On Wednesday nights, we have Real Life groups at Family Worship Center and I have had the honor of teaching in these groups. Each Wednesday, all of the facilitators and teachers meet 45 minutes before the class and Rev. Jeff Oliver, the Christian Education Director, shares some interesting thoughts with us. The following article was written by Brother Jeff who is a 1982 graduate of RHEMA Bible Training Center. It is very obvious to me by reading the first paragraph (highlighted), why we have such a hard job to getting people to bring in the sheep.
- Pastor Larry
LOYALTY By Rev. Jeff Oliver
Previously we talked about becoming a person of influence. We said that a person of influence is one who comes under the authority of another. These last few weeks we’ve been talking about becoming a person of loyalty. A person of loyalty is one who stays under that authority, receives help and divine protection, and eats the good of the land!
The word loyalty comes from an old Anglo-French word “lealte” which denotes unswerving allegiance to one’s lawful sovereign. The word is not used as much today because we don’t have a king or queen, but in the
Romans 13:1-2 (NKJV): “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.” Whenever we submit to an authority God has placed over us—whether it be a husband, a boss, an employer, a teacher, a policeman, or a president we come in line with God’s will and under the umbrella of God’s protection. But when we start kicking and screaming, refusing or rebelling we get ourselves out from under that protection. In the Old Testament when
Again whenever someone in authority—whether a husband, a boss, an employer, a teacher, a pastor, or other leader says something or does something we don’t like or agree with, the very worst thing we can do is get mad and leave over it (unless, of course, we’re being abused or asked to do something unlawful or unethical). Instead, pray and trust God to deal with that person and to handle the situation. You’ll find He does a pretty good job! When you stay under God’s protection God will fight your battles for you.
God forbid the time should ever come for you to leave this (or any church), but if it does, make sure you leave for the right reasons—because God is leading you on to something bigger and better. People who leave churches for the wrong reasons—either because they didn’t like a decision that was made, or they didn’t like the way something was handled usually wind up in a mess—they can’t hold a job, their kids are in rebellion, they’re always sick or broke—something. 1 Peter 2:21 says: “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow His steps who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.”
Jesus committed himself and his situation to God who judges righteously and God did judge and now He is seated at the right hand of the throne of God in victory! Every power that came against Him on earth He now reigns over. Likewise, a time will come when your loyalty will be tested—it’s inevitable. Something will be said. A decision will be made. Your flesh will rise up and you’ll have a choice-continue or quit. Which will you do? Prov. 21:1 says: “The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.” A person of loyalty must be flexible. A person of loyalty must make the decision to: “Walk in the Spirit, and…not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” We have to trust the Spirit of God to lead and guide those He has placed in authority over us knowing that they, too, are being led by the hand of the Lord-even when they wind and twist! A person of loyalty will remain behind even when others have gone off.
The twelve disciples remained loyal to Christ (as evidenced by the book of Acts) in the face of enormous temptation and opposition. Peter denied Christ three times but never renounced him. His heart remained loyal. Jesus made a statement one day that the crowd didn’t like. The Bible says: “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus turned to the twelve and said, "Well, do you want to leave too?” Peter said, "Lord, where would we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:66-69) A person of loyalty is steadfast in the face of all opposition or temptation to renounce, desert, or betray. A person of loyalty is steadfast in his affection, firm in his adherence, but above all, faithful to the very end. Loyalty implies both strict and continuing faithfulness.
David was another man who committed himself and his situation to God and ended up on top. Once, in an interesting twist of events, when Saul was hunting down David like a wild animal, David instead found Saul sleeping in a cave and could have killed him—but didn’t. He said: “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.” (1 Sam 24:6) Even though Saul had become evil, disobeyed God, made many wrong decisions, and was now hunting down David like a wild animal, David said: “I will not touch God’s anointed”. David committed himself and his situation to God who judges righteously, God did judge, removed Saul and made David king. There’s a time to stand up for what’s right, and there’s a time to sit down, shut up, pray, and trust God for a resolution. Not all authority is evil and abusive, and if it’s not, we need to submit—whether we agree with it or not, whether we understand or not, whether it makes sense or not, or whether it seems right or not.
David’s heart remained loyal to the Lord, and he prayed for his son Solomon that he would also have a loyal heart: “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.” (1 Chron. 28:9) Sadly, the Bible says when Solomon grew older his wives turned his heart after other gods and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David.
Like Solomon, many are faithful to God, faithful to serve, even faithful to build the house of the Lord, but their hearts are not loyal. Amaziah “did what was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a loyal heart.” (2 Chron. 25:2) It’s not enough to be faithful. We have to be loyal. “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.” (2 Chron. 16:9) Jesus said: “Abide in Me…” Abide means stay. He also said: “He who endures to the end shall be saved.” A person of loyalty is one who stands the test of time.
You say: “But what if I get asked to do something or to enforce a policy that I don’t particularly agree with, or that I don’t feel comfortable enforcing?” When enforcing rules and policies, it’s not enough to know what the rules are; you need to also know why they exist. Even the most stubborn and rebellious person may become compliant once he understands why a rule exists. Just because we have freedom doesn’t mean we don’t have rules. Gal 5:13 says: “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Romans 13:3-5 says: “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake.”
1. Rules exist not only for the punishment of evildoers, but for our own good and protection. The above verses give us two reasons to obey: 1) to avoid wrath, 2) and to keep a clear conscience. The child who thinks he only needs to obey when his parents are around has forgotten the second reason for obeying—a clear conscience! As long as we obey rules there’s no reason to fear authority. The Bible says: “The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.” (Prov. 28:1)
2. Rules also exist for our benefit. “We have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.” (Heb 12:9-10) Unlike our earthly fathers who just made up rules according to what best suited them God’s rules are for our benefit—that we might become partakers of His holiness!
3. Rules exist not only for our good, but for the good of others; for the good of the whole. “All things are legitimate [permissible — and we are free to do anything we please], but not all things are helpful (expedient, profitable, and wholesome). All things are legitimate, but not all things are constructive [to character] and edifying [to spiritual life]. Let no one then seek his own good and advantage and profit, but [rather] each one of the other [let him seek the welfare of his neighbor].” (1 Cor. 10:23 AMP) “But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol's temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.” (1 Cor. 8:9-13) Just because you’re set free in a particular area, or think it’s OK to do whatever you want, doesn’t mean everyone else thinks so. Is your freedom worth the risk of destroying someone else’s faith? So when asked to enforce rules or policies always try to emphasize the reasons for them—it’s for their good; their benefit; their protection, or for the good of others; the good of the whole. A person of loyalty always seeks the good of the whole even if that means inconveniencing himself.
