bunch of obscure unknown preachers rather they are the so called super stars of Christianity. Some have called them God’s Generals. They are the ones you see every time you turn on TBN or Daystar. They are the ones the media goes to for the “Christian” perspective on politics and culture. They are right there before your eyes and God is exposing them for all to see.

The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule by their own power; And My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?
Jer 5:31

Try this little test some time. Go to the search engine Google and type in the words Pastor Accused. You will be shocked to find hundreds, even thousands of stories from across the U.S. and the world of pastors being accused of the most heinous crimes imaginable. Many of these stories are from small towns or local newspapers and never get any national publicity. I know that an accusation doesn’t always equal guilt but the overwhelming number of these stories is staggering.

None of this should come as a surprise because the prophet Malachi prophesied this over 2,000 years ago. Speaking to the priests he said:

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts

But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:

And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.

And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.

Mal 3:1-5

God through the prophet declares that before His coming he shall sift and purify the sons of Levi – that is the priests and preachers, the leaders of the people. He says that he will be a swift judge against the sorcerers, the adulterers, the liars, and those that oppress the poor.

The pulpits of America are full of sorcerers, adulterers (both physical and spiritual), liars and oppressors. And God is bringing His judgment to them. God’s judgment at this time is actually His mercy. Because it is through this judgment that He is allowing many of them a way of repentance. There will come a time however when His judgment will bring an end to these people.

It is my sincere desire that those upon whom judgment is falling will repent and turn to God with their whole heart. It is also my desire that you will do likewise before it is too late.

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Steve Lumbley 2005
www.apostasywatch.com
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