" So being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenecia & Samaria, describing the conversation of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren.
And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church & the Apostles & elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. "
Acts 15:3 &4
Over the centuries the body of Christ has spread out over the globe. In the process, we have lost some of the continuity of Holy & centralized accountability.
(Or using military terminology, for example...we have lost the scheduled necessity for a martial debriefing)
Yet, this accountability, this time of debriefing, is still a primary balance factor & a necessary meeting place for all ministries great & small.
It is true necessity, it is required of the LORD & it is scripturally sound.
Accountability is always a two-way way street. This is why Jesus said, "Go talk to your brother before you give your offering." Matthew 18.
It is a priority.
We see this factor at work in the Bereans who held the Apostles accountable by checking The Scripture to confirm. The Bereans were not apostolic leaders. They were simply listeners, receivers, who had the wisdom to verify the word of the "sent ones". They became believers & followers of Christ thru the process of accountability.
We who are listeners & receivers have an assignment to weigh the Holy Spirit accuracy of what we listen to....what we receive from pulpits (on line, on media, in house churches, in congregations or wherever 2 or 3 gather).
We are to develop discernment. Each born again believer is accountable to develop discernment. Accountability is how we develop our discernment. As "iron sharpens iron."
We should not shy away from holding ministries accountable. Not publicly but in private. Kindly & gently & without condescension. Always remembering Jesus' admonishment in Matthew 18. Privately, individually, at first then with another witness...then publicly, in community, as a last resort. Not on public media.
In Acts 15, from which our opening scripture is taken, we see apostolic leaders holding one another accountable. The entire chapter of Acts 15 is demonstrating holy accountability. It sets a divine protocol, principle, prerequisite, a legal precedent.
This counsel of elders formalize their corporate conclusion with a word about The Tent of David. Why?
What was David's Tent? How does this relate to accountability?
David placed singers in the Gates to declare God's Word over the township. The singers were assigned by counsel & consent of David's Army Commanders. It was the highest form of government & still is.
Worship- declaring Christs' Word into the air waves. This created a public atmosphere of accountability to God's voice & ways. The people were informed...and then held accountable to the LORD & one another.
In addition- Praise, thanksgiving & worship is the ultimate act of spiritual warfare. It sweeps the sky. The battle belongs to the LORD- who is The Song of Songs. Worship joyfully & publicly declares His sovereignty & therefore our accountability to Him.
Ultimately, worship creates atmospheric accountability! It dissolves darkness & sets citizens at peace. They are informed & exposed to light but still allowed to operate in their individual free will.
The following verse describes the role of prayer warrior, of intercessor in the Courts of Heaven...
"Come with me from Lebanon my spouse, WITH ME from Lebanon. Look (Behold) from the top of Amana, from the top of Senir & Hermon, from the lions dens, from the mountains of the leopards." Song of Songs 4:8
Of course the ultimate place of accountability is gazing with Jesus from the top of Mount Hermon. The place of unity. Seeing with His eyes. Only pure worship can bring us to His perspective & view point.
We simply come into agreement with Him. We stand with Him, We Behold with Him, we speak from a place of communion with Him.
Only this place can form a true command structure within our hearts. Here we learn to function as "word of faith" people.
This is.... the Ultimate Positioning of Accountability! Notice in Song of Songs 4....once the bride has stood with Jesus on the mountain & beheld with His eyes.... He immediately begins to praise her for her ability to speak with His sweetness, love & grace.
"Your lips, O my spouse, drip as the honeycomb."
When do people in ministry come to a place where they are above accountability to their listeners or other leaders? Never. However, Acts 15 was not done in the public square.
Accountability is always a two-way street within the body of Christ but this meeting of minds is not open to the public. We don't uncover, dishonor or correct our brethren publicly. It's a family affair.
Even in Matthew 18....the 3rd stage of public accountability is a family affair....within the congregation...never uncovering others in a public forum.
If The LORD chooses to release this publicly...well...we understand they have gone beyond receiving HIS gracious warnings &.correction...but that's not our place to usurp.
Worship is the last Word. We do not need to add to it....or take away from it. Worship takes us above all strife. Worship takes us above striving with man or devil. Worship is the ultimate victory. The last word. His last word.
Let our public words be worship & declaration of His royal promises of LIFE.
Worship is the ultimate journey & ultimate destination. It takes us above all circumstance. It is standing on Mt. Hermon....the place of the dew...the top of all authority.
Many times I have attended prayer meetings in which we enter the majesty of God's Courts...
then someone begins to yell at the devil....or to yell at some spirit or someone coming against their ministry. Yet, the picture in Song of Songs 4....shows us a place of stealth....& total submission.
We have been taught to pray this railing method by some charismatic, pentecostal ministries but it is wrong. It is actually self defeating. It is actually dangerous.
Personally....
It is jarring to my soul....to be in His glorious, holy presence...one moment.. then suddenly, the next moment, in another, lower level of man's words.
Falling....from hearing heavens sound to hearing a humans rebuking, reviling sound.
Worse than that, I believe it is disrespectful to The glory & majesty of His presence. There is a time & place for each posture & protocol. Worship is not the place to rebuke, rail or correct.
Jude vs.8-10 speaks of the ArchAngel Michael refusing to rail against even the devil in God's Courts. In this description Michael is contending for Moses' body. He is contending but not railing.
There is no place for railing in the Courts of God. No place for disrespectful speech. All speech in His Courts is conducted with honor...even toward the adversary.
The Holy Bible has given us a prime directive in Michael's discourse. Michael simply says, "The LORD rebuke you. "
In this response, Holy Spirit (& Michael) are directing us to lock eyes with Jesus...who carries the Last Word. In Jesus encounter with Lucifer...He simply says..."Get behind me Satan!"
Jesus "ever lives to intercede for us."
In Isaiah & Psalms His Word says,
"I will contend with those who contend with you."
When Paul rebuked the sorcerer Elymas, he was in the public square (Acts 13: 9,10). There is a different protocol in His Courts. When Peter rebuked the sorcerer, he was in the public square not Heavens Courts. (Acts 8:20). They were dealing with ground level warfare. Jesus told them they had 'all authority' when it came to their witness to individuals & nations.
We must keep the Courts of Worship holy & pure...separate from this rebuking, railing- kind of discourse. However in both places we must speak only the Word which Holy Spirit has directed, unctioned & inspired. We must lock eyes with Jesus.
Mt. Hermon is the place of unity according to Psalm 133. It is the place of oil, of dew, of quickening of life evermore. Dare we pollute it with our own fleshly, carnal words?
We never use formulas or other people's prayer methods. That is coming from a religious spirit. Each situation is an opportunity to stand beside Him, behold as He does, speak only His Word.
Each individual situation calls for the fresh breath of Holy Spirit. Fresh unction & directive. We must always discern between the ears of the lost soul and the demonic influence upon them. They are blind & broken & Jesus has compassion on their lost souls.
If anyone has a position of great authority in heavens courts...it is Michael. Let us all be aware of our humble position of co-operative accountability....of co-submission, of co-operation with Holy Spirit...
Pure lovingkindness, flowing in the purity of Holy Spirit, is the flow within His Courts of Worship. This is no place for railing upon the enemy. Prayer is holy. Spiritual warfare is Holy. Declaration is Holy. Accountability is Holy.
In Acts 4: 18 We see another excellent example of Peter & John standing in the presence of evil rulers...in the public square. Their answer is instructive to us.
Please read how they spoke to the magistrates of their day. Utmost respect, yet firm stance in The Gospel. All authority was given to Jesus...we must stand & behold with His eyes.
Later, in the presence of their fellow prayer warriors, Peter & John carefully pray only God's Word over the threats of these rulers. Threats inspired by demonic principalities.
Acts 4:24-30.
There is no railing, or reviling...tho they carry ALL AUTHORITY...they remain respectful. Honorable. Stealthful. Under Cover Agents.
This is a beautiful example of an authoritive, powerful prayer, without cursing or railing. They hold the falsehood & threats of false leaders accountable in The Courts of Heaven. With honor & gracious words.
Remember these believers (Peter & John) were anointed with the 5 fold leadership positions of Ephesians 4. How much more should those of us who are not in the office of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher....how much more should our speech..in prayer...in declaration...
be gracious with His Words of instruction & intercession. We must see with His eyes. Move with His compassion. Speak with His Words.
Accountability- the act of accountability is Holy whether on the receiving or giving end of it. Since all accountability begins & ends with the loving countenance of the One who became sin for us...
Let us ever be mindful of His grace...He is The Word of grace incarnate. Paul ended his earthly ministry with this simple statement...
"I leave you with His Word of Grace".
