Good day, dear friends! I thank God for each of you and believe this day will bring many revelations and blessings as you reason about the word of God.Yesterday we looked at the example of accountability in Jesus life. We also begin to talk about centurion who was given authority while being under authority himself. As we stated, it´s necessary for a man to learn being under authority in order to qualify for having authority.
«When he came into Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking him, and saying, “Lord, my servant lies in the house paralysed, grievously tormented.” Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” The centurion answered, “Lord, I’m not worthy for you to come under my roof. Just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I am also a man under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and tell another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and tell my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to those who followed, “Most assuredly I tell you, I haven’t found so great a faith, not even in Israel». (Matthew 8:5-10).
Basically, centurion let Jesus understand that he was aware of the principle of spiritual authority. He understood that Jesus possessed the spiritual authority, being under authority of God. The centurion knew it was enough for Jesus to order the decease to leave and it would disappear – there was no need for Jesus to enter his house. While living on Earth as a man, Jesus was under authority of God, that´s why He possessed authority as well. «But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God.» (1stCorinthians 11:3).
Everyone should be under authority, God set out above us for accountability purpose. Centurion knew about this principle even before the disciples received the revelation. That´s why Jesus was so excited about his answer. «When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to those who followed, “Most assuredly I tell you, I haven’t found so great a faith, not even in Israel.» (Matthew 8:10).
Accountability shows your belief in God and His principles. An accountable person has no problems with faith nor with accepting miracles from God. The centurion could easily accept his miracle, having understood God´s principle and the way it worked. A person under authority will possess the authority by himself as well. Once we become accountable to each other in Christ, we´ll experience miracles from God as never before in our life. By virtue of accountability we will witness how God transforms people and the difficult circumstances. We will see God´s healed broken hearts, shattered shackles of slavery or addictions in the lives of God´s children.Becoming accountable we gain more authority in the Kingdom of God. Let´s have a look at the example of accountability in the life of apostle Paul. Who was Paul? He is the greatest apostle ever, one who wrote 2/3 of the New Testament. He had access to the revelations like nobody else. He got to know God more than any other apostles. «Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you». (2nd Peter 3:15).
Paul had respect, popularity and authority among his peers. Why was it possible? Because Paul was under authority, however, some people deny that fact which is not true. First of all, Paul was a member of the church at Antioch when the Holy Spirit chose him and Barnabas to call for a special work .«Now in the assembly that was at Antioch there were some prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen the foster-brother of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they served the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Separate Barnabas and Saul for me, for the work to which I have called them.” Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away». (Acts 13:1-3).
As we already mentioned, accountability and membership in the church are directly related to each other. Paul was accountable to the church at Antioch, that sent him as a missionary abroad. He was one of the leaders in that church, so he was accountable to the other leaders at the same time. As a missionary he used to give an account before the church for what he had done as a missionary. Paul was doing it on voluntarily basis, because God revealed him the importance and necessity of accountability in the life of everyone. Proliferation and success are blessings for accountable people granted by God! Let´s continue tomorrow!Peace of God be with you!Rufus Adjiboje, pastor
