HELL'S CORRIDOR: THE PREACHER CHAPTER 5

HELL’S CORRIDOR:

THE PREACHER

 “...God SEES NOT as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART…”(1 Samuel 16:7 NASB).

“….from WITHIN, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts ... greed, wickedness, deceit ... All these vile things come from WITHIN; they are what defile you…” (Mark 7:20-23 NLT).

 “...Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead...” (Hebrews 4:1-2 NLT).

*

Steven Buchannon, the preacher, had a huge congregation of 15,000 members. His church was the largest in the city he’d lived in and his renown was international.

He, however, was a false prophet and had no ability to discern between human behavior and behavior empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

He had deceived his whole congregation and opened the door for the enemy to come into God’s people by using him. Steven was his willing servant.

God had NOT called him or given him authority over his people. Steven took it for himself. “…No one elects himself to this honored position. He’s called to it by God, as Aaron was. Neither did Christ presume to set himself up as high priest, but was set apart by the One…” (Hebrews 5:4-6 MSG).

 “…He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers ...” (Ephesians 4:11 NASB). “…there is no authority (roles, positions, etc;) “except” from God, and those which exist are established by God…” (Romans 13:1 NASB). “…God gives us many kinds of special abilities 

He never preached much about the INDWELLING Holy Spirit, who could teach the people about scripture through application and practice.

 Steven was the boss of his congregants and he told them to follow after him, the man of God. Steven told them to follow his instructions, because he was sent to be the light that guided them way away from the tricks of the enemy. He was the TRICK.

He, a false prophet, had deceived the people into worshipping him instead of God, the Holy Spirit. Steven wasn’t a Moses who gave a bunch of signs and wonders that PROVED God sent him. Moses was truly sent by God and his rod turned into a serpent and then back into a rod.

But Steven was able to make a sign and wonder come to pass too, but with the help of Satan. Of course, Satan had limited power, but he had just enough to make Steven turn the people away from God and obey his instructions for their lives.

Steven made the people trust him over Jesus Christ. He made his congregants obey his word and told them if anyone didn’t obey “the man of God” they were in disobedience to God’s commandments who sent him, to be, their shepherd.

His was strictly a prosperity preacher and told his congregants God told him to build. They gave and gave. They built a huge church and other facilities. He told them it was PROOF that God was with them. He said their generous giving demonstrated their love for God and their efforts would be openly rewarded.

He told them their giving was also PROOF that they loved God with all their heart, soul and understanding. He promised God would reward them financially too. He preached that devotion to God was proven through financial giving and they were EARNING his blessings of prosperity.

Steven’s pastoral salary increased and increased until he was making over a million dollars a year. He once told a lady she would receive a financial award and he privately sent it to her from his own money. Steven was careful NOT to say something  he couldn’t back up with human effort.

He knew he was not the real thing. He was a hypocrite, but he made every effort NOT to be caught in his lie. Some of his congregants watched him like a hawk and he refused to say something that could not be fulfilled by human or satanic efforts.

Steven thought, by hiding the fact his was a false prophet, he was showing “good” character, yet he was somewhat conceited, arrogant, prideful, and rebellious. “… For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself” (Galatians 6:3 KJV).

When situations arose that needed a show of Christian faith, he was careful not to speak presumptuously, and often would called on the elders and prayer warriors of the church. “…Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit….[and] a good tree CANNOT bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit...” (Matthew 7:16-22 KJV). Steven knew he couldn’t bring forth good fruit.

Nonetheless, he had won over his congregants and no one ever discerned that he was a false prophet, but he had lost his “own” soul. Now he was in HELL! “…What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own?” (Mark 8:36 KJV).

He deceived God’s people and they followed him, because he proclaimed to be their shepherd. No one had ever identified him as a false prophet or caught on that they were doing what HE wanted them to do and not God. The bible says:“…I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding…” (Jeremiah 3:15 NIV).  “…He gave some …..pastors (shepherds) and teachers…” (Ephesians 4:11 NIV). “…I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them… saith the LORD…” (Jeremiah 23:4 KJV). “…I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd…” (Ezekiel 34:23 KJV).

Steven had done some signs and wonders, casted out some demons, and  did a few miracles, but he never had any spiritual fruit to demonstrate the character witness of the indwelling Holy Spirit. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:21-23 KJV).

The bible warned people, about preachers like him.  “... false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect...” (Mark 13:22 KJV). “... there shall arise ... false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect...” (Matthew 24:24 KJV).

“...If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;  Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the Lord thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee...” (Deuteronomy 13:1-5 KJV).

He encouraged people to obey him and not Jesus. He didn’t personally obey God and he didn’t incite his people to either.

Steven LOOKED and APPEARED to be a “man of God” and he could preach, it seemed, but in his life's VIDEO it revealed what was truly in his heart. HOW? “...God SEES NOT as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART…”(1 Samuel 16:7 NASB). “…No one needed… to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart…” (John 2:24-25 NLT). “…Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men…” (Acts 1:24 KJV). “… He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth. The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked…” (Psalm 11:4-5 NLT).

Steven wasn’t right IN his heart. “…honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me…” (Mark 7:6 KJV). He memorized scriptures, rewrote other clergy’s sermons, studied Greek and Hebrew, mimicked other preachers colloquialisms,  habits and gestures, and had a doctorate in theology.

He had the OUTWARD APPEARANCE of a preacher. “...man looks at the outward appearance…”(1 Samuel 16:7 NASB). “…Ye shall know them by their fruits…” (Matthew 7:16 KJV).

Steven LOOKED like the real thing but people were creatures of habit. They liked the familiar and he never worried that someone would question his character or his inability to produce spiritual fruit.

Most people, eventually, became complacent and lazy about their faith. They were easily persuaded by what they SAW. All Steven had to do was a few miracles, and most people didn’t know false prophets could do miracles too, but they just didn’t come from God. “... false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders...” (Mark 13:22 KJV).

Steven avoided making prophesies too, especially if HE couldn’t make them happen. He knew the Word and it said: “...You may say to yourselves, “How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?”  If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not be alarmed...” (Deuteronomy 18:20-21 NIV).

Steven was in HELL because he had preached to others, but failed to answer God’s call to salvation for himself. He never did follow him, reverence him, keep his commandments, serve him, or really come to know him. He was a castaway in HELL now. “...I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway...” (1 Corinthians 9:27 KJV).

Steven was totally devoted to himself and he wanted his congregants to obey him. “…If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person IS A LIAR and is not living in the truth…” (1 John 2:4 NLT).  He wanted them to keep HIS commandments. HIS church was HIS kingdom and not God’s.

Steven had purposefully and skillfully lead his congregants away from God and into disobedience. He taught them that sin was lawlessness and lawlessness was not listening to the “man of God,” which was him. He had twisted the scriptures to benefit himself and he WON, upon earth, but had LOST for ALL eternity. “…EXCEPT YE REPENT, ye shall all likewise PERISH…” (Luke 13:3 KJV).

Thus, “…Choose you this day whom ye will serve….” (Joshua 24:15 KJV). “…The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who CHOOSE that way. …” (Matthew 7:13-14 NLT). “Jesus saith… I am the way, the truth, and the life…” (John 14:6 KJV). 

Steven wished he could go back and do it right. He would tell his congregants to stop simply looking for signs and wonders, but pay MORE attention to the spiritual fruit in themselves and others.

He knew MANY fellow preachers that didn’t produce fruitful character or fruitful works. Jesus said his people would do the same works as he did, which reflected God’s love for mankind.

Steven was a very poor reflection of God’s love for mankind and so were the people he led. HIS church did not display the love and anointed works of God witnessed through Jesus They had picnics, programs, conferences, and entertainment. But they had NO outreach or evangelical ministries. He or his congregants bore NO spiritual fruit, especially any that expressed or portrayed God’s love.

The demonstration of God’s love was and is the ULTIMATE motivation for any and every ministry upon earth. Steven had willfully and voluntarily worked for the adversary or the antichrist.

Steven had preached about HELL, but most people complained about it, and didn’t want to hear those kind of messages. His congregants wanted to hear more positive and uplifting messages that made  them FEEL better.

They didn’t necessary want to BECOME better people, but simply wanted to FEEL better. Steven gave them want they wanted. “...the people replied, “…We will continue to live as WE WANT TO, stubbornly following our own evil desires…” (JEREMIAH 18:12 NLT).

 “…my people would not listen to me. They KEPT DOING WHATEVER THEY WANTED, following the stubborn desires of their [OWN] evil hearts…” (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT).

His congregation GREW and people spoke well of him as well as his preaching style. The people didn’t want sound doctrine anymore. They wanted an easy Christianity that was simple, self-serving, and less demanding.

Steven was one of the false prophet that drew the "itching ears" crowds and he was so good they didn’t know he wasn’t the real thing. It was too late to warn anybody, especially other preachers, he knew, would be joining him soon.

In order to keep the crowd Steven had to give the people what they wanted. They no longer wanted to hear the “old school” sermons or participate in “old school” traditions. “... a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths...” (2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT).

Out of 15,000 members, only 400 came to Sunday school. Wednesday Bibles Study went from two hours to one hour and only 127 people attended on a regular basis. Sunday night service was eliminated altogether. Afternoon services were almost non-existent.

 Bible Training was cut out completely and there were NO evangelical classes at all. Children no longer learned bible verses for an Easter or Christmas program. People got less of God and they became comfortable with it. Steven supported every requests.

He allowed their personal desires, schedules, home lives, and agendas to become a stumbling block from getting closer to God and deeper into his Word through Christian fellowship. They changed the church service, but they themselves were NOT CHANGED.

Steven wanted what the people wanted. He started tweeting his Church schedule to fit his lifestyle and not God’s desired lifestyle for him.

Most of his congregants had one foot in the church and the other was knee-deep into carnality. The bible said follow a person as they followed Christ. Steven hadn’t truly followed the teachings of Jesus and neither had his congregants.

As he stood in HELL’s CORRIDOR Steven Buchannon knew he’d become a preacher for the MONEY. He asked his congregants for money. He acquired a lot of it over the years. He peddled the gospel for his personal gain.

He saw Christianity as a business and through great marketing, to his congregants, he became a wealthy man. He must have quoted Malachi three or four times a week.

Some true preachers sold books and tapes instead of taking a salary from the church, but Steven was greedy.

Steven had been USED by Satan and now he’d be spending eternity with him in HELL. He led people away from God and he knew what he was doing.

It was easy and he’d made himself LOOK the part. People did exactly what the Word of God said they would do: “...look at the outward appearance...”

He preached and peddled the truth and now he was being condemned by it. “…EXCEPT YE REPENT, ye shall all likewise PERISH…” (Luke 13:3 KJV). He had said multiple times to repent or perish. He was the MAIN one who didn’t repent.

Steven fell to  his knees weeping, wailing, and gnashing his teeth.  Nancy B. Dobbins stared at him as she got in line behind him.