Synopsis Of A Serial Killer

Ezekiel 37: 15-20 & 26-28

Psalms 133: 1-3

2 Peter 1:1

During some college classes a few years ago we had to study some of the nation's most prolific serial killers. We were taught that the serial killer has three steps to complete his plan.

1. Separation

2. Isolation

3. Desolation

A serial killer is not satisfied to Simply get their victim on the aisle at Walmart where no one else is. They must separate them to begin their plan. But the completion of their plan is dependent upon complete isolation. A serial killer must maintain full control of their victim to accomplish their sordid goal. The end of their plan is to utter desolation.

It's interesting to note that in the previous portions of this chapter we're using for a text in Ezekiel, the enemy who brought destruction to this Army was not satisfied with their death alone. They had been completely torn apart not only from their own bodies, but also the entire Army had been scattered. Our enemy isn't content to stop us, or even to kill us. He is satisfied only when he has wrought utter and total destruction to the individuals as well as the group.

2 Timothy gives us insight into the last day with startling clarity:

[1]This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. [2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, [4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; [5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

(Notice unthankful always immediately preceeds unholy)

It is interesting to note that the first thing in his list of Prophecy as men who are lovers of their own selves. Never has there been a time in the history of the modern church when men have become more self-centered than the hour in which we live. We are told of men who would-be false accusers or slanderers, incontinent or have no self-control, be fierce, despisers of the good, Traitors to each other, heady, haughty which means highminded, and the list goes on. Make no mistake we are unquestionably living in the time that was prophesied here.

One of the most Grievous and woeful things about this prophecy is it was not only to those in political power, those in the job Force, or others in the world. It applied also to those within the church. Perhaps the saddest of all is the fact that it is seemingly invaded the pulpit.

Ministerial arrogance and gross conceit has become the status quo across our land. Humility seems to be commodity lost to the church. Brotherly love seems to be yesterday's treasure. Never have I seen a Time when ministers find it so hard to not only love one another but to promote one another. Brotherly Love isn't optional to the Christian. It is Paramount to receiving the Crown of Life. A Christian leader who is too big to apologize is one who is too small to be accepted in God's Eternal Kingdom. Being a minister was never intended by God as a butcher's profession, nor as a slave driver, nor as a dictator. We are told to be in samples to the flock. We are instructed in scripture to be servants to the people. We should be a mirror image of Christ. The relationship between ministers and the church should be a mirror image of the relationship between Christ and his disciples. When this fails to be the Hallmark Ministry we will ultimately fail to see the same accomplishments that Christ saw. We must remember that we are called to mirror Christ as Christ mirrored his father.

An elder Minister Gave me Priceless advice as a young preacher. I was instructed that the path to spiritual promotion was not climbing over the corpses of men that I had slain in my journey to the top. ( I do not count myself to have attained the top. I am least among the brethren) he said if you build a staircase from the corpses of those you eliminate; as they rot and Decay you will eventually sink back to the same level that you started from. The only difference will be, you will be surrounded by stink and infected other vermin and the carry-oncarrion that aidethat Aid and decomposition. In order for the ministry to be a success, we must push the one who is ahead of us and pull up on the one who is behind us. If we are constantly biting and devouring one another, eventually we will consume ourselves.

It seems we have found ourselves in a time when it's easier to build a church by getting close to the other pastors church members until we can eventually Swoon them away into our own flocks. Revivals have become a thing of the past. Not because God saw fit to change his plan for the church but because it's too much trouble to prepare our hearts for a move of God. We spend more time fighting each other and finding fault and propelling the juiciest story of the hour then we do weeping and crying over Souls and kindling the fires of Pentecost. I called to your remembrance the prophecy of Isaiah, where the carpenter encouraged the Goldsmith and he that smote the anvil the one who smooth with a hammer. We must return and recover before we revive Our movement and our world. We need to get back to the basics of Brotherly Love.