Monday, July 6, 2009

The Signs of an Apostle

The Signs of an Apostle

2Corinthains 12:12 "Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience,in signs, and wonders and mighty deeds".
First it must be noted that a real servant of God is distinquished by what he has seen and heard.
One must first be a partaker of the things of God before he can deliver them to the saints. In the kingdom of God there is value found in the fruit men produce and among the body of Christ there is distinction made between men. "And God hath set some among the church first apostles, second prophets and third teachers...1Cor 12:28. And since these are managed by the Lord and are of the Spirit they can not be used to build an institution or wordly empires.
The twelve Apostles including Paul were all sent by the Lord they being an a apostle of Jesus. The twelve Apostles recieved much teaching before Jesus ascended back to the Father and were further led into all truth and brought into remembrance through the Holy Spirit. The twelve foundations of the glorified church are the twelve apostles of the Lamb Rev 21:14. They were given to know the mysteries of Christ, guided into all truth, being shown plainly the truth pertaining to redeemption. We have been called to remember the words spoken by the apostles.
Jude 1:17.
The prophets are joined to the Apostles as the foundation of the church. These prophets are the prophets of old...those who were given insight into the Messiah into the nature and ministry of the Lord. These are the Apostles hand picked by Jesus who were given to open the truth which is found in him. The words of scripture written by men such as these are foundational, essential for faith and the maintaining of faith. Any word that is supposedly come from God must be strict harmony with the scriptures underwise it is of the earth, earthly.
And the signs that followed the eleven apostles in Mark 16:14-20 were the confirmations to those who witnessed them that they were indeed Apostles sent by the Lord. Some have taken great liberty with the scripture at this point to say that Jesus was speaking to all believers but, this simply is not true. In Mark 16:20 still speaking of the same ones in verse 14 it says that they(the eleven)went forth and preached everywhere the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.
Luke says: "And by the hands of the Apostles were many signs wrought among the people.In Heb 2:3-4 " How shall we escape if we nglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them who heard him God also bearing them witness both with signs and wonders, and divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will"
Pauls told the Romans, For I will dare to speak of any those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentile obedient , by word or deed, through mighty signs and wonders by the power of the Spirit of God"
What would we know about the salvation of God in Jesus Christ had it not been known through Paul? What about redeemption, justification, the struggle between the old man new man, the coming of Christ, unity of the body of Christ, the eternal purpose of God. Paul the apostle was the primary expositor of Christ's death, burial, resurrection and enthronment. In the lives of the Apostles particularly Paul we are exposed to the real nature of conversion and divine direction.
The point is not the miracles of God associated with salvation among men but, rather the signs of an Apostle.
Paul was apprehended on the Damascus road by Jesus to be His apostle and this appointment was confirmed in the crucible of sufferings...his apostleship was not accompanied by signs of grandeur. wealth or worldy fame. For many suppose today that to be in the "will of the Lord" is affirmed with the good and easy "blessed life".
In this the scriptures are clear that these men who Jesus chose to be His apostles brought to us the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ having seen Him full of grace and truth.
John said, that which was from the beginning, which we have heard and which we seen with our own eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled of the Word of life and then in verse three that which we have seen and heard declare we unto to you that ye may also have fellowship with us....
Who would say we need more apostles of Jesus.

No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.