THE TRUTH ABOUT PASTOR MELISSA SCOTT

October 11, 2009 Blog

The Potter's House

I don't know about you, but I really needed today's message on the Potter's House. How many times have I prayed for God to change me? Yet when He starts the process of change, I kick and scream. What is the process of God's changing a human being to be more in His image? Pastor Scott taught on Jeremiah and the Potter's Wheel today which explains it perfectly.

In order to be changed, first off we need to be malleable clay. A stiff-necked, prideful piece of petrified wood doesn't work too well on a Potter's Wheel. We see God finally getting enough and breaking the pot in Jeremiah, which symbolized His breaking of the stiff-necked people of the tribe of Judah who would not hearken to His will.

Being thrown on God's potter's wheel can seem scary at times, especially when God puts his heavy foot on the wheel of life's circumstances. But the end is change. We have that hope that God is in control, and no matter how tough the wheel seems to be, we are being changed in the likeness of His son. That is our blessed Hope.

September 20, 2009 Blog

Abraham

What I like most about Pastor Melissa Scott is that she "tells it like it is." God gives us Pastors, Teachers, and Prophets to rightly divide His word. And of course Jesus reminds us that we'll have False Prophets galore with us, particularly in the last days. But any person with an ounce of discernment can tell that Pastor Scott isn't one of those preaching a sugar-coated message that we can all approve of. Hers is a tough message. She simply reads from the original languages of the Bible and teaches what God has to say.

In this modern-day, "me-first" generation, where nearly everyone has their hand-out in a "what's in it for me?" type of attitude, a message on giving God's way is a gutsy message indeed. Most of us would have failed the test God put Abraham through, when He told him to sacrifice the son of promise. Thankfully, God stayed Abraham's hand, but not until He was sure Abraham truly trusted God.

Yes, giving is a tough message. The first murder in the Bible occurred over giving. God gave his first family a time, a place, and a "right way" to give offerings to Him. Abel did it God's way, and Cain gave in his own way. When Cain's offering was rejected, did he have the humility to apologize and vow to do better? No, instead he hunted down and killed his brother in a jealous rage.

Human nature hasn't changed much in the thousands of years. When someone like Pastor Scott comes along teaching the right way to give to God, I'm sure her message will be met with similar outrage from the secular world as well as those in the Christian world. If people give at all, they want to do it in their own way -- charitable giving in front of a cheering crowd; get their name on a plaque; or receive some sort of "love gift" for their efforts. Teaching on right giving is the quickest way to offend the multitudes, but it's also the quickest way to bring those who really love God into His Presence, His Love, and His Grace. Tough Sunday message today, but a great one.

September 8, 2009 Blog

Joshua

This Sunday, Pastor taught on Joshua. Those Old Testament stories really come to life when you try to put yourself in the shoes of those living it. Traditional Fundamentalists have taught on Canaan being a type of Heaven, but that myth was pretty much dispelled on Sunday. If Canaan is anything, it's a teaching type on the Life Of Faith. The Israelites crossing into the Promised Land went through some pretty tough hardships, and had to hang on to the promise God had given them, that "this" was indeed the land. It would have been easy for them to lose faith, and back out of their commitment, just like the previous generation did. Thankfully, they went through.

August 30, 2009 Blog

Zacchaeus in the Book of Luke

Today Pastor taught on this reviled tax collector named Zacchaeus and she touched on the popular myth in the modern Christian world that Jesus is begging to be let into our lives. "Will you accept Jesus?" is a commonly touted question evangelists love to beat us over the head with. The best analogy Pastor used was that of a man drowning in a river. A hero reaches into the dangerous rapids and rescues the man. Do you think the drowning man's reaction would be, "Ok, I accept you..." or would it more likely be: "How can I ever thank you for rescuing me..."

The fallacy of Jesus playing the role of beggar knocking at the door of our heart pleading, "Will you please accept me?" as if He's some loser groveling for friends, sounds even more ludicrous when put in proper perspective. He's not lucky to have us, we're lucky to have Him.

August 9, 2009 Blog

More on Giving

Pastor Melissa Scott continued pounding away on the Giving message today for Sunday's message. I was thinking about selfish people today. Even from a wordly frame of reference, nobody loves a self-serving miser. Think of Ebeneezer Scrooge or the tight-wad in your own life. Who loves a skin-flint? Do you think God is any different?

At risk of being redundant, I have to commend Pastor Scott for tackling a very sensitive subject. Secular people don't understand giving. Unless they get their name on a statue, a plaque, or have the news media make an event over their contribution, secularists don't want to know about giving. And legalistic Christians aren't much better. They're more excited about parading how righteous and perfect they are, than having to dig into their wallets to support God's word going out to the world. Suffice it to say, Giving is a very sensitive subject and any message on the right way to give will be met with stiff resistance.

I don't know why God chose Pastors to deliver His message. He could have chosen Angels, burning bushes, talking Jackasses...but he chose Pastors. And part of God's plan was to send Pastors to perfect saints. I personally have no desire to Pastor. I can't think of a worse job than having to preach God's Word to a bunch of self-serving, recalcitrant, ego-maniacs. At the end of the day, that's what we all are. Whether we're still in denial or not, we're all about serving self, and looking out for self, and most Christians are only coming to God because they think they can somehow convince the ultimate power to serve THEIR needs. So, when a straight-stick comes along (amidst a myriad of crooked ones in the televangelist world) pointing out the real sacrifice involved in being a Christian, the natural instincts is to shirk our CROSS, and attack the messenger who delivers the tough message.

Hats off to Pastor Scott for being the only preacher alive today who is brave enough to preach the Giving message right. No gimmicks, no starving children, no credit card upsells, no love gifts, no preening the ego -- just straight talk from one delivering the goods of what the original languages of the Bible had to say.

Definitely not a message for Christian wimps or the faint of heart.

August 2, 2009 Blog

Sunday Message on Giving

Today Pastor taught on "Giving." If you missed this message, you can order the CD from DoloresPress.com I'm not speaking for Pastor Scott or regurgitating her message today. I'm giving my own opinion on the subject. In my history at the ministry, I can tell you "Giving" is the most controversial subject to be taught on. Giving separates the "men from the boys" imho. The first time Dr. Scott taught on giving a lot of the congregation left the church. They loved the intellectual stimulation that Dr. Scott's teaching provided, but when it came time for them to step up and sacrifice a little, they bristled and grew offended. That's why I admire Pastor for having the guts today to delve into the subject. This church doesn't beg for love gifts, or conduct starving children guilt schemes. The giving here is taught directly from the scripture and is not popular in a modern, "me-first" world. She knows the ramifications of such a tough message. People will wimp out and run away. There's always that risk and historically it has been the case with this ministry, because when it comes time to bare their own cross, they leave Jesus hanging (no pun intended) and high-tail it just like the Apostles did. Pastor Scott knew today's message would drive a portion of the congregation away. But that's what separates the Moses's from the Man Pleasers.

You know, everything else in Christianity can be faked: Tongue talking, praying in public, acting spiritual in front of others, giving alms in public...the list goes on. But it can all be faked. But try giving in private when no one is looking, no tax deductions, no big ceremonies where a public charitable donation gets you the applause and approval of the crowd or the news media. Just plain giving to God's appointed teacher without the fanfare. This kind of giving can only be sustained by the spirit because it goes against our self-preservation, and ego glorification instincts. And it flies directly in the face of conventional wisdom, because a cynical news media has made no small show over the years exposing all the religious crooks on TV.

Private giving is the ultimate show of trust in God and the ultimate show of trust in God's messenger. For a naturally selfish person like me, it was the toughest hurdle to cross. But no matter how much I give, I can never out-give God. HE is the ultimate giver. He gave his only Son to pay a horrible price to save all of us. God's never asked me to make any sacrifice so great as the one He made. That's why I get amused when the critics call Pastor Melissa Scott's a "legalistic" ministry. They think giving and tithing is Old Testament legalism. Funny, because the only people God ever killed in the New Testament were the couple who lied about their "giving." Scriptural giving flies in the face of the modern church world and their credit card upsells and gimicks. It flies in the face of the me-first, humanistic, secular world. Money means status, power and security. Most people put all their faith in their money. Even the supposedly super-spiritual Christians.

Try prying a tithe or offering out of their hands and you'll see the true god they serve.

July 26, 2009 Blog

Sunday Service at The Cathedral

This morning, Pastor taught on Forgiveness. I've always had trouble with this topic, because even though I am thankful to God for forgiving me for all the things I've done wrong (and still do), I've had trouble forgiving my enemies. Part of the problem I have is from the Jewish perspective, one doesn't forgive an enemy until the enemy first asks for forgiveness. So I'm still not sure if I'm supposed to forgive people who've wronged me, if they never asked for forgiveness in the first place.

I'm sure Pastor will get deeper into this subject at some point and I'll have my questions answered. I have experienced some of what she talked about, like the "spirit" working through me as I grow in the faith. Because I no longer hate those people who have crossed me. In the past, I would have wanted to seek retribution against them. I no longer feel that way. Will I trust these people again? Probably not. It's doubtful I would give them a second chance to rip me off again. But I no longer feel vengeance toward anyone.

Looking forward to more of her teaching on this subject. Here is a video of Pastor Melissa Scott teaching on Forgiveness in case you haven't already seen it.

July 22, 2009 Blog

Sunday Service at King's House 1

Last Sunday, Pastor Scott returned to the sanctuary in Glendale for an evening service at King's House 1. I can't believe how great that place looks. Dr. Scott was a man's man and not much into interior decorating, so that place was a bit antiquated in the design department before his wife came along. The crowd was energized and larger than I'd ever seen. It's great that people are finding their way to Glendale on Sunday nights.

She was teaching on the Christian life of peaks and valleys (with emphasis on the valleys). I could almost feel the "prosperity doctrine people" wince in the crowd. But she had the scripture laid out on the board in it's original language for them to read... and it read plain as day. The main point for us in the audience was NOT to forget in the Dark, what we learned in the LIGHT. In other words, it's easy to panic and start flailing around when trouble and tribulation come. It's easy for us to impulsively jump in and try to solve the problems of life before we've consulted God and asked for that "still, small voice" to guide us.

Darkness is part of the trip, but the valleys in life are excellent faith opportunities. I will start linking to Pastor Melissa Scott's CD's and DVD's for each particular Sunday Service as they become available on the Dolores Press website. For now, check out her video on the Gospel Message: Pastor Melissa Scott Video.