Counterfeit faith

Counterfeit faith is really no faith at all.  I wonder how many people that are in the church today are really Christians or just the counterfeit.  I wonder how many have really been broken over their sins and have truly repented because of godly sorrow and not just worldly sorrow.  I wonder how many have really been convicted through the Holy Spirit or have just been emotionally stirred.  I wonder how many pastors and teachers are more interested in the popularity and prestige they receive, being in their positions, than the welfare of the people they minister to.

This is not meant to be just a negative ‘Tidbit’ but I think we all wonder these things at one time or another.  I thank God for the faithful pastors and teachers that love the Lord and love the people they minister to and do their best to feed them and to help them to be transformed into the image of Christ.  Each one of us will be responsible for our motives; if we serve from the motive of love we will have no problem.

I was reading in Malachi this morning and in chapter 2:1-9 God warned the priests to give Him honor or He would curse them.  They were disobedient in their sacrifices and their teaching.  They were allowing influential and favored people to break the law; some of the favored people were allowed to get away with things that were unlawful without any criticism.  The priests became complacent in their teaching and some of the people became complacent in their lifestyle.  The big problems in their situation were sacrifices and divorce, divorcing for no reason and marrying heathen woman who worshiped idols, rebelling against the laws of God and God Himself and the priests were not holding them accountable for their sins.  

Just like the priests in that day had a responsibility to teach the truth and not give special privileges to certain people, the pastors and teachers have that same responsibility today for they will be held accountable.  God hasn’t given anyone the privilege of preaching and teaching His Word so that they can misuse it or be complacent about it because of certain people in the church that may be rich and influential and won’t put up with the truth and sound teaching.  If the pastors and teachers don’t live and preach the truth they will cause the people to stumble just like the priests in Malachi’s day did.

Read what the Lord said to the priests in Malachi 2:1-9, “‘And now this commandment is for you, O priests. If you do not listen, and if you do not take it to heart to give honor to My name,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings; and indeed, I have cursed them already, because you are not taking it to heart. Behold, I am going to rebuke your offspring, and I will spread refuse on your faces, the refuse of your feasts; and you will be taken away with it. Then you will know that I have sent this commandment to you, that My covenant may continue with Levi,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him as an object of reverence; so he revered Me and stood in awe of My name. True instruction was in his mouth and unrighteousness was not found on his lips; he walked with Me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many back from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. But as for you, you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by the instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘So I also have made you despised and abased before all the people, just as you are not keeping My ways but are showing partiality in the instruction.’”

God was very serious about what was going on then and what is going on now, so all of us that are in ministry need to be careful of what is preached and taught as well as our motives for doing it because we don’t want the Lord to curse us.  Enough said, this is truly something to think about regardless of what ministry you are in.  May the Lord bless you and may you have a great day!!  And remember to thank and praise the Lord.