Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, (Is. 56:7) “My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a ‘den of robbers’.
Matth.21:12-13
Dear sisters and brothers,
more than 12 years ago I was in Canada. One day I watched Christian TV. There was a gathering of several hundred people. The pastor called his wife to the front and showed the people the diamond ring which he had bought for her. He too mentioned the sports car which he also had bought for her. I don’t recall whether it was in the hall or if he only talked about it.
At the end of the service he asked with tears in his eyes to send him money for helping the poor. Every dollar was important he sad with an almost crying voice.
The whole thing was so disgusting and made me think a lot.
Recently I watched Christian TV on the internet. There the preacher spoke enthusiastically against abortion and when he had finished he asked for money for some good purpose. It really sounded good but in my spirit I had no peace. I just didn’t trust and wondered why.
I put the whole thing aside but couldn’t forget it.
Later the thought came to my mind that I knew this face! But from where? Suddenly I was sure that this preacher was the same man who twelve years ago praised the diamond ring and the sports car of his wife for proving that he was successful.
Did something change meanwhile? Yes, now he had several thousand people more than previously!
How much shame has come over the name of Jesus and us because of such people?
Many TV preachers show themselves with some African or Asian children and beg for money also they earn millions of dollars, sell CDs, books, get money from conferences, live like kings, own villas, several cars, sport cars, yachts, airplanes etc.
The jewelry alone worn by female preachers would bring enough money to feed whole villages in Africa and Asia. With 20 or 30 Swiss francs a child can live there and go to school for a month…
Today a preacher has to wear nice suits and jewelry and get the people of God laughing about his sins and weaknesses…than he is successful. Have you noticed that most TV preachers with a few exceptions preach the same? They shout and hop around, they tell you how to get money and finally they beg and sell stuff for nothing is for free. Praise God for the exceptions.
Recently a good looking young preacher who has got the largest church in the United States and sold millions of books was asked why he doesn’t warn the people from hell. He answered that this was not his task for he believes in Jesus. If others believe differently it’s their business. But his is to preach of God’s love and how to have success.
How terrible. So what for is someone a preacher of the Gospel?
The Lord has rescued these people out of poverty, darkness and dirt. He gave them gifts, He made them famous and what do they do? They sell all that brings them some money even the Word of God says: “Freely you have received, freely give.” Matt. 10:8
The Church of Jesus today especially in the States looks like a store. The anointing gets sold. The gifts are sold! “If you want the anointing come to this seminar or that conference. Just pay in advance a few hundred dollars and we promise you that you will go home with the anointing.”
Brothers and sisters, I don’t say that you will not be blessed in a seminar or conference. The fellowship with the believers alone is worth wile. But if you are not seeking the Lord Himself you will loose your blessing again or worse you will be shipwrecked. I have seen people who wanted to serve the Lord backsliding. Why? They did not want to do the small tasks. They didn’t want to get their hands dirty. They wanted to become big, great prophets, evangelists. Where are they today?
It is a race for success and for money! In the Body of Christ it’s like in the world!
The world runs after famous actors and singers and the Church after her stars.
This year it is … He is the anointed one. His value papers are high on the stock market. Next year it will be another star and the people run once here once there.
How many and especially Americans and now Africans too have come and do come to tell us of their success and of their signs and wonders?
A question: How many of those stars have come with you to the streets of Zurich, Bern, Biel, Winterthur etc to show you how to make the blind see, how to heal the sick and how to preach the Gospel? Probably none! Why not? In the stadiums they receive applaud. In the streets maybe they would get insulted. That’s too much for a star. In America and Africa you can preach at every corner where as in Europe the people had enough. If you than have any pride left you really have to die of yourself.
People of God repent! It’s not about success in the Kingdom of God but all about dying and the cross. Do you know what I’m waiting for? I long for the day when the Lord will look down and say: “Finally Catherine has died to herself and I can use her for bigger things!” The Lord always can use you. But before you will be used for something greater, ask for your death.
People of God, you have the preachers and prophets you deserve! You have decided to reward those who tell you nice and pleasant things, those who make you laugh about your sins and weaknesses and to punish those who tell you what you needed to hear long ago but you don’t want it.
And so we do have preachers and prophets who really deceive the people. It’s just like in the world! The bosses of the great concerns sit in comfortable offices and get millions where as the workers who do the job hardly can feed their families. The same is true for the Body of Christ where a few get a lot and the majority of the simple workers in the Kingdom of God struggle to provide for their families and at the same time being in ministry. Some swim in the money and on the other side so many mission agencies and evangelists as for ex. David Hathaway in Russia have too little to make use of all the open doors. We have masses of believers who spend much money on holidays and a comfortable life without caring for God’s Kingdom and those who give everything for it. We must get things right again!
I still remember something hat happened a few years ago: I was together with two sisters. The one who was 90 years old wanted to give me 20 Swiss francs for my ministry. What happened? The other sister told her: Don’t give any money to Catherine. Give it better to my son in law who needs it more! We do not even consider people who do not sit in nice rooms but do effectively street’s ministry worthy to receive 20 Swiss francs but we give millions to deceivers! That’s the reason why God allows this deception. For 2000 years it was the world’s opinion but also the Church’s that who serves God has to be clothed in rags, to be poor and with almost no possession…
20 years ago I got to know a sister who each time we had tea together said to me that I shouldn’t throw away the used teabags because she was collecting them for the missionaries! This wrong perverse attitude has led that today we’ve got greedy people who preach a wrong gospel in order to get rich as quick as possible. Why should someone who serves God not have enough money? Doesn’t he have to pay rent or interest? Doesn’t he need to eat? Or doesn’t he have to pay health insurance etc? Everyone serving God has the right to live from the Gospel. If we do not observe that we will have wrong situations and scandals.
Maybe you think now God should bring correction?
Some days ago I said to a police woman in Zurich that there is so much crime because we are a God less society. She answered if there was a God He wouldn’t allow crime! What thinking! But the same is true for the Church! If someone is a false Prophet God would remove or correct him. No, God expects His Church to bring correction. He allows all that to test our hearts because we go there where our hearts want to go.
Therefore it says in 2. Thess. 2:10+11: “…because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie…” This word is not for the world but firstly for us.
People of God, if do you want correction in all these wrong situations than start to reward those preaching repentance, those who preach against sin, those who not only preach about heaven but about hell, not only about grace but also of judgment, of persecution etc and start to punish those who only tell you what is beautiful and convenient…
Man of God, woman of God, you are not a beggar. If you serve the Almighty God than let Him be your Provider. Don’t continuously beg for money. If George Miller could feed 2000 children without begging only with prayer so shall it not be possible today as well? Are you the head of a mission’s agency? See to it if it hasn’t become a bureaucratic organization. We have so much bureaucracy in the Body of Christ. Bring about correction and get on your knees with your people.
“Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength…”, Jer. 17:5. “But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord…”, Jer. 17:7
Expect nothing from men but everything from God. I know it’s not easy but we must come back to this point.
I want to belong to the blessed no matter the costs…My husband and I experience especially in the past two years literally 1. Kings 17:14: “The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry …” People may forget you but not the Lord.
Last month I had the privilege going to Stockholm, Sweden. I had asked several churches and organizations for a place to sleep but no one had a room for me. Before my flight I sent again a couple of emails. Very soon I got an invitation from a priest that I could stay with his family. I had no idea who this man was. Later I learned that he was the main priest of St. Klara Church in the center of Stockholm, the most well known priest in Sweden and the chaplain of the parliament who of course knows the royal family. I was amazed how the Lord had led me. I could stay for ten days with this family and it was just as we had known each other forever.
St. Klara Church belongs to the Church of Sweden. When priest Carl-Erik took over in 1989 there were only three old people in the service. Today the church is full on Sundays. Wonderful is that almost daily in the morning from eight until nine is worship, prayer, testimonies…Everyone can come. There are many ex drug addicts, alcoholics etc. Afterwards they bring bread rolls to the street people. From three thirty in the afternoon until four thirty is again a service this time in front of the altar. Again everyone is welcome. Because the church is so central many people come in. There are tracts in different languages and prayer is offered. The love of the priests to the Lord but also to the people made a big impression on me. The wife of Carl-Erik told me that for some years they had lived in a flat in Stockholm where they took in people from the street. Often the flat was full as they also had adopted four children. Until today they take people in now in their house outside of Stockholm. I believe this is a reason why God has used this man tremendously and continues using him. I would not be amazed if this church would play an important role in the revival.
The situation in Sweden is slightly better than in Denmark. If you want to talk with the Swedish people about God they say: Thank you, I’m fine. They mean I’m well and not ill or poor but I’ve got everything and I’m happy. What for shall I need God? In spite of that God gave me daily some people. In the afternoons when I came back from prayer walking I sometimes addressed whole groups of young people who sat outside of the house of culture and were deep into occultism and Satanism. Some even with their fifteen years are deep into the other side others are still open.
Sisters and brothers, our nations are in great despair because of their rebellion against God. We will not have revival without judgment. The only solution is for the Church to finally repent. Repentance comes through the conviction of the Holy Spirit. But a strong, clear and sharp sermon must make room for God’s Spirit.
Charles Finney and John Wesley had to preach: It is terrible to fall into the hands of the Living God…so that the Spirit of God could work repentance in the churches.
Some days ago in Zurich and Baden we hardly could reach out to the people. Then I started preaching. Many listened. Sometimes if people don’t want to hear they almost have to be forced to it. Angelina who was near us said that many came and wanted something to read. Before that no one showed any interest.
So much is talked about the Alpha course. Thank God for it. But this is only a small part of evangelism. The church must preach openly again as long there is time for it. There is increased hatred against everything Christian and Jewish. Before we prepare God’s people for revival we must prepare them for persecution.
“I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away but my words will never pass away.” Luk. 21:32+33
I want to thank the Lord for all His faithful missionaries, preachers including from TV, who do not sell themselves but faithfully do their ministry. We want to pray for repentance for those who are going astray.
God’s blessings
Catherine Hafner, a servant of Jesus Christ!
