Last week we delved more into what a church of Sardis deceitful tactics could look like. Over the course of this last year, we have looked at spiritual abuse, self-deception in the church, how the pulpit is being abused by man through innuendo, as well as recently looking at deceitful campaigns manipulating church congregations.
Well, we are going to share another tactic a Church of Sardis could be caught up in. A church was under scrutiny and investigation. While that investigation was taking place the pulpit was rife with innuendo and ungodly talk. We never heard from God from the pulpit, however what we did hear were threats and all kinds of messages that contained hidden meaning. Again, the congregation oblivious to know what is going on behind the scenes, they are fickle.
While the investigation was running it was decided by that church that was under scrutiny to deliver a preaching series. What did they do right in the middle of an investigation? They used the pulpit to threaten.
The teaching series was labelled with a graphic of a headstone and a grave. What were church leaders trying to convey through innuendo to the ones bringing the investigation. It goes like this. If you carry on with this investigation, we will stick you in your grave. How very loving of them! Here is an example of that graphic.
The pulpit is a sacred place. It is where we want to hear from God to be convicted by Him to help sanctify us, not to hear threats from man who want to muster up anxiety and fear in people because they are under investigation trying to scare people off the road. This tactic is ungodly. We are to fear no other thing except for God. This tactic is spiritual abuse!
We are sorry if you have been up against this kind of abuse. However, we know one thing. Turn to God in all of it. Pray about it and pray specifically. Habakkuk in the Old Testament was a prayerful person who prayed specifically, he complained to God and when he thought God was taking no notice, God showed up. So, keep praying and pray some more.
Our God is a loving God; he does not threaten us as man threatens us. He is not afraid to call out churches for wrongdoing which was evident in Revelation 3. Read it for yourselves.
The good news about the churches that Jesus called out in Revelation 3 in each case of Smyrna, Pergamum, Sardis, Thyatira and Laodicea is this, He said REPENT. Jesus gives them a chance to turn from their false humility.
Your prayers can lead churches to repentance and to a place where truth and justice matter. A place where the pulpit is where we hear from God and what He wants us to hear, not the innuendoes of man trying to protect themselves in their own strength.
Keep praying and pray some more and wait and see what happens! Things will happen BECAUSE prayer is powerful, and God is listening to you.