The Church of Hophni and Phinehas

Now the sons of Eli were scoundrels who had no respect for the Lord or for their duties as priests. Whenever anyone offered a sacrifice, Eli’s sons would send over a servant with a three-pronged fork. While the meat of the sacrificed animal was still boiling, the servant would stick the fork into the pot and demand that whatever it brought up be given to Eli’s sons. All the Israelites who came to worship at Shiloh were treated this way. Sometimes the servant would come even before the animal’s fat had been burned on the altar. He would demand raw meat before it had been boiled so that it could be used for roasting.

The man offering the sacrifice might reply, “Take as much as you want, but the fat must be burned first.” Then the servant would demand, “No, give it to me now, or I’ll take it by force.” So the sin of these young men was very serious in the Lord’s sight, for they treated the Lord’s offerings with contempt. - 1 Samuel 2:12-17, New Living Translation

What has happened to the worship aspect of the offering in the House of God?

What is this thing that has become the norm?

Scripture tells us plainly how to bring our offering.

Paul tells us to give cheerfully and not grudgingly and not out of necessity. (2 Cor. 9:6-8)

Jesus even tells us that when we do good deeds, we should do so in secret. (Matt. 6:1-4)

So what is this auction style, public display style of giving that has entered God’s house?

God says, “I see and I am not pleased.”

For those unaware of this event it occurs like this. A minister will finish ministering and lift an offering; it could be the second offering of the service.

The minister will ask for a specific seed offering and ask those who will stand with him in giving this amount to either stand or lineup in the aisles. I have seen ministers give prophetic word to people as they come and bring this seed which really sends up red flags and gives the appearance that one is somehow paying for a prophetic word which is no different from paying the psychic to tell one’s future. We are commanded to abstain from the very appearance of evil! (I Thess. 5:19-22)

I have seen people bring their offering to the minister; they look at the amount, cross it out, and write a different offering amount on their envelope and the giver was told to bring that amount next time.

Then there is the guilt offering; completely different from the one in the book of Leviticus. This offering has everything to do with making you feel guilty because you are not in the $200 seed offering line. I was at an event and I had x amount of dollars to give. Way below the asking price of the traveling minister but I truly wanted to give and it was all I had. The minister went on to say that the price of wearing a clergy collar in his church was $100 in any offering he was lifting. Never mind if this was the first, second, or third service in a conference or revival. If he called for a $100 seed offering, those ministers were expected be in line; check in hand. He went on to say that he wanted everybody to give no less than $20 in that offering. The whole while he was talking, Holy Spirit and I were having a tug a war with the check I had written. He said, “Put it [the check] back in your purse.” Again, I was so blessed and wanted to give and went for my puny check and Holy Spirit very adamantly said, “Leave it in your purse!” So I didn’t give in that offering. I wanted too, but sensed Holy Spirit was truly offended.

It never ceases to amaze me how we can have such an awesome move of God and then immediately experience Ichabod – the glory departed – when it is time for offering. Why? Because the Church of Hophni and Phinehas is open and ready for business.

These sons of Eli made the Lord’s offering detestable. They demanded how they wanted the offering and in some instances took the offering by force and the bible says these two men caused the people to sin.

I fear the people of God have become immune to this behavior and that it is not an offering unless you have been coerced into giving which again goes against scripture. This behavior has taught believers not to even seek God beforehand on what to give in these special services. The demands will be made upon you when you get there. The flip side is that if these demands are not placed the offerings suffer; the people usually do not give. Why? Because the people of God have not been taught how to truly give, how to seek God and hear Him about giving and receive the benefits of giving as the word of God has commanded. We have a habit in our house of discussing the offering before we even leave for a service and we allow Holy Spirit to direct us. As ministers we have to teach people how to give, how to seek Holy Spirit for direction in their giving.

If a ministry is hosting a conference or revival, be honest with the people and make them aware of the costs of hosting the event. Tell them their financial support will ensure the event’s success and don’t tie their giving into their breakthrough, next level or deliverance. It is deceitful to do so. If the funds are not there, maybe the event has to be scaled down or that local Body of Believers seeks God for the miraculous.

Holy Spirit is demanding change because judgment is sure to fall.

It is time to bring the worship aspect back to our giving. It’s time to restore a holy reverence to this part of our worship experience.

It is time for ministers to truly teach the people of God what it means to give.

It is time to close down the Church of Hophni and Phinehas once and for all.

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The proper response to, "Oh my God you're so anointed!"

I won't let you make an idol out of me

It is a very awkward moment for some of us. You have just finished ministering when someone will inevitably track you down and declare these words, oh my God, you are SO anointed! And no, they just don't stop there, they keep hurling these accolades upon you and all the while you wish they would just stop. There are heart-felt thank yous from the people of God whose lives have been touched by your obedience. That's not what this blog is about. This blog is about the shift from thank you to all out worship.

The apostles Peter, Paul and Barnabus found themselves in similar situations. In the book of Acts, Cornelius went out to greet Peter and fell at his feet and worshiped him. (10:25-26) Peter corrected Cornelius by telling him to get up because he was a man just as he was.

Holy Spirit had just used Paul and Barnabus to heal a crippled man when pure mayhem ensued. The people so awestruck with the power of God using the two men, declared them gods and began to offer sacrifices to them. (14:8-19) What was their response? Paul and Barnabus tore their clothes and tried to disuade the people from idolizing them. Paul told them just as Peter told Cornelius, we are men just like you.

Herod while giving a speech in Acts 12:22-23, was struck down immediately because he did nothing when the people declared that his voice, was the voice of a god.

And practically unheard of today is the prophet Elijah refusing a lavish gift from Naaman after being healed of leprosy. (2 Kings 5:16)

What happens when we do not deflect these praises? We might actually believe our own hype. And the flesh only craves more attention, more praise; it is never satisfied. It is at this point the Gospel could be compromised and God's entire truth is neglected because men's praise become more important and we'll do whatever we must to get it.

Paul made it quite clear that he could have cared less about man's approval and was not out to please men. (Gal 1:10; 1 Thes 2:6) That would compromise the Gospel.

God help us as leaders not to be men pleasers but to bodly declare God's truths to His people no matter the cost.

So the proper response to, oh my God you are so anointed and mens worship is to deflect that worship back to the Father. Ask Holy Spirit for wisdom on how to stop it in the moment. Herod's refusal to act caused his demise. And scripture tells us that pride certainly comes before a fall. Refuse to become an idol because those same people who praised you will certainly stone you. It happened to Paul. They were sacrificing to him one minute and hurling rocks the next.

Refuse to become an idol so that the Gospel of Christ is not compromised.

Be encouraged beloved.

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Church Growth Simplified

Marketing Plan Summarized

Heavily push, promote Jesus Christ
Keep Him in heavy rotation
And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
John 12:32

Vision Statement

It is our desire to see none perish
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
I Peter 3: 9

Mission Statement
Preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, minister to the hurting
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Luke 4:18-19

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Some words leave a bad taste in your mouth

For some in leadership, nothing causes an immediate knee-jerk reaction quite like bringing up the subject of spiritual covering. I have heard the many reasons why one should submit to a covering and then I have also heard from the wounded as to why one should not even bother. Some organizations unfortunately do little to spiritually cover yet have no problem cashing members’ monthly contribution. These wounded ones complain that there is no support through prayer, no personal interaction, no wisdom being dispensed, and flesh runs a muck at convocations across the country. Stories of control and manipulation are often shared and worn as badges of honor. And certainly not helping the spiritual pandemic is the rising number of high profile moral failures among those dubbed spiritual mothers and fathers. It is enough to send the newly called running declaring, “God cover me!” I should know. I was one of them.

Will you allow me to share what Holy Spirit revealed to me? In the book of 1 Corinthians chapter 12 Paul speaks of Holy Spirit giving gifts to men in order to perfect the church. So yes, your gift came from on High. The gift, calling and the power you pack are indeed real. But it takes the impartation from spiritual parents to establish you. Paul says in Romans 1:11, “For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established.” The Greek word used here for established is sterizo which means to make stable, place firmly, set fast, fix. It also means to strengthen, make firm or to render constant, confirm. Beloved you cannot establish yourself; that work is done by spiritual mothers and fathers, spiritual coverings.

For some leaders, the hurt inflicted runs deep and their refusal to submit to leadership can turn into rebellion. They cannot take correction, they believe they do not have to be accountable to anyone but God and often find themselves leading a group of people much like themselves – rebellious and stiff-necked! They are not rearing true spiritual sons and daughters because they themselves have not submitted to sonship.

In these last times, spiritual parents are being restored to the body of Christ. Apostolic men and women who may not have all the answers but are willing to get in the trenches with you and are willing to give of themselves are being called to the front lines. This covering will not look like anything you have seen or experienced in the past. It is truly a God-thing and it will bless your life and your ministry.

Man and woman of God, I urge you to seek the Father in regard to your spiritual covering in this season of decreed restoration. I know He is faithful to direct you. Then I pray that the spirit of a son overtake you and your heart be made ready to receive this good thing, this God-thing into your life. I pray that you would allow Holy Spirit to heal your hurt places and that oil and wine be poured out upon you. I pray that the hurt and disappointments of the past be made whole. In allowing Holy Spirit to do so, you allow yourself to become established and then you can at last birth true sons and daughters into the Kingdom. I promise what God is doing will bless you. It truly is a good thing.

Many blessings,

Pastor Lisa

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How much is too much?

A recent blog entitled Don't Do It inspired a lot of online and offline conversation. The blog tells the story of an email marketing campaign gone horribly wrong because of the illegal practice of email harvesting. As a result we learned a lesson about SPAM and how to conduct email marketing campaigns legally.

That lead to more marketing questions such as, "How much is too much?" And "How often should I send out my ministry's email?"

I have signed up for three ministry newsletters; the rest I classify as spam.

Anita Carmen of Inspire Women sends out her newsletter once a week and I look forward to it every Monday. Her newsletters bless me and the once a week frequency works for me. On the other hand, I recently canceled an email subscription because the frequency of the emails were too much. Sometimes there were two and three in a day. That was information overload and I unsubscribed

So personally, how often do you want to hear from ministries/organizations and businesses? You can respond to the poll on my blog.

Once the poll is closed I'll report back to you. This information can be used as a barometer when conducting your own email campaigns. It won't be a scientific poll and there are lots more questions to be asked but the results of this simple poll can help you gauge your email frequency.

Thank you in advance for your participation and the information gathered will help us all in our ministry promotions.

God Bless!

Pastor Lisa

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Too good not to share

Sometimes a word is so good you just have to share. A good friend of mine, Prophetess Karen Pina has an awesome word on "the peoples" that I believe will bless those with callings on their lives and those in leadership.

Here's an excerpt from her blog.

Enjoy!

What plans do they have for you?

“The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the thoughts of His heart through all generations. He makes the thoughts and plans of the peoples of no effect.” – Psalm 33:10b-11

If you have been in ministry for any amount of time, you have run into “the peoples” referred to in this scripture. “The peoples” are also the “they” that have all sorts of plans and thoughts –some good, some evil. The peoples seem to always have some counsel about the direction of your God-given vision/call.

The peoples can tell you what and what you are not anointed to do. They even tell you that you are not called to the office Jesus Himself appointed you to and gave you as a gift to His very own body. They withhold goodness when it is in their power to do good by you and the ministry God has assigned your hands.

Finish reading the rest of her blog by clicking here.

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Don't do it!

We've all been a victim of this at one time or another. Your email address has been harvested and your inbox is now full of emails for products, services, ministry events that you never signed up for. Harvesting email addresses is illegal! It does not matter if, "everybody is doing it" either. The law on email harvesting can be read here.

Email addresses are harvested through a number of ways.

1. One can scour the Internet for ministries with a Web presence and grab their info@churchname address. It's recommended that you use a comment form instead of listing your email address online to ward off harvesters.
   
   
2. Friends send you and everybody else in their address book an email so now they also have your email address. If sending out an email to everyone in your address book, use the Blind Carbon Copy or BCC to protect your list.
   
   
3. And then there are "bots" that scour the Internet for email addresses.

Today I received an email from someone I do not know, for a ministry event happening on the East coast. And I'm certain that the person who sent the email wishes they had not. Apparently the email addresses were harvested and a snowball of emails ensued asking to be removed from the list. They had the system setup to where if you responded to the email, your response was sent to everyone. So today my email has been full of angry request to be removed from their list. Now the email sender who was just trying to the get word out about a ministry event has to report to his leaders why all the angry calls and emails to their ministry.

So, today I urge you, if your friends send you an email and its loaded with email addresses, or if you're tempted to go cruising the Internet for email address...Don't do it!

You may find yourself like this young man, buried under angry emails and phone calls. Sometimes a marketing effort backfires horribly as it did today for that particular ministry.

Instead, make sure your Web site has a place where visitors can legitimately sign up to receive notices from you. Include a double opt-in feature. Services like Constant Contact and AWeber are good resources and can help you conduct ethical and legal email marketing campaigns.

Do get the word out about the great thing God is doing in your ministry, just make sure it's legal!

Be blessed,

Pastor Lisa

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