Friendly accountability is a willing, mutual commitment to grow in faith, honesty, and obedience to Jesus. This teaching explores mentoring, covenant relationships, correction, and ministry teamwork.
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(Acts 17:11: Please learn to do your own Bible Studies like this one – here)
An Introduction
It is abundantly clear in the Bible – our God-given manual for life as apprentices of Jesus, that Jesus chose 12 – and out of those John, Peter and James – whom He trained intensely to be leaders – apostles in His church. He also trained the 70 “others” – and sent them out and it also worked for them – what they had been trained to do.
Our Present Problem
So many of us come from an attitude of having mistrust as our means of security. We choose fear as our security instrument. Hesitation and unbelief, criticism and accusation function as our protection. Disobedience has become a chosen way of life. We tackle leaders with a foundation of doubt and skepticism. Why? It is sometimes taught by parents and schools. Why? “Power corrupts”, they say, and “Absolute power corrupts absolutely”. The distance in trust and relationship is often formed by hurts, due to society, due to demons, due to injustice, due to trauma, due to people transgressing our boundaries. Our distrust leads to rebellion – which also reflects to varying degrees against God – and here lies our deepest and biggest problem.
God has absolute power and the power of absolute trust – and if God is not absolutely good – God cannot be 100% trusted.
If we distrust God – it is idolatry – and idolatry is sin, and it is demon worship – for it is worship of a false God – a God who we define as someone – who cannot be trusted. So, it is a hurting, lying, evil, hard-hearted, injust god – who is not the real god – but a demon.
The Solution
How do you deal with this in the right way?
There is only one perfect way, that actually works completely. You exonerate God! How? By only always seeing the Father, God, God – the Son, Jesus the Christ, and Holy Spirit – through the lenses of the blood, the suffering, the death, the utter sacrifice and rejection of Jesus by ALL – including the Father and the Holy Spirit – on the cross. That is perfect love – proven (His) – against perfect injustice – proven (ours).
You judge and estimate, you evaluate, you scrutinize and weigh carefully. Is Jesus love in action – forever? Is He alive and trustworthy forever? Is His Word the same? Does He and His loving real extreme suffering for me HOLD AND STAND during the hardest trials?
If in doubt – contact me! But there is no doubt. The CROSS is LOVE.
The Result?
You get ONE HUGE BIG GIANT TRUTH, LOVE, CARE, FRIENDSHIP FILTER THROUGH JESUS ON THE CROSS. THIS IS THE ONLY GOOD TRUE ETERNAL IDENTITY FILTER THAT ACTUALLY WORKS PERFECTLY!
If yes – then let Him and let His Word – the reliable Bible – become your filter personally for yourself, and your standard by which you evaluate everything.
Now it makes sense to first “fear” = obey first – Jesus, following His example first in the following way and order:
- Trust God wholeheartedly: Completely trust only Jesus. Only the Word. Only the Spirit. Only the Father. He is eternally perfect humble, gentle mild, just, truthful love at heart!
- See the wonderful character traits of God here:
- Do not trust people – wholeheartedly – no matter how high in rank and authority or how close they are to you relationally – including yourself: Only trust yourself and others to a healthy degree of mistrust. Jesus did that here (John 2:24). He said this lives in the heart of humans (Mark 7:20-23). It’s a percentage game. No matter if they move in mighty miracles. That’s not a sign they are perfect in character and fully trustworthy. That’s just a sign, they have faith for miracles. And agree only to submit to anything that is first sanctioned and done by Father, Son, Spirit and filtered through the Fathers love-letter, the manual for life, the written Word – inspired by the Spirit and written by the Living Word – Jesus – the Bible. Jesus was the perfect God-man. Read the 4 stories of His life. We must set healthy boundaries – so we do not get discouraged by the bad behavior of ANY people – including parents, friends, spouses, children, leaders in the church, country etc. – including ourselves – for we are the same!! Compare yourself and others to Jesus – all the time. How do you personally do this right and better and better? Set your focus in your mind on the Spirit – not on the flesh and sinful nature in you!
- This is how we personally win and personally do this right: Romans 8:5-6 – 5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.
- Never trust demons: To completely distrust all spiritual entities (demons) that are not indwelling in us as Daddy, Brother, Helper or an angel directly from Heaven. Test EVERY spirit if they are of God! How (1 John 4:1-3 + 2 Corinthians 11:14 + My writeup on the Spiritual world from a Christian perspective: https://1drv.ms/w/s!AjvPa8m88R2Bjc4sj2MfvZ0OE8DNUg): “Do you confess as your MASTER and do you SERVE Jesus Christ who is God in the flesh – Who died and rose again and with His blood purchased humans from Satan?” The answer to that question when posed to a spirit – has to be crystal clear and a sermon from Heaven about the blood, the cross, the victory of Jesus Christ over all demons by His blood. If there is any hesitation – and any holding back – or any disinterest in the full wording of this confession – it’s a demon! (James 2:19)
- Character traits of demons: https://1drv.ms/w/s!AjvPa8m88R2Bjo9HOEr0KnAiUEbvOA
- Listen to this testimony as well: https://youtube.com/watch?v=fkSKMuyJk4Q
Test everything; hold on to what is good.
Now – You Are Ready For The Next Step, But Only If You Have Fully Trusted The Heart Of The Father, Son, And Spirit
We can now trust God fully. And we have an effective filter with which to trust in humans – including ourselves. And trust is the foundation of willing obedience from the heart. Trust is the foundation of learning and receiving and choosing to change.
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
And His commands are ONLY good, gentle, humble, heart commands. He serves us by teaching us and by showing us how in His own life – and His commands where there is an absolute match between saying and doing and living.
1 Corinthians 11:1 Paul wrote:
Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.
2 Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. 5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
This is how healthy friendly accountability works and sounds
1 Corinthians 4:14-21 NIV – 14 I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children. 15 Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church. 18 Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. 21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline, or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?
He is warning – not to shame – because they are his children.
So – let’s go into life seeking to have fathers, mentors, disciplers of us – close, relational, encouraging – and let’s be the same to others.
Shift to other docs
- Word – The Orphan Spirit: https://1drv.ms/w/s!AjvPa8m88R2Bjoo7CbxNlTUKtAj8UQ
- Word – Basic Key Christian Doctrines, Attitudes, & Practices for Action Christians: https://1drv.ms/w/s!AjvPa8m88R2BjocQaPUSi31M4y0hKQ
- Word – Ministry Mutual Accountability And Submission Team Rules And Values: https://1drv.ms/w/s!AjvPa8m88R2BjcxRFTQ65eIX0151aQ?e=oqQgxc
To read positive life changing and selfish life breaking teaching – see all I’ve got here. Let God lead you to what to engage with first:
All Bible studies by Peter Skov
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https://actionchristianity.com/Fullness-Discipleship-Course
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