"Lay hands suddenly on no man," 1Timothy:5:22a
This was the advice that the Apostle Paul gave to the young pastor Timothy regarding placing different ones in potions of leadership within the Church.
Over the years that I have spent in the ministry some few have wondered at how the leadership of the Church is brought to lift one to a positions of responsibility , ordaining them or giving them a commissioning to serve with in a particular ministry with in the local assembly.
All fellowships have their own way that this process comes about, but in the end it is always that our Lord Jesus has appointed such a one to serve, and the Church leadership simply acknowledges that this is so.
"I'm a Prophet"
In a particular congregation a person, on more then one occasion, approached me and informed that "God has called me to be prophet" to certain churches in the area. When this was said to me the Holy Spirit said, (for lack of better words) "Be careful (again, over the years I have heard such assertions before) do not let your guard down".
This is what is called discernment, a gift of the Holy Spirit . It is provided that Pastors see what is behind words and actions. It is difficult to put it into words, yet it is real, simply put you can see the heart.I do not know any other way to say it.
The holy skeptic reared its head, and I gave this person a little space and considered what was underfoot. Several more times this person came again and each time asserting certain insight into situations and telling me about encounters which they had with leaders in different churches and thier place in giving these leaders direction.
On several occasions this person had offered input to me that , well, quite frankly did not match what I knew to be true. This person had given comments regarding my private prayers to God. What this person said did not match reality.
On several occasions this person had offered input to me that , well, quite frankly did not match what I knew to be true. This person had given comments regarding my private prayers to God. What this person said did not match reality.
There are many, and I seemed to encounter them all , self ordained persons roaming the church , many of them carry with them an attitude, or if I may uses what some of our Pentecostal breatheren would call a "Jezebel Spirit." The main goal is , in spite of claims to the contrary , power and control not truth or right and wrong, but power. I have never seen it different.
Just a note where as the "Jezebel spirit" seems to effect lay persons the "Nicolaitan spirit" seems to be found with some of the clergy. The "Nicolaitans" Revelation:2:15 was a group of "power driven" clergy which were found in some places with in the early church. These ones began as disciples of the Deacon Nicholas from Antioch who was among the first Deacons of the church. The "Nicolaitans" used their position and authority for their own gain and advancement. They liked power. This cautions all who are in leadership to be servants of the people that God has placed us over.
"Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant," Matthew:23:11
Just a note where as the "Jezebel spirit" seems to effect lay persons the "Nicolaitan spirit" seems to be found with some of the clergy. The "Nicolaitans" Revelation:2:15 was a group of "power driven" clergy which were found in some places with in the early church. These ones began as disciples of the Deacon Nicholas from Antioch who was among the first Deacons of the church. The "Nicolaitans" used their position and authority for their own gain and advancement. They liked power. This cautions all who are in leadership to be servants of the people that God has placed us over.
"Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant," Matthew:23:11
"This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of
faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon,
Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them" .Acts:6:5-6
Self Ordained
This article is really not regarding the Jezebel spirit and such, but please bear with me. This spirit or attitude in my experience seems to effect "lay persons" rather than the clergy. The description of it is found in Revelation.
"I have this against you: You tolerate that woman
Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my
servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to
idols.
I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So
I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit
adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead." Revelation:2:20-23
The description of "calls her self a prophet" speaks of this spirit as being self ordained not having the blessing or oversight of church leadership but taking it upon them selves, they want it so they take it. It is sad but over the years many have wanted potions of authority and attempted to insert them selves into such potions without God's calling.
Those who carry the attitude of the "Jezebel spirit" claim to have special insight and understanding to truth, above that of the God appointed church leadership. They will often circulate through a local congregation looking for ones to tolerate them and give ear to their ideas. They at times will do this under the pretense of a "prayer group" to mask their true intent, what they are in reality doing is attempting to create their own church within a church. Dear Christian, please learn to recognize this spirit when it raises its head to cause division in the church, even when it assumes the face of long time friends.
"Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets",(24b)
When Christians tolerate such a one to operate among them then there is a price to pay for the division that is spawned. God will move to deal with a person after giving them time to change.
Those who carry the attitude of the "Jezebel spirit" claim to have special insight and understanding to truth, above that of the God appointed church leadership. They will often circulate through a local congregation looking for ones to tolerate them and give ear to their ideas. They at times will do this under the pretense of a "prayer group" to mask their true intent, what they are in reality doing is attempting to create their own church within a church. Dear Christian, please learn to recognize this spirit when it raises its head to cause division in the church, even when it assumes the face of long time friends.
"Now I say to the rest of you in Thyatira, to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets",(24b)
When Christians tolerate such a one to operate among them then there is a price to pay for the division that is spawned. God will move to deal with a person after giving them time to change.
"Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols" (20)
" I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead"(21-23a)
How to Know
So having said all that, how does the church leadership know when a person is being called into a particular ministry ?
If the leadership of the church listen they will heard the , "Vox Spiritum Sanctum" the voice of the Holy Spirit. How do we hear?
"As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Spirit said,
Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." Acts:13:2
The Holy Spirit spoke in the midst of the church and designated Barnabus and Saul to go and preach. So how would the Spirit of God speak to us today regarding the calling on a persons life into ministry?
The Holy Scriptures give us sound input about choosing church leadership. Paul writes regarding the Elders and Deacons. We can read of Paul's instructions in 1Timothy:3:1-12
The Holy Scriptures give us sound input about choosing church leadership. Paul writes regarding the Elders and Deacons. We can read of Paul's instructions in 1Timothy:3:1-12
Paul tells us that a persons desire to serve in leadership is good,
"Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a good thing."(1)
So if there is an inclination toward leadership that is "a good thing" , but that alone is not sufficient, Paul ,after giving the general requirements as to how such a one should conduct themselves , tells Timothy that such candidate.
"Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a good thing."(1)
So if there is an inclination toward leadership that is "a good thing" , but that alone is not sufficient, Paul ,after giving the general requirements as to how such a one should conduct themselves , tells Timothy that such candidate.
" ....must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons."(10)
In a Local Church
This being tested takes time. It requires the leadership of the church to watch and pray asking for God's direction. Is the fruit of the Holy Spirit in their lives? Is the Holy Spirit speaking about them? The Holy Spirit will speak regarding one that is called, He will do this through the members of the local assembly who will be gently prompted by Him to give feed back to the church's leadership.
This is why it is so important for one to be a committed part of a local assembly, if one is not part of a local church there will be none to testify regarding their calling, or if person can not be committed to a local assembly and drifts from church to church they can not be vested with responsibility.
The Holy Spirit, in short speaks through the church to verify a persons ministry not though anyone coming to the leadership and announce "I am a Prophet" ...self testimony is not evidence of a persons calling, it may be what they want but not what God wants. This is especially true when a person has no lengthily history with a church.
Even Jesus did not speak of Himself in this way but the Father did of His Son.
"If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not true. "There is another who testifies of Me, and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true".…John:5:31-32
From God
All the gifts of the Holy Spirit are made to be used within the community of the church because they are at their heart relational not functional. 1Corinthians:12:
"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,
to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
until
we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God
and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of
Christ.
Then
we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and
blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and
craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead,
speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the
mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
From
him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting
ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its
work." Ephesians:4:11-16
This means within the community of the church we help each other and others help us.
All valid ministries within the body of Christ , whether they be the upper leadership of a denomination or in a local church assembly, these potions come from God Himself." So Christ himself gave," as we read in Ephesians.
"And no man takes this honor to himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron." Hebrews:5:4
When God places one in a position of leadership, the church acknowledge it through the ceremony of laying on of hands we simply say that we know God has placed such a one in a given role publicly before all.
This should bring support from the church and do-a-way with politicking , if any resist after God has over time made it clear of the persons calling then they are not rejecting the person but God himself whether they understand it or not.
"Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me." Luke:10:16
If the church has somehow misunderstood God's will then God will , over time, make it clear. This calls on us to have faith and trust in the leadership of Christ over His church.
God has and is working in the midst of His people, our Lord invites us all to participate with Him as He carries out His work upon the Earth. He calls each of us into ministry. He will show us where and how we can serve. It comes though Him alone not just through our own desire to be in a given role or self declaration. Remember the words of Paul "Lay hands suddenly on no man", the next time someone declarers to you "I'm a Prophet"....Amen.
Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor
This should bring support from the church and do-a-way with politicking , if any resist after God has over time made it clear of the persons calling then they are not rejecting the person but God himself whether they understand it or not.
"Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me." Luke:10:16
If the church has somehow misunderstood God's will then God will , over time, make it clear. This calls on us to have faith and trust in the leadership of Christ over His church.
God has and is working in the midst of His people, our Lord invites us all to participate with Him as He carries out His work upon the Earth. He calls each of us into ministry. He will show us where and how we can serve. It comes though Him alone not just through our own desire to be in a given role or self declaration. Remember the words of Paul "Lay hands suddenly on no man", the next time someone declarers to you "I'm a Prophet"....Amen.
Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor
The
Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
2101 Old National Pike
Washington,
Pennsylvania.
www.gcfountainoflife.org
The
Fountain of Life is heard on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in
Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM in the Arden Fair Grounds area
of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela,
Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com
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