In recent years, it seems more and more Christians are unaware of the fact that there are church authorities and leaders. I've noticed in U.S. many seem to think of church as a social club, or just a place to gather for worship music. Although we socialize and worship together, the Church is much more. In my last blog I explained that the Church is a Family Kingdom. There is leadership and authority in The House of God whom Jesus appointed,
“Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to EQUIP God’s people to do his work and BUILD up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith.” Ephesians 4:11-13
Jesus empowered church leadership with the responsibility to equip us for the work of ministry with the very purpose of building the church. God has placed spiritual gifts inside you, and you are called to walk in that gifting and calling to impact this world and your generation. Paul tells us,
“In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well.”
(Romans 12:6)
Those gifts are what will set you apart and give you that edge in life to advance the Kingdom. We as believers only flourish when we are planted in the House of God (Psalm 92:13). The role church leaders play in the Body’s life is to equip the saints and spiritually strengthen them. We all need church leadership in our lives to correct, rebuke, and disciple us with the goal of training us for the ministry. If we do not honor and esteem our church leaders, how can we expect them to be able to fulfill their role effectively? If they are unable to train us effectively, how can we possibly have multiplied effectiveness for Jesus in our lives?
We all need each other; not one-part of the Church functions correctly on its own. We belong to each other. You need me and I need you. Try to imagine if all your body parts had their own agenda. If you literally had no control of your body, you would be crippled and disabled. This is what believers look like when they are not in unity with the body of Christ and when they disconnect themselves from the local church.
On the other hand, I have also seen people attend a church that never thrives. The reason is that they are not serving to help build up the church, they just sit in the pew. This was one of the issues Paul had to address, because some Christians were idle, lazy and became busy bodies not serving or helping to build the church. When we dishonor our God-given authority through lack of submission and service, we limit our ability to prosper the way God longs for.
Until you have submitted to authority, God will not give you the authority you need to fulfill your calling.
You have to submit to authority to be trusted with authority. David had to serve Saul before he could ever be king. Samuel served Eli, Elisha served Elijah, Joshua served Moses, and Timothy served Paul. We are a part of a Kingdom that is greater than ourselves. Accept it as truth and be liberated in your calling.
“Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.” (Romans 13:1-3)
It is important to note that God designed the whole infrastructure of authority for the purpose of establishing order in our countries and churches. First, Paul refers to governing authorities such as presidents, governors and mayors. He then clarifies, “all authority comes from God.” Whether it is government, family, school, business, or the church, God is the one who establishes authority. Paul explains a Kingdom principle here: when you do what is right, those in leadership “will honor you.” What is the implication?
God will honor and promote you through those in authority.
LISTEN TO THE AUDIO BOOK KINGDOM HONOR
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