• Home
    • Contact Me
  • Statement of Faith
  • Prayer
  • This Is Me…
  • 30 Random Things About Me…

Gone Fishin'

~ …“Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men!”

Gone Fishin'

Monthly Archives: February 2013

Ambassador for Christ Blogger Award

27 Wednesday Feb 2013

Posted by Rev. Nadine Drayton-Keen in Awards

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Ambassador for Christ, apostolic, award, faithfulness, holiness, obedience to God’s commandments, repentance, righteousness, salvation, scriptural, unadulterated Word of God

Ambassador for Christ Award, Revised

Therefore we are ambassadors of the Messiah; in effect, God is making his appeal through us. What we do is appeal on behalf of the Messiah, ‘Be reconciled to God!  God made this sinless man be a sin offering on our behalf, so that in union with him we might fully share in God’s righteousness.’ ~ 2 Corinthians 5:20-21, CJB

 

Bishop O.W. Prince at O. W. Prince Ministries has nominated me for the prestigious Ambassador for Christ Blogger Award. I am honored that Bishop Prince has given his auspicious approval of my blog’s postings. I am also elated to be recognized by him for being a preacher and teacher of God’s unadulterated Word, and I am elated to be acknowledged as a Christian blogger who points out in my apostolically and scripturally based regular blog postings the need for true repentance, salvation, holiness, righteousness, faithfulness, and obedience to God’s commandments. For these reasons, it gives me great pleasure to accept this Ambassador for Christ Blogger Award. Thank you so much Bishop Prince for nominating me.

Additionally, I want to encourage all of the individuals who visit my blog to check out the exceptionally inspirational and motivational writings, as well as the apostolically and scripturally based postings, that can be found on Bishop Prince’s blog. He definitely is preaching and teaching about the Word of God’s repeated issues—repentance, salvation, holiness, righteousness, faithfulness, and obedience to God’s commandments. Indeed, I am genuinely touched by the godly warmth, kindness, and love that he sincerely and faithfully expresses in every one of his postings and comments.

Now, in order to accept this unique award, the nominee must follow these few guidelines:

1.    Add the Ambassador for Christ Blogger Award logo to your blog.

2.   Write a blog entry in which you give your thoughts on receiving this prestigious award. Please be sure to name and thank the person who nominated you, as well as provide a link to that person’s blog.

3.    Pass the award on to as many or as few worthy bloggers as you like, either by notifying those bloggers via e-mail or in a comment posted on one of their blog entries.

Let me say, once again, thank you Bishop Prince. Thank you for your encouragement, appreciation, and your support. I pray that our God continues to bless you and your loved ones exceedingly and abundantly above anything that you could ever imagine, or guess, or request.

 

Shalom . . .

 

Share this:

  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Print & PDF (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

You Move Me, Jesus

25 Monday Feb 2013

Posted by Rev. Nadine Drayton-Keen in Poetry

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

allegro, andante, cadence, free fantasia, Key of Life, Key of Love, move of God, Sonata, thematic, transforming, Trinity

You Move Me, Message Board Version by gargrad, Rev. Nadine Drayton-Keen's Pseudonym

Message Board Version by gargrad, Rev. Nadine Drayton-Keen’s Pseudonym

If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, ‘Jump,’ and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love. Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others, Isn’t always ‘me first,’ Doesn’t fly off the handle, Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others, Doesn’t revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end. Love never dies. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:2-8, MSG

 

 Like music that soothes the soul,
You move me.
With three movements,
You’re the classical exposition that exemplifies
How dominant faith can be over reason.
You’re the free fantasia that signifies rhythmic instability in
A falsely conceived rationally harmonious mind.
You’re the recapitulation, which, in modified repetition,
Restates the first impression, thematically
Fundamental in this developing relationship.

You’re my new Sonata … my song in the Key of Life that will
Transform me, from worse to better, in epic proportions
Before now, never thought possible.
Swiftly, you have captivated your audience; me,
Altering my chosen path of a moderately slow, andante cadence to a
Lively allegro.

Your spirited tempo permeates my mind, will, and …
Emotions …
You move me, Jesus, to do our Father’s Perfect Will.
 

~ from my manuscript – True Devotion: A Poetic View of the Consuming Fire of Total Praise, Worship, and Obedience (the original 2008 version)               

Share this:

  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Print & PDF (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

God’s Intellectual Property

20 Wednesday Feb 2013

Posted by Rev. Nadine Drayton-Keen in Spiritual

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

capitalistic society, censorship, copyright laws, copyright protection, disseminated, English-speaking governments, government-licensed monopolies, heretical, intellectual property, monopolists, religious & political battleground, subversive, the freedom of information

God's Intellectual Property

See, the sky, the heaven beyond the sky, the earth and everything on it all belong to Adonai your God. ~ Deuteronomy 10:14, CJB

The earth is Adonai’s, with all that is in it, the world and those who live there; ~ Psalm 24:1, CJB

 

A USLegal.com Definition: Intellectual property is a property right that can be protected under federal and state law, including copyrightable works, ideas, discoveries, and inventions.

 …Intellectual property (IP) is an intangible creation of the human mind, usually expressed or translated into a tangible form, that is assigned certain rights of property. Examples of intellectual property include an author’s copyright on a book or article, a distinctive logo design representing a soft drink company and its products, unique design elements of a web site, or a patent on a particular process to, for example, manufacture chewing gum. Intellectual property law covers the protection of copyrights, patents, trademarks, and trade secrets, as well as other legal areas, such as unfair competition. In effect, intellectual property laws give the creator of a new and unique product or idea a temporary monopoly on its use. The value of intellectual property to an individual or company is not based on physical properties, such as size and structure. Instead, intellectual property is valuable because it represents ownership and an exclusive right to use, manufacture, reproduce, or promote a unique creation or idea. In this way, it has the potential to be one of the most valuable assets a person or small business can own.

The Earth and EVERYTHING and EVERYONE on it belong to God (cf. Deuteronomy 10:14, Psalm 24:1, 1 Corinthians 10:26). This opening statement means that the only reasons why anyone is able to create, reproduce, distribute, and sell anything are because of Father God’s Grace and Generosity (His favor and abundance). Put differently, EVERYTHING that anyone could ever think of creating, reproducing, distributing, and selling is God’s intellectual property!

So then God’s intellectual property is EVERY intangible creation of the human mind, which in time is articulated or interpreted into a distinguishable form. The writer of this blog entry will be focusing mainly on the written-word form.

Now where the sharing of the Gospel is concerned, there can be no denying that it is God who gives every man and every woman of God EVERYTHING he or she needs to teach, to preach, or to write about His Word. For this reason, the main work God gives to His chosen for ministry men and women is His written Word (the Holy Bible).

As the apostle Paul says, God’s Word contains EVERYTHING that is profitable for doctrine (that is to say, everything that is valuable and helpful in the teaching of God’s Perfect Will and in the revealing of the coming of the Lord Jesus the Christ). His Word also contains EVERYTHING that is profitable for reproof (that is to say, everything that either convinces EVERY man or woman who accepts God’s Divine Truths or confounds EVERY man or woman who denies His Divine Truths). Lastly, the apostle Paul says that God’s Word contains EVERYTHING that is profitable for correcting and for teaching righteousness (see 2 Timothy 3:16).

However, neither apostle Paul nor other inspired writers of God’s Word has said God has given some people and/or companies the inalienable right to claim the Holy Bible as their own work. Since God’s holy Scriptures also are His intellectual property, not even His chosen for ministry men and women have the right to copyright God’s Word. Even if some of them might be responsible for translating God’s Word from the original Hebrew, Greek, or Aramaic languages to the many different native languages that either had existed or that continue to exist on this Earth today, their gift and calling do not give these men and/or women the right to claim the Holy Bible as their intellectual property.

That’s right! What this blogger is saying is that plagiarism of God’s Word happens when EVERY Holy Bible translator and EVERY Holy Bible publishing company presents “their” versions of God’s Word as “their” own work. Moreover, because these translators and publishers are just plagiarizing God’s Word (putting the original languages in totally different languages; passing off God’s work as their own), these translators and publishers do not have the right to charge people for a published copy of “their” Holy Bible.

There should be no debate about whether or not the God-breathed/Holy Spirit inspired Holy Bible is God’s intellectual property. That’s a given, especially since God’s Holy Spirit is the One who influenced what the authors/writers of the Old and New Testaments penned. Indeed, God’s Holy Spirit is the One who continues to influence, for the benefit of others’ spiritual growth, EVERY thought and every word written about God’s Word that gets published in books, newspapers, magazines, or on websites, and etc.

Certainly since translators and publishers are guilty of plagiarizing God’s Word, based on mankind’s own established copyright laws, it then is illegal for translators and publishers to sell their reproduced copies of “their” Bibles. Likewise, it is illegal to compel people to buy “their” Bibles, because, once again, “their” Bibles really are God’s intellectual property. Then too, it is illegal for these so-called owners of copyrighted Bibles to charge people a fee for the permission to use biblical passages that exceed the designated “free” to use content limit.

Since God’s Word (the Holy Bible) is indeed His intellectual property, it once again should be stressed that because the Earth and EVERYTHING and EVERYONE on this Earth belong to God, this statement also means that every word any writer/author ever uses is God’s intellectual property, too. This last statement is true, because all words are, and always have been, in existence from before the foundation of this Earth. That’s why everyone on this Earth only uncovers, detects, or unearths, or else someone reveals something to a person or persons, which originally came from the Creator who first released in seed form every good and perfect word, idea, thought, wisdom, understanding, and etc., when He created the Heavens and this Earth.  

Perhaps it is because EVERYTHING anyone ever thinks to write about has come from God’s intellectual property that God now is allowing new technologies to make it very hard, as well as very expensive (legally speaking), for monopolists (companies and individuals) to maintain control of their legal rights to be the ONLY ones who get to sell, distribute, reproduce, perform, display, or license/give permissions to use “their” copyrighted ideas, images, books, and etc. Then too, maybe God is allowing copyright laws to be so hard, as well as so very expensive (legally speaking), to maintain, because in many English-speaking countries copyright protection laws initially were established because England’s Parliament (government) wanted to restrict the free flow of ideas—Parliament wanted to regulate and control the content that would be published (printed) in every book, newspaper, and magazine.

After the invention of the printing press, many authors now had the capacity by which they could reach large numbers of people with their words and their ideas. Now it should be mentioned here that, according to the 16th century’s European view on “the freedom of information,” knowledge and wisdom were considered to be God-given products of the human mind. This philosophy probably is why many of the books that were printed and disseminated during the 16th century were Holy Bibles and vernacular liturgy. The most popular vernacular liturgy at this time was the Book of Common Prayer (1549), with its many revisions.

Now because of the 16th century’s Protestant Reformation, initiated by Martin Luther, with his Ninety-Five Theses on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences (1517), there were many reformers who were concerned with the religious, political, and social issues of the day. More important, at the heart of these religious, political, and social issues was the belief that every bit of knowledge and wisdom comes from God (cf. Proverbs 2:6).

This aforesaid belief no doubt is why, in the 16th century, it was commonly accepted that, for the betterment of mankind, ALL information, including those ideas in “religious” books, should be circulated freely so that every person could have access to the available scholarship. However, as previously mentioned, along came those copyright laws, which were established primarily because both The Church of England and Parliament (government) wanted to limit the “free” circulation of ideas and knowledge, since controversial writings like Martin Luther’s 95 Theses instantly and widely had become available to countless readers.

So on one hand, because copyright protection became a basic pillar of capitalist societies, the exclusive right England’s Stationers Company had been given in 1662 made it possible for this company to benefit, financially speaking, from the works it mass-produced. On the other hand, Parliament’s copyright laws of 1662 also controlled what the Stationers Company could print. That’s right! Even though the Stationers Company had the exclusive right to print books, and other works, this company only could print those works Parliament approved!

In other words, Parliament was controlling the masses by dictating to people what printed ideas, knowledge, and wisdom they could have access to for reading purposes. By now the printed book, newspaper, and magazine had indeed become a “religious” and a political battleground. History proves that both religious and political authorities worried that the unlimited access to information not only would be harmful to their society but also would ruin public morals, especially in times of war or internal crises.

The problem with the kind of censorship that the early copyright laws authorized via the Licensing of the Press Act of 1662 is that God’s Word does not sanction such censorship. The holy Scriptures do not give any government the right to overstep its authority by restricting what any person could read in print. Thus, even if the reason why some biblical and/or political ideas, knowledge, and wisdom had been banned because Parliament (government) and/or The Church of England were trying to keep what was believed to be subversive, heretical, and/or contentious content from spreading beyond control, the authority to use copyright protection laws as a form of censorship did not come from the Word of God.  

Although copyright laws have come a long way since 1662, it is those early copyright laws that have led to the creation of government-licensed monopolies over the physical production and distribution of creators/authors’ books, movies, music, and so forth. Once again, this truth is probably why God is letting 21st century people see how the governments of today’s English-speaking counties have turned on its head EVERYTHING related to God’s Kingdom. Everything that God freely has given to His children, both Jewish and Gentile believers, for them to use in the building up of His Kingdom on Earth has come under the control of monopolies—companies and/or individuals who have been granted a monopoly by virtue of “copyright” laws.

In essence, English-speaking governments have taken it on themselves to be the only ones who get to decide to whom a license will be given that allows copyrightable works, ideas, discoveries, inventions, and so forth, to be mass-produced and then sold, which includes but is not limited to God’s Word (the Holy Bible). More important, what makes copyright laws for Christian Bibles, for example, to be not only illegal but also offensive is the fact that by virtue of the nature of a “copyright” law, everyone is being forced into a no copying agreement. That is to say, following “copyright” laws is entirely involuntary, mainly because no person ever has agreed orally, or on paper, that he or she never would “copy” anyone!

Summing up, everything this blogger has read and taught over the years about plagiarism and copyright laws indicates that the idea of stealing another person’s words and/or ideas mostly is a modern-day Western World notion. In many other cultures, for example most Middle Eastern, African, and Asian cultures, the thought of only one person or only one company “owning” words and/or ideas is preposterous. In fact, traditionally, especially where Christian Scriptures and parabiblical literature are concerned, God always has intended for His God-breathed and Holy Spirit inspired Word, including any written and oral teachings or preachings about His Word, to be freely shared (cf. Matthew 10:7-8). Certainly since God has given His children access to EVERYTHING in this world that belongs to Him, then there should be no doubt that EVERYTHING in this world that anyone claims is his or her own copyrightable works, ideas, discoveries, inventions, and etc., actually really is God’s intellectual property, which includes His written Word (the Holy Bible).

So then since EVERYTHING is God’s intellectual property, which human beings just “discover,” or which God via His Word, Holy Spirit, and/or His sons and daughters, has revealed on purpose to humanity, no one else owns any copyrights to any knowledge, wisdom, creativity, ingenuity, and so forth. For sure, God has taught primarily with His Holy Spirit inspired Word that from the foundation of this world He has been the only One who has exclusionary ownership privileges on this Earth. Therefore, as it has been said several times now, because EVERYTHING and EVERYONE belong to God, EVERYTHING in this world that humans discover, reveal, create, invent, write, etc., is God’s intellectual property, and His alone!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Print & PDF (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Micah’s Spin on Prostituting the Gospel

11 Monday Feb 2013

Posted by Rev. Nadine Drayton-Keen in Bible Prophecy

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

bribery, covenantal necessities, covetousness, fees, Judah, judges/rulers/princes, mass-marketing, priests/teachers, prostituting the Gospel, revelators/prophets, selling callings/functions

Micah Exhorting The Israelites to Repentance by Gustave Doré

Judges sell verdicts to the highest bidder, priests mass-market their teaching, prophets preach for high fees, All the while posturing and pretending dependence on [YeHoVaH]: ‘We’ve got [YeHoVaH] on our side. He’ll protect us from disaster.’ ~ Micah 3:11, MSG

Prostituting the Gospel: 1. Selling information, insights, and reveals, etc., about YeHoVaH’s Word primarily to those “church” and ministry members and/or partners who are wealthy enough to pay the suggested prices for the offered books, CDs, DVDs, podcasts, Christian paraphernalia, and so on; 2. Charging exorbitant registration and/or admission fees to conferences, conventions, seminars, workshops, retreats, and so forth, primarily to those “church” and ministry members and/or partners who are wealthy enough to pay the fees, because it is their paid fees that allow them to benefit from the new biblical/prophetic truths that will be revealed, or the anointings that will be released, or the healings that will be received, and the like, in these planned mass gatherings; and 3. Placing unjust limitations upon (unfairly excluding) those “church” and ministry members and/or partners who are too poor, disadvantaged, and/or financially strapped to easily buy the for-sale books, CDs, DVDs, podcasts, Christian paraphernalia, and so on, or who are too poor, disadvantaged, and/or financially strapped to effortlessly pay the very expensive registration/admission fees.

In Micah 3:11, the prophet Micah gives his spin on the phrase: Prostituting the Gospel (see above definitions). Indeed, whenever this blogger reads the passages in which Micah civilly but firmly expresses his disapproval of Judah’s judges (princes/rulers), teachers (priests), and revelators (prophets), who willingly were judging, teaching, and prophesying contrary to YeHoVaH’s Law, the lyrics and music to The O’Jays’ “For the Love of Money” always come to mind. There can be no doubt that Micah is displeased with his Jewish judges, priests, and prophets, because these Jewish leaders certainly were prostituting their callings/functions (offices, positions) for the love of money!

It should be noted here that YeHoVaH always has been the only true/real King or ruler and judge of the nation of Israel. He is the One who chose His Jewish people, and, more important, He is the One who decided which Jewish leaders would be the ones to whom He would teach His Law (His Divine Truths/His Word).

Keeping the above truth in mind, it becomes easier to understand why YeHoVaH also chose to show, via His Word, that His chosen Jewish leaders, in Micah’s day, represent three specific groups of individuals. These three groups of Jewish leaders are: 1. The rulers or princes, who were the ones chosen to judge YeHoVaH’s Jewish people according to YeHoVaH’s Law—the ones who were supposed to practice YeHoVaH’s complete and untainted Law; the ones whose primary responsibility was to give fair or just court decisions; 2. The priests or teachers, who were the ones chosen to teach YeHoVaH’s Jewish people YeHoVaH’s complete and untainted Law; and 3. The prophets, who were the ones chosen to bring YeHoVaH’s Jewish people YeHoVaH’s complete and untainted prophetic messages and teachings about their future.

Concerning chapter three of the Book of Micah, it is clear that in this third chapter Micah definitely is both reminding and warning YeHoVaH’s three groups of Jewish leaders of this truth: YeHoVaH, the true/real ruler of Israel, will judge their sin, which for these Jewish leaders of Judah (Southern Kingdom) is their greed for money and other profitable rewards. There also can be no doubt that the prophet Micah also is reminding and warning the Jewish leaders who were living in Judah that YeHoVaH will judge their disobedience, which is their willful breaking of YeHoVaH’s Law.

YeHoVaH reveals through the prophet Micah the ungodly ways the princes/judges, the priests/teachers, and the revelators/prophets in Judah had committed crimes against their fellow Jewish citizens. These chosen Jewish leaders were supposed to be responsible for every Jewish person’s security and safety, but instead these Jewish leaders only were concerned about monetary gain and the power that more money could bring them. Consequently, even though these corrupt Jewish leaders expected YeHoVaH to help them, especially since they praised YeHoVaH while they were in the Temple, the truth is that they not only were being arrogant about their godly protection expectations but also they were doing evil things in their daily interactions with their fellow Jewish citizens. In particular, they demanded money and/or other rewards for their YeHoVaH-given services!

Along with demanding money and/or other rewards for their services, these corrupt Jewish leaders also were refusing to perform their YeHoVaH-assigned services for anyone who had refused to pay them for their justice (which literally means being treated honestly and fairly), their truths, or their messages and teachings that were supposed to be from YeHoVaH. That’s right! If Judah’s princes/rulers weren’t going to get paid, they refused to issue any rulings (whether just or unjust) for the poor, for the somewhat well-to-do, and for the very wealthy. In fact, they wouldn’t even agree to try any cases, before they were paid. Following suit were Judah’s priests/teachers. If they weren’t going to receive any money, then they refused to teach YeHoVaH’s Divine Truths. Also, if it looked like Judah’s prophets/revelators weren’t going to have their palms greased, these corrupt leaders refused to prophesy any favorable predictions.

Worse still, the justice, the truth, and the prophecy that were given in Micah’s day frequently were perversions of YeHoVaH’s Law—perversions of His fairness and righteousness, perversions of His mercy and grace, and perversions of His precise predictions. More important, even these corrupt Jewish leaders’ perverted versions of the Law always came with excessive price tags attached to them!

Because Judah’s Jewish leaders were utterly corrupt, this is the main reason why Micah takes the time to both remind and warn these men about what will happen to Israel’s Southern Kingdom if these wicked leaders continued to miss YeHoVaH’s point, which was that godly justice, mercy, and humility are covenantal necessities. That is to say, Micah reminds and warns Judah’s Jewish leaders that it is because their Southern Kingdom is in a covenantal relationship with a just, holy, and righteous YeHoVaH that He will judge them for their sin and disobedience.

Thus, by Chapter 3 of the Book of Micah, the prophet specifically makes sure that those Jewish leaders—judges/princes/rulers—who were given the power and authority to judge wrong and right behavior, justly, understood that Micah was warning them about the evil things they were doing to their fellow citizens. As earlier suggested, these judges/princes/rulers essentially were refusing to render any verdicts without first issuing a “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” demand. Micah, thus, made sure that these corrupt Jewish judges/princes/rulers understood how ungodly it was to demand payment for their favorable rulings or for the “justice” that people believed they were due, long before they agreed to try any cases. Put differently, these false judges/princes/rulers were prostituting their calling/function by selling their verdicts.

Now even though it was against YeHoVaH’s Law to judge for money or for other rewards (see Exodus 23:8; Deuteronomy 16:19), a perverted justice still was given to the highest bidder. The harsh truth is that these wicked Jewish judges/princes/rulers had resolved that they were going to rip off their fellow Jewish citizens. Once again, if a monetary gain was not possible, then these false judges/princes/rulers, who only would decide in favor of those individuals from whom they already had received the greatest monetary gain or reward, would not even judge any cases.

Then too, Micah also specifically was making sure that those Jewish leaders—priests—who were given the authority to lovingly teach understood that he was warning them about the evil things they were doing to their fellow citizens. These corrupt priests mainly only cared about lining their own pockets. Because most of Judah’s priests were greedy for more money than what YeHoVaH’s Law provided for them (see the Levitical Tithe, Festival or Rejoicing Tithe, and the Third-Year or Poor Tithe; see Leviticus 27:30; Numbers 18:21-24; Deuteronomy 12:17-18; Deuteronomy 14:22-29), these unfaithful and unloving priests only taught YeHoVaH’s Truths (His Law), when they were paid dearly to do so. Even then they just taught distorted versions of His Truths.

As earlier mentioned, the evil things that priests/teachers did to their fellow citizens involved teaching anyone whatever he or she wanted to be taught (whatever he or she preferred to learn), as in anything that would bring the seeking persons pleasure. In other words, these priests/teachers, who were supposed to teach the Jewish people about YeHoVaH’s Laws and His righteousness, would hire themselves out to teach contrary lessons for specified prices. Put differently, these corrupt priests/teachers were prostituting their calling/function by selling YeHoVaH’s Law, or rather by selling their perverted versions of YeHoVaH’s Law. If there was no money to be gained, these false teachers would not teach.

Similarly, Micah specifically was making sure that those Jewish leaders—prophets—who were given the authority to humbly prophesy understood that he was warning them about the evil things these revelators/prophets were doing to their fellow citizens. Once again, these corrupt revelators/prophets were receiving bribes before they would prophesy. The amount of money they received determined the kind of prophetic message these bribers supposedly would receive from YeHoVaH.

The revelators/prophets in Micah’s day were considered to be YeHoVaH’s servants, as such they, like any other laborers, deserved to be compensated for their services, especially if the people were blessed by the Word they spoke (cf. Deuteronomy 25:4; 1 Samuel 9:7-8; 1 Kings 14:2-4; 1 Corinthians 9:9-12; 1 Timothy 5:17-18). The problem here is that most of the prophets in Micah’s day, instead of being YeHoVaH’s mouthpieces who conveyed YeHoVaH’s messages or His teachings, intentionally prostituted their calling/function by selling people whatever prophetic “Word” they wanted to hear. If the price was right, then these false revelators/prophets always would prophesy peace and goodwill.

On the other hand, if these false revelators/prophets did not receive any money or other rewards, or if they did not receive the exact price they wanted, they always prophesied doom and gloom.  Moreover, if there wasn’t any money to be gained, then these false revelators/prophets just pretended like they had the power to sic an angry wrathful YeHoVaH on the non-paying people, all because they would not give these false revelators/prophets the amount of money they demanded! Therefore, these false revelators/prophets did not deserve their wages!

In each of these for-the-love-of-money examples, no matter if the Jewish leader in question was a prince, priest, or prophet, who should have been trustworthy, every one of these unholy leaders tended to love the wages of unrighteousness more than he enjoyed doing justly, loving mercifully, and walking humbly with the One who gave him his power and authority. Put differently, every one of these wicked and unfaithful princes, priests, and prophets chose to enjoy the fruits of his wicked and corrupt leadership. The bottom line is that each of these corrupt Jewish leaders deliberately chose to fleece YeHoVaH’s flock!

Moreover, because these evil princes, priests, and prophets did not want to do “good” or righteous deeds, they actually hated anyone who was doing “good” deeds. Even more, they hated it when the “good”-deeds people pointed out to them (the wicked judges, teachers, and prophets) their wrongdoings. As a result, the “good” and innocent people never received any just or fair treatments from these haters of “good,” not even if the “good” and innocent people agreed to pay these corrupt Jewish leaders their requested fees.

In other words, only the guilty and evil people in Micah’s day prospered from these greedy, heartless, and false judges, teachers, and prophets. The reason why these guilty and evil people prospered is because they were more than willing to grease their princes, priests, and prophets’ palms. Once again, Micah’s princes, priests, and prophets only judged, taught, and prophesied for those bribers who offered the largest amount of money or the biggest reward, which means they used their callings/functions to their own advantage—for their own interests and greediness. In short, they were actors or performers, at best, and they sold their performances (prostituted their callings/functions) to the people who paid them the highest prices.                                    

To compound their unrighteous and unholy behaviors, these princes, priests, and prophets claimed to their “audiences” that they were in YeHoVaH’s presence, that they received YeHoVaH’s blessings, that they acquired YeHoVaH’s favor, and that they earned YeHoVaH’s provision and protection from suffering, harm, and destruction. Even though YeHoVaH called many of these Jewish leaders to judge, to teach, and to prophesy, and even though His “…gifts and…call are under full warranty—never canceled, never rescinded” (Romans 11:29, MSG), the truth that these Jewish leaders appear to have forgotten is that the covenantal relationship they have with their God still requires that they demonstrate, on a daily basis and in all of their dealings with every Jewish person, the necessary godly justice, mercy, and humility.

Unfortunately, their arrogant impudence—their belief that YeHoVaH would grant them His favor and that He would be present among them, even though they were engaging in unholy and unrighteous acts—prevented them from seeing the truth about their love for the wages of unrighteousness. As a result, they could not, or would not, see that YeHoVaH never could sanction their sin or their disobedience. Nor did these unrighteous, unmerciful, and haughty Jewish leaders see that their greediness and unfaithfulness would earn them the wages of sin, if they did not turn from their wicked ways—if they did not change their stinkin’ thinkin’ (repent). 

There can be no doubt that YeHoVaH wants His 21st-century children, His saved Gentiles and Jews, to apply the prophet Micah’s reminders and warnings to their own lives. It’s sad to say, but there are way too many contemporary apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers who are following in the footsteps of Micah’s wicked princes, priests, and prophets.

That’s right! Far too many of today’s apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers also are involved in the traditional practice of prostituting the Gospel. These modern-day apostle, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers are prostituting the Gospel in this century, when they are: overcharging people with outrageous conference, retreat, seminar, workshop, or convention fees; charging for their books on biblical/prophetic truths, and so on; charging for their CDs, DVDs, and podcast recordings of their sermon/message and/or teaching series; setting astronomical fees for bringing the Gospel to a particular mega-“church,” colossal meeting hall, or gigantic stadium in a particular city; and giving people a “word” that they claim comes from YeHoVaH, when that “word” really is the result of their love for money, as well as the result of their unfaithfulness to the ministry work YeHoVaH has given to them to do.

Okay, for the record, there are men and women of YeHoVaH in this century who are not after a shameful profit—who are not trying to sell their callings/functions to the highest bidder. However, the sad truth is that most of these “called” men and women actually think that, since it is a given that every spiritual leader in every “church” and/or every ministry needs spiritual and financial support in order to flourish in this ever-changing world, this truth then is why it’s okay for them to sell a few books, CDs, DVDs, and so forth, and why it’s okay for them to charge  economical registration and/or admission fees for conferences, et al.

The problem with this thinking is that prostituting the Gospel is the same, no matter if the selling/charging is in high volumes, or if the costs are reasonable, or not. The point here is that, if the spiritual leaders in today’s “churches” and/or ministries are truly “called” and sent of YeHoVaH, then these spiritual leaders would know that as long as they are faithful and obedient to YeHoVaH’s Commandments, He will be just and faithful about keeping His promises to provide the necessary spiritual and financial provisions His spiritual leaders need. In other words, there is never any reason why YeHoVaH’s truly faithful and obedient to His Commandments children should ever have to sell their callings/functions.

According to YeHoVaH’s Word, He will provide for and protect those whom He has “called,” as long as they are faithful and obedient to His commandments and to His Voice (see YeHoVaH’s Blessings for obedience in Deuteronomy 28:1-14). Once again, based on what YeHoVaH Promises in His Word, no one has to coerce or beg anyone for his or her money (tithes, offerings, partnerships), and no one has to sell his or her sermons/messages, prayers, teachings, prophesies, spiritual gifts, natural talents and abilities, anointings, and so on, for the purpose of paying “churches” or ministries’ bills, including pastors’ salaries, etc.

YeHoVaH absolutely is able to influence or convict the hearts of those people who freely have received a Word from YeHoVaH, via his apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers. He absolutely is able to influence or convict recipients’ hearts to give, according to how richly they have been blessed, some spiritual and financial support to those individuals who freely have poured out of themselves into the convicted receivers’ lives. Likewise, YeHoVaH absolutely is able to provide for and to protect the ones He truly has “called,” ordained, equipped, empowered, anointed, and sent to function as an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher, and so forth.

Where then is the faith that today’s apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers say that their hearers and readers should have?  Don’t today’s spiritual leaders also need to have the same kind of faith they are “charging” others to learn about from their books, CDs, DVDs, podcasts, or in their conferences, retreats, conventions, seminars, and workshops?

Certainly there is a right way to trust in YeHoVaH—a right way to show faith in YeHoVaH. Trusting in YeHoVaH (having faith) involves not only believing that He, according to His Word, will provide, protect, guide, heal, forgive, save, empower, revive, renew, teach, and so on, but also trusting YeHoVaH (having faith) involves obeying/keeping YeHoVaHs Commandments. This truth means that if the works or deeds people are doing (if the actual ways the people who profess Yeshua HaMaShiach and declare they love YeHoVaH live) are contrary to YeHoVaH’s Commandments (His Word; the Gospel of Yeshua), then these individuals are opposing YeHoVaH. They are rebelling against YeHoVaH and, thus, should not expect Him to keep His covenantal promises.      

The main point here is that just like it was in Micah’s days, so is it today. Too many professed believers in Yeshua HaMaShiach and professed lovers of YeHoVaH are worshiping and serving their Lord and their God with only their lips. As a result, their actions are contrary to their words. The key reason why so many 21st–century believers are so duplicitous is because they have deceived themselves into believing that they are truly godly, when the harsh truth is that they are denying the power of YeHoVaH’s Holy Spirit who helps them to become holy and righteous. In other words, they are not living a genuine believer in Yeshua lifestyle, because they either don’t have the power of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) in them, or they are not relying on (trusting in) the power of the Holy Spirit to help them become all they are meant to be.

Another reason why too many apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers are just like the wicked Jewish leaders in Micah’s days is the fact that today’s spiritual leaders are charging believers excessive prices for the “truth” and/or a Word from YeHoVaH, which they claim to have the authority and the calling to teach or prophesy. As a result, that “truth” and Word from YeHoVaH many 21st-century believers are receiving often depends on how much money they are willing to pay for what they get. How long will today’s apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers continue to rob YeHoVaH’s people, for the purpose of lining their own pockets, and/or for the purpose of keeping the lights on in “their” ministry or “church”?  

Furthermore, just like it was in Micah’s days, so is it today, meaning there are far too many apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers who respond favorably to those affluent “churchgoers” who pay them well for their teaching, preaching, and prophesying. What is even worse, these wealthy “churchgoers” actually end up having a louder voice or playing a bigger role in “church” policy, even though these affluent members’ spiritual maturity is not certain!

In many of the contemporary “churches” and/or ministries, the ungodly lifestyles of the more generous givers are overlooked (their sinful behaviors never are confronted), mostly because so many of today’s “church” and/or ministry leaders fear their wealthy supporters will stop contributing, if they are held accountable for their actions. On the other hand, those members who pay little or no money at all to their “church” or their ministry, often are openly chastised and/or “sat down” (not allowed to preach, teach, sing, etc.), usually for the littlest of offenses. More important, today, as it was in Micah’s day with those who worshipped in the Jewish Temple, the poorer “church” and ministry members and/or partners either are being excluded altogether, or they constantly are being given a “free” but watered down or abridged version of that paid for extensive information the wealthy members received.

The main point here is that the rich people who give plenty of money to “churches” or ministries are receiving better treatment than those members who are not paying much money or any money to these same “churches” or ministries. What is even more nefarious is the fact that far too many of today’s apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers are teaching believers that they can manipulate YeHoVaH into giving them numerous and enormous financial blessings—teaching them that they can get YeHoVaH to make them as prosperous as the wealthier “churchgoers” and/or their spiritual leaders. Will today’s apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers continue only to be interested in gaining more wealth and enlarging their own territories, primarily at the expense of the poor, disadvantaged, and financially strapped believers, instead of being interested in doing justly, loving mercifully, and walking humbly with their YeHoVaH?

Here’s the conclusion to the whole prostituting the Gospel issue: If the actions of anyone who is in Yeshua HaMaShiach are not the same as the words he or she is speaking, as he or she judges, teaches, or prophesies to others, then these people, especially if they are spiritual leaders, are not modeling a godly life for the whole world to see, and they are not correctly serving the people whom YeHoVaH has “called” them to serve. According to Micah, when both the commonplace people in a country and the powerful leaders of the same country have become utterly corrupt, this corruption will cause destruction to come upon that entire nation. 

Lastly, what has to be noted here is this final truth: Micah’s fellow Jewish people didn’t listen to him, nor did they listen to Isaiah, who prophesied in the same century as Micah. As a result, like Israel (that is, the Northern Kingdom), Judah (the Southern Kingdom) eventually was destroyed. A word to the wise should be sufficient!

 

~ from Sounding A Clarion Call: A Collection of Expository, Devotional, and Creative Writings; 2003, edited

Share this:

  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Print & PDF (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Rev. Nadine Drayton-Keen

Sanctified Child

KEEN Blogging Days

February 2013
M T W T F S S
 123
45678910
11121314151617
18192021222324
25262728  
« Jan   Mar »

KEEN (Weekly) Top Posts

  • HARPAZO (Rapture, Take, Snatch, Force, Pull, Pluck, Catch, Catch Up, Catch Away) Scriptures
  • The Three Most Important Crops of Israel’s Seven Major Crops
  • The Fruit of the Ruach (Spirit) Is His Work – Not Ours
  • Proverbial Wisdom from Three Wise Monkeys
  • The Bride of Christ’s Inner, Upper, and Outer Garments
  • It Is Very Meaningful, When God Speaks A Name Twice
  • Jewish Menorah Mirrors 7 Feasts: Reflections Made On 2011’s Feast of Trumpets
  • MYSTERY BABYLON
  • Sea Beast, Earth Beast, and Abyss Beast . . . The End Times’ Unholy Trinity
  • Three Main Harvests Of Souls

KEEN Topics

Awards Bible Prophecy Bible Study Devotional Faith and Wisdom Heartbreak Heavenly Insights Literary Fiction National Tragedy Poetry Praises and Thanks Published Book Reblogged Review Spiritual Tribute Uncategorized

Published Book Author

Perfect Peace, published 2-19-2015; collection of my Haiku poetry

Published Book Author

Keeping It Real..., published 10-20-2015; collection of my devotions

My Newest Book

My Spirit's Musings, published 1-9-2017; collection of mostly Free Verse poems

My Mini-Memoir

My mini-memoir deals with love, loss, and forgiveness. Published July 26, 2018.

My Third Collection of Poetry

Moody Woman - published January 12, 2020

An inspirational, emotional, and spiritual literary fiction debut novel . . . published January 29, 2022 . . .

My Spirit’s Musings Press Release

Captivating New Xulon Verses Remind Believers Why Only a Christlike Life Reflects God’s Image - Reverend Keen of Deeper Walk Ministries Lyrically Addresses Christlikeness

Very Inspiring Blogger Award

Ambassador for Christ Blogger Award

Deeper Walk Ministries Logo

Serving Others Ministry

KEEN Created Graphic

Fruit of the Spirit

KEEN Created Graphic

Lone Voices Suffer

KEEN Created Graphic

AKA Haiku

KEEN Created Graphic

KEEN Social Media

  • View preachingwoman’s profile on Facebook
  • View sanctifiedchild’s profile on Twitter

KEEN Twitter Followers

My Tweets

KEEN Posts Liked

  • Sunday Soul Search on Words Like Honey
  • Spring Festival 2022~ week 9 on Words Like Honey
  • They Deserve Gold Medals on Words Like Honey
  • Spring Festival 2022~ week 8 on Words Like Honey
  • Sunday Soul Search on Words Like Honey
  • She Ruled the Roost on Words Like Honey
  • Spring Festival 2022~ week 7 on Words Like Honey

KEEN Community of Friends/Visitors

KEEN Blogging History

  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • June 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009

KEEN Visits

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Blog at WordPress.com.

  • Follow Following
    • Gone Fishin'
    • Join 1,730 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Gone Fishin'
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

    loading Cancel
    Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
    Email check failed, please try again
    Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
    %d bloggers like this: