Part 1 / Section 5

DISCIPLES NEED LEADERSHIP

Patronizing modern society in the churches is no more than compromising the basis by which it is possible to achieve fellowship with God. Another way of saying this is; the basis by which I want to fellowship with God is the fact that God wants to fellowship with me. It appears that it really doesn't make alot of difference to the people, of today's modern church, that God provided a specific way to accomplish this fellowship. Many leaders, over the years, have taken the problems and circumstances that they have contended with and developed them with man-made wisdom into a new basis that is very pleasing to many people.

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths". 2 Timothy 4:3-4.

So, it is not surprising as to what the so called Christian church has developed into, for it is scriptural and has been foretold, in advance. Many times it has been said by individuals who have "tried" Christianity, "Hey, if that's what it is like I don't want any part of it. They preach one thing and do another". "The church seems to have two or three little groups, and if you don't fit in, you are just left to wander". Unfortunately, that is precisely the case in altogether to many instances. What has happened is that the leaders have taken their eyes off Jesus, and concentrated them, first and foremost on other things. Yet, Jesus said, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things will be added to you" Matthew 6:33. So, what has been applied to the people shall also be applied to the church, for the people are what makes up the body.

I would not deny that there have been many problems and circumstances of which preachers have had to contend with, and that they are still human. I would also state that, yes, I can see how they could get so preoccupied with the trees that they would get lost in the forest. Many pastors or preachers feel that they must handle it themselves. And others, although they would love to share some of the problems, find that there are no other individuals that they can turn to, that is to say, that they can truly fellowship with, and help lift the burden.

But, in either case, the leaders have become busy putting out fires and trying to straighten out uncomfortable situations, thus exchanging the kingdom first for let's handle the problem. That's similar to saying, we can't seek the kingdom first until we remove this roadblock from in front of us. That is of man and it is also lack of faith. One way or another, the intellectual side of us seems to always creep in, and all to often takes over.

Now, this happens not only with leadership but with the people in the church. As you can see, with two sides vying intellectually, the only way to arrive at a winner is for one or the other to back down. Maybe, even both backing down a little. Again, in either case, a compromise has been achieved, thus allowing the web of deception to maintain it's control of the modern day church. The problem is that continued vying, intellectually, in the church, advances step by step away from the standard that was given to them to attain fellowship with God.

It takes spiritual awareness and spiritual preparedness, beginning with the leadership in the church, to build a true body of believers. A true body of believers is made up of disciples, that have grown and matured due to spiritual awareness, with priests who are aware and prepared, feeding the sheep with love from God.

Unfortunately, that is the exception rather than the rule. One reason that this has happened is that denominational leaders have allowed their spiritual level to be equal with their intellectual level. With this, they have allowed the trickle down theory of economics to infiltrate through their ranks, which can account for, and establishes a second reason, that being, authority. Intellectually, this would only seem proper, for there must be order in the ranks. But, where there is matured leadership, all striving towards unity, there will be found no question concerning authority, in any respect.

It is quite interesting to view how God has allowed each church movement over the years to spring forward as a result of controversy over men and man's authority. All to often there have been situations which require a solution based upon the teaching of God's Word and God's Love, and it turns into a debacle involving who has the governing authority, usually because of man's intellect. The maneuvering that takes place could cause deceased sinners to rise up from their graves and join in with cheers of victory along with the spirits and powers of today’s' world. See ! Look how the devil continues to maintain his aggressiveness and foothold in the churches, through each movement. Man continually allows the devil to help himself, and assist man as he continues to rise to his level of incompetence. Pride, pride, pride, and self, self, self, and the beat goes on.

Yet, inspite of it all, God is still in control and continues to make the short falls of man into a continuing building process, that very soon will bring Him the ultimate GLORY that He seeks.

As mans' authority is increased by God, his intellectual level increases. As his intellectual level increases, his "self" is lifted up and pride protrudes through in full bloom. This is the way it is in the world, not the way it is supposed to be in the church, for the church is not of the world. Yet, because the church is in the world, for the time being, it must contend with the forces of the world. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, and against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places". Ephesians 6:12.

Mans' authority is increased by God as his intellectual level increases with wisdom. Mans' intellectual level increases with wisdom as his "soul" dies to self. As mans' soul dies to self through the digesting of God's Word, the attributes of God mature and swell within the soul, allowing the intellectual level to increase with the wisdom of God and the power of His authority. As mans' authority is increased by man, his intellectual level decreases in wisdom. When mans' wisdom of God decreases, God's attributes are diminished, and mans' will thus succumbs to the forces of this darkness.

The deterioration of the church starts with just one insignificant compromise that is allowed without being checked or corrected. The second compromise is easier and the next even easier. With our "self" going on unchecked, we do not accept the fact that we are nothing in compared to God. Each area that we, (the self part of us ) increase or gain in knowledge, we feel we are so much more intelligent or educated, but we fail to recognize or remember where it comes from. We fail to recognize or remember the true meaning of wisdom. There is a continual mental battle, a continual battle in the mind that is vying for our attitude and aptitude. But, we must remember that the battle is the Lords. "Therefore, gird your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:13.

Once deterioration is under way and time continues to pass without any correction, it becomes very difficult to back up. I'm sure the start of deterioration was unintentional. Even today, there are many well intended actions that result in situations and conditions that start a downward deterioration that are most difficult to put in check. That is exactly how subtle our adversaries attack. To maintain ourselves in the Lord, we (striving Christians ) must remain in like minds, in one spirit, each of us operating in the authority given to each of us, by the Father, through the Son. There must be unity and understanding. "We must be subject to one another in the fear of Christ". Ephesians 5:21.

We are constantly letting down our guard. "Be on the alert. Your adversary the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour". 1 Peter 5:8. Why do our leaders constantly get themselves into situations where they are always trying to put out fires ? How is it that our adversary is forever getting a foothold onto God's leaders. Satan and his activists continue to put leaders in these positions because there has developed a deception regarding mans' intellectual level. As in the world, the intellectual level has taken over in the church. Does this mean that leadership willfully set out to accomplish this as the basis of handling circumstances and situations that arise day to day ? No! No! No!.... But, with the continued increase in the intellectual levels in the body, that is, each believer, the fleshly knowledge of the believer has caused leaders to deal with them in fleshly ways. Their spiritual wisdom has subsided, and their knowledge of intellect has taken over.

Now, how and why all of this has taken place can be debated for a long time. It has been debated, it is being debated and it will continue to be debated. That is precisely the point. This debating is a result of deception that has subtly infiltrated the modern church in a most dramatic way.

Disciples need leaders that are prepared to feed the sheep with LOVE from GOD. They must be spiritually aware and spiritually prepared. This spiritual awareness and preparedness is the exercising of the authority that God has given them. This authority is spiritual wisdom which comes only from God. There are leaders in the pulpit today who were never given this authority by God. Likewise, there are leaders that were given that authority, have abused it and now handle themselves in and through mans' authority... mans' knowledge, mans' intellect.

The vast majority of today’s leaders rule with a combination of spiritual wisdom and mans' intellect. Is this compromising ? Is this deception ? Jesus spoke in Matthew 5:33-37; "Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, you shall not make false vows, but shall fulfill your vows to the Lord. But I say to you, make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by earth, for it is the footstool of His feet, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. But, let your statement be, Yes, Yes or No, No; and anything beyond these is of evil.