30th September 2020
EXCOMMUNICATION
David Abankwah
SERIES: Day 4
But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. SO YOU SHALL PUT AWAY THE EVIL FROM YOUR MIDST.
-Deuteronomy 13:5 | NKJV
When God took the Israelites from Egypt, He gave them guidelines on how to excommunicate people from church. The Old Testament was the shadow of Christianity to come. What was so serious about the Old Testament excommunication was that, those who sinned, were usually killed in the process. It was either they were stoned or they were dealt with by God of which we knew as instant judgement. In Deuteronomy 13:5, we got to know that one of those eligible for excommunication was a false Prophet or a dreamer who speaks to entice or to deceive the people from the way of the Lord into idolatry, should be excommunicated from their midst.
Excommunication does not know whether someone is gifted. Excommunication does not know whether someone is talented. Excommunication does not know whether someone is rich. Excommunication does not know whether someone is wealthy. Excommunication does not know whether someone is a leader. So many people respect and honour ministers who can see things and tell them what is to come. Even if the prophecies they told them of, do not come to pass, they look unconcerned. False prophecy is a serious issue because from the Old Testament until now, God has been having issues with false Prophets.
The ministry of Evangelists, Teachers, Apostles and Pastors is Word-based. Thus they quote from the Bible before they can carry on with their exposition. But that is not what Prophets do. They don’t quote from the Bible. What they say is: ‘God says this; God says that; God told me to say this to you and what have you. So how will you know that what they say is from God or not? The ministry of Prophets and Dreamers is virtually the same because God reveals Himself to them to give them the spoken Word and confirms it with the Written Word. True Prophecy does not conflict with the Written Word or the Bible and we can test the prophecy with the Word of God.
But that is not the case of which we find ourselves now. Even in the churches today when false Prophets and Dreamers predict and it doesn’t come to pass, many don’t test their prophecies with the Word of God. One of the essence why elders are instituted in the church is the purpose of excommunication so when one of the five-fold ministers sins, they can be excommunicated. The church is not the property of any human being. It is Christ’s. No Shepherd or Minister of the church is ever above excommunication when the person sins and church elders must excommunicate fallen Ministers based on what they have heard, seen, and can testify about them.
•| Prayer Diary |•
Lift up prayers for divine diligence and adherence to the Truth of carrying out your ministry without being lured into false ministry so you will not be excommunicated in the name of Jesus Christ.
Quote
One of the purposes of instituting church elders is for the purpose of excommunication of fallen Ministers.
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© 2020 David Abankwah
David Abankwah 