Are You Ready to Return

to the Covenant Relationship?

from the book YHWH Is Calling

Elders of Christian congregations, you are now facing perhaps the most difficult trial of your career—to place God’s Word above human wisdom and reasoning, while also potentially contending with additional challenges brought on by human-created bureaucracy. What will happen in a situation where Spirit-filled leaders of a congregation are willing to follow God’s call, but the decisions on doctrinal matters are being made by lay members who may not yet be partakers of the Holy Spirit or the skill of spiritual discernment?

I certainly do not raise the previous concern to underestimate the spiritual capital of lay members. In fact, I am even more concerned about the situation that, according to reports, has already become a reality in some congregations. If the highest spiritual leadership of a congregation does not operate under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, then the principles of lay members, even if based only on traditions, may be the congregation’s only hope for maintaining the proclamation of the Truth according to the Word, even in its current state. Therefore, there seems to be no straightforward path for responding to the call in congregations where doctrinal matters are not solely in the hands of the spiritual leadership.

The previous examples are written to encourage both the elders and lay members in decision-making roles to seriously reflect on their relationship with the Lord and to listen closely to those who, in the Holy Spirit, test the message. We are in an era when decisions can no longer be made under the influence of spiritual realms that mock the Holy Spirit. This is a time when we can no longer choose preaching feel-good messages—what people and market forces desire—over the revelation of God’s holy Word. While such a strategy may seem appealing and ideal for growing congregations in the world of earthly market forces, in this new age, it would be a short-sighted and fatal misstep. The Lord will no longer permit steps further away from the Truth without executing the pruning-hook judgment over that congregation. Remember, the Lord never sends warnings to frighten but as loving guidance and instruction to choose the right path.

As elders, according to the Word, you are responsible for the souls of your congregation. As part of the Good News, I do not wish to quote the solemn verses from the Word that address the elders' duty to remain in the teaching of God's will as revealed in His Word. Harsh judgments are pronounced in the Old Testament for those who preach apostasy, and the New Testament only strengthens this line of God’s judgment. Our Lord is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.

The task ahead is indeed challenging, but the reward for obedience will be great. And the matter at hand is nothing less than the life and death of many people.

Before I go over the concrete instructions from the Lord regarding how to respond to His call, I want to ensure a sufficient understanding of how God’s pre-written history connects to the current situation. I write the following because I know that the church history influencing the formation of many different congregations may not necessarily address the matter from the perspective of the Word written by our Lord.

************************************************************************************

Scriptures taken from the New King James Version:

************************************************************************************

Back to the Blog & Table of the Contents —>