Be Led by the Holy Spirit not by any Man

The whole one-man-paid-pastor system is not biblical and comes from the model of the priests in the Catholic church.

No one leading in a church gathering has authority over anyone else. The word "pastor" is not a title or a position, it is a calling and they are to lead by example and by teaching.

The only authority over the born-again believer is the Holy Spirit. If the pastor had "authority" over the people then he is usurping the authority of the Holy Spirit declaring that he is the mediator between God and man just as the priests think in the Catholic church.

We are to listen to leaders as we evaluate anything they say according to the Bible and correct them when they stray. They are not above correction and even discipline if they will not listen to their brothers and sisters in the gathering.

The problem with the one-man-paid-pastor system is that it assumes that a man educated by other men in formal schooling automatically is filled with the Spirit. This causes them to be seen by the congregation as the authority over someone else. Most do not allow the congregation to challenge them because they see themselves as above the brothers and sisters.

The only One above all the believers is the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ Who lives in every believer.

Anyone who has the Holy Spirit has the mandate to question all things spoken by others and challenge them if they stray from Biblical teachings and most everyone does at one time or another.

1 Peter 5:2-4 "…2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but because it is God’s will; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.…"

Leaders are not enforcers, nor are they infallible, they are men who are called to speak the truth and leave the results to the Holy Spirit in every other believer. No one is above another and all are called to a ministry of one sort or another. The "pastor" does not dictate who can minister, the Holy Spirit does that.

When God said the Holy Spirit will lead us into all truth He was speaking to every born-again believer.

John 15:13 "

"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come."

Luke 12:12 "12 For at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you should say.”

Just as the Holy Spirit went before the apostles and disciples he goes before us now because He lives in us. We can trust His word and count on Him for understanding when we ask Him for wisdom in all matters.

James 1:4-6 "…4 Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.…"

The Bible was written TO specific people but it was written FOR all of us. We have all become evangelists, teachers, preachers and everything else led by the Holy Spirit when He came to live in us.

Hebrews 5:12-14

"12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the actual words of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unacquainted with the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.

14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to distinguish between good and evil."

The beauty of the Holy Spirit and the Bible is that anyone who asks for wisdom can have it without the prejudices of teachers and men who love their pride. We are called to listen to the Holy Spirit first as men speak. If the Spirit warns us then we are to warn others.

1 Thessalonians 5:13-15 "14 And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.…"

All of the Scriptures were written for all born-again believers. We must seek Christ in us for our calling and we must speak boldly when the Holy Spirit leads us into truth.