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SearchTo Andrew – Release from Worldly Responsibility
When the Master had finished speaking to James Zebedee, he stepped around to the end of the
table where Andrew sat and, looking his faithful helper in the eyes, said: "Andrew, you have
faithfully represented me as acting head of the ambassadors of the heavenly kingdom. Although
you have sometimes doubted and at other times manifested dangerous timidity, still, you have
always been sincerely just and eminently fair in dealing with your associates. Ever since the
ordination of you and your brethren as messengers of the kingdom, you have been self-governing
in all group administrative affairs except that I designated you as the acting head of these chosen
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ones. In no other temporal matter have I acted to direct or to influence your decisions. And this I
did in order to provide for leadership in the direction of all your subsequent group deliberations.
In my universe and in my Father's universe of universes, our brethren-sons are dealt with as
individuals in all their spiritual relations, but in all group relationships we unfailingly provide for
definite leadership. Our kingdom is a realm of order, and where two or more will creatures act in
co-operation, there is always provided the authority of leadership.
"And now, Andrew, since you are the chief of your brethren by authority of my appointment, and
since you have thus served as my personal representative, and as I am about to leave you and go
to my Father, I release you from all responsibility as regards these temporal and administrative
affairs. From now on you may exercise no jurisdiction over your brethren except that which you
have earned in your capacity as spiritual leader, and which your brethren therefore freely
recognize. From this hour you may exercise no authority over your brethren unless they restore
such jurisdiction to you by their definite legislative action after I shall have gone to the Father.
But this release from responsibility as the administrative head of this group does not in any
manner lessen your moral responsibility to do everything in your power to hold your brethren
together with a firm and loving hand during the trying time just ahead, those days which must
intervene between my departure in the flesh and the sending of the new teacher who will live in
your hearts, and who ultimately will lead you into all truth. As I prepare to leave you, I would
liberate you from all administrative responsibility which had its inception and authority in my
presence as one among you. Henceforth I shall exercise only spiritual authority over you and
among you.
"If your brethren desire to retain you as their counselor, I direct that you should, in all matters
temporal and spiritual, do your utmost to promote peace and harmony among the various groups
of sincere gospel believers. Dedicate the remainder of your life to promoting the practical aspects
of brotherly love among your brethren. Be kind to my brothers in the flesh when they come fully
to believe this gospel; manifest loving and impartial devotion to the Greeks in the West and to
Abner in the East. Although these, my apostles, are soon going to be scattered to the four corners
of the earth, there to proclaim the good news of the salvation of sonship with God, you are to
hold them together during the trying time just ahead, that season of intense testing during which
you must learn to believe this gospel without my personal presence while you patiently await the
arrival of the new teacher, the Spirit of Truth. And so, Andrew, though it may not fall to you to
do the great works as seen by men, be content to be the teacher and counselor of those who do
such things. Go on with your work on earth to the end, and then shall you continue this ministry
in the eternal