Reference Scriptures: Ezekiel 3:16-27 (NIV), Jeremiah 23: 1-4 (NIV) and John 14:30-31 (NIV). This episode speaks on how we must be careful especially leaders who feel called to lead God's people. We must be accountable and love God more than anything...including MONEY! God called us so he will hold us accountable. Although John the Baptist came from the priestly tribe of Levi which was considered the righteous and holy, he witnessed thing growing up as a Pastor's Kid (PK) and walked away from the church (Temple) and went to the Jordan River and started preaching the message of REPENTANCE! In our church culture, he would be considered a backslider.... a sinner. The priests were the equivalent of high profiled Bishops, Pastors, and Evangelicals of prominence we see today. They questioned John's rights and authority to preach and baptize because as the religious leaders they were considered the God authority on earth in reference to preaching and teaching the people. Baptizing was not in their scope of things concerning how ministry should be done. They wanted to shut him down, therefore, they called him a "devil" in hopes of deterring the people from following him. Many people believed his message, teachings and were baptized. They understood how much John knew about their misappropriation of the tithes and offerings and their authority over the people. Growing up as a child in ministry he knew their hands were dirty along with their minds. They had no love nor compassion for the same people who made them wealthy. They unapologetically abused their authority and the people. The priest (pastors) had the people in a state of desperation seeking for the next word or message from God, this was their only hope because the Pharisees (the priests, pastors) were too obsessed with themselves and their needs and greed. They were blinded by God because of their selfishness and love for money. In the book of Revelation, they are called, "Greedy Dogs!" John the Baptist simply served the people who he witnessed that had been taken advantage since he was a little boy growing up in the temple. John's father was a Levitical Priest from the tribe of Moses in which is the Tribe of Levi, John's mother was a Levite as well. John's father and mother were considered to be past the age to have a child so, John was their miracle baby. The circumstances surrounding how John was born and raised had everything to do with him understanding he belonged to God. He was raised by elderly parents who had every intention of their son fulfilling the purpose in which he was born. It is believed that John left the Church when his parents died, leaving behind the inheritance that came with being a Levitical Priest. His inheritance was among those who he now exposed. He calls the priests, “Vipers" meaning those who were born by way of eating their way out of their mother...killing her to live. In other words, what John was saying is, they don't love God or his people, they love themselves and money! They would do anything to maintain their lifestyles and positions of authority, even if they had to kill Jesus! Imagine the courage that it took for John to say this to people that he once held in high regards and respect. John knew how the pastors operated behind the scenes and they feared John. John not having dirt on his hands, could be the very catalyst to expose them, ultimately causing them to lose their followers and their income via (Tithes and Offerings) that provided them such lavish lifestyles. Sadly, Satan has deceived many of our leaders to worship money and justify their actions in the name of Jesus of God. When It's All Said And Done, we cannot take anything from this world. 1 Timothy 6 (NIV): "For we brought nothing into this world, and we can take nothing out of it." The day will come when we will stand before God to give an account of the life we lived. In which we will be judged whether good or evil. Don't get caught like the rich man who thought he had it all. He worked hard, he was successful, he was rich, had a large bank account and all of the things money can buy. He called his friends and said don't worry about your problems "I gotcha" let's celebrate, eat, drink and be merry. That night the death angel was sent to him to take him out of this world. Luke 12 (NIV) "God said to him, You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?" When you lay up riches for yourself and have no riches in God, when your time comes to leave this world you discover that in eternity you will be poor in destitute. Mark 5 (NIV) " For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?. All of his riches and accomplishments couldn't save him. Many pastors have left this world and were unable to tell us when the death angel came. The lavish life style they lived had no value or meaning when ...
