There is no Authority in the Church unless it is given by God through the Holy Spirit. No man is in charge of the Church, no organization or denomination is over the Church. Jesus Christ alone is over the house of God – the Church of the living God.
God sets, appoints and ordains leaders in the Church. This means that you and I have no choice as to the race, nationality, color or ethnicity of our leaders. This is why some people desire a man to be in absolute control of church government. They quake in fear of the prospect of God’s Holy Spirit speaking to them and guiding them in every aspect of their lives. Because If a man has rule in the church he or she rules and makes decisions that govern the way the church expresses itself in the earth.
The people are afraid of God’s holy presence – the righteous authority of God, they do not want a God consciousness because their hearts are not pure – they are still carnally minded.
“For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,
And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:
(For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
For our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:18–29 KJV)
“Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.”
And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.” So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was.” (Exodus 20:18-21 NKJV)
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2Timothy 4:2-4 KJV)
Some people reject the notion that God would have a person of a race other than their own race rule over them. Some so-called white people refuse to worship in a so-called black church and some so-called black people refuse to accept that God would set a so-called white pastor over them.
This is indeed the true reason for the establishment of man made denominations and religious institutions that govern and rule over the people of God.
“… they also pour contempt on those whom God has set in authority over them and requires them to honour.” (Matthew Henry)
I am writing this simply to say that men are bent on not receiving the Holy Spirit, through whom God has chosen to speak to us in these last days.
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:12-16 KJV)
ORIGIN OF DENOMINATIONALISM
First recorded in 1850–55; denominational + -ism
DEFINITION FOR DENOMINATIONALISM (1 OF 1)
noun
- denominational or sectarian spirit or policy; the tendency to divide into denominations or sects.
BRITISH DICTIONARY DEFINITIONS FOR DENOMINATIONALISM
DEFINITION FOR DENOMINATIONALISM (1 OF 1)
noun
- adherence to particular principles, esp to the tenets of a religious denomination; sectarianism
- the tendency to divide or cause to divide into sects or denominations
- division into denominations
Preeminence: G4409 (Strong)
πρωτεύω
prōteuō
prote-yoo’-o
From G4413; to be first (in rank or influence): – have the preeminence.
Divisions in the Church
“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? (See Partiality: 3 Signs of Carnality)
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.
According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:1 -11 KJV)
JESUS IS THE PREEMINENT ONE
“Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,
Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.” (Numbers 27:16-17).
JESUS CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH
“For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.” (Ephesians 5:23-24).
“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,
Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 12:20-21 KJV).
Jesus Christ is the head, sovereign authority and the preeminent one in the Church.
“And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:18 KJV).
OPPOSITION TO TRUE AUTHORITY
“The pastor is not at absolute liberty, nor lord over God’s heritage. It is bad to do no good ourselves; but it is worse to hinder those who would. Church-power and church-censures are often abused. Many are cast out of the church who should be received there with satisfaction and welcome. But woe to those who cast out the brethren whom the Lord Christ will take into his own communion and kingdom!” (Matthew Henry)
“Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;
Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:
Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.
We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.
I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.
Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.” (3 John 1:5-10 KJV)
GOD SET JESUS OVER THE CONGREGATION!
“Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,
Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.” (Numbers 27:16-17).
JESUS THAT GREAT SHEPHERD IS GREATER THAN MOSES
“Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.
For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house.
For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;
But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” (Hebrews 3:1-6 KJV)
“And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” (Matthew 9:35-38 KJV).
DEFINITION FOR SOVEREIGN (1 OF 1)
noun
- a monarch; a king, queen, or other supreme ruler.
- a person who has supreme power or authority.
- a group or body of persons or a state having sovereign authority.
- a gold coin of the United Kingdom, equal to one pound sterling: went out of circulation after 1914.
adjective
- belonging to or characteristic of a sovereign or sovereign authority; royal.
- having supreme rank, power, or authority.
- supreme; preeminent; indisputable: a sovereign right.
- greatest in degree; utmost or extreme.
- being above all others in character, importance, excellence, etc.
- efficacious; potent: a sovereign remedy.
ORIGIN OF SOVEREIGN
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English soverain, altered by influence of reign, from Old French soverain, from Vulgar Latin superānus (unrecorded), equivalent to Latin super- super- + -ānus -an
OTHER WORDS FROM SOVEREIGN
sov·er·eign·ly, adverb
non·sov·er·eign, noun, adjective
non·sov·er·eign·ly, adverb
qua·si-sov·er·eign, adjective
sub·sov·er·eign, noun, adjective
su·per·sov·er·eign, adjective, noun
un·der·sov·er·eign, noun
un·sov·er·eign, adjective
BRITISH DICTIONARY DEFINITIONS FOR SOVEREIGN
DEFINITION FOR SOVEREIGN (1 OF 1)
noun
- a person exercising supreme authority, esp a monarch
- a former British gold coin worth one pound sterling
adjective
- supreme in rank or authority
a sovereign lord - excellent or outstanding
a sovereign remedy - of, relating to, or characteristic of a sovereign
- independent of outside authority
a sovereign state
ORIGIN OF SOVEREIGN
C13: from Old French soverain, from Vulgar Latin superānus (unattested), from Latin super above; also influenced by reign.
NEITHER CHOSE I ANY MAN TO BE A RULER OVER MY PEOPLE ISRAEL
“And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who hath with his hands fulfilled that which he spake with his mouth to my father David, saying,
Since the day that I brought forth my people out of the land of Egypt I chose no city among all the tribes of Israel to build an house in, that my name might be there; neither chose I any man to be a ruler over my people Israel:
But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.” (2 Chronicles 6:4-6 KJV)
JESUS, THE SON OF DAVID AND THE SON OF GOD
“And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.
He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.
I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men:
But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee.
And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.” (2 Samuel 7:12–14 KJV)
HE THAT RECEIVES JESUS
“He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward.” (Matthew 10:40-41 KJV)
“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:
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
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.” (Ephesians 4:11-16 KJV)
Jamie Thompson 
One Reply to “”