By: Apostle Steve Lyston
It is critical for us to find out or to know the reasons or causes for the negative occurrences taking place globally. The number one cause for much of these issues and problems globally is the neglect of Spiritual things and Spiritual leaders. The Church, which is God’s representative on the earth, has a prophetic mandate to be the salt and the light within the earth. The Church has a mandate to deal with the Spiritual issues affecting the world and the continual restoration of mankind. The Church is the unit of people mandated to carry out certain roles, offerings and certain sacrifices within the earth such as Praises, Righteous Acts, Giving, Evangelism, Sacrifice of Love, Prayer. (Hebrews 13: 15, Ephesians 5: 1 – 2, Acts 6 and Acts 10 -14). Furthermore, the Church must carry out Humanitarian Activities and the ministry of reconciliation for certain blessings to take place.
There was a time when individuals, businesses and the political sector would give into the Church to carry out the mandate that God has given; and many would give from the blessings they received from God. There were various feasts done throughout the year, especially the three (3) main feasts – Tishrei, Pentecost and Atonement – where people would come and give based on their blessings. God also set the Sabbath aside – whether Saturday or Sunday – where the people would bring their Tithes and Offerings to build the House of God. (Malachi3; 1 Corinthians 16: 2) These days, many neglect to do this and would rather give to the occult, financially support immorality and other lewd activities taking place worldwide. Even the saints have abandoned giving to God’s House and taking care of their Spiritual Leaders. (I Corinthians 9: 11; Galatians 6: 6; I Timothy 5: 17) Many true Pastors have walked away from ministry. Some are hurt because of the betrayals and poor treatment they have received. We have seen much ingratitude being shown and sadly, once individuals and families have received the blessings and benefits after being poured into by their Spiritual leaders, many of them neglect, curse and walk away from the ones who labored with and helped them.
Regardless of how brilliant a person may be or how successful an organization is, certain blessings can only come about for them when it is released by a man or woman of God.
Many criticize leaders about the houses and vehicles they have when they are enjoying their blessings from God, but there is no other profession more qualified to receive the blessings than a Spiritual person who is genuinely serving and representing God. It is interesting that such persons have no problems if a Pimp, drug dealer, movie star, musician or any other profession enjoys these things. Which other profession goes to God on behalf of the people, sometimes sacrificing their own familial relationships, and counsels with them, stand in the gap for them, engage in the processes of healing and deliverance, for them? Can they call the drug dealers, pimps, movie stars and other people they adore and follow to do that for them when they need a breakthrough?
The neglect of Spiritual things and Spiritual leaders have gone up to God and unless we find those leaders like Ezra, Nehemiah, Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 31), and unless we restore the priestly order and call back the good priests into full time ministry, where their families can be taken care of and they can focus on rebuilding, restoration and execute their pastoral functions, then we are going to be seeing continued suffering and shaking throughout the earth.
Haggai 1: 3 – 11 says, “Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple[a] to lie in ruins?” Now therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! “You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.” Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways! Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the Lord. “You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?” says the Lord of hosts. “Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit. For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands.”
Each person reading this, begin to take care of your Pastors. As an Apostle, I have seen the suffering of many good Pastors and the kind of treatment they have received and this is not good for neither the individuals nor the community. Many may say that there are too many churches in a particular area. But as one disappears, so will your business disappear and darkness will begin to take over the community. You will see more floods and disasters. So when you hold back your hand from giving into the house and Kingdom of God, you fail to hold up the hand of your leaders and so you will lose the battle. (Exodus 17: 8 – 13)