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the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ...
    Eph. 4:8, 11–13
    Many people distrust their churches and their government today because of broken soul-ties with their leaders. Men in the churches and government who were trusted, and to whom submission was granted, betrayed that trust and the people were wounded.
    Similarly a pastor can only function effectively if the bonds of love and trust have been established. Trust must be established like that of patient-to-doctor, or of client-to-lawyer. The pastor should have the same spirit of love and concern for the rights and well-being of the believers in his charge that Christ had for His sheep. Love is a two-way street. The same is true of soul-ties; every soul-tie is a conduit !
    In the Old Testament are several instances of soul-ties between men of God and their leader or authority figure: Joshua and Moses, Elisha and Elijah, and clearly in the New Testament between the disciples and Jesus, and Timothy and Paul.
    If man rejects the godly established authority, then the result is rebellion and anarchy. Also by contrast, if the authority is not godly, the results are ungodly: if the head is sick, the body is sick!
    Imbalanced soul-ties of devotion that led to self-destruction occurred in WWII, when certain devoted followers of Hitler and Tojo became suicide warriors, such as the Kamikaze pilots of Japan. Their soul-ties and devotion led to the destruction of their very lives and souls.
    The Israelites too demonstrated an example of an ungodly bondage to a leader, contrary to the will of God. In this example, the men of Israel rejected David, God’s anointed king. The fruit of this was not only to miss God’s best, but also to find themselves opposing God.
    So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri…
    2 Sam. 20:2
    The Actions of Authority Figures
Affect their Followers
    When King Ahasuerus came under the influence of Haman, there was a spiritual effect upon the people of his kingdom. When the head becomes involved in evil, there is a spirit of confusion loosed that affects those under his headship, and they are not sure what to do or to think. On a conscious level, they may be totally unaware of what is taking place in the mind of their leader, but they are influenced nonetheless.
    And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed [in confusion].
    Esth. 3:15b [Brackets Ours]
    Correspondingly when the King repented, or when a leader is restored to his right mind, or to Godly behavior, the people will feel a lifting and will rejoice.
    And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad .
    Esth. 8:15–16
    When a godly individual was exalted, and the king restored to godliness, the city rejoiced and became glad, no longer perplexed or confused. Notice that the entire city was blessed and rejoiced twofold, with joy and gladness. At the same time the people of God within the same city were perhaps even more blessed, four-fold, receiving light, gladness, joy and honor.
    What caused the difference? In the former instance the one in spiritual authority was under the influence of, and cooperating, with evil. In the latter case the king was restored to a godly influence and brought his nation back under God’s blessings.
    Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls ...
    Heb. 13:17
    The Morals of a Pastor Limit
& Affect the Congregation
    I recently spoke with a man who mentioned a relative whom he described as “the greatest person in the world.” However, since the time of her divorce, she had been sleeping with the men she was