Ephesians 4
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
So it seems most know that the calling of teacher is to teach what The Lord Jesus has revealed to him, to others. We seem to know that a pastor is to care for the sheep. An evangelist is to bring people into the fold. Many seem to think a prophet is called to tell of future events. That is not the calling of a prophet. A prophet is to preach the words that God speaks through him to the people.
But what is an apostle ? I do not know many who know what an apostle is.
First of all an apostle is called directly by Jesus Himself. He takes care not to be entangled by joining any group of men. Any man who has sought the approval of any group of men to confirm his apostleship , is simply not called to be an apostle by Christ. Also any man who wears the Title, Apostle, is not an apostle. Paul simply called himself, Paul, NOT Apostle Paul.
The short answer is simply an apostle is a man who is called by Jesus, Himself, to be a teacher, a pastor, an evangelist, and a prophet so he is fully equipped to bring people to Christ and then to help them all attain the fullness of Christ.
His goal has never been to bring people to any church, but to bring people to Christ Himself.
An apostle is called by Jesus, Himself, and NOT by any group of men. If Jesus personally calls a man to be an apostle, why would that man try to add anything to the calling of Christ by seeking the approval of mere men.
If the whole of mankind would approve of a man to be called to be an apostle, surely the disapproval of Christ would far outweigh the approval of all of mankind. Surely if all of mankind would disapprove of a certain man being called to be an apostle, the approval of Christ would far outweigh their voice.
The calling of Christ means everything , the calling of men means nothing.
Christ called Peter to be an apostle. The present leaders of the church in Israel did not approve of Peter. The whole world knows of Peter today. Yet very few can name even one pharisee that disapproved of Peter and I doubt that anyone can name them all. But in his time, Peter was not respected by many.
Men who are not called by Christ put titles before an after their name trying to muster up authority. But they have no authority from God and never will have any authority from Him. A man who has been called by Christ, Himself ,personally, does not need any authority from men; for he has been personally called by The Creator of everything that exists.
These men install themselves as kings over the people, instead of leading them to Christ their One and Only King:
Psalm 2 NIV
1 Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
3 “Let us break their chains
and throw off their shackles.”
4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
5 He rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
6 “I have installed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.”
7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:
He said to me, “You are my son;
today I have become your father.
8 Ask me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You will break them with a rod of iron;
you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear
and celebrate his rule with trembling.
12 Kiss his son, or he will be angry
and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
So it seems most know that the calling of teacher is to teach what The Lord Jesus has revealed to him, to others. We seem to know that a pastor is to care for the sheep. An evangelist is to bring people into the fold. Many seem to think a prophet is called to tell of future events. That is not the calling of a prophet. A prophet is to preach the words that God speaks through him to the people.
But what is an apostle ? I do not know many who know what an apostle is.
First of all an apostle is called directly by Jesus Himself. He takes care not to be entangled by joining any group of men. Any man who has sought the approval of any group of men to confirm his apostleship , is simply not called to be an apostle by Christ. Also any man who wears the Title, Apostle, is not an apostle. Paul simply called himself, Paul, NOT Apostle Paul.
The short answer is simply an apostle is a man who is called by Jesus, Himself, to be a teacher, a pastor, an evangelist, and a prophet so he is fully equipped to bring people to Christ and then to help them all attain the fullness of Christ.
His goal has never been to bring people to any church, but to bring people to Christ Himself.
An apostle is called by Jesus, Himself, and NOT by any group of men. If Jesus personally calls a man to be an apostle, why would that man try to add anything to the calling of Christ by seeking the approval of mere men.
If the whole of mankind would approve of a man to be called to be an apostle, surely the disapproval of Christ would far outweigh the approval of all of mankind. Surely if all of mankind would disapprove of a certain man being called to be an apostle, the approval of Christ would far outweigh their voice.
The calling of Christ means everything , the calling of men means nothing.
Christ called Peter to be an apostle. The present leaders of the church in Israel did not approve of Peter. The whole world knows of Peter today. Yet very few can name even one pharisee that disapproved of Peter and I doubt that anyone can name them all. But in his time, Peter was not respected by many.
Men who are not called by Christ put titles before an after their name trying to muster up authority. But they have no authority from God and never will have any authority from Him. A man who has been called by Christ, Himself ,personally, does not need any authority from men; for he has been personally called by The Creator of everything that exists.
These men install themselves as kings over the people, instead of leading them to Christ their One and Only King:
Psalm 2 NIV
1 Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
3 “Let us break their chains
and throw off their shackles.”
4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
5 He rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
6 “I have installed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.”
7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:
He said to me, “You are my son;
today I have become your father.
8 Ask me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You will break them with a rod of iron;
you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear
and celebrate his rule with trembling.
12 Kiss his son, or he will be angry
and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
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