CORRUPT MINISTERS

“Also I have seen a horrible thing in the prophets of Jerusalem: they commit adultery and walk in lies; they also strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns back from his wickedness. All of them are like Sodom to Me, and her inhabitants like Gomorrah!” (Jer. 23:14 NKJV).

Every age has had its problem with corrupt ministers and our day is no different. Ministers ought to live exemplary lives. Unfortunately, many ministers have lived corrupt lives. Our verse speaks of the character and the condemnation of these ministers.

Character of these ministers – Here we have the iniquity and influence of these corrupt ministers being pointed out by God.

First, their iniquity: “They commit adultery, and walk in lies.” Just as in Jeremiah’s day, our day is also plagued by immoral ministers. And immorality and dishonesty will be found together; immoral people are not honest people.

Second, their influence: “They also strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one turns back from his wickedness.” Rather than helping to improve the conduct of people, evil ministers encourage evil. They will twist Scripture to justify sin. People do not repent under their ministry but become more corrupt. And so many churches are defiled by these ministers.

Condemnation of these ministers - The source and the severity of the condemnation of corrupt ministers is stated in our verse.

First, the source: “To me.” While our society and many denomination and churches seldom condemn these evil ministers, God is the One that is condemning them.

Second, the severity: “All of them are like Sodom to Me, and . . . Gomorrah.” The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were not spared, but experienced fire and brimstone judgment (Genesis 19). In a similar manner, this is a promise of severe judgment. Corrupt ministers may do well for a time, but God will throw the book at them in judgment.

(Adapted from Butler Daily Bible Reading)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“He who has slight thoughts of sin never had great thoughts of God!”

Anonymous

Word Study

Distributed

In Acts 4:35 we read, “And laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need” (NKJV).

Distributed is the Greek word diadidōmi (διαδίδωμι = dee-ad-id'-o-mee). It is made up of two words: “dia” which speaks of transition, dispersion, and “didomi” which means to give. Thus the word means to assign, distribute, dispense, allot, give out especially hand to hand in succession, apportion among various parties. Literally, diadidōmi means to deliver through.

It is also important to note that diadidōmi is in the imperfect tense. The Imperfect tense denotes continuous, ongoing or repeated action in past, and often paints a vivid picture of an action which happens over and over again. The picture being painted here is that of the apostles distributing the proceeds from the sale of the lands and houses to those in need; and this happened over and over, again and again. This must have been a blessed time as members of the Body of Christ took care of each other.

Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus

Old Testament Prophecy – God fully satisfied with Messiah’s suffering (Isa. 53:11)

New Testament Fulfillment – John 12:27; Rom. 3:24-26

Did You Know…

In the Bible it states that Jesus sends the Holy Spirit (John 15:26).

Bible Quiz

What happened to Korah and all the men who spoke against Moses in the wilderness?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz: To what city did the LORD ask Jonah to go preach? Nineveh (Jonah 1:1-2).

Names of the Lord Jesus Found in the Bible

“Last Adam”

"And so it is written, the first man Adam became a living being. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit!” (1 Cor. 15:45 NKJV).

1. Meaning – The Lord Jesus is the father of a new human nature.

2. Insights – The first Adam brought sin and death. The Lord Jesus is the Last Adam, bringing life. From Him flows eternal life.

3. Related Titles – Man (John 19:5; 1 Tim. 2:5); Second Man (1 Cor. 15:47); Son of Man (Dan. 7:13-14; Mark 9:31).

Did You Know – Christian History

Johannes Megapolensis was born in 1603 in Koendyck, Netherlands. He was pastor of the Dutch Reformed Church in the Dutch colony of New Netherland (New York State). He is credited with being the first Protestant missionary to the Indians in North America. In 1642 Megapolensis and his family moved to New Netherland (New York State), where he served as pastor in Rensselaerswyck. At first the family lived in Greenbush, New York before moving to Fort Orange (City of Albany). During this period, Megapolensis served as missionary to the Mohawk people and is believed to be the first Protestant missionary to Native Americans in North America.

Megapolensis became fluent in the Mohawk language and was instrumental in the conversion of many. He also recorded many details about the Mohawk people and their culture. From his letters home, his friends in the Netherlands compiled “A Short Account of the Mohawk Indians, their Country, Language, Figure, Costume, Religion, and Government,” publishing it in North Holland in 1644.

In his letters, Megapolensis had compared the land of Rensselaerwyck to that of Germany and described the rich abundance of game, birds and other wildlife. He characterized the Mohawk ritual torture of captives as cruel, but noted that they seldom killed people in their culture, despite their lack of laws and authorities. He contrasted that with the much higher rate of murders in his home country of the Netherlands

Megapolensis was known for rescuing French Catholic missionary Isaac Jogues from Mohawk captivity. They were hostile to Jogues because of earlier French attacks against Mohawk villages. Megapolensis and a group of Dutch traders went to the Mohawk village to pay ransom for Jogues and take him back to Fort Orange.

At the conclusion of his term of ministry, Megapolensis planned to return to Holland, but was asked by Governor Pieter Stuyvesant to become chief minister of the Dutch church in New Amsterdam. However, by the time he made his decision, his wife had returned to New Amsterdam.

In 1664 Megapolensis was one of the advisers counseling Governor Stuyvesant to surrender New Amsterdam to the English, who had taken control of other Dutch territory. Staying in New York, as it was renamed by the English, Megapolensis helped establish the rights of the Reformed Church under English rule. Some accounts say that Megapolensis returned to Holland a few years later in 1668, where he died. Other accounts say that he remained in New York, dying there in 1670.

A Little Humor

A pastor was known to have a Bible verse for everything that happened. One Sunday as he was preaching a bug flew into his mouth. He gulped and said, “He was a stranger and I took him in.”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Playing with sin is toying with judgment!”