Striving Together

A Study on Accountability

Who here works out or runs on a regular basis? Well, if you aren’t, you should. It’s healthy for you no matter what walk of life you’re in. It reduces inflammation. That’s all I cared to know aside from it makes you stronger and possibly look better. While I don’t quite have the body of Chris Hemsworth, I definitely have been getting stronger and feeling better. However, I did not accomplish this on my own. How many of us when we try to start a routine, or a plan can’t get past a few weeks before we find ourselves just returning to the old stuff we were doing? It’s hard to stay at it by yourself. It takes a tremendous amount of discipline. How many of you that do work out or run, do it with a friend or buddy? I have a very good friend, from Nigeria actually, that I train with that has helped me out and encouraged me through this past year in the gym and on trumpet. He is a trumpet performance major like me. The first thing I noticed working out with him is that it was a lot easier to find motivation to go to the gym after a long day when it was with a friend. It was even easier when he would throw in, your lazy boy or something else. However, the next thing I noticed when I worked out without him one day, was the need for a spotter. When you go to the gym, most of the time, you go to get stronger. This comes from the use of either adding more weight or doing less weight for more reps. Chief of working out and getting stronger is to do most sets till failure. When you don’t have a spotter, you tend to not want to go till failure. When I had my buddy spotting me, I would do 8-10 reps with the last few assisted. However, without I was only getting like 6-8 reps, cause I didn’t want to not be able to bring the weight back up. This is like what we deal with in the church. As God’s people we are not supposed to do this journey alone. We need to work together for the common goal which is to be like Christ and to build his kingdom. However, all of us need to be pushed, encouraged, and sharpened by our fellow brethren in order to accomplish this. We need to strive together. Today, if you have your Bibles, we will be in the book of second Samuel. Starting in chapter 12 in verse one. We will be talking about accountability and what we need from it and how to apply it in our own lives.

“And the LORD sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds, 3 but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. 4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” 5 Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the LORD lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”

7 Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. 8 And I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. 9 Why have you despised the word of the LORD, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ 11 Thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’ ” 13 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” And Nathan said to David, “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the LORD, the child who is born to you shall die.” 15 Then Nathan went to his house.” 2 Sa 12:1–15.

David has sinned against the Lord. He committed the act of adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite. He also had Uriah basically murdered by putting him on the front lines of the hardest point of war and tried to cover it up. We know that the Lord sees all and he reveals this thing to Nathan who is the seer or prophet of this time and we begin in this chapter where Nathan rebukes David for his sin against almighty God. David as the king of God’s chosen race is put in charge to lead the people Israel down the path of righteousness. While David is said to be a man after God’s own heart, we see a few times in scripture where his own got the better of him. While we might be quick to judge many of us today, and I include myself, will find ourselves doing this on the daily. We forget where the prophet Jeremiah said that the heart is deceitful and utterly sick. So much so, that we make a statement to say to follow your heart. Quite readily the application comes to be someone after God’s own heart. We see from this story of David and Nathan the idea of accountability, which is a word not in the Bible, but a concept it presents none the less. I believe we can learn six things about accountability from this passage first that:

Accountability reminds us of our need for the church. When we study God’s word, we are reminded many times of our need to strive for Christ and to strive for perfection. Paul in each one of his letters has passages describing this. I think of Colossians 3 when he describes it as putting on the new self. He says you need to seek the things that are above and to set your minds on the things that are above. He gives two examples which really mean the same thing. However, it draws the importance to constantly focus and seek the things that are above, meaning Christ and Christ like behavior. We strive to become like Christ. However, the Bible also expresses that we don’t do this alone. Brother Chris has been going through the book of Acts which is a study on the early works of the church. A study of God’s people on God’s mission. The word to note is people. We are in this together. Whether we like it or not we strive together. However, the important thing to remember is that we do need this. We look at Nathan and David in this account. David, being the king of God’s people Israel, had fallen into this sin of adultery. What does God do? God sends Nathan. God could have spoken to him through a vision (he’s done this before). He could’ve sent an angel (he’s done this before). He sent the prophet or seer Nathan a man apart of God’s people to confront him of his sin. This is because God uses God’s people to help build them up in righteousness. We all know the proverb, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another”. This is how the church functions. We build each other up in righteousness. Paul says just this in 1st Thessalonians 5:11-18, “11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” It is the will of Christ Jesus that we admonish one another and encourage and build each other up in righteousness. Not out of competition to be more like Christ, but out of a common goal to glorify Him and Him alone.

Accountability reminds of the need for God’s Word and his truth. When rebuking David about his sin he reveals to him the law of God. He reveals to him the truth of the ten commandments. The sin of adultery and the sin of murder. One of the most important tools, aside from prayer, when correcting one’s own sin or the revealing the sin of another is the word of God. Paul puts it this way in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 when he said, “All scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” Every good work is attained by the understanding of scripture. This is because the word is good the word Logos is God, and he is good. You notice what it says in verse 9, “Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in the sight of the Lord”. Nathan the prophet was the instrument for God’s voice for the people of God and for David. God spoke through Nathan as he speaks through his word today. When we sin against God there is nothing new under the sun, all has been revealed to us in his word. When we sin it is a direct choice that we are accountable for.

Accountability reminds us of the consequences of our sin. Not many people consider the consequences of our sin. For those of us who believe and are saved by God the wages of our sin is paid by God’s grace displayed through his son’s work on the cross. However, our sin still has consequences. David was described as being a man after God’s own heart many times, but let’s look at what his sin caused. First, he says, “Therefore the sword shall never part from your house”. There is meaning in this phrase of living by the sword. Jesus, in his teachings on earth as we recall, once said, “For all who take the sword will perish by the sword” to the disciple who struck one of the servants sent to seize Jesus before the crucifixion. When we look further into scripture and we see his desire to build God a temple what does it say, “You have shed much blood and have waged great wars. You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood before me on the earth”. Second, he says, “Behold I will raise evil against you out of your own household”. We know when read later on about his son Absalom who tried to kill him and take the throne. Thirdly, we see he says, “And I will take away your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of the sun”. Fourthly, we see him say, “the child who is born to you shall die”. David’s sin had great consequences and so do ours.

The next thing accountability reminds us of is our need for a savior. The weight of our sin is great. Do you ever pray to God to reveal himself more to you so that you will not want to sin against him? Then you find yourself more convicted you realize the weight of even the smallest sin in front of a holy God. Our sin not only has the consequences of affecting others, but also ourselves. Romans 3:23 for the wages of sin is death. Thankfully, God provided us salvation, through his son, our savior, Jesus Christ. However, we noticed something more.

Accountability reminds us of our need for repentance and confession. Verse 13 says, “David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord”. Repentance and confession is at the forefront of our faith. If we cannot repent of our sin and realize our position to God, the Bible says we cannot be saved. Jesus in Luke chapter 13 speaks of the urgency of repentance when he said, “No, I tell you; unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” We need to repent of our sin to be in right standing with God. We look at the well-known Psalm that David wrote in Psalm 51. It reads, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit.” We see quite clearly again that repentance and confession are for our salvation, but also to be in right standing with God. As Christians we believe in once saved always saved and that nothing can snatch us out of God’s hand. We believe also that one who says he is without sin is a liar. Coming to Christ doesn’t mean we stop sinning. While it is our goal to be rid of it, this is the purpose of sanctification, we still sin and struggle even daily. This hinders our relationship with God and the Holy Spirit that resides within us. A lack of repentance can also hinder a relationship with others. We already talked about the consequences of sin, but it should be reminded the idea of unrepented sin. Who remembers the story of Achan and his buried treasure. Achan is a Jew in the book of Joshua, who sinned against God by taking the devoted things of the Lord from Jericho and buried it in his tent. This unrepented sin led to the Israelites defeat at Ai. We must repent and confess our sin. So, it doesn’t affect our ministry. However, we finally see that repentance can affect our worship. Do you ever find that when you go to worship with an unconfessed sin on your heart or when you have a problem with a brother or sister in Christ, it’s all you think about? Manser and Beaumont reason in their book that “The priority of the heart is seen in the fact that worship and prayer can be hindered by wrong relationships, motives and attitudes. The Christian faith is not like some magic cult where the act of worship itself brings benefit; worship derives its value from our heart.” This is true when we read in scripture in the sermon on the mount, when Jesus spoke about anger to one’s brother. He said, in chapter 5 verse 21-26, “21 You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.” We must learn from David about repentance, that we must be quick to repentance and confession so that it doesn’t affect our relationship with God himself, others in God, and our worship of God.

I think it is lastly important that accountability reminds us of the need of an accountability partner. The word accountability is a concept, and it is a word that is not found in the Bible. Neither is the term accountability partner. However, there are many instances where we can see it in action in the Bible. Among these is the story of David and Nathan. While accountability partner is not a word in the Bible, discipleship is. And we are commanded to do that (the great commission). We can notice a few things from Nathan’s approach when we hold each other accountable. First, we go to that person in a way that is familiar to them. We notice that David is a lover of arts and Nathan goes up to him with a parable. Brothers and sisters in Christ we should fellowship and know each other in a way that we can relate to them and grow together. Secondly, we present the truth. This is a hard point. A lot of people misuse the term truth in love to mean you don’t tell the truth. Chief among these examples is this “Christian LGBT” movement in the church. We’re too busy “loving” that we’re not telling the truth. It’s almost paradoxical if you don’t take time to understand. If we don’t understand the truth, we don’t know Jesus (John 6), because he is truth and if we don’t know Jesus then we don’t know love (1st John). We must speak the truth and that itself is in love. However, we mustn’t forget a common problem with this, is adding your own opinion. We speak the truth and only the truth. You notice here that Nathan speaks only what God reveals to him to speak. In none of it does he share his opinion on the matter. So, many of us today, me included, think that the truth includes our opinion on the matter, but this is false. This is where we can get instances where our loving accountability for each other turns from accountability to passing judgment and this is not for us to do. Which is why thirdly, we point to repentance and confession towards God. God is the ultimate Judge and we are accountable to him and him alone. The Bible speaks in the end that we will give an account to no one other that God. Therefore, as brothers and sisters in Christ we point others to God.

As we close today, remember that we will all give an account before God almighty. The sole purpose will by whose you are. For the nonbeliever in here today, this life may sound challenging, and it is. However, there is no greater joy than knowing the one who creates you and sustains you. Then the further joy of seeing him when time is no more. I urge you to repent of your sins and come to Jesus and call him Lord. For the believers in here today, remember that growing in Christ is something we do together. Which is why the Bible stresses discipleship. Discipleship does not happen enough. The proof that it doesn’t, lies in the fact of all these empty seats. Not to be filled with new people off the street, while this is good, but to be filled with people that are already members. If true Christian discipleship and accountability occurred, we wouldn’t worry about churches dying out, because discipleship has a multiplication effect. If true discipleship occurred, we wouldn’t question when’s the last time we evangelized. If true discipleship occurred, we wouldn’t question the last time we served someone. We must seek to build each other up in righteousness. We must encourage one another and strive together so that God may be glorified in our life and that we may build his kingdom.