But the Comforter, who
is the Holy Spirit... shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your
remembrance. – Jn 14:26
There is a place for
godly counsel in the body of Christ. Eph 4:11,12 says Christ gave the so-called
5-fold ministries “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”
However, the purpose of
ministry is not to keep a perpetual nursery of spiritual babies, but to bring
all Believers to “mature adulthood and the full standard of development in
Christ;” Eph 4:13 (ISV).
When it comes to the
nitty-gritties of the Christian walk, the Holy Spirit should be the Believer’s
primary teacher. It’s unfortunate when leaders groom their followers to be
perpetually dependent on them.
A leader who, in the
name of ‘prophetic insight’, does not encourage their followers to learn to
hear God for themselves but wants to tell them who to marry, which course to
take, which dress to wear for that interview, etc. has left his or her
scripturally assigned role and has arrogated to his or herself the function of
the Holy Spirit.
Indeed, through this
(what I call) ‘helicopter pastoring’, some mentors have become tormentors.
Someone once told me
that the best teacher is one who gradually makes himself unnecessary. In the
same vein, the best prophet (apostle, teacher, pastor, ‘discipler’, mentor, etc.)
is the one whose entire ministry goal, is to make themselves ‘unnecessary’ as
their members grow to full maturity and are empowered to tackle greater and
greater challenges by themselves.
No one can teach a
person better than the Holy Spirit can. He’s omniscient and all-compassionate.
He doesn’t just know the exact unique provisions that each Believer has in
Christ; He’s also intimate with their peculiarities and is the One making all
things work together for their good future.
Let us, therefore, as
leaders lead the flock to the Chief Shepherd, and let’s grant Him greater and
greater influence in their lives, knowing whom we have believed, and being persuaded
that He is able to keep that which we have committed unto Him against that day.
(2Ti 1:12)
AMEN.
More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.
GREG ELKAN
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