Mortify the Arm of the Flesh - Part 6
Ministries- Stage strutting and Went ones
by Brett Jacobsen
This says the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm [zerowa- strength], and whose heart departs from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good comes; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusts in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreads out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat comes, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. (Jer 17:5-8)
With all the biblically unsound practices in the church comes many and varied forms of fleshly human reliance.
It is almost understandable that many who have been brought up in church constructs have strayed from pure trust in the Lord. It is far more incomprehensible that many modern leaders are relishing in God’s limelight and gallivanting around building THEIR ministries.
We’ve already identified the extra-biblical nature of leadership offices in the church. Now we will examine two of the carnal fruits of leadership that are born of man’s initiative and rests in human assurance.
1. The continued Dark Age structures of church and leadership have hung-on to pagan pulpits and platonic platforms. This has repeatedly taken humble leaders and pushed them into God’s limelight, causing much of God’s due glory to filter through them. This is way too idolatrous for the Lord to turn a blind eye to.
Some of these church leaders have become like the Greek communicators of old who dazzled their audience “with excellency of speech” and “enticing words of man’s wisdom” (1 Cor 2:1, 4). Of course we ought not do this “lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect” (1 Cor 1:17).
There are others who don’t go to the extremes of stage strutting. However, they still occupy the platform, lingering in God’s limelight… albeit some do attempt humility.
This is a form of idolatry that we’ve become so accustomed to that many would never consider that it may be them doing it… or their Pastor.
It is clear from New Testament scripture that when the saints come together there should not be a stage or podium, nor should one be given a place of pre-eminence. Yes teachers and equippers should teach, but it should be in a setting which is life like and open for anyone to input as the Spirit gives utterance and unction.
It’s not just the platform placed preachers fault. The awestruck audience have allowed and even caused this error by their support of it. Not to mention their love of the pleasant passivity of being tickled off to sleep while watching others perform spirituality.
2. Another rotten fruit of Christendom’s carnal clergy is that we have produced went ones far more than sent ones.
On the one hand we have ones who are truly called as Ephesians Four equippers who are locked into the cast of Senior Pastor/Bishop. Rather than having a plurality of elders “among” the local community of believers, allowing all to function in their gifts, man has positioned head leaders above the saints (1 Pet 5:1).
On the other equally erroneous hand, we have created a form of itinerate minister who goes about his/her merry way from stage to stage, from honorarium to honorarium. Obtaining their income from their audience creates a conflict of interests which ought not be. Quite simply- preach the right message and you’ll get more invitations and better offerings.
New Testament Christianity had both local and sent-out equipping ministers. Whether they stayed or went, they were sent.
These ministers (servants) were supported by the local Christ community for the equipping they did either at home or abroad. They would convey the Word of the Lord uncompromisingly to whomever they were sent… regardless of offerings.
So we have many local leaders who are not residing in God’s commission for their life but rather in man’s mould of leadership. We also have a great deal of ear ticklers who either live like rich young rulers or paupers depending on what message they bring.
And so again, the answer to this mess is true New Testament community and leadership. This will rid us of stage-strutting and limelight lingering as we all gather around the Lord and allow Him to manifest through whoever He pleases. We replace the pulpit for a coffee table and the stage and pews for couches. We rob man of God’s glory.
We will have real equippers who are elders (presbuteros- spiritually mature) moving around the local community teaching and equipping in every day life settings (like homes), mostly in a dialogue format. When they go they are sent out by God and the local Christ community, both prayerfully and financially.
It is high time we agreed with the prophetic season the Lord has upon us and move with Him into a fuller reformed expression of the Kingdom of God. Without this drastic measure we will surely have what we have now - corrupted Christendom which “trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm [strength]” and too many hearts will depart from the Lord.
For more reading on New Testament leadership and community as well as other reformational insights, see the author’s book Heaven’s Underground Blueprint here- http://www.christisall.org/hub-book for a copy or a free PDF version.
To view an article on the stage strutting and glory imbibing of limelight lingerers go here- http://www.christisall.org/2006/09/27/unseen-in-the-scene-of-men-by-brett-jacobsen/
Chapter six of Heaven’s Underground Blueprint is a teaching on biblical leadership instead of man’s traditions. You can read the chapter called Heaven’s Underground Leadership Blueprint here:
Part 1- www.christisall.org/2006/05/10/heavens-underground-leadership-blueprint-pt-1-of-5-by-brett-jacobsen/
Part 2- www.christisall.org/2006/05/16/heavens-underground-leadership-blueprint-pt-2-of-5-by-brett-jacobsen/
Part 3- www.christisall.org/2006/05/19/heavens-underground-leadership-blueprint-pt-3-of-5-by-brett-jacobsen/
Part 4- www.christisall.org/2006/05/24/heavens-underground-leadership-blueprint-pt-4-of-5-by-brett-jacobsen/
Part 5- www.christisall.org/2006/05/27/heavens-underground-leadership-blueprint-pt-5-of-5-by-brett-jacobsen/
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June 23rd, 2008 at 4:08 pm
I agree that man should not look at man, but in this article are we crossing the line of discernment into judgment? Instead of pointing out all the faults of others perhaps we should come with a heart of love, and interceed for these ones.
God honors the humble and the meek and He looks at the heart. I believe that if someone is in a so called ‘hollywood’ church yet with a heart of humility and steadfastness before the Lord they are in more favor than one who is so called ‘doing church the right way’ yet with a heart of pride.
We should be the ones with this revelation leading the way in servanthood and love. I mean this as a challenge to all of us, we all need more of His love, and I say this to myself first.
June 24th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Response to Mandy,
I’m not sure you do “agree that man should not look at man” or you would also be moved by the Spirit to resist humanistic “church” practices.
Have I crossed the line into judgment? I don’t think so. Have I mentioned specific individuals? No. Is it my duty as a prophetic teacher to pin-point certain idolatries and waywardness in the body? Absolutly! It is all of our responsibility to scrutinize the practices in the church as Paul says- “But he that is spiritual judgeth [anakrino- scrutinize]all things, yet he himself is judged of no man” (1 Cor 2:15).
You talk of someone with a “heart of humility” in a “so called hollywood church” as if I said contrary. (I’m not just reffering to hollywood churches by the way). I have always maintained that there are many fine people who love Jesus who are in all sorts of wayward church expressions. I even said it in this article - “humble leaders … pushed … into God’s limelight”.
Mandy, we are not talking here of the brothers simply judging one another. We are speaking of biblical teaching and prophetic rebuke. This is not against a person, but is against a system of church which is not biblically based.
Also, according to your judgment of the matter (which you’re entitled to) Jesus would not have a heart of love, because He ministered similarly. Or what about John the Baptist, all the OT prophets, Stephen, Paul and the other apostles? They all brought biblical instruction and prophetic rebuke, especially to leaders.
I don’t see how you relate this article to petty judging amongst the saints. I wrote it as I wrote Heaven’s Underground Blueprint and my other articles- with a heart after God, moved by His Spirit to challenge those in the body (especially leaders who should know better) to move away from fleshly reliance to Spirit led living. I care/love enough to be a part of the answer rather than sit back and make excuses for Dark Age practices in God’s church.
Grace and peace,
Bretto
June 25th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
I do agree that man should not follow man, Bretto I would rather fight the good fight though not against flesh, but fight from the inside out.
All I am saying is that perhaps if you clarified a little in your articles on God’s jelousy and love for His people that He does not want them to go there own way but to rely on Him, then we would get a clearer outlook that my consience would agree with.
Maybe an article on His jelous burning love for the human race would win leaders over then just pointing out the negative.
Bless you my brother and my friend.
June 26th, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Mandy,
It is strange that you suggest that I fight against flesh. In what capacity does teaching biblical truth from a genuine heart of love constitute fighting the flesh.
It’s Paul who said that we don’t fight against flesh and blood. He also said - “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” (2 Cor 10:4-5)
We are to teach biblical truth and surround it with prayer. That’s what casts down “imaginations [logismos- reasonings] and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God [false teaching and the likes]” that’s how we bring “into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ”.
I do my best to hear the Holy Spirit and write articles from His heart to His people. The love of God is central to the message I teach. John told us that God is Love. That means that all aspects of His character and person are Love. I don’t have to always teach specifically on the SUBJECT of the Love of God to be teaching Love. That would be imbalanced and unprofitable. I wouldn’t want to be caught carousing with many modern prophets who cry peace when the Lord has a word of repntance, like in Micah’s time:
“This says the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that puts not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him. 6 Therefore night shall be to you, that you shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that you shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them. 7 Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yes, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.” (Mic 3:5-7)
I don’t imagine that you would want me to teach on the subject of love to please any man if the Lord has a message of repentance and reformation on His heart would you? If I cry peace when the opposite is true then their blood is on my head (see Ezekiel’s watchtower prophecy).
I’ll leave you with this scripture from Hebrews and an encouragement to stand, watch and pray in accordance with the heart and actions of the Lord for this season and not get hoodwinked by an off balanced version of God’s Love. Blessings to you,
“And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to children, My son, despise not you the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives. 7 If you endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not? 8 But if you be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are you bastards, and not sons.” (Heb 12:5-8)
PS. I am equally challenged and rebuked by any word/teaching the Lord gives to/through me. For instance: all the teaching on NT community rather than Dark Age structures and Papal leadership; I have had to change drastically oer the last season as the Lord has called me to repent and reform.
Peace…
July 3rd, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Thankyou for clarifying that. I think I just needed to hear you say what you just said in your last comment so that I felt at peace with all this.
Bless you