4 For thus says the Lord: To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths and choose the things which please Me and hold firmly My covenant--
5 To them I will give in My house and
within My walls a memorial and a name better [and more enduring] than sons and
daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.
6 Also the foreigners who join
themselves to the Lord to minister to Him and to love the name of the Lord and
to be His servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath so as not to profane it and
who holds fast My covenant [by conscientious obedience]--
7 All these I will bring to My holy
mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for
My house will be called a house of prayer for all peoples. Isaiah 56:4-7
As
we have determined previously, until all prophecies come to pass, Jesus cannot
return:
Jesus
said to them, This is what I told you while I was still with you: everything
which is written concerning Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the
Psalms must be fulfilled. Luke
24:44
Far
more than simply including eunuchs (including gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender people) in the congregation of the Lord, God is also promising to
accept our offerings and sacrifices on His altar. He promises to make us joyful
in His House of Prayer, and promises His House shall be called a House of
Prayer for all people. It is clear from this that until gay, lesbian, bisexual
and transgender people are affirmed in God's House of prayer, Jesus cannot
return. But God goes on to share another important part that gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgender people fulfill in the Body of Christ. This includes
keeping the Sabbath sacred, choosing the things that please God (like the Holy
Spirit, and sexual purity through celibacy or faithful single gender marriage
as ordained by Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:8-9), and to take firm hold of His
Covenant (Jesus Christ) as believers that Jesus is the Son of God and was
crucified to wash humanity clean of sins. But there's yet another expectation
God shares in this prophecy: accepting
our offerings and sacrifices on His altar.
This
is important, because when viewed through an allegorical lens, another passage
of Scripture also mentions offerings and sacrifices. While today we understand
this to mean financial contributions to the work of the local Church, it's
important to notice that the exact same phrasing appears in 2 Chronicles 7:1-3,
and serves as an allegory of the Return of Jesus Christ:
1 When Solomon had finished praying, the fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt
offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the house.
2
The priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the
Lord had filled the Lord's house.
3
And when all the people of Israel saw how the fire came down and the glory
of the Lord upon the house, they bowed with their faces upon the pavement and
worshiped and praised the Lord, saying, For He is good, for His mercy and
loving-kindness endure forever. 2 Chronicles 7:1-3
Brothers
and Sisters, this tells me that not only does God promise to accept the
offerings and sacrifices of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender believers on
His altar, it also tells me that unless
we are actually giving financially to the work of our local house of prayer,
Isaiah 55:11-56:8 is not completely fulfilled! This tells me
that this is more than just the Church opening the door to God's House of
Prayer wide enough for all people to worship, but that it also requires gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgender people to contribute our treasure, time and
talents to the overall work of the local Church as well.
Many
people may immediately say, "I knew it! The Church just wants gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgender people to come to church to bring them our
money!"
It
would indeed be difficult to argue with such a skeptical outlook and
assumption, given the emphasis so often placed by many ministers of the Gospel
on money. That is until we as gay people understand not only our place in God's
House of Prayer as our prophetic destiny towards the return of Jesus Christ,
but also to understand that financially contributing to God's House of Prayer
is a form of worship. While Christians are not bound to tithe 10% as under the
Old Covenant, we are to give as we purpose in our hearts, and are reminded that
as we sow, we will reap; either sparingly or generously:
6
[Remember] this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly
and grudgingly, and he who sows generously [that blessings may come to someone]
will also reap generously and with blessings.
7
Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his
heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He
takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to
do without) a cheerful (joyous, "prompt to do it") giver [whose heart
is in his giving].
8
And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to
you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and
whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or
support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable
donation]. 2
Corinthians 9:6-8
Notice
that whether we sow sparingly or generously, God does indeed promise we will reap! As many
ministers tell Christian congregants that 10% is the ideal amount to give, it
also limits God's ability to bless our giving. Why limit it to only 10%? I
believe this is why Paul said we should give as we purpose in our hearts. I
also believe that as gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people often have
larger amounts of disposable income than our heterosexual counterparts (who
often have children to support), perhaps we will be the best gift the Church
has ever seen in terms of growth--not only in memberships--but in financial
blessings as well!
In
my estimation, many churches (especially those preaching the so-called
"Prosperity Gospel," which are more accurately referred to as
"Word of Faith" churches) have focused a lot of time on why we give
(which are all Biblically supported). But many Churches have not seen how prophetically mandated the return of
Jesus Christ is upon not only the inclusion and Biblical affirmation of gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in God's House of Prayer for all people, but also
our own offerings and sacrifices being accepted on God's altar!
As
many of these same Churches spend great amounts of time in prayer and
supplication seeking the glory of the Lord to manifest in their houses of
worship, they have seemingly neglected the prophetically mandated necessity of
the presence of offerings and sacrifices from gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender people as well. As such, the Glory of the Lord has also been
prophetically prevented from full manifestation...at least to the extent we see
described by God in 2 Chronicles 7.
Another
interesting thing to note is how offerings are commonly received in most
churches today. The Pastor’s wife comes up and reminds everyone how Malachi
3:10 promises God will open the windows of heaven and pour congregants out a
blessing if they’ll just be sure to give 10% of their income. The truth is (as
we’ll examine more closely in a bit) is this is taken from part of Malachi’s
message addressed to the preachers themselves, beginning in Malachi 2:1. After
that, the ushers begin sending around the collection plates (or buckets), the
music starts playing, and after a few minutes, the Pastor starts his
message...and the tithes make their way to the receiving room--before Pastor
even has a chance to pray over them.
But
as we have just examined, that’s not the pattern God set up for us (or for His
Own Glory to manifest). We see from Solomon's example that the tithes were
collected, placed on the altar, then Solomon PRAYED, and THEN the fire came
down from heaven, consumed the offerings, and THEN the Glory of the Lord filled
the temple. Of course there is no guarantee that God will send fire from heaven
each time an offering is received at church, but it would be interesting to see
what would happen if Pastors began to follow the pattern God Himself
illustrates in His Word. It would also be interesting if Pastor’s wives (or
whomever exhorts the Congregation prior to offering collections) would explain
how Malachi 3:10 says that although God promises to open the windows of heaven
and pour out a blessing, that it’s also dependent on all people’s offerings
being included on His altar, including those from the blessed eunuchs God
prophesied to in Isaiah 56, which would include offerings from gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgender people.
Some
Pastors may be thinking this passage is telling us that the offerings being
"consumed" by the fire from heaven means they will be "burned
up." But I believe the word "consumed" is more like saying
"infused." I don't believe it means the offerings are "burned
up," but more likely (knowing how God works), it suggests to me the
offerings would be infused by God's Glory, and then multiplied,
just as Jesus took five loaves of bread and two fish to feed 20,000 people, and
not only was there enough to feed everyone, but there was plenty left over as
well!
Imagine
what would happen if the Glory of the Lord showed up at YOUR church next
Sunday! Imagine if your entire Congregation was able to heal sick people just
by their shadow falling on people they passed by! I bet THAT would bring folks
to your Church! What if handkerchiefs of people in your Congregation became
infused with God’s Glory and just laying them on people would heal them! I bet
THAT would bring folks to your Church too! Imagine if after offerings were
collected, a solemn moment was taken by Pastor as they were placed on the altar
and he prayed over them, and just gave God a chance to show up and show out,
instead of just immediately sending the offerings to the receiving room. I believe
it’s entirely possible, but I also believe we would need to return to the
patterns God Himself set up for such manifestations of His Glory, as well as
ensuring your Church presents no stumbling block to LGBT Believers trying to
get their offerings on the altar as well. I suppose for some churches we may
need to build some altars too.
Many
modern churches have removed any semblance of an altar in God’s House of
Prayer. While anyone can imagine that the steps leading up to the platform can
serve as a substitute for an altar, I do wonder if it would be that much
trouble to install physical ones instead. I also wonder if perhaps an altar is
as critical an element of God’s House of Prayer, as bread is to Holy Communion. The question is, do we want to keep risking it? After all, what if the sole
purpose of God’s Glory filling the temple in the first place is to provide
physical, emotional and spiritual healing to God’s people?
That’s
something each Congregation must decide for themselves, and I have no doubt
that being made aware of this will cause the light to go off in the minds and
hearts of many Church leaders, and steps will be taken to correct these
oversights on all the levels it exists, as this message from God's Word
continues to pull back the veil of homophobia, and reveals that indeed gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgender people play a vital role in the Return of
Jesus Christ, and in His glory manifesting from time to time in houses of
worship all over the planet, as the Great Day draws nigh!
To
verify this, let's look at some similarities of the prophecy from Isaiah
55:11-56:8 and the manifestation of the Glory of the Lord in the House of
Prayer that help us receive insight, concepts and ideas regarding God's plan
for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, and our God ordained place
in His Kingdom:
*****************************
We've already compared the connection
to offerings and sacrifices on His altar, so now let's take a look at the
connection to prayer:
7
All these I will bring to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and
their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house will be called a house of prayer for all
peoples. Isaiah 56:-7
Compare
to:
1
When Solomon had finished praying, the fire came down
from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory
of the Lord filled the house. 2 Chronicles 7:1
*****************************
Now
let's take a look at the connection to the Lord's House:
5
To them I will give in My house and
within My walls a memorial and a name better [and more enduring] than sons and
daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.
7
All these I will bring to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house will
be called a house of
prayer for all peoples. Isaiah 56:5, 7
Compare
to:
1
When Solomon had finished praying, the fire came down from heaven and consumed
the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the house.
2
The priests could not enter the
house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the
Lord's house.
3
And when all the people of Israel saw how the fire came down and the glory of the Lord upon the
house, they bowed with their faces upon the pavement and
worshiped and praised the Lord, saying, For He is good, for His mercy and
loving-kindness endure forever. 2 Chronicles 7:1-3
*****************************
Now
let's take a look at the connection to the Lord's Everlasting Covenant
and Mercy:
13
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and instead of the brier
shall come up the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name of
renown, for an everlasting
sign [of jubilant exaltation] and memorial [to His praise],
which shall not be cut off. Isaiah 55:13
5
To them I will give in My house and within My walls a memorial and a name better [and more enduring] than sons and
daughters; I will give them an everlasting
name that will not be cut off. Isaiah 56:5
6
Also the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord to minister to Him and to
love the name of the Lord and to be His servants, everyone who keeps the
Sabbath so as not to profane it and who holds fast My covenant [by
conscientious obedience] Isaiah 56:6
Compare
to:
3
And when all the people of Israel saw how the fire came down and the glory of
the Lord upon the house, they bowed with their faces upon the pavement and
worshiped and praised the Lord, saying, For He is good, for His mercy and loving-kindness
endure forever. 2 Chronicles 7:3
*****************************
Now
let's take a look at the connection to the Lord's Glory:
1
Thus says the Lord: Keep justice, do and use righteousness (conformity to the
will of God which brings salvation), for My salvation is soon to come and My
righteousness (My rightness and justice) to be revealed. Isaiah 56:1
1
When Solomon had finished praying, the fire came down from heaven and consumed
the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the
house.
2
The priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had
filled the Lord's house. 2 Chronicles 7:1-2
*****************************
If
we read further into 2 Chronicles 7, we'll also begin to see a connection to sacrifices
(not just offerings), and also yet another connection to both house and prayer:
7
All these I will bring to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt
offerings and their sacrifices will
be accepted on My altar; for My
house will be called a house of prayer for all
peoples.
Compare
to:
4
Then the king and all the people offered
sacrifices before the Lord. 2 Chronicles 7:4
12
And the Lord appeared to Solomon by night and said to him: I have heard your prayer and have
chosen this place for Myself as a houseof
sacrifice. 2 Chronicles 7:12
15
Now My eyes will be
open and My ears attentive to prayer offered in this place. 2 Chronicles 7:15
16
For I have chosen and sanctified (set apart for holy use) this house, that My Name
may be here forever, and My
eyes and My heart will be here perpetually. 2 Chronicles 7:16
*****************************
Finally,
let's look at the connection to the ministering priests, and the blessings God
promises to both gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, but also the
"son of man" hold takes hold of this:
Blessed,
happy, and fortunate is the man who does this, and
the son of man who lays hold of it and binds himself fast
to it, who keeps sacred the Sabbath so as not to profane it, and keeps his hand
from doing any evil. Isaiah 56:2
(The
"man who does this" are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender
people, and the "son of man" includes the ministers in church who
work to remove man-made traditions in order that the prophecy may be
fulfilled).
Compare
to:
2 The
priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled
the Lord's house. 2 Chronicles 7:2
6
The priests stood at their posts, and the Levites also, with instruments of music to the
Lord, which King David had made to praise
and give thanks to the Lord--for His mercy and
loving-kindness endure forever--whenever David praised through their ministry;
the priests
blew trumpets before them, and all Israel stood. 2 Chronicles 7:6
*****************************
With
so many connections between these two passages of Scripture, it's hard to
simply ignore the similarities, as well as the analogous concepts resulting of
doing all we can (both as a gay community and a
faith community) to remove any traditional teachings that prevent the
fulfillment of Isaiah 55:11-56:12 specifically. Many theologians would respond
by reminding us that 2 Chronicles 7 is speaking of Israel, and not the
Christian Church. I would agree. However, as we see the main person being
spoken of here is Solomon, (who was David's son), let us now examine another
comparison:
3 Incline
your ear [submit and consent to the divine will] and come to Me;
hear, and your soul will
revive; and I will make an everlasting covenant or league with you, even the sure mercy (kindness, goodwill, and compassion) promised to David.
4 Behold,
I have appointed him (Him) [David, as a representative of the Messiah, or the
Messiah Himself] to be a witness [one (One) who shall testify of salvation] to
the nations, a prince (Prince) and commander (Commander) to the peoples. Isaiah
55:3-4 (just 7 verses prior to God's prophecy to eunuchs, including gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgender people).
Compare
to:
11 Thus Solomon finished the Lord's
house and the king's house; all that [he] had planned to do in the Lord's house
and his own house he accomplished successfully.
12 And
the Lord appeared to Solomon by night and said to him: I have heard your prayer
and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.
This
is clearly a generational blessing the Lord transferred from David to Solomon,
(both of whom were ancestors of Jesus Christ Himself). We'll recall David
originally intended to build the house of the Lord (the Temple in Jerusalem),
but God passed the task to Solomon instead. We see Solomon complete the task of
building the temple, but we also see there could have been no eunuchs allowed
within the temple, (nor would they have been allowed to be baptized), because
Moses had forbade them from the Congregation of the Lord in Deuteronomy 23:1.
We
saw in Isaiah 55:11-56:8 that God prophesied of a day the eunuchs would be
included, and we saw Jesus recognize there were 3 types of eunuchs in Matthew
19:11-12. Finally, we saw the Holy Spirit lead Philip to baptize the Ethiopian
Eunuch (whom had returned from worshipping in Jerusalem, but had not been
allowed to be baptized) in the only account of Christian evangelism God chose
to include in the Bible in Acts 8:29-40. We also learned that the same
Scriptures Philip read to the Eunuch to evangelize (and subsequently baptize)
him, were the same passages of Scripture that contain God's prophecy to gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgender people from Isaiah 53-56. (See Chapter 1 and
Chapter 3 of The Bed Keeperfor
a thorough examination of this account).
So
although we see Solomon had indeed completed all the work of building the house
of the Lord, he was not obliged to include eunuchs at the time. Now that Jesus
has come, those eunuchs (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people) who
keep the Sabbath sacred, choose the things that please God, and take hold of
His Covenant, are now not only to be included in God's House of Prayer for all
people, but also must bring our offerings and sacrifices to be accepted on His altar,
or the glory of the Lord cannot fill His House of Prayer as He did in Solomon's
day. Again, Solomon was not obliged to include eunuchs under the Old Covenant.
Today's Christian Church IS under the New Covenant. And that brings us to yet another prophetic connection:
5 According to the promise that I covenanted
with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit stands and abides in the
midst of you; fear not.
6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet
once more, in a little while, I will shake and make tremble the [starry]
heavens, the earth, the sea, and the dry land;
7 And I will shake all nations and the
desire and the precious things of all nations
shall come in, and
I will fill this house
with splendor,
says the Lord of hosts.
8 The
silver is Mine and the gold is Mine, says the Lord of hosts.
9 The latter glory of this house [with its successor, to which
Jesus came] shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts; and
in this place will I give peace and prosperity, says
the Lord of hosts. Haggai 2:5-9
Compare
to:
2 Blessed,
happy, and fortunateis
the man who does this, and the son of man who lays hold of it and binds himself
fast to it, who keeps sacred the Sabbath so as not to profane it, and keeps his
hand from doing any evil. Isaiah 56:2
4 For thus says the Lord: To the
eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths and choose the things which please Me and hold
firmly My covenant Isaiah
56:4
7 All these I will bring to My holy
mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My
altar; for My house will be called a house of
prayer for all peoples. Isaiah 56:7
So
it appears from these Scriptures that part of making the glory of the latter
house greater than the glory of the former house is the all important inclusion
of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, AND our offerings and
sacrifices being presented and accepted on God's altar in His House of Prayer
for ALL people....because Thus
says the Lord God, Who gathers the outcasts of Israel: I will gather yet others
to [Israel] besides those already gathered. Isaiah 56:8
So
how do we make all this come about? I believe the answer is contained within
these passages of Scripture, and apply not only to gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender people, but also to ministers who have heretofore been blindsided
to the importance of the fulfillment of God's prophecy to eunuchs.
First,
let's see what God said about these blinded shepherds in this prophecy:
10 [His]
watchmen are blind,they are all without knowledge; they
are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; dreaming, lying down, they love to
slumber.
11 Yes, the dogs are greedy; they
never have enough. And
such are the shepherds
who cannot understand;
they have all turned to their own way,
each one to his own gain, from every quarter [one and all].
12 Come, say they, We will fetch wine,
and we will fill ourselves with strong drink! And tomorrow shall be as this
day, a day great beyond measure. Isaiah
56:10-12
And
now let's see what happens when both the blind shepherds' eyes AND the eyes of
gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are opened to this new thing God
is doing in the Body of Christ as the day of Jesus' return draws nigh:
14 If My people, who are called by My
name, shall humble themselves, pray,seek, crave, and require of necessity My
face and turn from their wicked ways, then
will I hear
from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.
15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer
offered in this place.
16 For
I have chosen and sanctified (set apart for holy use) this house, that My Name
may be here forever, and My eyes and My heart will be here perpetually. 2 Chronicles 7:14-16
So
it's little wonder the Lord considers our offerings and sacrifices (forms of
tithes) as holy:
And
all the tithe of the
herd or of the
flock, whatever passes under the herdsman's staff [by means of
which each tenth animal as it passes through a small door is selected and
marked], the tenth shall
be holy to the Lord. Leviticus 27:32
It's
interesting that studies reveal that about 10% of the world's population
identifies as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. It would seem the Church's
traditional teaching against us would be akin to 'tithing' 10% of the flock itself; Jesus'
very own sheep! As God has shown the very holy role gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender people play in the Body of Christ through Isaiah 55:11-56:8, it
seems that as the Church has traditionally rejected us, they have also
prevented our offerings and sacrifices from being accepted on God's altar. In
doing so, it seems not only is exclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender people in God's House of Prayer for all people preventing the
return of Jesus, but also preventing the Glory of the Lord from manifesting
Itself in the House of God.
The
question is: Do we have the courage to address this issue, correct the Church,
right the ship, and prepare the Church to receive the ingathering of those whom
God Himself prophesied He would....or do we let Satan continue to cloak this
understanding with fear and ignorance to God's very Own Word?
1
Hear the word of the Lord, you children of Israel, for the Lord has a
controversy (a pleading contention) with the inhabitants of the land, because
there is no faithfulness, love, pity and mercy, or knowledge of God [from
personal experience with Him] in the land.
2
There is nothing but [false] swearing and breaking faith and killing and
stealing and committing adultery; they break out [into violence], one [deed of]
bloodshed following close on another.
3
Therefore shall the land [continually] mourn, and all who dwell in it shall
languish, together with the wild beasts of the open country and the birds of
the heavens; yes, the fishes of the sea also shall [perish because of the
drought] be collected and taken away.
4
Yet let no man strive, neither let any man reprove [another--do not waste your
time in mutual recriminations], for with you is My contention, O
priest.
5
And you shall stumble in the daytime, and the [false] prophet also shall
stumble with you in the night; and I will destroy your mother [the priestly
nation].
6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you [the priestly
nation] have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you that you shall be no
priest to Me; seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget
your children. Hosea
4:1-6
Now
beginning at the start of the prophet's message from Malachi 2:1, let's compare
Hosea 4:1-6 to Malachi 3:10 (the Scripture so many preachers use to encourage
people to give 10% of their income instead of giving as they have purpose in
their hearts as Paul instructed Christians to do in 2 Corinthians 9:7):
Malachi 2
1 And now, O you priests, this commandment is for you. Malachi 2:1
NOTE:
Recall in Hosea
4:4, God is also addressing the priests, and here we see he does so again.
2
If you will not hear and if you will not lay it to heart to give glory to My
name, says the Lord of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you, and I will
curse your blessings; yes, I have already turned them to curses because you do
not lay it to heart.
3
Behold, I will rebuke your seed [grain--which will prevent due harvest], and I
will spread the dung from the festival offerings upon your faces, and you shall
be taken away with it.
4
And you shall know, recognize, and understand that I have sent this [new]
decree to you priests, to be My [new] covenant with Levi [the priestly tribe],
says the Lord of hosts.
5
My covenant [on My part with Levi] was to give him life and peace, because [on
his part] of the [reverent and worshipful] fear with which [the priests] would
revere Me and stand in awe of My name.
6
The law of truth was in [Levi's] mouth, and unrighteousness was not found in
his lips; he walked with Me in peace and uprightness and turned many away from
iniquity.
7
For the priest's lips should guard and keep pure the knowledge [of My law], and
the people should seek (inquire for and require) instruction at his mouth; for
he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.
8
But you have turned aside out of the way; you have caused many to stumble by
your instruction [in the law]; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi [with
Me], says the Lord of hosts.
9
Therefore have I also made you despised and abased before all the people,
inasmuch as you have not kept My ways but have shown favoritism to persons in
your administration of the law [of God].
10
Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then do we deal
faithlessly and treacherously each against his brother, profaning the covenant
of [God with] our fathers?
11
Judah has been faithless and dealt treacherously, and an abomination has been
committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah [that is, Jewish men] has
profaned the holy sanctuary of the Lord which He loves, and has married the
daughter of a foreign god [having divorced his Jewish wife].
12
The Lord will cast out of the tents of Jacob to the last man those who do this
[evil thing], the master and the servant [or the pupil] alike, even him who
brings an offering to the Lord of hosts.
13
And this you do with double guilt; you cover the altar of the Lord with
tears [shed by your unoffending wives, divorced by you that you might take
heathen wives], and with [your own] weeping and crying out because the Lord
does not regard your offering any more or accept it with favor at your hand.
14
Yet you ask, Why does He reject it? Because the Lord was witness [to the
covenant made at your marriage] between you and the wife of your youth, against
whom you have dealt treacherously and to whom you were faithless. Yet she is
your companion and the wife of your covenant [made by your marriage vows].
15
And did not God make [you and your wife] one [flesh]? Did not One make you
and preserve your spirit alive? And why [did God make you two] one? Because He
sought a godly offspring [from your union]. Therefore take heed to yourselves,
and let no one deal treacherously and be faithless to the wife of his youth.
16
For the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I hate divorce and marital separation
and him who covers his garment [his wife] with violence. Therefore keep a watch
upon your spirit [that it may be controlled by My Spirit], that you deal not treacherously
and faithlessly [with your marriage mate].
17
You have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet you say, In what way have we
wearied Him? [You do it when by your actions] you say, Everyone who does evil
is good in the sight of the Lord and He delights in them. Or [by asking], Where
is the God of justice? Malachi
2:2-17
Malachi 3
1
Behold, I send My messenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me. And the
Lord [the Messiah], Whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; the
Messenger or Angel of the covenant, Whom you desire, behold, He shall come,
says the Lord of hosts.
2
But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears?
For He is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap;
3
He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and He will purify the
priests, the sons of Levi, and refine them like gold and silver, that they
may offer to the Lord offerings in righteousness.
4
Then will the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasing to the Lord as in the
days of old and as in ancient years.
5
Then I will draw near to you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against
the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against the false swearers, and against
those who oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, and
who turn aside the temporary resident from his right and fear not Me, says the
Lord of hosts.
6
For I am the Lord, I do not change; that is why you, O sons of Jacob, are not
consumed.
7
Even from the days of your fathers you have turned aside from My ordinances and
have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of
hosts. But you say, How shall we return?
8
Will a man rob or defraud God? Yet you rob and defraud Me. But you say, In
what way do we rob or defraud You? [You have withheld your] tithes and
offerings.
9
You are cursed with the curse, for you are robbing Me, even this whole
nation.
10
Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse,
that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of
hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing,
that there shall not be room enough to receive it. Malachi 3:1-10
NOTE: Doesn't that
sound like "the fire came down from heaven and consumed the offerings and
sacrifices and the glory of the Lord FILLED THE TEMPLE" from 2
Chronicles 7:1?
Again,
it's important to note just how often congregants hear this verse quoted to
encourage people to give 10% of their income, when in fact, it wasn't even
addressed to the congregants, but to the priests! These priests, (who have
traditionally excluded gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people from the
House of Prayer for all people), were inadvertently preventing our offerings
and sacrifices from being accepted on God's altar....and thus were
"robbing God by robbing the tithes!"
11
And I will rebuke the devourer [insects and plagues] for your sakes and he
shall not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine drop its
fruit before the time in the field, says the Lord of hosts. Malachi 3:11
NOTE:
Doesn't that
sound like God will rebuke Satan's past attempts to keep a large portion of
tithes out of God's Storehouse by using homophobia (a type of fear) to keep
gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender out of Church, away from God, and keep
our offerings and sacrifices from reaching God's altar? Doesn't it sound like
God is saying that when the Church comes to finally fully affirm LGBT people in
Church according to Scripture, that "all the tithes" will finally be
allowed access to God's altar, and that through His rebuke of Satan, he will no
longer be allowed to devour (or eat away at) Church membership of not only LGBT
people, but also our parents and friends who feel just as shunned by church as
LGBT people themselves?
12
And all nations shall call you happy and blessed, for you shall be a land of
delight, says the Lord of hosts. Malachi
3:12
NOTE: Compare that to
Isaiah 56:2 from God's prophecy regarding gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender people: Blessed,
happy and fortunate is the man who does this (LGBT people) and the son of man (priests and
preachers) who do this and binds himself fast to it......
13
Your words have been strong and hard against Me, says the Lord. Yet you say,
What have we spoken against You?
14
You have said, It is useless to serve God, and what profit is it if we keep His
ordinances and walk gloomily and as if in mourning apparel before the Lord of
hosts?
15
And now we consider the proud and arrogant to be happy and favored; evildoers
are exalted and prosper; yes, and when they test God, they escape [unpunished].
16
Then those who feared the Lord talked often one to another; and the Lord
listened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of
those who reverenced and worshipfully feared the Lord and who thought on His
name.
17
And they shall be Mine, says the Lord of hosts, in that day when I publicly
recognize and openly declare them to be My jewels (My special possession, My
peculiar treasure). And I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who
serves him. Malachi
3:13-17
NOTE: And did not God
promise to give gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender a "memorial in His House and within His walls?" Did He not
promise to accept our offerings and sacrifices on His altar? Has not the Church
rejected or ignored these promises and blessings?
While
these questions would have to be addressed on a church-by-church basis, I think
it's fair to say that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people are indeed
talking often one to another concerning the matters presented in The Bed Keeper, and that
indeed we are beginning to:
18
..... return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him who
serves God and him who does not serve Him. Malachi 3:18
And
fortunately, we're discovering there truly are some churches out there who are
beginning to listen, and are reaching out to embrace gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgender people exactly as God has expressed in His Holy Word:
...just
as we are...
He
has told even gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people:
11
For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts
and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your
final outcome.
12
Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear
and heed you. Jeremiah
29:10-12
In
closing, let me just add that while Christians are not obligated to give
10% of their income (or any other set amount except what we purpose in our
hearts to give), there is nothing saying that Christians can't indeed purpose
in their hearts to give 10% to follow the example of Abraham. There are
unquestionably many Biblically sound reasons for giving 10% of our income, but
honestly, they serve as mere examples--not
mandates--for
Christians. God loves a cheerful giver!
If
you're not CHEERFUL about giving 10%, but you ARE cheerful about giving
$10,000.00 (and have purposed in your heart to give that amount), then THAT is
the amount you give if you want God to be pleased with it. Other Christians may
differ with that observation, but then again, God calls us to be Christians,
not Clones.
But
it should be clear to all that
it is imperative for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people to be
included and affirmed in Church, and that is also prophetically mandated for us to help
contribute to the financial support of our local church. And
it's not to bless Pastor, or even to "appease God." No, it ensures
our own joyfulness in
God's House of Prayer for all people for not only our own, but EVERY subsequent
generation of LGBT people! It also appears to be the only way any of us will
see the Glory of the Lord manifest Itself in the full measure described in 2
Chronicles 7....and it's the only way any Christian will be resurrected unto
eternal life with Him....
....and
wasn't that the point?
For
God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only
begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to,
relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal
(everlasting) life. John
3:16
***************************************************************
The Math
World population: 7,000,000,000 (7 Billion)
LGBT percentage of world population: 10%
Total LGBT people God wants in Church: 700,000,000 (700 Million)
If each LGBT person in the world donated only $10.00 per week = $7,000,000,000 (7 Billion Dollars per week)
Multiply $7,000,000,000 by 52 weeks per year =
$364,000,000,000 (364 Billion Dollars per year)
Divide by 365 days per year =
ONE BILLION DOLLARS PER DAY ADDED TO THE KINGDOM!
***************************************************************
So what are we waiting for?
Just a church with the courage to call it in!
***************************************************************
Part One:
UPDATE 10.27.12:
UPDATE 04.29.12:
The Math
World population: 7,000,000,000 (7 Billion)
LGBT percentage of world population: 10%
Total LGBT people God wants in Church: 700,000,000 (700 Million)
If each LGBT person in the world donated only $10.00 per week = $7,000,000,000 (7 Billion Dollars per week)
Multiply $7,000,000,000 by 52 weeks per year =
$364,000,000,000 (364 Billion Dollars per year)
Divide by 365 days per year =
ONE BILLION DOLLARS PER DAY ADDED TO THE KINGDOM!
***************************************************************
So what are we waiting for?
Just a church with the courage to call it in!
***************************************************************
Dear Valued Readers,
This blog is a work in progress. As events in the Church impact previously published posts, updates will be published at the end of each post in order to provide the utmost transparency and clarity to all concerned parties as this new move of God progresses. Readers may email thebedkeeper@gmail.com to discuss or comment on any posting. Please note that while all feedback is highly valued and appreciated, it may not be possible to reply to each email.
UPDATE 05.19.13: GREAT NEWS! Regarding the 04.29.12 UPDATE: After new considerations have come to light, I confidently continue my full personal endorsement of Lakewood Church as a SAFE SPACE for LGBT people to worship, and am pleased to encourage you to resume supporting this vibrant ministry financially. Details here.
UPDATE 03.05.13: GREAT NEWS! Regarding the 10.27.12 UPDATE: After new considerations have come to light, I confidently continue my full personal endorsement of Eagle Mountain International Church as a SAFE SPACE for LGBT people to worship, and am pleased to encourage you to resume supporting this vibrant ministry financially. Details here.
UPDATE 02.09.13: Listen in as Brian Anthony Bowen provides the NCK and Friends radio audience with valuable insights into Biblical support of Same Sex Marriage that the Church doesn't seem to want us to know!
UPDATE 05.19.13: GREAT NEWS! Regarding the 04.29.12 UPDATE: After new considerations have come to light, I confidently continue my full personal endorsement of Lakewood Church as a SAFE SPACE for LGBT people to worship, and am pleased to encourage you to resume supporting this vibrant ministry financially. Details here.
UPDATE 03.05.13: GREAT NEWS! Regarding the 10.27.12 UPDATE: After new considerations have come to light, I confidently continue my full personal endorsement of Eagle Mountain International Church as a SAFE SPACE for LGBT people to worship, and am pleased to encourage you to resume supporting this vibrant ministry financially. Details here.
UPDATE 02.09.13: Listen in as Brian Anthony Bowen provides the NCK and Friends radio audience with valuable insights into Biblical support of Same Sex Marriage that the Church doesn't seem to want us to know!
Part One:
Part Two:
UPDATE 10.27.12:
Eagle Mountain International Church took an official position on gay marriage in a sermon on 10.14.12. While not in support of gay marriage, Pastor George reminds his congregation that "those considered to be gay" are equally worthy of love and compassion. Pastor Terri continues to consider being gay as "being caught up in bondage." Several passages of Scripture were quoted to support their views, but no mention was made of any Scriptures that disprove their view, such as discussed in Chapter One: Born This Way and Chapter Two: God Sanctioned Gay Marriage. While I am not rescinding my endorsement of Eagle Mountain International Church as a safe space for LGBT people to worship, I am officially recommending we no longer support them financially. It is clear we have a long way to go in educating the Church, and I remain hopefully confident that after the 2012 elections are over, we will have more opportunities to walk further into the new revelations from God's Word shared throughout this blog. I encourage all LGBT people and our families to continue to hold Pastor George and Terri up in prayer, so that the eyes of their understanding may be flooded with light, and they come to more fully understand the prophetic role that LGBT people play in the spiritual life of the Christian Church, and the return of Jesus Christ.
UPDATE 04.29.12:
My previous endorsement of Lakewood Church is hereby retracted due to this interview: http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2012/04/29/473250/joel-osteen-gay-sin/?mobile=ncwherein Pastor Joel Osteen declares that "being gay" itself is a sin. That is NOT what the Bible says, and I cannot support it, nor ask anyone else to. I explained this in a previous letter to Pastor Joel in response to his interview with Piers Morgan, which can be reviewed here. I apologize for the mixed messages my own comments may tend to manifest themselves as in this case, but it is an unfortunate result of Pastor Joel's own mixed messages, and his decision to tailor his messages to the audience to whom he is speaking at the time. Should he publicly apologize for his unScriptural comments, and declare he has come to understand the difference between saying "being gay is a sin" and "homosexuality is a sin" (to reflect Scripture's own narrowly defined context of married men who engaged in adultery on their wives to be with men...which has nothing to do with LGBT people), I hope to renew my endorsement of Lakewood Church at some point in the future....but not until then.
UPDATE 01.15.12:
Lakewood Church officially endorsed as a SAFE SPACE for LGBT people to worship! Details here.
UPDATE 11.22.11:
Eagle Mountain International Church officially endorsed as a SAFE SPACE for LGBT people to worship! Details here.
UPDATE 12.16.11:
Please also review the response shared with a debate panel regarding the Bible's position on homosexuality, that reveals the unScriptural stance "ex-gay" theology manifests itself as here.
Lakewood Church officially endorsed as a SAFE SPACE for LGBT people to worship! Details here.
UPDATE 11.22.11:
Eagle Mountain International Church officially endorsed as a SAFE SPACE for LGBT people to worship! Details here.
UPDATE 12.16.11:
Please also review the response shared with a debate panel regarding the Bible's position on homosexuality, that reveals the unScriptural stance "ex-gay" theology manifests itself as here.
