WHAT DOES THE CHURCH REALLY LOOK LIKE? The Church Must Be Accountable

The Church must be:

5.  ACCOUNTABLE

Accountable to God concerning our fulfillment of His Word.

Accountable to testify in the Body of Christ and in the world.

Accountable to the one who watches for our soul. (Heb. 13:17)

ACCOUNTABILITY QUESTIONS

     In giving oversight it is important that some topics be explored.  The questions that follow are not intended to be all-inclusive, but will help to bring particular things into view for adequate oversight.

■  HOW IS YOUR PRAYER LIFE?

            Are you maintaining an intimacy with God?  Do you joyfully worship the Lord personally?  Do you know the voice of the Lord speaking to you?  As you make your requests known to God, do you receive answers?  Are you interceding for the one who gives you oversight?  Is there another person with whom you pray, who also prays for your specific needs?

■  WHAT FRUIT ARE YOU BEARING?

            When was the last time you, personally led someone to know Jesus as savior?  Are you freely giving what you’ve freely received?  Are you laying hands on the sick and seeing them recover?  Are you lovingly uplifting others, encouraging and imparting to them what God gives you?  Have you recently shared a revelation or Bible insight with another?

■  ARE YOU PAYING YOUR TITHES?

            Knowing that where your heart is, there will your treasure be also, are your tithes joyfully paid?  Does your giving also ratify a relational covenant with your apostle?  If you were negligent concerning your promise to God, how high a priority would it be to remove the debt?  Is this an area of your life where the Lord takes note of your faithful obedience?

■  ARE YOU WALKING IN VICTORY?

            What habit or sin have you conquered recently?  Is there something in your life-style that the Lord would have you change?  Do you have an attitude or a remembrance that needs cleansing?  Is there someone whom you need to forgive?  Is there one of whom you need to ask his or her forgiveness?  Are you walking in the fruit of the Spirit, displaying love, joy and peace truly evident to all who are close to you?  Would you call upon the one who gives you oversight if you needed specific counsel?

■  WHAT IS IN YOUR THOUGHT LIFE?

            Someone has said that we become what our mind and spirit feed upon.  What are you watching? What are you reading?  Where does your imagination go when it begins roaming?  Do your dreams and daydreams reflect your love of the Lord?  What is your mental nourishment?  Do you spend leisure time in the Word of God?

■  ARE YOU SACRIFICIALLY GIVING?

            How long has it been since you gave a substantial gift as unto the Lord?  Not your tithes; not alms to the poor; but have you recently given an offering where the cost was extraordinary for you?  Has your compassion or the voice of the Lord caused you to sacrifice beyond your comfort zone?

■  WHAT IS THE LORD SHOWING YOU?

            As you prayerfully read the Scriptures, what fresh insight does the Holy Spirit open to you?  Is God giving you revelation through dreams or visions?  Do you have eyes to see what is invisible to carnal men?  Is your spirit sensitive to see what the Lord desires to reveal, and are you quick to obey?

 

■  ARE YOU LOOKING FOR GOD-GIVEN RELATIONSHIPS?

            Have you found God to be knitting your heart together with additional believers?  Can you identify specific relation-ships wherein you should walk in true covenant?  Do you need to be more diligent in communicating within specific covenant relationships God has given you?  Are you reaching out to have warm fellowship with men in your community?

■  DO YOU REGULARLY HAVE SABBATH REST?

            Not holding one day more holy than another, are you taking one day each week to relax?  Are you living with a lot of stress?  Are you perhaps too busy to have genuine peace and tranquility?  Do you spend enough time with your family? Do you take care of your body?

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AUTHORITY IN THE CHURCH

UNDERSTANDING ACCOUNTABILITY

     ■   All authority is delegated from God. (Romans 13:1-7)

     ■   Honor should be given to an honorable man, not to an office or position.  (Matt. 22:21)

          Not like military salute to uniform rather than the man.

     ■   In the Church a man is not put into an office. 

Rather, the office is put into the man by God

     ■   HONOR RELEASES AUTHORITY

            Men in institutional churches are set into offices by other men to function with authority.  Not so in the relational Church; here God finds a faithful man and puts an office of ministry into him.  In the institutional church it is the corporate structure, committees and boards which function with power.  Biblically we see that God holds individual men to be personally accountable.

“Jesus called them to Himself and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave– just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Matt. 20:25-28

            We release authority in men as we give them honor.

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Back To:  WHAT DOES THE CHURCH REALLY LOOK LIKE?

What to Expect from Your Apostle – Chapter 11

Dear Brother,

Several years ago I approached a man of God and asked him to be my pastor.  Many recognized his apostolic ministry, but it was fresh revelation to me.  This man became God’s answer to my prayer.  I needed a pastor.  I needed someone to watch for my soul and care for me and my family.  I needed oversight, counsel and prayer.  He agreed to accept responsibility for me; and I agreed to open my heart and receive from him.  I had made covenant (binding agreement) with this man of God who would provide oversight for me and my family.

In covenant relationships there are things we can expect of one another.  However, we need also to take care not to walk with presumptuousness. This is what I would like to talk with you about in this letter.

Now, brother, you are relating to a man of God as your apostolic oversight, and you should anticipate that he would be praying for you often and sincerely.  You ought to be able to count on his counsel and encouragement.  You have a God given place in his heart, therefore your apostle/pastor will secure time for you.  He will find time to counsel; time to remind; time to instruct; time to listen; time to intercede for you.

Holding you accountable to your own vision, is a task that your apostle/pastor will take very seriously.  It will be in his heart to remind you occasionally of those things that you say God is directing you to do.  Without a vision, the people perish.  He will want you to have a vision for that which the Lord has called you to do, and that you have clear-cut, workable plans to fulfill that vision.

When your apostle/pastor sees something lacking, he will do his best to speak to the issue.  Where there is grace and liberty he will attempt to set it in order.  (See Titus 1:5)  When he comes to minster in your sphere of influence, you should expect that the presence of God will be manifest.  It is his desire to bear fruit in your life, brother, and that the fruit should remain.

This week, you might pray that your expectations are both Godly and understood.  If you have not communicated with your apostle/pastor about these things, perhaps this letter would serve as a spring board to better understanding.

Bruce

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