RUN AWAY

RUN AWAY FROM CONTROLLING INDIVIDUALS

Matthew 10:26 Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.

Matthew 11:29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

John 11:3 Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, "Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick."

John 13:15 For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.

1 Peter 5:3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;

True men of God do not use any form of control, persuasion or intimidation to control others including their own sheep. They lead by example and walk in love and Romans 13:10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Yes God hates the deeds of Nicolaitans, those who are into control and hurt and use the sheep!

"And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write, '  These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:  "I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.  "But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. "Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 'Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth. Revelation 2:13-16

Today there are false ones in the church of Jesus Christ, Nicolaitans, who with the restoring apostles and prophets to the Church to complete a five-fold ministry mentioned by Paul in Ephesians, try  to bring the sheep into  a repackaged disciple/shepherding movement under the title of church growth.  "Nicolaitans" means "Victorious over the people; a follower of Nicolaus, a heretic." Anyone who uses their leadership position to manipulate others is bumping up against the thing Jesus hates.  The Lord wants us to be under His control, no one else’s. But even He doesn’t use such tactics of manipulation. He wants willing obedience, not contrived. Our acceptance was paid for on the cross, therefore we need not be man- pleasers.  Jesus rules by example and through serving but Nicolaitans rules through manipulation and control.  Nicolaitan authority is false authority. Therefore a believer is not required to submit to it. In fact he should take dominion over it. Nicolaitan authorities may try to label us as rebels, but Christ must reign supreme, regardless of what others say.

The root of the word Nicolaitans comes from Greek nikao, to conquer or overcome, and laos, which means people and which the word laity comes from. The two words together especially means the destruction of the people and refers to the earliest form of what we call a priestly order or clergy which later on in church history divided people and allowed for leadership other than those led by the spirit of the risen Lord Jesus Christ. A good translation of Nicolaitan would be "those who prevail over the people." This clerical system later developed into the papal hierarchy of priests and clergy lording over the flock. The Council of Trent stated, "If anyone shall say that there is not in the Catholic Church a hierarchy established by the divine ordination, consisting of bishops, presbyters and ministers, let him be anathema." This very idea was taken over by the Protestants with their own corruption of church leadership. The Church of Ephesus was commended for hating the deeds of the Nicolaitans. The wrong separation of the clergy from the laity is a great evil in God's sight and He hates the lust for religious power. There is an ungodly spiritual authority in the Church today, which is nothing more than the prideful spirit of control, manipulation, domination and intimidation and a rebellion of the rightful authority of God.

Faithful believers who have put on Christ Jesus, are all God's laity. Peter exhorted us to feed the flock of God which is among us, taking the oversight thereof, not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind. Neither as being lords over God's heritage but being examples to the flock.  It’s a fact that shepherds serve the sheep but the wolves that clothe themselves with so-called leadership and spiritual authority serve themselves, thinking that they serve God. In essence, this makes them false christs. Early church leaders were established as overseers, not a ruling hierarchy.

One of the most obvious Nicolaitan maneuvers is often related directly to the preacher and his pulpit who misuses his authority by brow beating the people from the platform. Some sermons are simply personal vendettas disguised as "the Word".  When they have a problem with someone rather than going to that person and confront it as per the pattern outlined in Matthew 18:15-17 they use the pulpit to attack their target.  As a result we seen preachers verbally condemn the flock for a lack of service, commitment, evangelism, etc. ignoring that their mandate is to EQUIP the Body to do the work, to actually disciple and train up the sons and daughters of God?  Ministers are to disciple others into their calling and let them do the work of the ministry! Many religious leaders fail to allow those under them to initiate ministry. Some pastors are able to use the creativity of others, as long as it is channeled in the direction which best serves the pastor’s interests. Autocracy is akin to the doctrine Jesus hates. But true leadership is secure enough in Christ to allow and encourage others to initiate their life with God. Sheep are to be encouraged to follow through with their dreams, even if they might fail.  They will experience life’s ups and downs and continue to see the completion of their dreams.

Yes, Jesus actually HATES the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. John wrote: "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8b) We must destroy such works and doctrines in our own lives before we can be effective in the Body of Christ. Revelation 2:16 reveals the tactic of Christ to deal with such demonic doctrine: "Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth." We must speak up against the Nicolaitans.  God’s word is unchanging:

"So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate." Revelation 2:15

"And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down to eat'?  "But will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink'?  "Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.  "So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do. Luke 17:7-10

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