Accountabilty
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Service Notes
Service Notes
Austin Till will be preaching on Thursday
I request prayer for some conversations I hope to have this coming weekend
Accountability; Travel
Introduction
Introduction
Story of being at the dentist with Tinsley
This is a term I hear often. I am not sure if I hear it often enough but I am more concerned that it is understood.
Education is defining terms.
Consistent accountability has been a means of God’s protection in my life. 1 Cor 10:12 “12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
God fearing people know we need one another
God fearing people know we need one another
Malachi 3:16 “16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: And the Lord hearkened, and heard it, And a book of remembrance was written before him For them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.”
16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: And the Lord hearkened, and heard it, And a book of remembrance was written before him For them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.
Not everyone can benefit from accountability but we should be the kind of men who do.
Not everyone can benefit from accountability but we should be the kind of men who do.
1. We are to fear the Lord.
To fear the Lord is to tremble at the thought of offending him by unbelief and disobedience.
It is the very opposite of the attitude of the people in verses 13–15 who speak with an incredible arroagnce. "It doesn't pay to serve God." Malachi 3:13-15 “13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee? 14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: And what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, And that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts? 15 And now we call the proud happy; Yea, they that work wickedness are set up; Yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.”
13 Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee? 14 Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: And what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, And that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts? 15 And now we call the proud happy; Yea, they that work wickedness are set up; Yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.
Those who fear God shudder at the thought of speaking that way about their Father.
2. We listen to His Word. - Hearken, Heard, Remember
And a book of remembrance was written before him For them that feared the Lord,
People who do not value God’s Word will not value you reminding them of it
3. Serving
We are to be the kind of people who serve God the way a son serves a father.
Malachi 3:17 “17 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, In that day when I make up my jewels; And I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.” contrast to v. 14
17 And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, In that day when I make up my jewels; And I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
It is the difference between the service of a son and the service of a slave. It's the difference between the younger brother and the elder brother in the parable of the the Prodigal Son.
God will hear, remember, and spare those who fear Him as we should
God will hear, remember, and spare those who fear Him as we should
This will bring a distinction between our lives and that of unbelievers. Malachi 3:18 “18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, Between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.”
18 Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, Between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.
Our role is limited
Our role is limited
But we need to remember that our role in helping others fight sin is a human role. We correct and reprove, but we’re not responsible to convict their hearts of everything. That’s the Holy Spirit’s job.
Someone called and asked if I would listen to their confession.
Realize sin brings a lack of clarity and logic
Realize sin brings a lack of clarity and logic
Proverbs 9:7-9 “7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: And he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. 8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.”
7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: And he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. 8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
There are all kinds of ways in which sin affects your thinking
Sin in your heart will work to convince your head that you are above correction.
Or above correction from that person.
Or that acknowledging someone’s correction is to make yourself weak.
Sin grows and kills
Sin grows and kills
James 1:15 “15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
John Owen warned, “Do not say, ‘Thus far it shall go and no farther.’ If it have allowance for one step, it will take another.”
Small sins grow into great sins.
That should sober us, but there’s also encouragement in it.
The best way to confront great sins is to kill them before they’re grown.
Characteristics of Life-Giving Accountability
Characteristics of Life-Giving Accountability
Accountability takes place inside of friendships
We should express a genuine love for one another because God had transformed our friendship into sisterhood. We were devoted to one another John 15:17 “17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.”
17 These things I command you, that ye love one another.
Accountability requires honesty
Each of us had an opportunity to be honest, which we may not have accomplished had we not established the habit. Ephesians 4:25 “25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.”
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Accountability requires extending grace
We could display the love and grace that God had already extended through the judgment of Jesus on the cross Romans 14:13 “13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.”
13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.
Accountability requires humility
There were times we would need to extend forgiveness. Honest friendship sometimes leads to hurting one another. Also as one person might go through a season of struggling with the same temptation we’d learn to bear with our friend Romans 12:16 “16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.”
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Accountability requires carrying a burden
We bore each other’s burdens in prayer Gal 6:2 “2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.