When you look at the scriptures you will notice that God only brings attention regarding Himself three times throughout the scriptures. Yes, He tells people who He is, but what I am saying is referring to what men are doing to Him. The three times are located in Malachi 3, Matthew 25, and Acts 9.
Let’s look at the first one. Malachi 3 talks about men robbing God. God doesn’t need anything from man. Here He refers to His temple. Tithes and offerings are to God, but that is given to the priest so the temple lacks nothing. This section of the scriptures is heavily preached when churches need money. Interesting that God is no longer in the temple. When Jesus died, the veil was torn in two so He is no longer in the temple. He is in a temple where He has always wanted to be, in the people. This speaks to the second, Matthew 25.
Malachi 3:8 “Will a man rob God?
Yet you have robbed Me!
But you say,
‘In what way have we robbed You?’
In tithes and offerings.
9 You are cursed with a curse,
For you have robbed Me,
Even this whole nation.
Matthew 27:50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,
In Matthew 25, God tells the people that when you do it to the least of these, you do it to Me. You won’t find God in a building anymore. Just because the building says the church, doesn’t mean God is there. God has always wanted to be with the outcasts, those who have chosen wrong. This is where He shines His glory on people. It’s not about people building large ministries, rather He loves those who are not loved. This brings me to the third.
Matthew 25:33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
In the third, Jesus tells Saul, “Saul, Saul why are you persecuting Me?” Remember, Jesus had already died, but like most churchians haven’t learned yet, He is in the people. Saul was persecuting the church, throwing them in jail. Trying to get them to renounce Jesus. The early church was persecuting reality because they carried the Name of Jesus. Today many are blind to this. It was those outside the religious system that recognized who Jesus was. This is why many leave the church. It’s become a country club for people to gather who worship God from their minds and not their hearts. They would rather build a church instead of building the Kingdom of heaven. One point that I want to bring to your remembrance. Satan tempted Jesus with riches and glory if He would just bow down and worship him. How many have bowed down to money? Do you control money or does money control you? Now you know. Be blessed, my friends
Acts 9:3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
Mark 12:14 When they had come, they said to Him, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and care about no one; for You do not regard the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we pay, or shall we not pay?” But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it.” 16 So they brought it. And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” 17 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at Him.