Matthew 23

[Elder-Shawn Denise Briscoe]

It has become apparent in today’s time we need to pray for those in leadership now more than ever. Especially those who are well known in the clergy; most of the men and women who are now well known began as unfamiliar to the world. They would give GOD the glory for all that HE was doing in their ministry. But once the flesh took over they forgot that all that is happening is due to the LORD GOD and if they begin to take GOD’s glory that they will become shamed in front of many on lookers. One dear Bishop that I love used to wow me because of the wisdom and knowledge he has. I remember saying that if he’s not careful; he will be like Solomon. Put to shame; lose everything and begin to say “Thus saith the LORD” when GOD had said nothing. Well that day came to pass and it breaks my heart to hear how he speaks today and with whom he has become friends with. Many people laughed and ridiculed the priest of the Catholic Church for their sexual misconduct but here we have it laying right on our door step also. Apostle’s; Bishop’s; Evangelist; Pastor’s; Teacher’s being brought up on charges of all kinds of sexual misconducts; saying that GOD told them to get divorced; building mega churches instead of building homes for those in need within their congregation. There is nothing wrong with having a mega church just so you are willing to help the mega congregation in their time of need. After all we are to come to the church for help not the banks; cash now, pay later offices or the person who can lend you the money but expects a huge return or the pawn shop. There is nothing wrong with the clergy living in mansions and driving or riding in expensive cars because they have a personal driver; there is nothing wrong with having domestic help; there is nothing wrong with wearing the best clothes; jewelry and shoes money can buy. There is nothing wrong with owning your own jet. But whatever blessing is happening at the pulpit should be filtering down to the congregation. We have millionaire clergy with entertainment status and to be honest it reminds me of the Pharisees. But what bothers me most is that we can get so hung up on the clergy that we are no longer listening to what they are saying. They can almost say or do anything and we like sheep will go along with it instead of walking out. We become entranced by them. JESUS has a message for those who are in leadership; you are more concerned with your position in the public eye than you are pleasing the LORD GOD Most High.

You are binding heavy burdens that are too hard to bear and lay them on the shoulders of people especially your congregation and you are not willing to unburden them. All your works are to be seen by the public but what works are you doing that the LORD has given you to do. Unless you are an orthodox Jew you would not have this but if you did you would wear your phylacteries large and wide on your head and left arm. So I would say that for those who are not of the orthodox Jewish faith our phylacteries would be our possessions. You love to be seated in the VIP section regardless where it is. Be it on the platform; in the front rows or the upper balcony. You love to be noticed though you pretend it’s a hassle; you are no longer approachable. You have forgotten that the higher you go with GOD the more willing you are to serve. You no longer exalt the Living GOD but yourself; remember you will be humbled. Those of you who are humble you will be exalted just don’t forget who makes all things possible. You have forgotten that you are a human example here on earth and you must not shut the kingdom of heaven up because you have become full of yourself. I know that sometimes you just want to be you and you find it difficult to move around in the public because you are so well known. JESUS needed to get away also but when HE was in the public eye and they pressed up against HIM; HE did not stop them. Let me ask a question; is it really necessary that each time you open your mouth to pray; you pray for 10-15-30 minutes? I don’t think so; sometimes you may need to pray longer and sometimes you need to pray shorter. Don’t you believe that GOD will answer your prayer be it long or short? Follow the Holy Spirit and the prayer will remain anointed. Many of the clergy will travel all over this globe with the Word of GOD and win souls for CHRIST JESUS. However, those souls are fragile; they are only infants and must be cared for. Don’t leave them abandoned without a spiritual mother or dad; doing this will cause them to go with the wrong person and they could find themselves worse off than before. Nothing we place on our bodies sanctifies us; remember we are temples and when we belong to CHRIST JESUS we sanctify all that touches us. Some of us respectfully and obediently tithe but we forget what matters most and that is justice; mercy and faith towards all we say and do. So pay your tithes but also remember to be just; merciful and faithful. Remember when the Prophet Samuel went out looking for the next king and Jesse presented his sons. Outwardly they were the bomb; they had it going on but inwardly they had nothing. They were dead and unclean but when David came though he was good looking also; inwardly he was better looking. He was alive and clean with a heart to do what GOD wanted and needed of him. We must stop looking so much on what someone has to offer outwardly because when the inside of a person is right with GOD it will show up outwardly.