Presently, there is much being said in apostolic and prophetic circles about submission, order and the accountability within our relationships. It also seems that more is being said about what is not and who is not rather that what is! If we are truly about the business of the Kingdom, then we will likewise be in the business of building people in the Kingdom!
Much of what I hear on the topics of submission, order, authority, and accountability come
out of what most people perceive through their own gifting. While
submission to gifts will reproduce gifts, lack of relationship to
greater counsel will result in order without power and without true
spiritual authority. Apart from the full counsel, what embodies our
ministry will have a form of godliness, while being void of power. If
the rule that we measure others by comes out of our gift, as opposed to
sonship, we will ultimately fall into the error of measuring others
outside of the greater community that their hardwired for.
Those
of us who operate in apostolic ministry are well acquainted with the
Times and Seasons. Apostolic order positions us through TEAM to
apprehend the greater works of ministry by discerning Kairos (Christ)
times. Even as we co-labor with others to solidify ministry that was
previously unseen, we are also about the business of discipling the
works we have already known through rising sons. As sons carry within
them the DNA of the fathers, the sons will also give new breath and new
expression to what was already established by the fathers.
We
can liken apostolic ministry to how notes and chords give witness to
who they are in relationship to a musical scale. Some people will hear
the song of the sons to enjoy the prophetic atmosphere that their music
creates. Others will be compelled to come in closer to study the music
(apostolic ministry) so that they can learn to sing the same songs.
In
their sending, sons will always carry the seed of what the fathers
pioneered into new soil. New soil will always "resound" an octave
higher than what the fathers built. Jesus always gave witness of the
Father in all that he did. If the structure of the building (ministry)
is grand, then the building must give witness of the foundations that
support it. If Jesus is the cornerstone in all that is built on those
same foundations, then the works of it will be declared by yet a third,
even a fourth generation who sees the Father because of it.
With
the very nature of apostolic ministry being generational through our
sonship, what generation can boast above the one who went before, or the
one who is coming after? From ministry that begins as a disciple's
"chain of reign" to the fullness of sonship, who determines who is the
least and who is the greatest within a greater Priesthood? The greater
works of Christ that we're joined to are continually manifesting the
times so that HE be seen in a Royal Priesthood of Kings and Priests.
Apostolic
ministry is multi-generational. Sonship is relational to ministry
gifts in that the gifts mature out of sonship. For this reason,
submission and accountability should flow out of an order of father to
son ministry where the ministries are connected to what is
generational. Father to son ministry will always expand to King and
Priest ministry where the hidden works of Christ can be openly
demonstrated within a greater Priesthood.
Here
is what order reveals through ministry: From father to son; to
apostolic team. From apostolic team to King and Priest. What we "see"
serves to identify the part that we're joined with. If we attempt to be
joined to a complete order of ministry through our gift as opposed to
sonship, we will eventually oppose God. Sonship draws mutual
relationship with all members. In this respected relationship, Christ
is known in all members. Apart from sonship, we lack the relationship
needed to be rightly connected to the whole body. Apart from sonship,
"order" will always build after a pyramid structure of authority..
Kingdom ministry is always successive to release sons. We never see or
discern the whole order of ministry in respect to our own gift. We
have fellowship with the whole order of ministry as sons who are
submitted to an order of fathers and sons.
Because
the Kingdom demonstrates order that is progressive, those of us who
lead apostolic ministry will at times be questioned in our motives.
When questions and concerns are addressed in the light of true
accountability within the whole counsel of ministry, then the order of
the ministry is understood through credible witnesses.
When
there are disagreements, what is credible (accountable) will always be
submitted to the order within the whole counsel of the ministry that is
in question. In the presence of the whole counsel, the works and deeds
of each individual is clearly seen, including those who have questions.
Apostolic ministry is first relational. Secondly, apostolic ministry
is generational and is connected to a greater order beyond people's
individual ministries. For this reason, it's not possible to single out
one person's motives or accountability apart from the whole order of
ministry that their connected with. If one person within a ministry is called into question, then the entire ministry body should be addressed.
To pull a person out from the branch they serve in and demand submission
to an order that their not called to is out of order. These works are
very damaging to people and to ministry.
Regarding submission and accountability, sons do not bring themselves back under bondage. Those who lead, lead by example. Our doing will always flow out of our being. While we do not condemn others, neither do we have fellowship with the darkness. In the light of truth, a tree will be known by it's fruit and the times will manifest it. Light will reveal the hidden works so that our fruit is openly manifest in the light. Those who love the light will be drawn into the light where covenant is revealed and openly demonstrated. Those who love the darkness will shrink back from the light in fear of their works being exposed.
As a laborer of the harvest, I pray that the works that I boast in would boast of those who have gone before me as well as those who are to come after me. Even so, each of us must have our own personal relationships who keep us accountable to standards of excellence in the high calling of Christ. Even as we branch out to relate with a more corporate body, we should give honor where honor is due in respect to those who labor with us in the love of Christ.
Shalom,
Cindy Allen
http://www.eagleslandingnetwork.com/Relationships.html
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