The Apostle - 2 By Apostle George The Apostle of Yahshua, Jesus: Digging Deeper Of the things we shared so far, here is the sum: the one called to be an apostle is called to be a personal representative of Yahshua, Jesus who is the express image of the Father and Head of the Church. He who was the Son of Yahweh, Son of Man and Seed of the Woman will, in every generation until He returns to set up and physically rule in the future phase of the Kingdom, raise witnesses to His unique life, death on the Cross to atone for the sins of the whole world, declare forgiveness of sins in His name and minister all the benefits deriving from redemption! They will proclaim, without reservation, that He will soon return to rule and reign in the fullness of the Kingdom. For that reason, apostles of Yahshua Jesus will be unusual people who are not afraid to be politically incorrect. They know that their calling will occasion stepping on toes of brethren who want to be at ease in Zion. They know intuitively that their greatest challenge will not come from outside but those who have chosen to backslide or those who have embraced another gospel. The depth of the revelation of Yahshua, Jesus and His Kingdom they have received will propel them to emulate the Master Builder, Paul by proclaiming the truth with passion which will expose the shenanigans of those who seek to lead the Church astray. Galatians 1: 6-10. Galatians 1:6-10 (KJV) 6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. When Peter and Barnabbas stumbled at Antioch, falling for the theology of Judaizers, Paul rose up to the occasion to give a robust defence of the Gospel of Salvation by Grace through Faith in Yahshua to which Hebrews and Gentiles are mutually called. Galatians 2:11-17 (KJV) 11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. 12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. 13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. 14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? 15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. King Yahshua will use apostles to draw His plumb line from time to time and what they see will lead them to make bold proclamations calling the Church back to true fidelity to her Head. In these issues, they share an uncanny similarity of disposition with Prophets who walk and work closely with them. They yearn to see all saints walking in the fullness of light and are fairly lonely people who can be misunderstood by saints who see themselves as called to ‘enjoy’ this present life. True apostles will therefore heed the words of our Master and his early apostles not to love this world and its attractions! They know intuitively that they are ambassadors of Yahshua to witness to and against this world system about the coming King who alone can bring the peace, joy and prosperity people of all races, nations, gender and socio-economic status yearn for. John 17: 1- 21; 1 Corinthians 6:14 – 18; 1 John 2: 15 – 17 Work-In-Progress/ Principle of Process It is important to disclose here that Apostles are at varying levels of development. There will, at any given time be matured apostles, growing apostles and baby apostles It pays to know where you are at the moment. Do not be intimidated with the depth of knowledge of the word or experience of the more mature apostles, if you are yet a baby in the calling. Yahshua will connect you with those He will use to mentor and challenge you until His fullness is formed in you and until the apostolic mantle begins to manifest to the degree ordained. In effect, apostles, like other ministers are truly Work-In-Progress. Do not be ashamed to acknowledge your current state and evident or not-so-evident weaknesses. Be true to Yahshua who called you and real to yourself so that He will enable you to grow in grace. From the day of your calling to the actual day of manifestation to the Kingdom is often a gap of time called process period. This is the period of time the King uses to work in you a fuller knowledge, a deeper intimacy, a greater passion for the Kingdom and a sharper focus. It is also a time the King uses to pluck out every self confidence and every love of the world that lurks within the soul. This was the case of Peter who was expertly processed by Yahshua, Jesus Himself and further processed by the Holy Spirit to the degree that his impulsive, soulish reflexes finally gave way and he became the rock steady character who even, according to historians, volunteered to be crucified upside down rather than suffer exactly the same fate as his saviour. Peter was eventually qualified to counsel ministers of the gospel concerning the right attitude to ministry and spoke of the principle of process. 1 Peter 5:1-4, 10 (KJV) 1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;3 Neither as being lords over Gods heritage, but being examples to the flock.4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. James and John, who enrolled their mother to lobby for the choicest places of honour in the coming Kingdom were so broken in their continued walk with Yahshua to the degree that James became the first saint to be martyred for the testimony of Jesus Christ Matthew 20: 20 – 28; Acts 12: 1,2. John was to suffer untold persecution including, as church historians disclose, an attempt to fry him alive. Failure of that cruel approach caused the Roman authorities to banish him to the Island of Patmos. James and John started their apostolic callings with a temper that was so hot that Yahshua Himself called them ‘sons of thunder’. They were so intolerant that at one time they sought permission to call down fire from heaven to destroy Samaritans who refused Yahshua right of way. It was also they who tried to prevent someone from doing miracles in the name of Yahshua. By the time John was through the fire of process, he became the leading apostle of Love and Holiness. His epistles reveal the fruit of true process. Apollos who was a great apostle in his later years was once so ignorant that Yahweh used Priscilla and Aquila to give him a more perfect understanding of the gospel of Yahshua Jesus. Acts 18: 24 – 28. 1 Corinthians 3: 4-6. Acts 18:24-28 (KJV) 24 And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus.25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John.26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ. The eaglet apostle of yesterday may become the leading apostle of tomorrow. This was the case of Paul the apostle. When he was called by Yahshua, Jesus in Acts 9: 1- 22 he was a baby. He was however wise to realize his need for deeper understanding of Yahweh and intimacy with Yahshua. His trip to Arabia and Tarsus produced that effect. It took Barnabas, who Yahshua used to affirm and provide mentorship to summon him to the mission field in Antioch. Acts 9: 26 – 30, Acts 11: 19 – 26. Barnabas continued to lead until the equation changed when Yahweh deemed Paul sufficiently mature. From Acts 13: 9, we see a paradigm shift as the led became the leader! We also see that in Galatians 2: 11 – 18 Paul had to rebuke Peter and Barnabas when they strayed away momentarily from the truth and gave in to antics of Judaizers. Paul went on to be the leading apostle of his generation and was in no way inferior to any of the older ones, including the 11 who walked with Yahshua, Jesus while He was on earth. This is why saints must avoid the tendency to reject a message due to the rough package that is the messenger! If we discern rightly and find pure motives and sincerity, we can receive a message, knowing full well that the Master of the Messenger is at work. It takes maturity to be able to do this. Intolerance of Apostles because of some stuff is a risk because the baby and bathwater can be thrown away, so to say. Labouring according to Standards In doing the work of Yahshua, Apostles will generally build according to Biblical provisions and clear Kingdom principles. They will thus emulate John the Baptist and point the saints towards Yahweh rather than themselves. They will see every saint Yahweh brings their way as a candidate for empowerment. Their emphasis in ministry therefore will be to Teach, Train, Equip, Activate gifts and callings and release saints into productive ministry. They are not likely to clutch at people who come into the ministries they lead. Apostles will seek to build the Kingdom rather than personal empires and will be more concerned with the glory of Yahweh rather than securing their comfort and convenience. 1 Corinthians 3: 10 - 16 Generally Apostles yearn for and practice divine order. They are not likely to suffer gladly, brethren who walk in disorderly fashion or who are self centred or ambitious for vain glory. They will appreciate faithfulness and rank keeping more than competence or brilliance. 1 Chronicles 12:32, 38; Joel 2.7,8. The reality that one day they will stand before Yahshua, Jesus to account for every word spoken, action taken and degree to which they fulfilled the apostolic commission drives every true apostle to labour with every ounce of strength and measure of grace to discover, pursue and fulfil their spiritual mandates. In so doing, there is a hidden instinct to say like Paul that they truly completed their assignments! 2 Corinthians 5:8 - 11; 2 Timothy 4: 6-8
Posted on: Sun, 28 Sep 2014 00:47:08 +0000
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