MAN-MADE LEADERSHIP STRUCTURES IN CHURCHES: ONE PERSON AS OVERALL LEADER – PASTOR, PRESIDENT, POPE, REVEREND Eph 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, (Then why all these divisions???) If the church is the Lord’s it is imperative that we follow a heavenly pattern for leadership in churches. What is the pattern you see in scriptures? Are the patterns we see today in line with what is in the Holy Scriptures? Do our prophets see it as it is written in scriptures? Denominations are man-made and hence have: 1. Man-made leadership structures 2. Man-made positions/ titles e.g. Reverend, Senior Prophet 3. Man-made creeds which slowly are becoming superior to inspired scriptures in terms of controlling denominational operations and membership 4. Man-made authority Before the obedient servant (Moses) of the Lord constructed a tabernacle of the Lord, he was shown a heavenly pattern by God which he strictly followed. If Moses disobeyed God and made a tabernacle after his own pattern in his own mind, God would not have blessed this as it would not have been sanctioned by God. See today in churches/denominations! If you look at leadership structures all you will see is disobedience to the heavenly authorized pattern. There is disobedience in almost everything. Some denominations reject the commandments and law of God. They have rejected the divinely inspired and authorized Leadership Pattern for earthly and man’s wisdom, for self-glory, for business and to gratify their pride. Moses’ society was a better society than the society of today in terms of obedience to God’s patterns and acceptance of God’s commandments and law. Today’s society is full of disobedience as long as they gratify their pride and desire for self-glory. What is the divinely inspired and authorized leadership structure for churches or congregations? For us to know we need to differentiate between gifts/callings and offices/positions. 1. Callings/gifts Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: These gifts should work together for them to be able to perfect the saints, to edify the body of the Lord till we all come to the unity of faith. Today we see one prophet running a ministry and all people feed from is from this prophetic ministry (if it is really truly prophetic). This is the reason believers today are not receiving a balanced diet and are suffering from spiritual malnutrition. It is not one gift that can perfect the saints and bring them effectively to the unity of faith but all gifts and callings complementing one another working together in unity. A prophet can run a big ministry and do wonders we have never seen but after death of that prophet the ministry dies down because the people were not receiving a balanced diet. A prophet therefore should not head a ministry alone just because of the wonders he/she does but should work with other prophets equally. 1Co_14:29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 2Co_13:1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. Gifts and callings are directly from the Lord and no man can take away God’s gift/ calling from someone’s life. The gifts/callings remain on you wherever you go. They are a personal enabling from the Lord for you to do His work, with or without a position in the congregation you are in. Therefore, we do not ordain someone to have these gifts/callings (Apostle, Prophet, Teacher, Pastor & Evangelist) because these are from the Lord. Today people go to college to be ordained as Pastor. These callings are today taken as titles. If you are an Apostle, Prophet, Teacher, Pastor or Evangelist, you should not be that by title but by calling from the Lord and by function. Whether you are called by a given title or not, you function according to the calling. What is important is functioning according to the calling even if you are called a mere brother or sister. Why should we be power hungry for self-glory? Yes you can be trained just to enhance your calling or gift but to not receive it through training because it is the Lord that giveth and that calleth. 2. Offices/positions Elder and Deacon are positions in congregation for leadership function. These are positons that can be filled in. We only ordain Elders and Deacons but not gifts into people. We can drop off someone from the position of an Elder or Deacon but we cannot take away the gift of God upon their lives. If you are an Elder or Deacon in one congregation that does not mean you are an Elder or Deacon in every congregation you visit or go to. It means you are only an Elder or Deacon in that particular congregation only. But if you are an Apostle, Prophet, Teacher, Pastor or Evangelist when you are in one congregation it also means you are that everywhere you go because it is your gift/calling of God upon your life. But you can only lead a congregation when you are an Elder or Deacon or when you are part of the Elders or Deacons not by your calling or gifts. Some have made themselves leaders of their ministries because of their callings thereby disregarding the authorized way of leading people through the leadership arrangement of Elders and Deacons and not by your calling or gifts. When you got these gifts it does not mean you are authorized to lead a congregation except you are ordained as an Elder or a Deacon. Today people ordain believers to become Pastors. This is trying to replace the Lord YaHshua that is the only authorized King to give such gifts/callings to His servants as He sees fit from above. It is advantageous among Elders to have one person with the gift/calling of a Pastor. Today the callings/gifts in Ephesians 4 are worn as titles for self-glory. Today people are Apostles, Prophets, Teachers, Pastors or Evangelists by men’s will and men’s ordination. This spirit is fighting against the work of the Lord who CALLS people according to His WILL. 1Ti_5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. Tit_1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: Act_14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. 1Ti_3:10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless. 1Ti_3:13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. 1Ti_3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. An Apostle, Prophet, Teacher, Pastor or Evangelist, and other giftings if they qualify by their lifestyle (according to scriptural qualifications) can fill the position of Elder or Deacon. One being an Apostle, Prophet, Teacher, Pastor or Evangelist etc. does not necessarily make them fit to fill the position of an Elder/ Deacon because these positions have required scriptural qualifications which today are not followed. 1Ti 3:12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. 1Ti 3:13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. 1Ti 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 1Ti 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 1Ti 3:3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; 1Ti 3:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; 1Ti 3:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Local congregation leadership is NOT one man. It is not a man-made PRESIDENT. It is several ELDERS (e.g. 3) assisted by several DEACONS (e.g. 7, 12). The truth is not one elder but several elders helped by several deacons. An Apostle, Prophet, Teacher, Pastor or Evangelist can be Elder or Deacon if they qualify. If you are an Apostle, or a Prophet, or a Teacher or a Pastor, or an Evangelist by calling and you desire the position of an Elder or Deacon, you still need to be qualified for this position according to the above stated scriptural qualifications. The Apostle Peter was an ELDER! 1Pe_5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: POINTS TO NOTE 1. If you read carefully in the ACTS scriptures you will see how the Church Leadership (Elders & Deacons) worked well with the ministerial servants (e.g. Apostles). 2. The ministerial servants ordained Elders and Deacons in every church. SEE DEACONS ORDAINED BY APOSTLES Act 6:1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Act 6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Act 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. Act 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. Act 6:5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: Act 6:6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. Act 6:7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. NOTE THE FOLLOWING PLURALITY OF ELDERS OF THE CHURCH Act_11:30 Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul. Act_14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. Act_15:2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question. Act_15:4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. Act_15:6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. Act_15:22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: Act_15:23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: Act_16:4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. Act_20:17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. Act_21:18 And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present. Act_22:5 As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and went to Damascus, to bring them which were there bound unto Jerusalem, for to be punished. Act_23:14 And they came to the chief priests and elders, and said, We have bound ourselves under a great curse, that we will eat nothing until we have slain Paul. Act_24:1 And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul. Act_25:15 About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him. 1Ti_5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. Tit_1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: Heb_11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. Jas_5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
Posted on: Thu, 18 Sep 2014 07:33:25 +0000
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