It’s the leader’s (i.e., pastor’s) responsibility to give God an account of the people he/she has been given to … to watch over them because they watch for their souls.
- (Ezekiel 3:20-21) Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.
- (Ezekiel 33:8-9) When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
- (Hebrews 13:17) 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.
Unauthorized leaders do not AND cannot watch over the souls of the congregation because God did not require them to do so since He never appointed them to the position; but they hurry to take upon themselves the responsibilities of the prophetic office (i.e., the office of an inspired speaker, that is, the office of pastor and leadership). They are inspired to speak but not from God … they are inspired by another source. It is extremely dangerous, deadly, and suicidal.
They are false pastors and leaders who take upon themselves the position without knowing AND submitting to the responsible sufferings required….
Here are a very few sufferings of God’s leaders:
- given a thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7);
- enduring offscouring treatments (1 Corinthians 4:13);
- perils among false brethren (2 Corinthians 11:26);
- prisoner of the Lord (2 Timothy 1:8);
- necessity to preach the gospel (1 Corinthians 9:16);
- weary with forbearing (Jeremiah 20:9);
- hear the word at God’s mouth, only (Ezekiel 3:17);
- blood on hands until the people are warned of what God said (Ezekiel 3:17);
- endure all things for the elect’s sake…some might obtain salvation (2 Timothy 2:10);
- made all things to all men…might by all means save some (1 Corinthians 9:22);
- etc.
False leaders have no clue of what is truly required by God Himself of His appointed leadership.
God’s leaders do not live nor lead glamorous lives — but they learn to know Jesus in the fellowship of His sufferings (Philippians 3:10) and to live out their days enduring all things for the elect’s sake …and… for all men so that they might by all means save some (i.e., by all means rescue some from danger, destruction, or eternal judgment) — (1 Corinthians 9:20-22; 2 Timothy 2:10).
Tell me now, do you know of such leadership in your congregation? If so, AMEN! … and by all means pray (or continue to pray) for them; remember them (for they watch over you); follow their faith — and know the end of their conversation (Hebrews 13:7).
Remember also that, they speak the word of God to you because it is required of them; it is an indicator that the blood is on their hands until they have spoken to you what God said so that you may be presented perfect in Christ Jesus …and… escape eternal judgment.
But, you must obey those whom God gave to rule over you. What you are responsible to know is if God is in them of a truth according to scripture. If you don’t know what the scripture says about the leadership in the ministry you attend, you may be in grave danger (and fair game for the wicked one with all his devices to get the advantage over you). If that is the case, then ask God to give you wisdom concerning the truth; He will give it to you liberally and will not upbraideth you (that is, He will not defame or rail you) because you asked for wisdom of the truth (James 1:5). Your soul may be at risk of eternal judgment. Seek the Lord for truth! If you humbly submit to Him — He may help you escape the bondage of false leadership — if that is the place you regularly go to worship.
On an additional note, if the leadership at the ministry you support live glamorously, that is, lead attractive, exciting, charismatic lives with all the trimming (characteristics of presumptuous living)—there is no blood on their hands—their pride makes God’s word of none effect—they cannot preach, warn, nor teach you in any wisdom to present you perfect in Christ Jesus. He has not commanded them to speak due to their pride … and they are resisted by Him. You are in BIG trouble! Why? They are leading you in a direction away from the path God established, so that you may be with Him in His kingdom, forever.
Let us look at a few warnings:
- (Proverbs 14:7) Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.
- (Romans 16:17-18) Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
- (2 Peter 2:1-2) But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
Does your pastor and leadership warn you about these types of persons in God’s pulpit? If so, walk obediently. If not, get out of there while you have the chance to escape; seek the Lord; repent and believe the truth. He can guide you to the pastor He created and formed for you so that you may live the rest of your time in the flesh not to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
Know of a truth who is in God’s pulpit at the ministry you attend, especially if it is a ministry He called to exist and operate to warn, preach, and teach in all wisdom so that they may present you perfect in Christ Jesus. Moreover, they must be a ministry which speak unto edification, exhortation, and comfort.
It is God’s responsibility to guide us into ALL truth if we believeth on Him to do so. We MUST believe on Him so that He can do His work in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure!
Side note: the “eth” at the end of a word, e.g., “believeth” denotes continuous action without any breaks.
It is His will that all men be saved and come into the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). But, we must believeth on Him, continue in His word to be His disciples indeed. And upon knowing the truth — He will make us free! (John 8:31-32).
Look at what else Jesus said in John 3:18-20, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.”
Where do you stand? Does your pastor speak the word of God to the congregation until the blood is off his/her hands? God will let you know if the blood is really there (or not), of a surety! It will be seen and realized by whether the pastor has their ear at God’s mouth to give the people warning from Him. Trust the Lord above all others, and, submit to Him to guide you into all truth.
Remember, He shed His own blood (died, was buried, and was risen from the dead with all power) so that we might be cleansed from all unrighteousness and sin—for without the shedding of blood there can be no remission of sins (Hebrews 9:22); He redeemed us from all iniquity; He purified (and is purifying) us unto Himself; He commands us to live holy because He is holy; He commands us to be perfect because He is perfect; and He desires for us (His precious jewels) to be with Him in His kingdom forever.
—Be advised