Opening the Gates of Heaven Perry Stone

prophet Malachi, the daily rituals and sacrificial offerings had become mere routine, and there was a boredom and weariness overshadowing the minds of the priests (Mal. 1:12–13). At that time, what men were offering God was not being received by God (Mal. 2:13). The religious routines seemed outwardly right but were inwardly wrong, because all prayer, worship, and giving must come from a righteous heart and pure motive. Too many believers are stuck in a weekly routine where you enter the church smiling as you grip the greeter’s hand, but privately you know you will endure ninety minutes of inner boredom in a performance that many call a worship service . Others, when inviting friends to attend church, brag on the new facility or talk about the good music o r inspirational speaker instead of telling their friends that the service will change their lives as they experience a God encounter and enter the very presence of the Lord. It is quite possible to promise living water to thirsty souls only to discover the river has gone dry in the Sunday morning service. In many places, the former days of vibrant spiritual fire have cooled to mere embers of holy smoke ! The lack of breakthrough occurs not just in the realm of meeting spiritual, emotional, and physical needs, but it can also be seen in the area of tithes and offerings. Today there is more preaching from pulpits and during a combined twenty-four hours of Christian television programming on the subject of money—sowing offerings