Prove It!
We Are Not To Be Open To Deception

In churches, the pastor is an authority (the executive).  But just as with the executive of the USA’s government (the president), we only have to follow lawful orders.  If decisions are judged as unlawful, the executive's decision can be overruled (nullified) as unlawful (namely, by the judicial / bishops / apostles).  A pastor even can be recalled / removed the by the electorate (example:  King Saul through the prophetic).   

If an apostle or bishop has been ordained to oversee the Lord's church and his lawful decisions are not regarded, would not I be impeding the work of the Spirit by rejecting His human overseer? 

If God spoke through a proven prophet, would not we be in contempt by disregarding the Word of God spoke through the prophet?  The Lord has told us through the scriptures that He set them in the church.  If we are not going to regard them, then what are they set there for?  (Does not the Lord give spiritual as well as natural credentials to the persons that He has set in the Body?)

While certain ministers may not respect the order God setup, those in the body of Christ can rest knowing when a matter is judged according to the Lord's order, they can be within God's will and disregard unlawful instructions when the situation warrants.  Many past tragedies could have been prevented if the 5-fold order was in operation (which we have in addition to the written Word and the various other ways the Spirit speaks to us).

A bishop / apostle ranks higher than a pastor according to the order God setup (in part serving as judicial, like a supreme court).  Additionally, a prophet ranks higher than a pastor according to God's order (in part serving as the electorate [being a spokesman for the Lord]). 

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.

This is not suggesting to challenge a pastor or others (unwarranted, that is not decency or order), but their instructions and teachings must coincide with the Word, verified through the 5-fold order.  Otherwise, as with the case of a false prophet, I don't have to regard their [unsupported] words.  God has given His people protection.  Every word should be authenticated by two or three proofs.  The Lord teaches us to prove things, and He gladly provides us evidence needed.  Apostles / bishops, prophets & pastors are leaders, not gods, and should not act like such (gods), or be regarded as such. 

We can disprove and disregard apostles (a.k.a. bishops), pastors, prophets and all others using the same checks God setup for our benefit (when appropriate).  If members of the Body do not know this, they are open to deception, believing they must accept and perform what is feed to them, even if it is proven wrong.  Churches can not run decently and in order if the Body does not know what the order is.

• The seventh day was not consecrated during creation week in vain.
• The apostles / bishops were not set over the assemblies in vain.
• The prophets do not speak the Lord's Words in vain.
  

They all exist for a reason, and should be regarded for their set purpose.  Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.

Do many pastors want the assembly to know they are not to accept the pastor's word as if spoken from a god?  (In spite of the fact that at times many pastors speak on behalf of the True God).  Many pastors may say to check what they say with the Word, but then if a person was to do such, there likely will be a very negative reaction to questioning their "sovereignty" / "autonomy".  (Some say in words, but their words are not matched with their deeds). 

In the U.S.A, the Chief Executive (president) is to minister to the people (the people are subject to the president).  That same executive is to remain subject to the electorate (the people) that appointed him or her.  Ecclesiastically, the pastorate is to be subject to the prophet working in proxy of the electorate (the Lord).  We must be subject to each other.  Does one contradictorily say "I obey God's commandments, but not his statutes (what has been placed together) or judgments"?  (I plausibly walk in love, but I will not uphold what the God of Love has ordained).

Having various Divinely appointed offices in the assembly operating enables information that one office would love to suppress to be proclaimed by another.  God will not be blackmailed or held hostage by a contemptuous or fleshly desire dominated person.

Rite of Confirmation:  Confirmation that a person is a member of the Body of Christ is not simply a religious rite of having laid hands by the elders without True evidence.  But, other tongues will serve as confirmation.  When apostle Paul in Acts 19:6 laid hands on the believers "they spoke in other tongues and prophesied" (See also Acts 8:17).  This is the biblical evidence. 

The person that is telling you to "repeat after me" to enter the Kingdom of God is giving you a ticket to Hell by giving you a false truth.  Some are convinced that they believe Jesus is Lord when in actuality, they do not believe.  Not all that say they know the Lord know Him.

Many are perpetrating under pretense of operating by the power of God.  Acts 19:13-16 records sons of a chief priest unsuccessfully trying to use the Lord's name, but they instead were themselves subdued and overpowered by the enemy.  It would be foolish to allow a person with no evidence that he is operating in the Lord's power lay hands on you, just to convince you that the laying of his hands has caused you to receive the Lord's Spirit without receiving divine evidence.