1. There was no mention of APOSTLES in the OLD TESTAMENT, not for want of candidates, but of CALLING and PURPOSE of God to REVEAL Himself in Jesus Christ, “WHICH IN OTHER AGES WAS NOT MADE KNOWN unto the sons of men, as it is now REVEALED unto his holy APOSTLES and PROPHETS by the Spirit” [Ephesians 3:5] APOSTLES are the secret weapon of God to RECONCILE “ALL THINGS” to Himself through Jesus Christ. They are His ENVOYS, established with POWER hitherto the world had not known, “For it pleased the Father that IN HIM SHOULD ALL FULNESS DWELL; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to RECONCILE ALL THINGS UNTO HIMSELF; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven” [Colossians 1:19-20] Listen closely, Christ’s DISCIPLES received the Holy Ghost at PENTECOST, but the APOSTLES got more; they were separated unto the Lord with distinct POWER according to the promise in Acts 1:8, “And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. And OF THE REST DURST NO MAN JOIN HIMSELF TO THEM: but the people magnified them” [Acts 5:12-13]
2. The CALLING of APOSTLES is the prerogative of Christ, even as “Paul, an APOSTLE, (not of men, NEITHER BY MAN, but BY JESUS CHRIST, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)” [Galatians 1:1] APOSTLESHIP is not an office attained by promotion, Christ alone chooses whom He would, as it is written: “And he goeth up into a mountain, and CALLETH UNTO HIM WHOM HE WOULD: and they came unto him. And he ordained twelve, that THEY SHOULD BE WITH HIM, and that he might send them forth to preach” [Mark 3:13-14] A man’s desire to be an APOSTLE does not count, APOSTLES were ordained in Christ before the foundation of the world, to “BE WITH HIM”, “These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which FOLLOW the LAMB WITHERSOEVER HE GOETH. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb” [Revelation 14:4] The office of APOSTLE is not for adulterers and marriage does not defile. It is not a reward for long service, but an everlasting ministry reserved for ETERNAL COMPANIONS of Christ [Matthew 20:23] Let every man that calls himself or is called an APOSTLE be careful not to end up as LIAR, as some did in the Church in Ephesus, CALLING themselves APOSTLES when they were not, thus says the Lord: “I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which SAY THEY ARE APOSTLES, AND ARE NOT, and hast found them LIARS” [Revelation 2:2]
3. The word APOSTLE means “SENT”, as of men sent with the MANDATE of Christ to establish the TRUTH and RECONCILE men to God through Jesus Christ in all ages. The twelve APOSTLES laid the foundation in Christ and testified, “NEITHER IS THERE SALVATION IN ANY OTHER: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” [Acts 4:12] They went from place to place, expounding the MYSTERY OF GODLINESS; how God was manifest in Jesus Christ, died on the Cross and rose up the third day to purchase ETERNAL LIFE for us [1Timothy 3:16] After their demise, God raised others, who took the GOSPEL to the nations, pulled down satanic strongholds and set the captives of the mighty free to serve the Lord. They went as SENT, refusing the enticement of fame and filthy lucre, saying; “… It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word” [Acts 6:2-4] Brethren, what shall we say of the army of APOSTLES in our Churches, who sit as feudal lords over the flock, SERVING TABLES and refuse to be SENT “For such are FALSE APOSTLES, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light” [2 Corinthians 11:13-14]
4. The MANDATE OF APOSTLES is the AUTHORITY of Christ to establish the TRUTH in every age by the preaching of the “… WISDOM OF GOD IN A MYSTERY, even the HIDDEN WISDOM, which God ordained before the world unto our glory” [1Corinthians 2:7] The HIDDEN WISDOM of God is Christ working and speaking through His APOSTLES, with POWER to BIND and LOOSE on earth and in heaven, as it is written: “And I will give unto thee the KEYS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN: and whatsoever thou shalt BIND ON EARTH shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt LOOSE ON EARTH shall be loosed in heaven” [Matthew 16:19] Listen carefully, the POWER to BIND and LOOSE is the REVELATION of God manifest in Jesus Christ which no man may comprehend outside the WISDOM of God, “And without controversy great is the MYSTERY OF GODLINESS: GOD WAS MANIFEST IN THE FLESH,… “ [1 Timothy 3:16] This is the GOSPEL, the FOUNDATION of APOSTLES in every age, even now. If any man reckons, he is an APOSTLE, let him renounce “… the hidden things of DISHONESTY, not walking in CRAFTINESS, nor handling the WORD of God DECEITFULLY; but by MANIFESTATION OF TRUTH commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God” [2 Corinthians 4:2] Beloved, the FOUNDATION of the APOSTLES is laid before you, “… let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon” [1 Corinthians 3:10]
5. Friend, the foundation of ETERNAL RELEVANCE is set before you; accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, amen
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