Leadership
John 15:13“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
14“You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
15“No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
The leadership structure Jesus has chosen for His body is occupied by friends. This leadership concept is actively resisted in much of the church where leaders separate from "people" in order to protect their hearts or influence.
The false structures of leaders and people requires identifying your role to others, so that you can be known. Since the relational knowing of friendship isn't accessible, instead the false five fold has to assert it's position by credentials, networks, and endorsements.
The true structure of the kingdom rejects this idea:
John 1:19Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
20He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”
21And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
22Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”
23He said: “I am
‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
“Make straight the way of the LORD,” ’
as the prophet Isaiah said.”
24Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees.
25And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
26John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know.
27“It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.”
John knew Jesus, and considered himself not positionally, but instead, relationally...John's only identity that he asserted himself was friend!
John 3:28“You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’
29“He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.
30“He must increase, but I must decrease.
The friends of Jesus find themselves in various roles appointed by Jesus, but they don't assert their role to their friends, they assert the relationship of love ..they act like family and friends. If I walked around my house telling my wife and kids that I was "President of Stolz Environmental" it would be ridiculous. They already know that and aren't that impressed....they know me by my relationship and the way I serve them.
The same is true of the actual Biblical fivefold...Apostles, pastors, prophets etc. teach the family of God to be friends and then fade into the openly manifest love of friendship and family:
Ephesians 4:1I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
2with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
3endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
5one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
7But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
8Therefore He says:
“When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to men.”
9(Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?
10He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—
16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Love is the bond of perfection, and Philos love, or brotherly love...Philadelphia... is the government of God...
In fact, the word translated "friend" is "Philos"...for which Philadelphia gets it's name. Philos, or friendship love, is an overflow of the first commandment: loving God with all of our heart soul mind and strength.
Philadelphia...or the city church operating in friendship, is safe in the end times (Rev 3).
Living in friendship is not enjoyed by consumeristic church goers...consumers want a manager to hold accountable when the product isn't satisfactory. Those who want leaders instead of friends generally want someone else to take the responsiblity for their spiritual life, and also want someone to hold accountable when their spiritual life goes wrong. This is a false religious structure. Jesus wants people that know Him!
Matthew 7:22“Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
23“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
I don't want to just know someone who knows Jesus, I want to know Him!
Friendship is riskier than the locked down false religious structure of roles and titles.
The false five fold feels more secure, but it's being toppled in this hour.
Friendship is messy and requires kindness...you can't just say stuff anyway you feel like to a friend and not have the relationship damaged.
Friendship is personal, it isn't a business transaction...you can't just quit it when it's inconvenient, and it takes care and patience to actually be a friend.
Consumers demand service and withhold agreement when the service isn't satisfactory, but friends are looking to serve one another without condition...they are free to love because they are already overflowing in love from their friendship with Jesus, the well of love....they aren't running out of love or confused about their role or truth...they take responsibility for their failures for the love of truth. Unlike consumers, friends are loving, kind, and self controlled for the SAKE of the friendship...first with Jesus, then with one another. Friends are loyal first to Jesus, then to one another.
Friends are loyal. If you look at a group of friends and think "they only agree because they are friends" you are right! They like being friends, first with Jesus, then with one another. Friends of Jesus have a common bond of friendship that centers on their best friend. They decrease while he increases!!!
The church of friendship is one of two churches not corrected by Jesus. They are small and weak, but they are what Jesus is actually looking for!!
Revelation 3:7“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”:
8“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
9“Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
10“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
11“Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
12“He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
13“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
Be wary of anyone who calls himself an apostle, or anything else, other than friend:
Revelation 2:2“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;
Matthew 23:6“They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues,
7“greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’
8“But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.
9“Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.
10“And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.
11“But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.
12“And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
14“You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
15“No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
The leadership structure Jesus has chosen for His body is occupied by friends. This leadership concept is actively resisted in much of the church where leaders separate from "people" in order to protect their hearts or influence.
The false structures of leaders and people requires identifying your role to others, so that you can be known. Since the relational knowing of friendship isn't accessible, instead the false five fold has to assert it's position by credentials, networks, and endorsements.
The true structure of the kingdom rejects this idea:
John 1:19Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
20He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”
21And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
22Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”
23He said: “I am
‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
“Make straight the way of the LORD,” ’
as the prophet Isaiah said.”
24Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees.
25And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
26John answered them, saying, “I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know.
27“It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.”
John knew Jesus, and considered himself not positionally, but instead, relationally...John's only identity that he asserted himself was friend!
John 3:28“You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before Him.’
29“He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.
30“He must increase, but I must decrease.
The friends of Jesus find themselves in various roles appointed by Jesus, but they don't assert their role to their friends, they assert the relationship of love ..they act like family and friends. If I walked around my house telling my wife and kids that I was "President of Stolz Environmental" it would be ridiculous. They already know that and aren't that impressed....they know me by my relationship and the way I serve them.
The same is true of the actual Biblical fivefold...Apostles, pastors, prophets etc. teach the family of God to be friends and then fade into the openly manifest love of friendship and family:
Ephesians 4:1I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
2with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
3endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
5one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
7But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.
8Therefore He says:
“When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to men.”
9(Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth?
10He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
11And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
12for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
13till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
14that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,
15but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—
16from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Love is the bond of perfection, and Philos love, or brotherly love...Philadelphia... is the government of God...
In fact, the word translated "friend" is "Philos"...for which Philadelphia gets it's name. Philos, or friendship love, is an overflow of the first commandment: loving God with all of our heart soul mind and strength.
Philadelphia...or the city church operating in friendship, is safe in the end times (Rev 3).
Living in friendship is not enjoyed by consumeristic church goers...consumers want a manager to hold accountable when the product isn't satisfactory. Those who want leaders instead of friends generally want someone else to take the responsiblity for their spiritual life, and also want someone to hold accountable when their spiritual life goes wrong. This is a false religious structure. Jesus wants people that know Him!
Matthew 7:22“Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
23“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
I don't want to just know someone who knows Jesus, I want to know Him!
Friendship is riskier than the locked down false religious structure of roles and titles.
The false five fold feels more secure, but it's being toppled in this hour.
Friendship is messy and requires kindness...you can't just say stuff anyway you feel like to a friend and not have the relationship damaged.
Friendship is personal, it isn't a business transaction...you can't just quit it when it's inconvenient, and it takes care and patience to actually be a friend.
Consumers demand service and withhold agreement when the service isn't satisfactory, but friends are looking to serve one another without condition...they are free to love because they are already overflowing in love from their friendship with Jesus, the well of love....they aren't running out of love or confused about their role or truth...they take responsibility for their failures for the love of truth. Unlike consumers, friends are loving, kind, and self controlled for the SAKE of the friendship...first with Jesus, then with one another. Friends are loyal first to Jesus, then to one another.
Friends are loyal. If you look at a group of friends and think "they only agree because they are friends" you are right! They like being friends, first with Jesus, then with one another. Friends of Jesus have a common bond of friendship that centers on their best friend. They decrease while he increases!!!
The church of friendship is one of two churches not corrected by Jesus. They are small and weak, but they are what Jesus is actually looking for!!
Revelation 3:7“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”:
8“I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
9“Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
10“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
11“Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
12“He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
13“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’
Be wary of anyone who calls himself an apostle, or anything else, other than friend:
Revelation 2:2“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;
Matthew 23:6“They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues,
7“greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’
8“But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.
9“Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.
10“And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ.
11“But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.
12“And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
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