Pastor Joseph J. Reine's two new books.


" Unlocking The Mysteries Of Prayer"

This short ebook could change your thinking about prayer, forever!


and

"SALVATION We Are Not Afraid!"

Catholicism Versus The Word Of God.

Traditions Of Men And What Saith The Lord.

Read first hand what your Bible says, you'll be

surprised to learn The Truth!

This book was written for thousands of people

to be liberated from ecclesiastical prisons.


http://www.amazon.com


Saturday, April 20, 2013

Merchandising The House Of God


Bible Questions Answered:
“Is it possible for a church to be a place of merchandise today?”
Nathan, Chesapeake, Virginia U.S.A.

Bible Answer:

Bible Text:
Matthew 21:11-13 KJV
11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus The Prophet Of Nazareth Of Galilee.
12 And Jesus went into The Temple Of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,
13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called The House Of Prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Mark 11:15-18 KJV
15 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
16 And would not suffer (permit) that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
17 And He taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My House shall be called of all nations The House Of Prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy Him: for they feared Him, because all the people was astonished at His doctrine.

Luke 19:45,46 KJV
45 And He went into The Temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought;
46 Saying unto them, It is written, My House is the House Of Prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.

John 2:13-16 KJV
13 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
14 And found in The Temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
15 And when He had made a scourge of small cords, He drove them all out of The Temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not My Father's House an house of merchandise.

In our Lord's last few days, He traveled from Bethany, the home of His friends, to Jerusalem.
And to the temple He went, but what He saw deeply upset Him.

Levitical purity standards for animals would change from time to time.
When a family arrived at the temple, they oft found the quality of their animal offerings, unacceptable, by Levitical standards. This meant they must buy the proper animals at the temple gates and courts, bullocks, sheep, goats, and doves, which the priests just happened to have on hand.

Thus temple commerce commenced. Money changing banks for such commerce were formed, not far from the holy place.

All was merchandising in The House Of God.

“Add to this the fact that the priests were often deriving benefit from this arrangement by drawing down a nice percentage for the concession.” Martin Luther.

In politics when we smell a rat, we have a saying, “just follow the money!”
How true it is!

How many religious television programs would be on the air, if it were not for the selling and collection and begging for money?
How many religious leaders, pleading, pitching this new book, this new cd, etc. etc. would be around, if all the sales pitches stopped, and they trusted God for their finances?

Many of them, multi millionaires, religious leaders, religious organization heads raking in the money.
Is the church of Jesus Christ Merchandized today? Absolutely!!!

“Oh, pastor, get over it, what you don't understand is that they've worked for it!”
What this person doesn't understand is that they have disobeyed our Lord's Command, that of “Self-Denial.”

Matthew 10:38 KJV
And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me.

Matthew 16:24 KJV
Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

Mark 8:34 KJV
And when He had called the people unto Him with His disciples also, He said unto them, Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

We live in an age where men will not deny themselves anything, after all they deserve it!
Where, oh where are the open-transparent leaders, blessed of the Lord?

Jeremiah 7:11 KJV
Is this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith The Lord.

This has been so many times on this blog, yet let it be said again!
If you can't know you pastor's salary. If you can't know the salary of your district leader. If you can't know the salary of your Superintendent of your religious organization. Then it's time to move along!

I Timothy 6:10 KJV
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Here is a word you don't hear everyday!

Sacrilege: Violation or misuse of what is regarded as sacred.
The misuse or desecration of anything regarded as sacred or as worthy of extreme respect
The violation or profanation of anything sacred or held sacred.

These Priests and money changers were guilty of sacrilege. Jesus told them, “My House is the House Of Prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.”

If someone is “really,” a servant of The Lord, then hoarding of money is the last thing on their mind. Not only that, they are “open-and honest-transparent” about their finances!
“Follow the money.”

Looking for a pastor, or a new church? Check and see how open and honest they are with their finances!

Matthew 10:8 KJV
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Who ever said that? Jesus, that's who!

Merchandising:
The promotion of merchandise sales, by coordinating production and marketing and developing advertising, display, and sales strategies.
Goods bought and sold in business; commercial wares.

Our Lord told us that His House was to be called a “House of prayer.”

OK, in absolute honesty, what percentage of time did you spend in prayer, last time you went to your Christian worship service?

Friends, something must be wrong, some place!
Read the word, study the word, of course, but what place does prayer have? Barely a passing mention?

Used to be, in the churches of America, and I am sure, in other countries as well, when its adherents, knelt and prayed! Spending much time in prayer for their family, their church, their leaders, their own souls.

Well, that is the way it used to be, so now what's the result?
A book shelf full of “Rev's so and so's” cd's, new books, and tapes, etc. etc. etc..

Our homes are broken, our country doesn't know how to pray, Christian people, refuse even to pray over their food in public, and some at home, or have prayer times at home with their family.
The results, our children are rebellious, 50% of our marriages are ending in divorce, millions are on anti-depressants, and we wonder, “just what is going on?”

Time to throw the money gathering out of the Church of The Lord Jesus Christ!
Time for full accountability, as far a finances in the church.
Time to get back to prayer!

II Chronicles 7:14-16 KJV
14 If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
15 Now Mine eyes shall be open, and Mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
16 For now have I chosen and sanctified this House, that My name may be there for ever: and Mine eyes and Mine heart shall be there perpetually.

Isaiah 56:7 KJV
Even them will I bring to My Holy Mountain, and make them joyful in My House Of Prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon Mine altar; for Mine House shall be called an House Of Prayer for all people.