Today, we continue with our series on Discipleship.
Our last conversation was on Accountability which we will
be concluding today
To refresh our memories, can anyone remember our various definitions of Accountability?
“Accountability is having someone you
submit to. Not only do you tell them about what you have done/going to do, you
also respect/honor them enough to take corrections from them” - Samson
“Accountability is submission to the
people or person we have chosen to be accountable to.” - Sumi
Q: WHY IS ACCOUNTABILITY IMPORTANT IN DISCIPLESHIP?
Ans1“This is because discipleship requires consistent training and
discipline.” - Sumi
Ans2 “The first disciples were accountable to one another. Timothy had
Paul. It is very important to have someone that can tell us the hard truths,
encourage us, pray with us and support us. The discipleship journey is a long,
hard one. We need all the help we can get.” – Samson
Thank you so much for sharing guys. We will continue from where we stopped the last time.
“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as
also ye do.” 1Thess 5:11 KJV
“being subject to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Ephesians
5:21 AMP
To be subject is to put yourself under another. As I mentioned the last
time, there is no accountability without submission. A proud person cannot be
accountable.
Accountability requires a certain level of ‘teachability’, openness and
humility. If you meet a believer (especially a leader) that does not have up to
three people they are accountable to, there is an issue.
People say one person but my personal benchmark is three because sometimes,
the counsel of one person can lead astray; especially if they can't talk to you
or you withhold from them.
One of the major issues I have seen in the body of Christ is that most of us
choose mentors that are outside our reach. Remember I mentioned the
mentor-mentee relationship is a good form of accountability? More like the
easiest in this clime.
Imagine me saying I'm accountable to Daddy Adeboye but Daddy Adeboye doesn't
know my daddy talk more of knowing me 🌚. How does he check me
when I'm doing something wrong? How do I reach out to him before I even do
anything at all?
The reason so many of us are not accountable to the people we can reach is
not because we already have accountability partners, it is largely because we
cannot submit.
Again, pride!
Accountability is not being obedient to another human being or them bossing
you around; rather, it is a check and balance system that helps you stay on
track with God. It helps bring you to greater obedience to Christ. Accountability is targeted at your growth
in Christ.
Whoever you've chosen to be accountable to has just one goal in mind, your
growth. So sometimes you may not like the process or even the level of
invasion but look at the bigger picture: YOUR Growth.
IS ACCOUNTABILITY BIBLICAL?
So I saw a tweet about two years ago where someone said the bible doesn't
encourage us to have accountability partners, it is not a scriptural
instruction.
First, we've broken down what accountability is to us, now we will move to
checking if this is biblical.
“Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty [conceited,
self-important, exclusive], but associate with humble people [those with a
realistic self-view]. Do not overestimate yourself.” Romans 12:16
AMP
·
PAUL AND TITUS
Titus was accountable to Paul.
Now, here's a catch. Titus and Paul were friends, yet, he was accountable to
Paul. He was referred to as a spiritual son a number of times too (this is for
you people that frown against men of God or revered men in faith being called
daddy, please it is biblical 😁). If you are not
humble, you will almost say Paul was too bossy with the way he gave out
instructions to Titus.
However, it is way beyond this. Paul was a mentor and spiritual father to
him and Titus was accountable to Paul.
Accountability is not possible without
submission.
·
PAUL AND TIMOTHY
We see a relationship of accountability between Paul and Timothy also. Paul
was responsible for these men, so he sought out their growth and success in
ministry.
SO HOW CAN WE MODEL THIS IN OUR CHURCH TODAY?
1. Your local church
This is your first accountability place. You must submit to the leaders in
your local church. If you are in a place where you can't submit, please leave. It
is important that there is someone watching over you both in prayers and
physically.
Now, for churches that are very big and you get lost in the crowd, is
accountability possible?
Yes! (For most big churches that I know of)
There are units, departments and cell groups in most churches. This is not
just so you are serving or working for the church, it is a discipleship measure
too.
If nobody knows you in your church, there is a huge problem and this is me
putting in lightly. This is your primary feeding place, it is your storehouse.
So it is very important that you are seen by any form of leadership in that
congregation and have people watching over you.
How many of us are in church units here?
Please if you don't have a church you attend or call home, send me a
private message
I personally am against believers not going to church or having a home.
We've not been called to a lonesome journey. And no! Word Alive is not a
church. Find a church please.
Except for those that can't attend church yet due to persecution. The rest
of us? You have to be planted in a local church.
2. The Holy Spirit (but not limited to)
This probably should have been number 1. The Holy Spirit is our voice of
reason. He leads us in this path of righteousness and we should be accountable
to Him
He says a thing? Follow.
Note that I said not limited to.
If the only person you are accountable to is the Holy Spirit, you are lying to
yourself o.
Even Papa Adeboye has people he is accountable to. So yes, be accountable to
the spirit. It is a must. But you are not limited to this.
Also, your level of accountability to men stems from here. I can tell if you
are a stubborn person to the Holy Spirit from conversations. The way you submit
to people is an outflow of your submission to the spirit. If you struggle to
submit to people, check this place very well.
3. Parents
This is a major form of accountability but so many of us in this part of the
world do not even have good relationships with our parents so this is usually
removed. I was almost going to remove this from my list also but the Spirit
says to keep it because we will be better parents to our kids.
We will take up the responsibility given to us by God Almighty.
4. Mentor/Mentee Relationships
I think most people do this and it is very advisable. Just make sure your
mentor is reachable/accessible to you. Let them also have a sense of
responsibility over you. If not, they may not be assertive when you are moving
wrongly. The people you are accountable to should not look at your face at all
and be ready to tell you the truth even if you will cry after. Of course, they
shouldn't do this in a demeaning manner, they should instead do it in the most
effective way possible but if it still seems tough, their duty is to convey the
message.
5. Friends
This is one form of accountability that is looked down on and that is
largely because most of us are not submissive aka we are prideful. It is also the easiest form of accountability
and very effective too.
I would likely tell my mentor about the big decisions in my life so I'm not
disturbing them. But you see those small decisions? They make up a lot of our
life experiences and are equally important. We are most likely to share these
tiny decisions with our close friends or people around us.
First, we must surround ourselves with Godly people. Men that fear God and
also have an understanding of your purpose. Your friendships should not just be
gossips and gist about other people.
Build wholesome friendships.
Get people that will speak over your life and stand with you in fulfilling
purpose. Surround yourself with men that will know when you are moving away
from purpose and correct you.
“As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his
friend.” Proverbs 27:17 NKJV
“Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with
his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.” Ephesians 4:25
NKJV
Surround yourself with people that will speak truth to you, people that will
push you towards purpose.
Who are your friends? Ask yourself this please.
I sense some of us will need to reshuffle our friendship lists. It is not
just about having good friends now that we can be accountable to. You, can you
submit to your friend? Or you are the type that must have the final word in
everything?
We know it is your life o, but God has placed people in it to help you.
Submit!
Your friends are likely to also not say anything to you if they notice you
don't listen to others.
6. Small groups and cells
This goes beyond prayer groups or bible study.
You know the way Word Alive is, where we are not just praying and sharing
scripture together but sharing our lives, we discuss all that we are going
through; wins, Ls, burdens, Ideas, Successes, Relationships, name it.
This part of the group is what breeds accountability. This was the vision
for Word Alive when we started. Somehow, we've grown in numbers and it's becoming
difficult to achieve this because some people are slower than others in easing
into the process. But God has given us a mandate on discipleship for this
season which we will introduce in the second half of the year.
By God's Grace, we will be having smaller cells to share our lives with.
This way, we can keep tab on growth and offer maximum help to ourselves.
Everyone can truly belong to the community regardless of temperament and fit in
perfectly. I will share with us in due time when this will start.
Also, if you've not been maximizing this family, I am giving you side eye o.
Not because I am the head of Word Alive but I tell you, this is a community for
you. There is no way you are committed here that you won't grow. I have
receipts in human form for this o.
You also are blessed with friends here. I know people that are starting
businesses from here, people going into marriages, people with forever friends
too that even me as founder cannot come in between.
Don't live in Isolation.
Embrace that which the Lord has provided for you.
If you don't talk to anyone off the group or find it difficult making
friends here and you would love to, kindly reach out to me, please.
There is only one goal for all of these activities: Your Growth
But first, you will have to prioritize that growth by making decisions in
the right direction.
I will like to quickly add that
you shouldn't do anything with anyone in isolation or in secrecy o. I use God to
beg you. If anybody ‘cuts eye for you’, please tell me.
If anyone is trying to enter any
kind of relationship with you (Business, romantic, friendship), please casually
share with me. It is very important. This is to avoid people preying on others
If you also like someone and would
love to be with them, kindly reach out to me also. Note that I do not have the
power to stop anything o. It is just for accountability's sake, and to avoid
stories that will break us up as a family. I am definitely not directly
interfering in your personal businesses 😁. But I may happen to know something you
don't know, so please I'm begging reach out to me if you ever find yourself in
any of these situations.
