SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY II

We continue our lesson on spiritual authority with more in-depth focus on loyalty and disloyalty. What does it mean to be loyal? What does a loyal person do? To whom must you be loyal and more.

Loyalty & Disloyalty What is Loyalty:

The word Loyalty means a number of things such as being faithful, trustworthy, dependable, committed, having an unwavering allegiance, being truthful, dedicated, constant and reliable. Being trustworthy and reliable also means, we are as good as our word.

Examples of loyal people in the Bible

“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 KJV

“Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: But a faithful man who can find?”Proverbs 20:6 KJV

God looks for Faithful and Loyal people; those whose hearts are perfect or loyal. Daniel and his three friends were good examples and very loyal when they were in Babylonian captivity. Moses was the meekest man on the earth and was very faithful. Paul the Apostle was very faithful and referred to himself as a bondservant of Christ.

“And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;”. Hebrews 3:5 KJV

“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,”Romans 1:1 KJV

Loyalty in the Church

To be loyal and faithful in the church is to be in a fruit bearing relationship with Christ and also faithfully carry out responsibilities given us.

We must be faithful in attendance to Church, in carrying out responsibilities assigned to us and this means we don’t come up with excuses. It also means we are truthful in character, not double tongued, double faced or pretentious. Loyalty and being dependable means we come to church early and on time and leave when church closes. Doing things to the best of our abilities makes us dependable and committed.

“Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him. As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and Lords many,)”. 1 Corinthians 8:1-5 KJV

Reasons why we have to be Loyal in the Church

“Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, that he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.” Acts 1:21-26 KJV

Loyalty is required when choosing people for roles in the church. Faithfulness was a criterion in choosing a replacement for Judas and still is today. Our commitment to Church must not be dependent on certain factors such as who we like or whether we are in the good books of some leaders. It must be total and unwavering. God’s principal requirement in choosing leaders or stewards is faithfulness, not charisma, exciting preaching, gifts of the Spirit, as important and good as these gifts are. Being faithful means loyal, unwavering allegiance.

“Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 KJV

1. God requires Loyalty in every area including Financial Fidelity.

God requires financial fidelity from leaders. God gives us gifts but rewards faithful people. Matt 25 Jesus said “thou good and faithful servant”. We are required to be Faithful in all our Monetary responsibilities in the house of God such as payment of our Tithes and offerings- If we are unfaithful in unrighteous Marmon, God will not give us true riches. Mal 3:10; Luke 16:10-11

2. God is looking for people with Integrity

God looks at the heart of men and we must be men and women of integrity. Men may admire us for our gifts, but God looks at our heart and motives and therefore we must have integrity. Integrity comes from Integer, whole numbers. Not simple fractions nor mixed ones. What I say must be what I do. Our public lives must be same as private lives. We should not have double standard lives.

3. We close opportunities for Satan to destroy the church from within

Most of the lethal stories about men of God come from those who live with them, from within. Similarly, bad press about the church or ministry normally starts with some disgruntled or disloyal church members being the source of sending out the information. As loyal church members we ought to be disciplined enough to keep confidential information to ourselves. We must be careful not to leak confidential information when we have access to them. Gossiping, Backbiting, foul mouthing are indicative of spirits of unfaithfulness. If we are faithful to others, we won’t say bad things about them.

“A talebearer revealeth secrets: But he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.” Proverbs 11:13 KJV

4. Allows the church to operate in love and unity*

Loyalty is the extreme form of love and commitment. Our first and highest form of Loyalty goes to God, then cascades down in levels to church leadership. In church our loyalty is to our Pastor who serves as the spiritual authority over us. If you are loyal to someone, you will be protective of the person. It is worthy of note that Loyalty brings out our Christian maturity. It takes Christian and spiritual maturity to walk in loyalty/ love.

“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” John 13:35 KJV

5. It creates limitless possibility for church growth:

Jesus started a ministry and it was continued by the disciples who were loyal to Christ and to His Vision, and today we have a mega church. If you want the church to grow, you need loyalty. We can grow without bounds when there is loyalty. Without loyalty there are church break-offs, disintegration, stalemate, etc due to offence, disloyalty, greed, etc.

Sheep/Goat Members

“and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:”Matthew 25:32 KJV

People go through three stages when becoming members of churches. The Deer, Goat and Sheep stages. In the deer stage, they are newly converted and swift-footed and difficult to keep in one place and also difficult to track down/handle. Goat members are better than the deer ones, but they do what they want to do and are less likely to follow. It is difficult to have loyal members at this stage although these are a lot friendlier, but these can have traces of stubbornness. Sheep members are more devoted and follow the shepherd. They stay together and move with the group and are easier to pastor. Some characteristics of sheep members are such as: they are devoted, committed, faithful, dependable and loving members. Sheep members are loyal and make the shepherd happy.

How can we be loyal

Firstly, we must be fully persuaded about the person, vision or ministry because loyalty is a matter of the heart. When there are doubts and uncertainties in the heart it is difficult to be committed to a vision or mission. Full persuasion comes with right information and communication.

We must not base our persuasion/decision on information from the grapevine but rather make an extra effort to get information from the right sources.

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8 KJV

Secondly, we must not withhold information from leadership when the information is needed for the good of the church or ministry. On the Corinthians church, Paul dealt with the situation of fornication and so averted God’s judgement on the people. He also handled reports of contention by Chloe, who was a church member, not even a Pastor.

“It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife.” 1 Corinthians 5:1 KJV

“For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.” 1 Corinthians 1:11 KJV

Thirdly, loyalty must be to the highest authority. Fourthly, Loyalty must be based on Principle, not Emotion. Emotion is an expression or voice of the soul. Emotions include anger, happiness, sadness, grief, etc. Emotions result from belief systems and vacillate sometimes.

Jonathan did not side with his own father Saul against David even though he was the heir apparent. Jonathan displayed a high level of loyalty by allowing Principle to guide him and not emotion. Jonathan knew it was God’s will for David to be the next king instead of him. Jonathan was loyal to a higher authority which is God, though he had emotions towards his father and possibly towards the dream or possibility of being the next king himself.

Those who follow emotions instead of principle(s) normally perish. Examples are the Israelites who followed Absalom in his rebellion. Similarly, those who followed Korah & Co. on their revolt against Moses. The angels who followed Lucifer in their rebellion against God were cast down with Lucifer and are awaiting their final judgement of being cast into hell fire.

Last but not least, Loyalty will cost us Relationships and Friends You cannot be loyal to everybody at the same time. For instance when you are in a relationship that is not helping you as a Christian, you cut off that relationship. Your loyalty is to Christ 1John 2:15-17; Like 14:26

Loyalty goes both ways, from the greatest to the least and the least to the greatest. The spiritual authority or shepherd has to be loyal to the sheep in order for the sheep to build trust for them. If the shepherd is disloyal towards the sheep and is coercing them to get from them there is no way any sheep in the flock will be loyal to the shepherd, at the slightest chance of opportunity they will leave. If the shepherd also fulfill their portion as a spiritual authority feeding the sheep, leading them beside still waters, etc, the sheep will equally be loyal and will continually stay where they are assured of growth and sustenance.

“And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.” John 10:4 KJV

Jesus said, my sheep hear my voice and the strangers voice they will lot heed. Let he who has an ear hear what the spirit is saying.

Shalom, Pastor Ron.