Only Jesus is Perfect

 In the Bible, I see that even great men of God were not flawless. Moses needed the advice of his father-in-law.

The great King David sinned and was exposed by the prophet Nathan.

Some Christians want to put Peter on a throne, but when Peter went wrong, he was rebuked by Paul.

After his conversion, the apostle Paul gave the impression of being faultless. But how did Paul himself evaluate his Christian life?

For in my inner being I delight in God’s law;

but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?

Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. Rom 7:22–25 NIV

Others want to worship St Mary as the Queen of Heaven. Jesus loved his mother. but Jesus had a different view.

While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him.

Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”
He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”

Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers.
For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Mt 12:46–50 NIV

If a preacher claims to always be right, don't trust him. That is prideful. If you think of your pastor or a prominent evangelist as always infallible, you're misguided.

The true disciples of the Lord learn to recognise the voice of God for themselves. They learn to think for themselves with wisdom.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. Jn 10:27–28 NIV

Christians Need Friends

 I just listened to a discussion between American women who are in ministry as pastors and leaders. They have to put up with a lot of criticism and unfair judgement from people who believe only men should be leaders and teachers. 

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Ga 3:28 NKJV 

 It is essential for them to network and encourage each other to keep going.

I reflected that most pastors and church leaders are men. They also have problems and often suffer criticism and discouragement. They also experience many personal weaknesses and failures, but these are often not exposed until they suffer severe burnout, fall into serious sin or are involved in church splits and various scandals. Sadly, this happens all too often.

Women in leadership endure opposition from people with patriarchal doctrines, and they need support, but men are theoretically supposed to be strong leaders on some kind of pedestal. If women suffer from discrimination, men suffer from absurd expectations of superior strength and wisdom.

Gender based hierarchy damages both men and women. Women who are treated as subordinates can become legalistic, critical and gossipy. Men have to keep up the appearance of superiority, which is a crippling burden to bear.

Jesus understood the importance of partnership and teamwork. He sent out his disciples two by two.

Paul planted churches everywhere he went, except for one important city, Athens. What happened in Athens? Paul was there alone, without a missionary partner or assistant. Everywhere else he travelled with Silas, Barnabas, Timothy or Luke.

If a man has to sit alone on a throne as family priest or senior pastor, he finds it difficult to confess faults or weaknesses, difficult to ask for help. 

Of course a patriarchal leader can ask or tell people to do things, like a manager assigning tasks in a business, but this is not the same as asking a partner for help to deal with his personal weaknesses or problems.

James tells Christians to confess their faults to one another. This is not the same as subordinates confessing sins to a pastor.

Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Jas 5:16 NIV

Every pastor, whether man or woman, needs good trustworthy Christian friends, people to go to for personal help and encouragement.

Every Christian needs the same kind of help. I have never been an ordained pastor. On occasions, a Christian man or woman has confided personal weaknesses or failures to me. They could not go to their pastor for fear of exposure or being suspended from their ministry.

I was able to give priestly encouragement, and I trust that helped them to deal with their problem.

We are called to be a community of priests and give priestly help to each other in a way which often does not work well in a strictly hierarchical system.

I would encourage every Christian to have trusted Christian friends who are not necessarily members of the same church.

I also believe marriages work better when husband and wife love and respect each other as equal partners with equal status and authority. This is the best way for deep trusting friendship to flourish.

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Eph 5:21 NIV

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Php 2:3 NKJV

Just leave ...

Are you one of those people who is always right?
What does the Bible say about that?

If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know.
But if anyone loves God, he is known by God. 1 Corinthians 8:2–3 ESV

Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much.
But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognises. 1 Corinthians 8:2–3 NLT

The apostle John said of Jesus, He is full of grace and truth.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 NKJV

Truth is so important. Bible knowledge is essential because the Bible is God's Word.

But if Bible knowledge is your first priority, if you think your job from God is to always correct Christians, where is your humility? Where is your Christian love?

John did not say Jesus was filled with truth and grace. He said Jesus was filled with grace and truth.

Grace and truth, not truth and grace.

What did Paul say about Christians with different opinions?

Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.
For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.
Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.

Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.
One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. Romans 14:1–5 NKJV

Perhaps you are a trained Bible teacher with impressive spiritual gifts. You have a calling as a pastor or church leader.

Be careful. Being self-righteous is not a virtue. A know all attitude does not come from God!

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:2 NKJV

Do you always know better?

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 1 Corinthians 13:9 NKJV

But maybe you're not a trained church leader, but your pastor or an elder is authoritarian and expects you to agree with everything he says. You are not obliged to always give in.

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 ESV

If the leaders in your church are domineering, if they demand unquestioning submission, if they always put you down when you express your own ideas, then just leave ...

But Paul himself could also be very sharp and dogmatic. He was especially tough on legalism and lawlessness. Some sensitive issues are important and others not so important. We need the wisdom that comes only from God.

But if you experience bullying in a church, just leave ...

Paul himself admonished Christians not to give in.

In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or pushes himself forward or slaps you in the face. 2 Corinthians 11:20 NIV84

Did Jesus Appoint Peter?

Who was the chief apostle? Who did Jesus leave in charge?

Abraham appointed Isaac; Moses appointed Joshua; Elijah appointed Elisha and David appointed Solomon but did Jesus appoint a supreme leader to take over after He returned to Heaven?

The Bible tells us about the sins and faults of the Apostles and preachers love to preach about them.

A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.

And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors.

But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. Lk 22:24-26 (ESV)

What were the Apostles disputing? Was each of the twelve claiming to be number one? I don't think so.

What most preachers fail to notice is this. Jesus had not conformed to the perfectly reasonable expectation of any group of leaders.

If Jesus had appointed a supreme leader, this discussion would be unthinkable.

Peter, James and John were obvious favourites, but Jesus had not named a number one man.

But who was the chosen one? Since Jesus had not told them, they did what any group of men would do. They tried to work it out themselves.

After Jesus returned to heaven, Peter seemed to take the lead in Acts chapters 1 to 3. Nevertheless, the writer of Acts emphasises the collective leadership of “The Apostles.”

In Acts 2, Peter preached the first sermon but the main emphasis is on the inspired and inspiring unity of all the disciples.

All this is not because of any neglect or forgetfulness of Jesus or the Father in Heaven.

In Galatians, we read how Paul visited the leaders in Jerusalem. He spoke of Peter, James and John “who seemed to be pillars.” (Gal 2:9)

Jesus declared a whole new approach to leadership in Matthew 23.

But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.

And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Mt 23:8-9 (ESV)

This is so radical, that most of us have not even begun to understand it. I have been a member of Pentecostal churches for 35 years and I have never heard any preacher explain this important text.

The mystery does not end here.

The first witness of the resurrection of Jesus Christ was not an Apostle.

It was Mary Magdalene, a woman with a sinful past and a testimony but not an ordained leader.

When she told the Apostles, they did not believe her. Then Jesus came and rebuked the men of God for not receiving her testimony!

Leadership is important but God’s idea of leadership is not always what we expect.

The founders of the first mission to the non-Jewish pagans were not Apostles, and they were not appointed or sent by the Apostles.

Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews.

But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus.

And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. Acts 11:19-21 (ESV)

These Spirit led pioneer missionaries were not ordained preachers and we don’t even know their names.

Peter emerged as the chief apostle in Jerusalem, but there was no strict hierarchy.

In the book of Acts we something new, team leadership and spontaneous initiative directed by the Holy Spirit.

What can we learn from this?

If the Holy Spirit inspires you to reach out to your neighbours, your workmates or whoever, don’t wait for a leader to give you permission.

Just do it!

For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Mt 18:20

The Women also Spoke

On the day of Pentecost, 50 days after the cross, 120 disciples of Jesus were dramatically filled with the Holy Spirit.

Peter was no longer the coward who denied Jesus. He stood up fearlessly and spoke words of power to the crowd. 

These words of power and life were the Keys to the Kingdom. They opened the door of salvation to 2000 hearers that day.

The prophetic words of Jesus were fulfilled.

"And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth when ill be loosed in heaven." Mt 16:19 NKJ
 
When God gives words of grace and truth, they are words of life to any and all who will receive them.
 
But was it only Peter who spoke God’s life giving words that day?

There were 120 disciples who spoke words from God to the crowd that day. They spoke in languages they had never learned and the hearers from many nations understood God’s message in their own languages.

Who were these 120 disciples? Where they only men who were ordained to preach?
Peter clearly dismisses this idea.

And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,  Acts 2:17 NKJ

So did the women also declare the Gospel in a public meeting?

In Acts chapter one, we have clear confirmation of Peter’s revolutionary words, although they were not Peter’s words, but the words of the Holy Spirit quoted from the prophet Joel.

These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.  Acts 1:14 NKJ
 
Yes. The women were also there. The 120 disciples included women. The women also spoke to the crowd with the authority of the Holy Spirit.

What do keys do? They lock and unlock doors.

The words of Peter and the other 119 male and female disciples unlocked the door of salvation and locked the door of condemnation for all who believed and received their message.

"And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth when ill be loosed in heaven." Mt 16:19 NKJ

Locking and unlocking is another way of saying binding and loosing.
 
Jesus gave his disciples the Keys of the Kingdom, Keys, not just one key.

Keys represent God given authority. 

Words of inspired preaching, teaching, prophesying and testimony are all keys that open the doors for God to reach people with his goodness and power.

So who has the authority to bind and loose, or to lock and unlock?

• Only Peter? Clearly no.
• Only the apostles? No.
• Only ordained preachers? No.
• Only men? No.

Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven.
Again, truly I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them." Mt 18:18-20 CSB17

Where two or three male or female disciples are together in unity and agreement, their words of faith and believing prayer can bind or loose, can lock or unlock spiritual doors.

Leaders Must Encourage Initiative

It was Easter Sunday and the large church was filled. Suddenly a man dramatically stood up, stopped breathing and collapsed. The pastors did nothing. But a young man instantly came to the rescue. He had been trained as a paramedic, and he took the initiative.

The young paramedic quickly and expertly performed the necessary first aide. Six men carried the stricken man to the back of the church. 

A doctor from the congregation came and helped the young paramedic while they waited for the ambulance.

What happened?

In an emergency, the large leadership team and staff of the church were slow to react and therefore ineffective. The real leader was the young man who simply reacted to the need at hand. He did not wait for authorisation, but he took the initiative.

This story comes from an excellent book by Max DePree. “Leadership is an Art.” The author calls the spontaneous initiative of the young paramedic “Roving Leadership”.

The church also had hierarchical leadership. 

Hierarchical leaders must encourage and make room for initiative. Roving leaders must be celebrated. In fact, many hierarchical leaders frown on initiative. They micromanage their organisations and do not allow roving leadership to function at all.

In the New Testament, we see how believers took major initiatives as they were led by the Holy Spirit. 

 

Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. 

Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus.  Acts 11:19-20 (NIV)
 

These unnamed believers took a new initiative. They made disciples of non Jews and planted the first non-Jewish church. 

 

They were not appointed by the church leaders in Jerusalem. They just did what Jesus had said and as the Holy Spirit led them.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Mt 28:19 (NIV)

This new church was planted in Antioch. When the apostles in Jerusalem heard about it, they sent Barnabas to check on the new mission.

When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. Acts 11:23 (NIV) 

Leaders need to be careful. When something new happens, check it out. Not everything new is from God. 

On the other hand, we need to be ready for surprises. If we look at the ministry of Jesus in the Gospels, we see Him healing blind men in strange ways. In one case, He makes mud by spitting in dirt and anointing the man’s eyes. In another case, He spits in the man’s eyes.

If we demand all ministry to follow conventional procedures, we will restrict the moving of the Holy Spirit.

The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." John 3:8 (NIV)

BLESSING IS SO POWERFUL

Human history did not begin with a political leader or the work of a great genius.

...God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; MALE and FEMALE he created THEM.

• And God blessed THEM...Genesis 1:27-28 (ESV) 

History began with a happy couple blessed by God. 

Human life is not all about the dominance of great men, great kings or great preachers. 

The essence of human life is friendship and partnership.

• Man and woman, husband and wife, brother and sister are called to be friends and partners with each other.

• Not only that. You and I are created to be friends and partners with God in ruling the world.

WHAT IS RULING THE WORLD? 

• BLESSING, FRUITFULNESS AND LOVING SERVICE, NOT DOMINATION OF OTHER PEOPLE.

Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply... (physically and spiritually). Genesis 1:28 (NLT)

• Jesus called them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Matthew 20:25 (NIV) 

Throughout human history, men have dominated women and stronger men have dominated weaker men. 

IS GOD AGAINST LEADERSHIP?

By no means.

• Jesus taught a completely different concept of leadership, an idea that goes right back to God’s original blessing before Adam and Eve believed the lies of the devil.

But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant... Matthew 20:26 (NLT)

Now we need to carefully consider what this means. 

• There are mothers and fathers who work like slaves for their children but in return, they demand total obedience to their own ideas. 
• The children can never discover the meaning of freedom. 

I once read the story of a middle aged man who killed himself and left a suicide note. 

He was a farmer’s son who faithfully served his father,

• but could not even buy a garden tool for the farm without his father’s permission. 

• He chose to end his life rather than continue to live as a slave.

Sadly there are government officials, business managers, teachers and even pastors who rule over people like this. 

• They work harder than those under them and in return, they demand complete control over everything and everybody.

What does the Bible say?

We must not rebel and start a fight against a bullying leader. The Bible tells us to respect authority. 

• But does that mean we must remain unquestioning slaves?

David served King Saul, even when Saul came under the control of dark spirits but there came a time when David had to claim his freedom.

• When Saul tried to kill David, the young man fled for his life. 

When a leader imprisons you with control, you have God’s permission to leave. 

• Some people leave too quickly but others stay too long.

The Apostle Paul told the Christians in Galatia not to submit to self appointed church leaders who wanted to control them with man made rules.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1 (NKJV)

After Paul planted a church in Corinth, bossy preachers came in and took over.

• How did Paul tell the Christians to respond? DON’T SUBMIT TO THEM!

After all, you think you are so wise, but you enjoy putting up with fools!

• You put up with it when someone enslaves you, 
• takes everything you have, takes advantage of you, 
• takes control of everything, and slaps you in the face. 2 Corinthians 11:19-20 (NLT)  

Paul has one word to describe bossy and controlling church leaders: FOOLS.

Bossy leaders can only control your life if you allow them to.

You must resist bossy leadership but be careful how you react.

• Don’t start a fight ... 
• ...but also don't run from necessary confrontation.
• Don’t set up your own ministry with a vengeful or competitive attitude 
• ... but don't bury your gift if you are called to pioneer a new ministry.

Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Romans 12:14 (NLT) 

Blessing is not weak. It has the power of God’s original creation.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV) 

WHERE DID WE GO WRONG?

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

If you have been a church goer, you will be familiar with these words of Jesus. 

You have probably heard a minister, a pastor or priest preaching from this text. It is often used as an appeal for people to put their faith in Jesus and commit their lives to God.

The tragic reality is that it is often the preacher who is most in need of this text himself. 

Do a Google search for “pastors burnout rate” and you will find the horrible facts. 

• Why are huge numbers of pastors underpaid, neglected, mistreated and abused by professing Christian church members? 

• Why do some pastors overreact by becoming religious dictators and spiritual control freaks? 

• Why are so many pastors leaving the ministry? 

• Why do so many preachers’ children give up Christian faith? 

• Why do we so often hear of Catholic priests who abuse children?

The sad reality is that for close to 1700 years, Christians have fallen into a very damaging form of idolatry. 

Priests and preachers have been elevated to a position which rightfully belongs only to Jesus.

Does this mean we should no longer have any full time preachers or church leaders? 

I am not suggesting that. There were some full time preachers in the New Testament and God blessed them.

However, the enormous superhuman expectations we place on full time preachers are quite wrong.

In New Testament times, the apostles and some other preachers led the church but much of the work of ministry was done by the so called ordinary believers.

• So many Catholic priests are destroyed by the false expectations of celibacy and unlimited duty of service. 

• So many sincere Christians are crushed by the unbiblical expectation that they should unconditionally obey human church leaders. 

• So many pastors are destroyed by being expected to know everything, do everything and control everybody and everything.

I am not suggesting that we completely walk away from every known form of church organisation. Christian groups which do that often become exclusive religious cults which destroy people even more effectively than unhealthy traditional churches.

It is time for Christians everywhere to rise up and be what the Bible says we are, a brotherhood of priests and spiritual kings, respecting genuine full time preachers and working with them to extend the Kingdom of God.

"'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Acts 2:17 (NIV) 

Inspired spiritual ministry is the calling of all believers.We must not unconditionally submit to any man on earth.

"But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Matthew 23:8-9 (NIV) 

On the other hand, we have no right to treat a pastor as an easy target to be exploited or bullied.

The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honour, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 1 Timothy 5:17 (NIV) 

The context shows that double honour does not mean unconditional obedience and submission to a separate and superior class of priests. 

The true meaning is that we owe respect, appreciation and generous financial support to genuine and gifted preachers who serve well.

Elders who do their work well should be respected and paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. 1 Timothy 5:17 (NLT) 

So what is the answer? We are all like sheep who need a shepherd. 
Are you frustrated with routine prayer and bible study?

Have you ever gone for a quiet walk in the park and expected God to speak to your heart? Why not start today?

DOING GREAT THINGS HUMBLY

When you step out in faith and act boldly with and for Jesus, you get bigger, not smaller. It is no longer you alone who is bigger but you and Jesus together who rise to the occasion.

Jesus said, without me you can do nothing but with God all things are possible.. 

• Notice not “All things are possible for God” which means God can do anything.. but “All things are possible with God."

  • That means you with God and God with you. God is looking for partners and co-workers.

This message was inspired by the following note pasted by Pastor Jeff Mills on Facebook.

"Wow! We never stop learning do we? I was reading a book today and the author said that many Christians take John the Baptist's prayer as a model, "He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30. 

He goes on to say that this is actually not a legal prayer for us. John was closing out a season as the greatest OT prophet. He was passing the baton on to Jesus who would initiate the existence of the Kingdom of God on earth. 

The focus was shifting from John and the Law, to Jesus and the Kingdom. John had to decrease. Jesus had to increase. 

But when Jesus left the earth He didn't say we were to decrease. 

Instead He passed the same baton on to us with His name, power, and authority and commissioned us to continue in what He started. "As the Father has sent me, I also send you" John 20:21. What is needed is not less of us and more of Him. What is needed is all of us covered and filled by all of Him. "      

True humility does not require you to hide yourself or to castrate your unique God given personality.

You and I are called to be ambassadors for Christ, to represent Jesus and His Kingdom on Earth.

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 2Co 5:20 (NKJV) 

An Ambassador must be humble, so that he does not promote his own interests or opinions but rather the interests of his country. 

• However, an Ambassador must exercise high authority in order to represent his President or King.

Is Paul here only speaking of himself as an Apostle and of his companions who are senior pastors and evangelists? He does not say so.

Just before He returned to His Father in Heaven, Jesus authorised all believers to exercise the full authority of heaven on earth.

Mk 16:17 (NIV)  And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."

In obeying this command, there are some extremes we must avoid.

I must not promote my own miracle ministry in a way that draws honour to myself.

• I must act boldly in miracle faith and not hide my light but at the same time giving all the glory to Jesus and also honouring other believers and their ministries.

I must also follow the example of Randy Clark, an American pastor. 

God started to use him powerfully through the word of knowledge and miraculous healings. 

• However, when some of his church members started to be used in even more dramatic ways, he felt intimidated. 
• Then his wife correctly pointed out it was better for him not to be the number one star all the time. 
• He humbly accepted his wife’s counsel and publicly confessed his error and testified how his wife had corrected him.

God wants to give us great gifts so we can honour Him, bless others and also raise up others to do even greater things through the grace of God.

• When you help God to raise up others, you must also not expect God will give them exactly the same kind of gift and ministry that He has given you. 

  • Many leaders go wrong in that they try to teach their disciples to be like themselves.

Ro 12:10 (NKJV)  Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honour giving preference to one another.

Jesus sent them out Two by Two.

In the OT, the focus was on The Man of God. In the OT, the Man Of God spoke to the nation of Israel and often had a disciple: Moses and Joshua, Elijah and Elisha. 

In the NT the focus shifted to The Son of God. The Son of God did not have one disciple but a Team of disciples who became a Team of Leaders. Jesus did not raise up His leaders one by one but sent them out Two By Two.

Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my father in heaven, 

for where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” Matthew 18:19-20 (ESV)  

Why have we Pentecostals gone back to OT thinking by looking up to this or that Man of God but neglecting the principle of Teams of Disciples? 

Why do we put anointed preachers and pastors on a pedestal but we do not do what Jesus taught and did? He sent them out two by two, not only the 12 but also the 70.

At the Last Supper we see Jesus preparing His chosen team of leaders for His departure at the cross. They argue about who would be “the greatest.” 

Clearly they were confused because Jesus had not appointed One Supreme Leader who would take over after the Son of God returned to Heaven. 

Jesus never did because Jesus pioneered a new model of leadership which most of us have still not understood very well.

But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.  

And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Matthew 23:8-9 (ESV) 

Then in Acts we see Peter emerging as the front man but not like Moses in the OT. Peter was the first among equals, the leader of a team of leaders. 

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Acts 2:1 (NKJV) 

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:4 (NKJV) 

Paul is often seen as the supreme stand-alone Man of God like the OT heroes but this is a dangerous half truth.

Paul travelled from town to town and planted churches wherever he went but in one major city he only won a few individual converts. 

What was different about Athens? 

Paul went to Athens alone. Everywhere else Paul had at least one travelling companion and spiritual partner according to the spiritual principle of the Two by Two.

Why do so many pastors leave the ministry? Why do so many newly planted churches only last for a limited time? 

We have based our churches on a wrong understanding of the Bible, the Old Testament idea of one man leadership. 

Pastors have been taught in Bible college not to make friends with members of the congregation, to be like the lonely captain of a ship, accountable only to God and not to his brothers and sisters, except fellow pastors, who are wrongly understood to be a separate and higher class of Christians. 

So many pastors crack and burn out under this unreasonable burden, never designed by God.

In Acts 3, we see how a crippled beggar was healed at the gate of the Temple.

Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.  

And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at US.”  

And he fixed his attention on THEM, expecting to receive something from THEM. Acts 3:3-5 (ESV) 

If a fellow believer asks you if you have a pastor and you don’t have one, they think you are in rebellion. 

However, no one asks if you have a prayer partner or a spiritual co-worker. How have we developed this unbalanced understanding?

But God is doing a new thing. 

There are more and more husband and wife teams prominent in ministry. 

Youth With a Mission is the world’s largest missionary organisation and they emphasise team ministry.