Headship
Brian Kocourek, Pastor
November 8, 2009
From
paragraph 99 of brother
Branham’s sermon, The
Spoken Word is the Original Seed "The
works that I do shall he do also." And what did He do? Just as
the Father led Him, what He saw. Saint
John 5:19, just... "I do
nothing till the Father shows Me." What was He, made Himself a man.
God was made flesh and dwelled among us. The
Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. God's spoken Word, through a virgin, brought forth a body, and in that
body come the--the Water, the Spirit, and washed by the water of the Word and
then went in Him, dwelt in Him, and there come the Life of God manifesting
Himself through Christ. God was in Christ, the anointed One.
Now,
from these thoughts of Br. Branham’s I would like to take a short subject this
morning on headship, what it really is and what it isn’t.
As you know people can take a scripture
here and a quote there and use them to their own advantage to control other
people by them, and in so doing they lord over the people, because they can use
the Scriptures to control others.
Now, in 1 Peter 5 Peter is addressing those who have a
responsibility as leader among the people, not to take the stewardship of that
leadership lightly, and not to become Lord’s over God’s heritage. 3. Neither
as being lords over God's heritage, but being
ensamples to the flock. 4 And
when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that
fadeth not away. 5 Likewise, ye younger, submit
yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be
clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty
hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting
all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
That is the way I have always tried to lead the
flock of God and my home as well. As an example worth following. Now, I can’t
say I haven’t gotten upset over the years, I still have to deal with the
limited understanding that I do have, and when we come into any situation that
we are not familiar with, we can only draw on what experience we do have to see
us through.
This same peter an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ
taught us that grace and peace are multiplied by our knowledge of God and His
Son Jesus.
2 Peter
1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the
knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 According
as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and
godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and
virtue:
Therefore,
it takes knowledge to bring grace and peace to us, and not just any knowledge
will do, but the Knowledge of God and how he works and how he worked in his son
Jesus.
For in understanding the relationship between God
and His Firstborn son, we then can get an idea of how any situation we are
currently in will work out for our good, ands knowing this brings peace to our
souls in the midst of our trials.
Now, what I wish to present to you this morning is a
better understanding of what headship really is. Because some think that
headship is blind submission, and others think the head is the controller, he
is the ruler, and whatever the head says is the way it is going to be, no
questions asked, no arguments contrary are accepted. I do not believe any husband, Father or
pastor f a church should ever throw their weight around, and expect people to
jump just because the pastor, father or husband says jump.
True headship is a meeting of the minds, and leading
by example. Paul said in 1 Corinthians
11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of
Christ.
Spoken word original seed 62-0318E P:161 You can
only serve God as you do and believe the
servants that God sends. You can only serve God on earth (See?) as God's
servants that's sent on earth by Divine inspiration interprets the Word to you.
You believe that? You want to put down some Scriptures for it? I Corinthians 14:16. Paul
said, "You follow me as I follow Christ."
Also, 11:1; Luke
10:16. See what He said, what Jesus said there: …Now,
let's read. I'm getting to Luke
10:16 here just to read, while you all looking at the
other now, just for a moment. All right, here we are. He that heareth you heareth me; and he that
despises you despises me; and he that despises me despises him that sent
me. That proves that God speaks His message through His servants: always has.
That's right.
So you see, we follow as the person is following
Christ. Where they do not follow Christ we are not bound to follow, and in fact
we had better not follow. And the reason that we follow as the leader follows
Christ is because it is Christ that is leading to begin with.
From his sermon, New
ministry 59-1115 P:74 brother Branham said, Just
remember, you are a sheep; He is the dove.
And the dove leads the lamb. And the lamb and the dove has the same
nature. The dove is the most
gentlest of all the birds of the heavens; a lamb is the most gentlest of all the beasts of the earth. So see,
their spirits would coincide with one
another. Now, the dove could not come on a wolf (See?); it wouldn't stay
there. The wolf is a killer. The lamb is gentle. So you see, it's the lamb and
the dove, and one leading the other.
Lamb and dove 60-0805 P:48 Oh,
what a confirmation to see a lamb and dove come together. heaven and earth
united; God and man united. And one of the sins of the world was kissed away, and
all roughness, and all death, and all sorrow, and all sickness was kissed away,
when the Lamb and Dove become united together. And it'll do the same thing to
you, when It unites with you. When the Dove and the Lamb comes together, their natures are the same. Now, can
you see why people say, ministers with great big clergy names and so forth, of
honorable father, doctor So-and-so, that... How it is they walk, that... Don't
believe that Divine healing stuff; don't believe that holy-roller stuff like
them Pentecostals. Don't believe that." You see? It's a goat instead of a
lamb. See? They eat on the Word of God, is the Food for the Lamb. God leads
them, and the way He led that first Lamb...What if Jesus raised up and said,
"Now, wait a minute. Moses was a great prophet; that's the truth. But them
days are gone." That wouldn't have been the Lamb, wouldn't have been the
Lamb of God. No, sir. He always vindicated, "That is not Me that doeth the
works, It's My Father that dwelleth in Me. If I do not the works of My Father,
believe Me not. But if I do the works of My Father, you can't believe Me,
believe the works." And that's the
way the Lamb was a leading. It was
God in Him. It's God in the church. It's
God in His people today. It's God making Himself manifested through the
Holy Spirit living in the church on His lambs. Do you believe that with all
your heart? Let us bow our heads, just a moment.
Now, therefore, this morning I want to
look at this thought of headship to see what is behind it. For here we see that
Jesus did nothing but what the Father showed him to do. Now, some might glean
from this that Jesus was a slave to His Father. But that is totally wrong to
think that way. Jesus obeyed his Father because of his great love for his Father,
and he had the mind of the Father in Him, because he had the Father’s Spirit in
him leading.
John 14:31 But that
the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go
hence.
John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my
love; even as I have kept my Father's
commandments, and abide in his love.
Now,
compare this attitude also with brother Branham’s attitude.
In his sermon, It is I
61-0517 P:22 But I may not live to hear that, but there's one
thing I do want to hear and I believe I'll hear it. "It was well done, My
good and faithful servant. Enter into the joys of the Lord." That's what
I'm expecting to hear someday. I'm sure He won't disappoint me. And If He does turn me down at the end of the
road, I'll still love Him. If He sends me to hell, and I can still love in
hell, I'll love Him anyhow. See?
So
you see then his obedience to his Father was based on his Love for his Father,
and after all it is His Father’s Life that begat Him and was living in him.
Therefore, we see Jesus Christ the firstborn son was obedient to do and say
what the Father told him to do and say because of His Love for his Father. In fact
Jesus did not look at His Father’s commandments as a matter of harm to him, but
rather as Life eternal.
John 12:50 And I know that his commandment is life
everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so
I speak.
So Jesus respected the commandments of His Father
because he knew that they are life. That is why the dove could lead the lamb up
to
Now, in understanding Headship, what it is and what
it isn’t, First of all, we must understand that the word headship itself comes
from two words combined to bring forth a certain meaning. Those two words of
course are head and ship. Now, it is not too hard to understand what the word head means: we know the word head
refers to that part of the body that is the uppermost part of the body which
contains the brain, and the word head is also commonly referred to as the one
who is in the leadership position.
However the second word “ship” as a suffix means the state or quality of being. So the
word headship refers to the
state or quality of being the head or the state or quality of the one who leads.
Now, this is where some people begin to have
problems, because they have no clue as to what it means to be a leader. Some
men treat their wives as stupid animals that must do whatsoever they desire for
them to do, and that is so inhuman and carnal yet we see that same attitude in
so many places and so many churches throughout the world because the people
just have not been taught right, and so the male dominant spirit lifts its head
and says, you are mine, I own you and you will do what ever I say, and that is
so far from the Truth of Scripture that it is repugnant to even think about it.
But we have been taught different. We have been taught
to let go of our own thinking and receive the mind of Christ. Let this mind be
in you that was in Christ Jesus. The NIV actually states, “Let the attitude that was in Christ Jesus be in
you”. So we are looking at an attitude when we talk about headship. And
to have proper headship there has to be a proper meeting of the mind.
Paul said, Ephesians 5:21
Submitting yourselves one to another
in the fear of God. ONE
TO ANOTHER, to me that is not one-sided submission, but rather a meeting of the
minds in order for harmony in the relationship to exist. Then Paul says, 22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own
husbands, as unto the Lord. (In other words, place him in that
leadership position where you will follow him as he follows Christ.) 23 For the husband is
the head of the wife, even as Christ
is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto
Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
So
how is the church subject to Christ, because that is our example of how the
wife is to be subject to her husband. Christ does not use conditions to his
love. His Love is unconditional. He does not force an unwilling person into
following him. He does not abuse nor use deceit in his approach. He uses the
Word which His Father gave to Him, which is Life.
Now,
the Apostle Paul in the Book of Ephesians when speaking to Husbands showing
them how to love their wives he used a word "kathos" when speaking the words, “Even as”
in reference to the way a husband was to love his wife “even as” Christ loved
the church.
Notice in verse Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is
the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body. Now, here
we see that the word "even as"
means in the same way or in the same manner. We see that this is the way we are
to be united with Christ, in that we must be united with the Word of God, for
God is the Word. Let
this mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. And He is our head,
and as the head we must then let him do our thinking for us. 1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you,
brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same
thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly
joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. And again
we see in Philippians
3:16 Nevertheless,
whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
Now it is interesting to note this word rule
Paul says means to have the same mind and same judgment. In other words; to
have the same standards and same boundaries. But many people think that since
the man is the ruler of his house, and they use quotes to vindicate
themselves, they do not understand that the ruler is simply the first in rank, but has nothing to do with the
way you treat the other. We use a ruler so we have a standard, and our ruler is
Christ the Word, as Paul said, “Follow me as I
follow Christ.” You husbands are to love your wife even as
Christ loved the church, and since he gave himself for the church that is how
you are to love your wife.
Now, the advice that brother Vayle always gave to the
people. He said, “I always told my wife, follow me as I follow
Christ, but if I get away from the Word you are no longer obligated to follow
me.” So ruler-ship has nothing to do with blind servitude. As
brother Branham said, in his sermon, Revelation
4 pt 3 throne mercy 61-0108 P:73 brother Branham just finishes
reading from Ephesians 5 Husbands,
love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for
it;.... (Don't run
over her. If you do that, you're not fit to be a husband. That's right.)
Listen, here it is. Get it now. That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the
washing of the water by the Word. So it must be based on the word, My
opinion in my home is simply that, but if my opinion is not word based then my
opinion is no better than my wife’s opinion or my children’s opinion.
So you see it is not a blind ruler-ship, but a ruler-ship of
the Word by the Word. As I have always
said, “my children, my wife have a right to challenge me if they believe that
what I am asking them to do is against the Word of God.” I have not trained my
children to follow me or any Christian in vain. I have trained them to the Word
of God that is our absolute.
From his
sermon, Christ
and the Cross Brother Vayle said in reading from Ephesians 5:24
Therefore as the
church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in
every thing. (Now, subject unto Christ in every
thing. What's every thing? Christ is
every thing, not the husband's every
thing. It's Christ is every thing. He's got to begin to act a little like
Christ.
And again in
his sermon Shalom #10 he reads from the Scripture and comments, (5) For after this
manner in the old time the holy women also, trusted in God, adorned themselves,
being in subjection unto their own husbands: (6) Even as Sara obeyed Abraham,
calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and (be) not afraid
with any amazement. In other words it’s a
matter of a woman not being fearful of her husband, as though he’s a cold
vessel, and she’s some kind of a servant or a slave. This thing really bothers
her to be in subjection—if she’s got a husband that does not subject her to
those things which she should not be subjected to. But being definitely a good
husband, she’ll be a good wife. Then, It says in verse 7, It clears up… It goes
to husbands. (7) Likewise, ye husbands, dwell
with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto (being)
the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together (with) the grace of (God); that
your prayers be not hindered. Now, what I was looking at here more than
anything else was the companion ability of husband and wife on a scriptural
basis, so that you, when you pray, you know that God is in your behalf. Like
Bro. Branham said, “If I’ve got that wrong spirit, the Spirit of God departs
from me.” In other words, if you and I have a relationship, a wife/husband
relationship that is not a correct relationship, where there is a strain, your prayers don’t get higher than your
nose! Let’s face it, I’m not here to give you my own idea. I’m here to give you
the Word of God. It says that a wrong relationship will hinder prayers. They
just won’t go through.
Now, in getting back to the Scriptures, we pick up at Ephesians 5:25
Husbands, love
your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; Again
we see the word "even as" meaning that husbands
are to love their wives in the same way or the same manner that Christ loved
the church.
Ephesians 5: 29 For no man ever yet
hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord the
church: Again we see that this word "even as" means that
the husband is to cherish his wife in the same way or in the same manner that
Christ cherished the Church.
Ephesians 5:33 Nevertheless let
every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife
see that she reverence her husband. Again in this usage we see the
Apostle Paul use the words "even as" in regards to a man
loving his wife in the same way or in the same manner that he loves Himself.
Now, in all of these usages we see a common occurrence in
that they all speak of equality. That a man loves his wife in an equal manner
as he loves himself, or as Jesus Loves the church. So you see the word
"kathos" which is used in all these Scriptural references speaks of
equality, sameness, etc. Just as the dove leads the lamb because they both have
the same nature. “Even as”.
Where
we begin to have problems is in
understanding just what it means to be a leader. Some think to be the leader
means that those under you are supposed to follow your instruction with blind
submission to your every wish or command. That kind of thinking will only lead
to abuse and outright destruction of those under the command of such who would
think that way. True leadership is being such an example that others will want
to follow your example.
I have always said, that “you can not lead until you have learned to follow”. And that is
true. I have seen too many marriages end in dissolution because the man thought
that since he is the head, she must blindly obey everything he says, and so the
man becomes abusive and uses what ever form of coercion that he can find in
order to get his way.
In the military many of the young officers that used
such methods found themselves shot in the back by so called friendly fire. But
the reality is that the ones under their command did not see an example worthy
to follow, but rather what they saw was someone placed in charge over them who
cared less about them, and considered them mere pawns of that officers and
being used and manipulated for his own aspirations, not considering the danger
he was putting his men through. You see a selfish person is not worthy of
leadership. So then when they saw how that young officer was willing to risk
their lives for his own glory they would shoot him in the back the very first
chance they had.
And I have always thought that way. When I went
through officer training for the Marine corps, the Captain told me that my thoughts on leadership was exactly
what the Marine corps was looking for. Men like me who did not treat others
under my command as lesser than myself, but one who would consider his men as
he considers himself. He said you are what we need in the marine corps. So I
haven’t changed my thoughts on leadership since I was in my early twenties. You
don’t change over night, you are born and raised to think a certain way, and
unless God get’s a hold of you, you will not change your ways. Can a leopard
change it’s spots? The bible says.
You read about it in the papers all the time of women
who were abused physically or psychologically by men who claimed to love them
but only to find out that the man was using them to fulfill his own goals and
aspirations while neglecting her needs. When she would speak up, he would use
physical force or psychological pressure to keep her in her place.
Contrast that with the headship we have in Christ.
His nature is a dove, not a wolf in sheep’s clothing. His Love is genuine, and
not manipulative. His love is unconditional and does not have conditions tied
to it.
Jehovah Jireh 1 64-0402 P:25 Another
thing I want you to notice here in the 12th chapter, that the covenant was altogether unconditional. There was not any
strings attached to it. "I have." Not "If you..." Wasn't no
"ifs" to it. "I have all
ready done it." He give Abraham the covenant unconditionally. And now,
you know in the Adamic covenant, it was "If you don't touch this tree,
then I'll do so-and-so. But if you do, then I'll have to do so-and-so."
See? That had law attached to it. But in this covenant, "I have already
made you a father of many nations." And He's already... It's all
unconditional. The covenant is purely grace, just absolutely grace. Only thing
they had to do to maintain this covenant was stay, and abide in the land. And
every blessing went with the covenant was with them. Only thing they had to do was stay in that land. Now, we find out,
when they went down in
Mark of the beast 61-0217 P:46 God
will make His Word fulfilled, because the covenant is unconditional, not,
"If you will, I will; but I have already done it." That's right. Oh,
I love that.
Even as the Bible types Christ as the groom coming
for his Bride, brother Branham gives illustration the love of the Groom is such
for his Bride that he would never willingly put her through punishment. From
his sermon, Feast
of the trumpets 64-0719M P:75 the Bride
will not go through that time. The Bible says not. The church will, but not the
Bride. Can't you see? Ministers, can't you see that, brethren? You say the
Church has to go through the persecution for the perfection of it. The Blood of Jesus Christ perfects the
Bride. A man who chooses a wife
don't put her through a lot of punishment; he's already found grace with her;
she's found grace with him. He engages
to her. And if there's anything,
he'll keep her from every place to turn her hand. His grace is so great
upon them, and so will it be upon the Bride, and so is it on the Bride.
That
is why the man will get the woman’s car door, and open the door to the house or
restaurant, or he will carry her bags, etc. if he’s a real gentleman, he
doesn’t want her to hurt herself in any way. He’s looking out for her, not for
himself.
Kinsman Redeemer 60-1002 P:24 When a
man loves a woman and marries her because she's just pretty, there'll be an end
to that. But when a man finds a woman
that he loves, he don't know why, but he loves her... And she finds the man
that she loves, no matter what he looks like... He loves her. She loves him.
That's an eternal mate in glory. Death nor nothing else can ever separate
them. Because they are from eternity, and they stepped out into space of time,
and will return back to eternity. Eternity has dropped down in a body called
time, then it goes right back up into eternity again. It cannot perish.
Now, the problem we have in our society is that we
do not seem to know and understand unconditional love. God’s love for us is
unconditional. Remember, He loved us first, then we learn to love him in
return.
But people do not have real love, and many have no
clue as to what love really is and yet they seek it every day, but they are
unable to find it, so they settle for the closest thing they know of, and that
is a disaster every time. That is the way PIMPS get their girls in the big
cities. A young girl may run away from home, or she may just want to move to
the big city from her small town that doesn’t seem to offer her much
opportunity, and so she will get a bus into the big city with a pocket full of
change, and when she gets off the bus, she becomes the target of these
corrupted men who see how vulnerable they are and knowing how to manipulate
that female vulnerability they take advantage of them. First they befriend them
as if they are really interested in the young girl. Then the young girl falls
for the man, because he is the only one who has shown them any love. And then
he gives her drugs, either knowingly or unknowingly, and then he takes
advantage of her sexually, and when she comes around she really thinks he loves
her. But he doesn’t love her, he loves himself, and is just manipulating her so
he can use her for his gain. Then after
he has gotten her used to the “trick” I believe that is what they call it, then
they let the girl get down on her funds and pretty soon they get hard with her,
and manipulate her mind into going to work to make money using her body.
I remember years ago way back in the 70’s when I was
teaching school up in Minnesota they aired a program on 20/20 or some show like
that where they showed these girls coming from the Midwest and going to big
cities like Chicago and New York and that is exactly the way they manipulated
these young girls. And once the girls lost their innocence and felt they had
come to the place of no return, they had them locked into a life of
prostitution and drugs.
But that is not the way of Christ, not the
Christian. The Christian life is living for others, it is not seeking control
over others, but seeks to help others. Brother
Branham said in his sermon, Do you now believe 55-0610 P:28 If you want to be a real outstanding person in
your church, wherever church you go
to, you just fall in love with God with all your heart; and when you do that,
you will fall in love with every member of your church, and every member of everybody else's church with all your heart. Now,
you can't bluff that. Now, there's something about it that people know. If
there's anything I can contribute the success of my meetings to, earthly
speaking, is to know that people consciously know that I truly love people. I
just love people. And they know that. And you can't fool them on that. If you
are making out, or pretending... 29 Just like Christianity, if you're pretending to
be a Christian, just pretending, rather, to be a Christian, you will never make
a go of it. No, sir. It's absolutely got to be there. That's all. Love will do
it. I have been a great lover of wild life. You know that. And I've noticed in
animal life, if you love animals, if you love them, you can do anything with
them you want to. And if you don't love them, they know it. And if you're
afraid of them, like a biting dog, if somebody said, "The dog will
bite," if you're afraid of him,
you're sure going to get bit. See? Now, you're not going to fool him. You might say, "I'm not afraid
of him," but you... That better come from somewhere besides your lips,
'cause he knows better. See? Now, if you're not afraid of him, it's different.
Now, look, in getting back to headship, I mean true
headship, let us use the example Paul used of the Body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:1 Now
concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you
ignorant. But the problem is that too many people are ignorant. So
let’s read what he had top say so they would not be ignorant. 2 Ye know
that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.
So
we are looking at what it is here that so many were led into error by.
3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man
speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say
that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
So
remember, Paul is telling us where they were led away into error. He says,
there are many gifts but only one spirit that leads and guides those gifts. As
brother Vayle said to me years ago, “do not look at the
vessel, buy look to see who is using that vessel.” And if it is
God then follow, but if it is man then stay clear of it.
5 And there are differences
of administrations, but the same Lord.
Now, as we continue, I want you to see what Paul is driving
at… Notice all of what he says is that there are many of this but only one spirit
motivating and moving, many of that but only one Lord over all that.
6 And
there are diversities of operations,
but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But
the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. Notice that the gifts and administrations and operations may
be very different or diversified, but behind all of it there is Only One Lord,
only One Spirit leading and guiding all in all. That is why I never like to
hear people say, “my church this” and “your church that”. Because to do so is
carnal. There is one church and it is a universal church, and it has members
all around the world. There is only one body and by one spirit we are all baptized
into that one body.
Now, watch how Paul continues in verse 8 For to
one is given by the Spirit
the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another
faith by the same Spirit; to
another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of
miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another
divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of
tongues: 11 But all
these worketh by that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 12 For as the body is one, and hath
many members, and all the members of that one
body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For
by one Spirit are we all baptized into
one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and
have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say,
Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore
not of the body?16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not
the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If
the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God
set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased
him. 19 And if they were all one member, where
were the body? 20 But now are they many members,
yet but one body. 21 And
the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to
the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more
those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less
honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath
tempered the body together,
having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked: 25 That
there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And
whether one member suffer, all the
members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the
members rejoice with it. 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God hath set some in the
church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that
miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities
of tongues. 29 Are all
apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of
miracles? 30 Have all the
gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31 But
covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
Now
in closing, here is what I believe to be the truth about headship. I learned
this last week as I had to deal with many parts of my body that were suffering
due to my fall and could not operate as they are accustomed to working.
The head is given to join together all the members
into one body to work together for the edification or building up of the body.
So if the leg is injured the head does not try to make the leg do what it
doesn’t have strength to do. It says to the other body parts, the leg is not
feeling good, and can not bear its wait, so other leg, and arms and body, do
what you can to help out the leg. So the arm reaches out for things to hold
onto until it can balance itself on the one good leg, then the body just works
together to get the job done.
When my head was not working right, and my vision
would begin to spin, and I would loose my balance, out went the arms, the legs
slowed down, and began to correct the direction of the body, and the whole body
worked together for the good. So you see headship is not what so many think it
is. And a man is not entitled to headship just because he is male, and she is
female. Headship is Christ. Headship is having the mind of Christ, like brother
Vayle said, when the wife is to be in subjection to all things, “Christ is the
all things she is subject to, not his every whim or lust that he may concoct in
his little pea brain. The wife is a help mate not a horse or jackass that can
be commanded to do this or that. She is a Queen, so start treating her as a
Queen and she will treat you as a King, is she has any sense to her at all.
Paul said that the husband was the head of the wife
and Christ is the head of the husband, but too many husbands do not follow the
leadership of Christ, so why should they expect their wife to follow them? Paul
said, “follow
me as I follow Christ”, so in essence we are not following the
man but we are following Christ, and He is the Word.
Remember, “Head-ship
is the quality or state of being the head”. The quality or state of
being a leader. But not all know that leadership must be earned. You can’t lead
until you know how to follow. And you can not lead until you can lead by
example. And you can not lead righteously unless you are following the
righteous one, and then it is not you who is leading but He is leading, and you
are all following Him.
Let us pray…