Accountability: Checks and Balances
(If I Wash Thee Not, Thou Hast No Part With Me)

Compiled by Brother L. Harrell

Matthew 5:19  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

It does not say and differentiate in Matthew 5:19, whosoever shall do and teach a certain age, group of a certain social economical status, a certain gender, shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.  Being led by the Spirit will not cause one to be neglected and/or forsaken.  God is faithful and He can not lie.

Psalm 119:90  Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.

In the natural world becoming strong by being weak is a paradox, but spiritually the way down is the way up. 

1 Corinthians 1:27-29 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.

The greatest is the lowest person (meekest).  We are called to obey the Spirit.  He has intentions for us.  We can accomplish the Law of Christ by dying to ourselves (our lustful fleshly desires) and walking in the path the Lord has outlined for us.  This path may not be glamorous to man.  We must lay down our lives to serve our fellowman, and therefore serve the Lord.

Being set in a status / office that is to the natural world submissive to another position or person is not inferiority.  We are commanded to humble ourselves.

Luke 14:8-11  When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;  And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.  But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.  For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Luke 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

Many know it is not the will of the Lord for us to “kick down doors” to get ourselves ahead.  We need to remain faithful and obey the Spirit.  The Lord knew us before we were ever manifested as man or woman, black, white or brown, rich or poor, and knew what gifts and callings were His will for each of us.

1 Corinthians 7:20  Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

1 Corinthians 7:24  Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

Many prophets and evangelists are (or should be) submitted to their pastor’s leadership.  This does not make pastors greater than prophets and evangelists.  Ephesians 4:11-12 lists prophets and evangelists before pastors (1 Corinthians 12:28 corroborates this ecclesiastical ranking).  This does not make prophets and evangelists greater than pastors (just as our country's president is not greater than you or me, but is appointed to a high office).  We must move “flesh” out of the way so we may do the Lord’s will.  (Of course, prophets, evangelists, etc. are to be submitted to their apostle's or bishop's oversight.)   

Ephesians 5:1-2  Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Ephesians 5:17  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

Ephesians 5:21  Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Ephesians 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Ephesians 4:11-12  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

1 Corinthians 12:28  And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

Also, the man is not inferior to the woman, and the woman is not inferior to man.  The adversary loves to falsely charge divinely appointed order, causing envy and strife, to bring disorder where order should be.

1 Corinthians 11:11 (NASB)  However, in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.

Ephesians 5:30-31  For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

It says in Ephesians 4:16 about Jesus’ body, the church:

Ephesians 4:16  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Just as U.S.A.'s governments are setup to have distinct and diverse branches share responsibilities of serving / administering by elected representatives (executive, legislation, judicial, etc.), likewise the church is to be administered by those distinct and diverse persons the Lord has elected to do so (in their respective offices without fear of retribution [with exception of impropriety]).  The Lord has setup diverse areas of responsibility that help ensure each respective area has proper emphasis.  Why does the world accuse the church of neglecting certain duties?  The accusations could be because the 5-fold is not functional.

The world has learned that a government such as a democracy that runs without proper checks and balances is dysfunctional.  Likewise, a church is dysfunctional that does not have shared loads by those the Lord has elected.  Allowing the kingdom of God to reign is in part initiated by allowing what He established to function / reign. (That is His body.  He knows what He is doing!)  Failure to allow proper ministerial independence (with offices yielding to checks & balances) may be likened to Adolf Hitler's dictatorial actions of humbling / subordinating and ommiting governmental offices, opposition and speech.  Building a hedge around oneself from scrutiny is not decency or orderliness.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12  Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.  For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.  Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?  And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Some institutions falsely claim five-fold operation.  While an institution may possess five-fold gifting, that does not mean there has been proper implementation of what God has purposed.  (Therefore they may not be a five-fold ministry).  A democratic government [or church government] is not balanced if the same person that sits in the executive office, also sits in the judicial, and/or legislative, and/or has vast powers to elect other office holders, and/or controls the media, caucus, or convention.

Don’t we know God with His infinite wisdom has already addressed and bound the powers that have us confounded?  He did not ordain evangelists [including godly media in their respective offices] and the Sabbath for no significance.  If demagoguery reigns [whether actual / officially or de facto] (such as was the case in Ezra 4:2 & 8), likely God through the [diverse and independent] five-fold is not being given freedom to reign.

One will say, I don't see the [natural] necessity [for this order]...  It is a spiritual battle that the Lord sees [and those He has revealed it to].  You can't see behind closed doors.  You can't see the adversary and his agenda.  You can't see all the snares (If you could, it would not be much of a snare).  Walk by faith in his love and appointed order.

The Scribes and Pharisees did not find Jesus worthy to edify them by their standards.  Many of us have done the same, finding various persons appointed by the Lord, in various offices appointed by the Lord, not worthy to minister to them.  (This is not a suggestion that certain persons walking unrighteously or unqualified should not be excluded from service). 

Where is the perfect apostle / bishop (Except Jesus)?  Where is the perfect minister of the other various offices and gifts given to the church? (As a unit we are perfect).  We must take caution not to repeat the sins of Jeroboam, setting up golden calves to replace what God has setup (our own self, associates and system being the idol we find ourselves following).  Failure to allow various offices operate free of coercion differs with the law of Christ / the law of faith.

Hosea 4:6 (NLV) My people are destroyed because they have not learned. You were not willing to learn. So I am not willing to have you be My religious leader. Since you have forgotten the Law of your God, I also will forget your children.

The woman is under man's authority (woman needs to be in agreement with man).  Regardless of man being in position of authority, man needs to work with woman.  Man and woman need to be united with and under authority of the Lord who is Head of all.  (See 1 Corinthians 11:11-12)  Likewise, various offices and gifts have appointed authority and order that must be respected.

Romans 14:7 For we are not our own masters when we live or when we die.

Where edification is not involved:  It is not proper for a man to attack a woman or for a woman to attack a man.  Likewise, it is not proper for members of the body to attack prophets, for pastors to attack ministers, for senior bishops or regional bishops to attack evangelists, etc.  God did not set up ministerial offices for us to carnally tear them down.

If ministers are fearful of other ministers, members are fearful of ministers, ministers are fearful of members or members are fearful of other members, there is imperfect love going on (See 2 Timothy 1:7).

An example of irresponsibly: If a person was part of a group of sales persons and the leader was to reach his [or her] quota, then the leader was to suspend all other sales (since he is satisfied with his goal, depriving the other sales persons from reaching their quota), there would be some unhappiness within the group.  Under such selfish conditions, and it would be unreasonable for the leader to believe there would be harmony that is necessary for the group to progress properly.  Such an action is not a fruit of the Spirit.

Unlike the example just given of a group of sales persons, members of a body must be in agreement to prosper as a team.  Disharmony is not agreement, and is not love.  Many operate in disharmony, ignorantly expecting the benefits of harmony.

We have been given commandment and example by Jesus Christ to serve (See John 13:15 & Hebrews 10:24-25) and to be served by our brothers (See John 13:8).  When Peter tried to resist being ministered to, he was informed that if he was not going to be served, he would have no relationship with the Lord.  We must serve each other and be served by each other.  This requirement is not optional (See 1 Corinthians 12:28).  (Yes, teamwork is a necessity).

John 13:6-8  Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?  Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.  Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.

1 Corinthians 12:27 (NLT) Now all of you together are Christ's body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it.

2 John 1:9 (KJV) Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

Proverbs 27:17 (NLT) As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend.

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The [Ephesians] 4,1-1:

look at His statutes / ordinances (regard what He set up) and live

...be not as Korah, and as his company...

....what God has joined together, let no one separate.

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  "Has Christ been divided?"  (1 Corinthians 1:13a [NRSV])

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Revised:  09/19/06

http://seventhdayapostolic.org/ChooseLORD/