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.
Shepherd the Flock of God
“The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
“Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
“And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1Peter 5:1-7)
“For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:
“If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
“For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;
“But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;
“Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.” (Titus 1:5-9 KJV)
“(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
“He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
“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 4:9-16 KJV)
“But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:25-28 KJV)
“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.” (Hebrews 13:7 KJV)
A cult of personality in the Church
A cult of personality in the Christian church refers to a situation where a man is given preeminence, he becomes fond of being first, that is, ambitious of distinction: idolized and elevated above accountability, often using manipulative techniques to control believers.
“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 KJV).
Jesus Christ is recognized as the head of the church, which signifies His supreme authority and leadership. This means that He governs the church and provides it with direction and purpose. The church is described as His body, indicating a deep connection where all members derive their life and strength from Him.
“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).
“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 1:9-10 kJV).
A leader in the body of Christ must be a servant of the body. He is not a preeminent person in a position of leadership, that is he is not to be served or admired as one who is above, but he is to be respected as one who serves the body of Christ.
He is not a lord over, but a servant to the Church.
“The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” (1 Peter 5:1-44 KJV).
First Corinthians chapter three is necessary reading – no man is to be exalted by man, God promotes. Leaders become leaders by the grace of God, no one appoints leaders but God.
“He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
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 4:10-16 KJV).
God will use men to appoint men to positions of leadership, however it is God who chooses those men who are appointed. If a man is striving to attain a place and position of prominence in the body of Christ it is a sign that God has not ordained him to that position. (See Mt 23:11, Mk 9:34, Lu 9:47, Lu 22:24-27).
“Across the world, many of God’s elect are quietly leaving churches. Not because they are rebellious, but because they cannot pretend the loss of God’s fear is no big deal. They would rather sit in silence than celebrate what grieves the Holy Spirit.
They know that without the fear of God, the church has no power, no purity, and no prophetic voice.
And so, they seek places, no matter how small, where God is still treated as holy.
Because to them that fear is not a burden. It is the very beginning of wisdom, worship, and life.
So what’s the real reason God’s elect don’t fit in church anymore? Because much of the modern church no longer fits with God. It has drifted. It has compromised.
And when the light collides with darkness, even within the walls of the church, division occurs. But take heart, faithful remnant. You’re not crazy. You’re not alone and you’re not backsliding.
You’re being called out not to abandon the body, but to stand firm in the word. Cling to Christ.
Noah didn’t fit in. Elijah didn’t fit in. Paul didn’t fit in. And neither did Jesus. The elect never truly fit in with the crowd because they were chosen to follow the narrow road.”
(The Real Reason Gods Elect Dont Fit In Church Anymore | Voddie Baucham Bible Lessons | Youtube Video).
“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.” (Micah 5:2 NIV).