Accountability

Quite often I am asked questions about covering and accountability. The word covering does not appear in scripture in connection with accountability, however it generally describes a position of being under authority and accountable to an authority. Many have had bad experiences with covering or oversight in the church. The extreme positions of the discipleship movement in the 70s caused a backlash which in itself went to extreme positions of resistance towards any form of oversight. Many insecure pastors used the doctrine of the covering as an excuse to try and keep their congregation in subjection to them.

Kingdom Structure

As the church begins to make the shift to building the Kingdom of God we need to understand that Kingdoms have structure. The whole of heaven is ruled by various levels of oversight. The Angelic world is ruled by structure and accountability. In the Kingdom of God there are Generals and Captains as well as Privates, this all indicates structure and accountability.  The scriptures are clear in our responsibility to those who have spiritual oversight over us.

Hebrews 13:7	Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
17	Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you..

God hates Lawlessness

Lawless is a mark of the spirit of antichrist and has caused much grief, heartache, and destruction in the history of the church. The idea that some have moved on into kingdom living and don’t need to be accountable to anyone other than to God are greatly deceived and open to frightening deception. The scriptures declare that if there is no shepherd the sheep will be scattered.

Zechariah 13:7

Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.

The church is a picture of the Kingdom of God and has structure with accountability.

The Five-Fold ministries along with Elders, are part of the overseeing structure of the church. If you belong to a church you need to be submitted to those in authority in that church usually the Pastor and the Pastor needs to be accountable in a relationship way to one of the five ministry gifts. Isolation is very dangerous and leads to deception.  Our allegiance is to God and His Word; however that does not mean that we should not be accountable to others who have oversight over us. Where there is an issue between a Pastor or a leader and one of his flock the person should seek guidance and counsel from a mature leader who has a proven track record in ministry and integrity. Now I realize that for various reasons some may not be able to be part of a local church and not able to meet together with Gods people, however these are the acceptation to the norm. Learning to be submitted to earthly authority is part of our kingdom training, learning to work under authority is vital for the maturing process which God puts us all through.

Finally

When a person reaches a place where they are no longer teachable, pride will overpower them leading to destruction.  Both King David and Moses were great leaders but their lives displayed great meekness

David said:

Psalms 18:35

Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.

Of Moses it is said:

Numbers 12:3

Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.

Jesus said:

Matthew 11:29

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

We are in training to rule in the coming thousand year reign of Jesus in this earth, and it is said: 

Matthew 5:5

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessings
Neville Johnson.  September 30, 2008