The children of Israel fell into trouble when they insisted God give them a king as other nations had. God granted their wish, but their wish lessened God’s effectiveness in their protection. God does not force himself on anyone, but when his people fail to accept him fully, they leave themselves open to the enemy. We are the body of Christ, and there is but one head. It is the lust of men that desire a self-serving higher position. And it is the distrust in the Holy Spirit, and carnality that allows men to follow other men instead of Jesus.
If you are placing more faith in your pastor and in your local church than in God, you are grieving the Holy Spirit by giving him a back seat to religiosity and the establishment of men. This is what I was guilty of; running to an earthy leader for answers instead of seeking the Lord, thinking that leader was placed before me between me and God, for my benefit. This thinking that I need to be accountable to another man, my preacher, and that he was there to be my spiritual guide and leader.
Here is the subtle deception: Your preacher tells you to listen to the words from God he is preaching. He is claiming he speaks from God, and under the authority of God. And you just believe it, along with everything else he is saying. You turn to the scripture verses he points you to, and it supports what he is saying. But many different and opposing theologies are taught from the same bible.
Anyone placing themselves up to such a lofty position is bound to fall. Preachers love their jobs because of the status that goes with it. They feel special because of “God’s calling” on their life, as they put it. Inwardly, and usually unknowingly, they believe themselves to be a cut above because of their special leadership abilities.
This is a clever trick by the enemy to put a man in charge at the head of your church, put him on an ego trip, and now he has total control over him and in turn, the congregation. You may say your church is set up such that the preacher is accountable to a board or some man made government system, but that doesn’t change the fact of what is really happening. This man has the power of preaching to you every Sunday morning, using the Holy Bible, as he claims, on his side. And he is still considered your “Shepard”, meaning your leader.
This is not the way the early Christians did church. The early church is defined as from the death of Jesus until 325 AD when Constantine highjacked Christianity, and interjecting paganism prevalent in the institutional church today. The pews all directed and subjugated to the power structure and stage show presented on the elevated platform, and the pulpit, all serve to stifle the believer’s part in the service. This is an atmosphere that enables corruption to flourish unchecked for the most part, and has rendered you a mute spectator who is proficient at taking sermon notes and passing an offering plate. This is not the every member functioning, open-air atmosphere that was intended for the followers of Christ.
The point is, you must be led by the Holy Spirit himself, and directly, and not just a man. There is only one way you can be sure he is led by God, and that is when both of you are led by God, and agree on what you have heard from God himself. I believe there is biblical support for spiritual leaders to some degree, but I also believe that the pride of men, coupled with complacency of parishioners, has allowed this to go further than God intended.
Church is defined as “a gathering of followers of Jesus Christ”. Church is not a building. The building can best be described as a “meeting place”. Jesus’ death released the presence of God from the Holy Temple, and placed him directly in the hearts of the believers. You do not need another man as intercessor between you and God.
Jesus is described throughout the bible as the “shepherd”, and “bishop of your souls” and at no time does Jesus relinquish this duty to a man. Wolves in sheep’s clothing desiring such titles are seeking the place of Jesus, and will be unseated, and thrown into the pit in the end. Do not listen to men who take Paul’s words to nullify Jesus’ words. Do not build your house on sand, on the words of another man.
Ezekiel 34:12 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheepthatarescattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
Matthew 7 22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Matthew 12:31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemyagainstthe Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Matthew 23 13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go inyourselves,neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. 14Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
John 10 11I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. 12But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. 14I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
John 14 12Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greaterworksthan these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
John 21:16 He saith to him again the second time,Simon,sonof Jonas, lovest thou me?He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him,Feed my sheep.
Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It isChrist that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Hebrews 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
1 Peter 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
Ephesians 4 11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.