By Seth Wilkerson
God never changes. His word, His character, His nature remains the same.
Yet, there is a voice in our generation today that is trying to confuse and persuade to sell out to some things that are not the will of God.
If businesses close because they run out of cash or lose their market share, churches close because they lose sight of what made them great. They lose touch with God’s power and presence. They forget what it took to get them where they are today. They forget their heritage.
It’s like Ezekiel saw in a vision. The Spirit of God lifted from the Temple and hovered over the Mount of Olives. The rabbis said that God remained there for 3 years — waiting for someone to invite Him back.
We can grow so blind of our need for God, we begin to think we can get along without him. Like the branch needs the vine —we need God. We die when we think we can make it without him.
I couldn’t be born again without God’s help and so I can’t remain born again by just doing my own thing. I need the Help of God! I need the man of God in my life! I need the TRUTH!
Jesus once walked out of the Temple and said, “I’m not coming back.” He looked forward to the day when the Temple of God would be more than a stack of stones — it would be within the hearts and minds of His followers. That God is now building
a church out of lively stones — living stones. Not with timber, columns or plaster — but with flesh, bones, and willing hearts.
In 1 Kings 20, Naboth surprised the king. He said, “No. I cannot sell my heritage. This is my inheritance. I didn’t buy it. I didn’t spend money for it. It was given to me. It’s my responsibility to be a steward of it for the next generation. This is my heritage. It’s not for sale.”
Jude, speaking of the last days, said that three temptations will come against the Church. “Woe unto them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Korah” (Jude 1:11). Christians will sell out for three things.
The gainsaying of Korah — they will show disrespect to the godly. They will say “leadership does not have to be anything special.” They will get up and magnify their fleshly weaknesses rather than divine strength.
The way of Cain — they will say that sacrifice requires no blood. You can carve your own way to God. You can have it your way.
The error of Balaam — everything will be done in pursuit of money. If it brings in more revenue, it must be right. Simon Peter called it making merchandise of the things of God.
We can’t put a price tag on redemption. It was not blood of bulls and goats. It was the blood of one spotless lamb. We can’t place a price tag on deliverance. There is an anointing that breaks the bondage of sin and shame. You can’t put a price tag on peace of mind. The first house of God was in Shiloh — the place of rest.
We can’t afford to put a price tag on the power of praise, he worth of joy, the energy, passion, and purpose found in a wholly-committed life. What we have is not for sale.
Is your heritage good to you? Or is it bad? Each genera-ion must answer.
You may recall that Roy Acuff made a song famous in the 40’s. It was written by Guy Smith and was called The Great Speckled Bird.
- What a beautiful thought I am thinking concerning a great speckled bird. Remember her name is recorded on the pages of God’s Holy Word.
- All the other birds are flocking `round her and she is despised by the squad but the great speckled bird in the Bible is one with the great church of God.
- All the other churches are against her they envy her glory and fame they hate her because she is chosen and has not denied Jesus’ name.
- Desiring to lower her standard they watch every move that she makes they long to find fault with her teachings but really they find no mistake.
A few years later, Hank Thompson took the same tune and gave it new lyrics and a new title: The
Wild Side of Life. The most quoted lyrics in the song are: “I didn’t know God made honky tonk angels.”
From the Great Speckled Bird — to Honky Tonk angels.
How did we get there? In one generation, someone sold out. Someone gave up. Someone betrayed his HERITAGE.
I ask you: Are you for sale? Have you sold yourself to he highest bidder?
Jesus paid more than anyone. He loves you very much. There’s a voice from Jezreel calling you. Your heritage is calling you. The prayers of your parents, your grandparents, and those of a day gone by are reaching for you.
