Rom 14: 9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. 10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
ACCOUNTABILITY - We Hear it all the time… (management buzz word) but WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
ac•count•a•ble - 1. Liable to being called to account; answerable.
WE TALK ALLOT ABOUT BEING RESPONSIBLE - “The Buck stops here!” etc.
**** But I am afraid that sometimes we confuse being apologetic with being accountable.
As long as I am sorry – we think we are accountable. Not always…
Your not accountable UNTIL it costs you something to PAY for what your have done!
Store sign: “You break it, you bought it!” = that’s accountability
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. WOW…
A Pretty humbling reality… (if this book is true…) We have some explaining to do!
ac•count - 1.a. A narrative or record of events. b. A reason given for a particular action.
Someone that understands accountability – understands responsibility. (which requires maturity)
Admiral Rickover: “Unless you can point to a specific person to hold responsible for an action,
then you had no one truly responsible.”
Sometimes we think that just saying sorry makes us accountable… (no - restitution does!)
Jesus had just stopped under the tree where Zacheaus was and invited himself to dinner
Luke 19: 7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. 8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Want to know why salvation could come to his house that day? - He Understood Accountability!
( SOME FOLKS ARE CONSTANTLY WILLING TO LET SOMEONE ELSE PAY FOR THEM )
Eph 4: 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
THAT is accountability…! Stop stealing and reverse your actions! CHANGE! FIX THE PROBLEM!
( when you want to fix it bad enough – you will! ) - until our sins costs us – we wont stop them
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GOD WILL HELP US… BUT HE WILL NOT DO FOR US WHAT IS IN OUR POWER TO DO!
II Thes 3: 6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.
For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: 9 Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. 10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. 13 But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. (DON’T LET LAZY PEOPLE WEAR YOU OUT) 14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
DON’T LET SAINTS PUT YOU ON CONSTANT GUILT TRIP! (some folks are travel agents for them)
Yes, we are to do good unto others, and bless one another… but we are not to underwrite anyone’s laziness!
( PHONE CALL: “yo, you all help people with your rent? )
that guy is stupid – and that’s a “pre-existing condition”
Some people get so belligerent if you say no. (call yourself a Christian?)
(What kind a Christian are you anyway?) = A BIBLICAL ONE!
*** I have seen saints backslide over what they perceive to be lack of church action toward their problem!
KNOW WHY? - CAUSE THEY NEVER UNDERSTOOD THE PURPOSE OF GOD’S HOUSE
( My house shall be called a house of prayer! ) Worship is giving – not receiving!
Jer 3: 14 Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: 15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
That’s the main course of the house of God! (WE CAN’T FIX EVERY SITUATION in your life)
BUT WE CAN TEACH YOU THE WORD THAT WILL LIFT YOU OUT OF THE PIT!
My friend… the reason that ministry is something that you must be called into – rather then pursue…
IS BECAUSE THE AUTHORITY REQUIRED TO DO IT CAN ONLY COME FROM GOD!
Ezek 33:1 Again the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 2 Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, When I bring the sword upon a land, if the people of the land take a man of their coasts, and set him for their watchman: 3 If when he seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; 4 Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, and took not warning; his blood shall be upon him. But he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul.
But if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand. 7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. 8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that
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wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. 10 Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live? 11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
THIS IS SERIOUS ACCOUNTABILITY! God says the minister is accountable to what he warns!
Accountable meaning… he will pay with his life if he doesn’t do it right!
THAT IS WHAT ACCOUNTABLITY MEANS!
(unless your paying the bill, your not responsible)
PS: Do you understand the implications of false ministry here?
(we have people that choose a church because it has a good nursery or music program!)
Gal 1: 6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
NO OTHER GOSPEL CAN SAVE YOU… I DON’T CARE HOW GOOD IT SOUNDS!
Listen to the Lord’s lament…
Jer 10: 19 Woe is me for my hurt! my wound is grievous: but I said, Truly this is a grief, and I must bear it.
My tabernacle is spoiled, and all my cords are broken: my children are gone forth of me, and they are not: there is none to stretch forth my tent any more, and to set up my curtains. 21 For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.
GOD SAYS: My house is a mess… and I blame the pastors!
Jer 23:1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. 2 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD. 3 And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase. 4 And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.
DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHY I GET A LITTLE INTENSE SOMETIMES?
I am accountable!
*** OF ALL THE DECISIONS YOU WILL MAKE IN YOUR LIFE…
None is more important then where you place yourself spiritually! (the church you choose)
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MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT… when you choose a church… you must become accountable!
Heb 13: 15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. 17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. 18 Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
LIKE ISRAEL OF OLD… They put a watchman on the wall to discover the enemy’s attacks
( like sonar man on a submarine! ) (how’s my driving?)
GOD SAYS TO THE MINISTER: I have MADE YOU a watchman!
We need to cry out like Dumah in the book if Isaiah… Watchman, what of the night?
PASTOR… WHAT DO YOU SEE IN THE DARK… that I may not see?
All thru the word… Accountability!
God made Cain accountable for his brother
Nathan told David “thou art the man”
Even Jesus parables… The unjust steward had to give an account!
In Revelation… The Devil is made accountable for his deed.
Matt 16: 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE!
Pastors are accountable for their churches - Men are responsible to God for their homes…
MOM AND DAD: You are responsible to enforce the word of God to your children and household!
“but I cant help what they do?” - WHY NOT? – Your Accountable!
( guard what they watch and listen to! ) Guard where they go and who they go with!
YOUR ACCOUNTABLE TO GOD!
*** Eph 4: Right after… let him that stole… steal no more… Look at next verse…
NEXT VERSE: 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
WATCH YOUR TONGUE AND WORDS… YOU AND I ARE ACCOUNTABLE…
Matt 12: 35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
We will answer to God for our “unemployed” words! YIKES!
Not just saying… “I DUNNO KNOW?” like our kids do. (we will PAY for our words!)
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LET’S WRAP IT UP… WITH THIS ADMONITION…
I Pet 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. 6 For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. 7 But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 9 Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
The NIV sheds some light on this text… let’s read it that way…
NIV - I Peter 4:1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin. 2 As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do--living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4 They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit. 7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.
WE WILL GIVE AN ACCOUNT…
ac•count (…-kount“) n. 1.a. A narrative or record of events. b. A reason given for a particular action.
Rev 20: 11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
ARE YOU READY FOR THE JUDGEMENT DAY?
Credits: Taken from a sermon by Michael Blankenship
