(01/22/2016) Hierarchy Among Christians

The errors in misunderstanding divine authority, dominion, leadership, servitude, and sovereignty are in view, today.  Those who serve are anointed and set apart (we say, sanctified), and are lifted in nature and substance above others.  Yet, it is faith as an aspect of our own spirit that must manage and supervise our attitudes, behavior, and worship.  In their efforts to avoid duty and obligation, non-believers are losing their place of anointing, favor and privilege with GOD.  Jesus Christ reigns as Savior, Son of the Highest, and Head over a church that has been created using elements within the natural world that have been altered and changed through sacred operations.  GOD is a spirit who is immortal, immutable and unchanging; and Jesus Christ is an appearance (we say, Incarnation) of the full GODhead.  Because GOD is correctly acknowledged and exalted as Supreme, many have sought GOD because they are covetous, desire power and prestige, lust after control, and are driven by fantasy, imagination and exaggerated pride.  Diversity among created beings, living creatures, devices, mechanisms, and objects that are established as Creation generates imbalance, movement and shifts that may be understood as change, hierarchy, and progression.  Deity does not change, however, what the living experience as coming forth from GOD does change in their acceptance and comprehension.  Therefore, focus for the church is directed to the things that are unseen and unchanging while continually embracing growth to become fully mature, perfect, and sanctified.  Consider again the following from Scripture, and the commentary below:

2nd Corinthians 1:  20-22, King James Version (KJV):  20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.  21 Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;  22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

Romans 1:  16-18, KJV:  16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:  for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith:  as it is written, The just shall live by faith.  18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Romans 8:  5-9, KJV:  5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God:  for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.  9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

2nd Corinthians 4:  18, KJV:  18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen:  for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Pandita Njoh Eta, who participates with me in THE BIBLE STUDY GROUP (a Public Group on Facebook presently having 22,845 members), invited discussion by posting the following statement yesterday at 9:45am, January 21, 2016: 


Man was NEVER created to dominate another man, but to DOMINATE earth in your area of GIFTING and PURPOSE. So discovering your purpose is discovering your area of LEADERSHIP.


THE GOLDEN ARROW:  But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.  And call no man your father upon the earth:  for one is your Father, which is in heaven.  Neither be ye called masters:  for one is your Master, even Christ.  But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.  And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.  But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men:  for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.  (Matthew 23:  8-13, KJV)


THE DOUBLE DAGGER:  Holy Garments? (09/24/2015); Authority, Dispensation, and Unity? (08/20/2015); The Fullness of GODhead? (01/09/2014); World Without End? (01/10/2014); Hierarchy (11/14/2013); The Benefit of Law? (11/15/2013); According to the Eternal Purpose (11/20/2012); Henceforth, Of This Fruit (11/21/2012)

Pandita Njoh Eta, I am sure you will agree, the leadership of Jesus has always been through example and operations of faith, rather than through law, mandate, and rankings among believers.  As seen when viewing the holy angels, the tool of hierarchy does have place within the kingdom of GOD.  However, the church as a new creation is to operate in terms of the imparted, indwelling Spirit of Christ.  The church is to be dynamic and organic functioning as a living body.  While the tools used among social groups that maintain formal affiliation (we say, institutions, organizations) also are used by the church for communication, exchange, and interaction,  preeminence is always to Christ, who is the Word.  For many, the blessings that were by inheritance and promise, became confused as being from obedience to covenant law and the fruit of ones standing within hierarchy.  Thus, the following verses should be helpful for correction:

(1.)  Genesis 28:  10-13, King James Version (KJV):  10 And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran.  11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.  12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven:  and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.  13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac:  the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed;

(2.)  Colossians 1:  12-18, KJV:  12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:  13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:  14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:  15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:  16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers:  all things were created by him, and for him:  17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.  18 And he is the head of the body, the church:  who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

(3.)  Ephesians 1:  20-23, KJV:  20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,  21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:  22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,  23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

(4.)  1st Corinthians 12:  27-29, KJV:  27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.  28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.  29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

(5.)  Romans 12:  6-8, KJV:  6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;  7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering:  or he that teacheth, on teaching;  8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation:  he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

(6.)  Psalms 119:  98-102, KJV:  98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.  99 I have more understanding than all my teachers:  for thy testimonies are my meditation.  100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.  101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.  102 I have not departed from thy judgments:  for thou hast taught me.

There are many other points that should be carefully considered, correctly understood, and spiritually apprehended.  (For example, (7.)  2nd Corinthians 1:  24, KJV:  24 Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy:  for by faith ye stand.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC