Are You An Apostle?

Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

Wonders and signs became through the apostles.

And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

They had all common.

And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

Acquisitions and possessions they dispossessed of.

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

Acts 4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.

Not any of the belongings to him said own to be but was to them all common

And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

Great ability apodidomi the upstanding of the Lord Jesus.

Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,

1 Cor 3:10 According <2596> to the grace <5485> of God <2316> which <3588> is given <1325> (5685) unto me <3427>, as <5613> a wise <4680> masterbuilder <753>, I have laid <5087> (5758) the foundation <2310>, and <1161> another <243> buildeth <2026> (5719) thereon. But <1161> let <991> <0> every man <1538> take heed <991> (5720) how <4459> he buildeth <2026> (5719) thereupon.

kata <2596> {ACCORDING TO} thn <3588> {THE} carin <5485> tou <3588> {GRACE} yeou <2316> {OF GOD} thn <3588> {WHICH} doyeisan <1325> (5685) {WAS GIVEN} moi <3427> {TO ME,} wv <5613> {AS} sofov <4680> {A WISE} arcitektwn <753> {ARCHITECT} yemelion <2310> {THE FOUNDATION} teyeika <5087> (5758) {I HAVE LAID,} allov <243> de <1161> {AND ANOTHER} epoikodomei <2026> (5719) {BUILDS UP.} ekastov <1538> de <1161> {BUT EACH} blepetw <991> (5720) {LET TAKE HEED} pwv <4459> {HOW} epoikodomei <2026> (5719) {HE BUILDS UP.}

According to the grace of God that was given to me, as a wise master-builder, a foundation I have laid, and another doth build on it,

The foundation is a person

2 Cor 1:8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

But we had the sentence of death in ourselves that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

(Literally Paul asks, “Am I going to save myself by earthly efforts? My answer is NO!! I MUST DIE!! ONLY IN CHRIST AND THROUGH CHRIST).

Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

I Cor1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

The apostolic office is not a ministry, which one chooses for himself or is conferred upon by men. It is a divine summons from the Lord. He or she are divinely picked and divinely sent out.

Hence the apostle can have a traveling ministry, and belongs to the body of Christ at large. He or she might not be called to be a member of one particular church but belongs to and embraces the whole body of Christ.

Because he or she is divinely summoned, and a divinely appointed ambassadors belonging to Christ Jesus by God’s will, he or she operate with the full credentials of God’s power.

These credentials of power however are only manifested in relationship and proportion to how much the apostle operates in the will of God. The fullness of God’s power belongs to the one who operates strictly by the voice of the Holy Ghost in the rhema Word of God.

The rhema word of God contains the fullness of God’s faith as well as the fullness of His power.

The apostle is of no consequence or importance.

Acts 20: 24 tells us that he did not hold his life in honor, dear, or precious to himself so that he may finish the course of the Lord.

The one giving the apostle the commission, the Lord, is the one who is of consequence or of importance. The apostle is nothing more than an ambassador of the one who sent him. He or she is forevermore under orders to execute what the Lord wants. That is their lives.

No one can be sent except the one who is under orders. The apostle must be in constant submission to the Lord.

Romans1:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

The apostolic ministry promotes obedience to the gospel, and through it makes disciples amongst all the nations. The gospel must be testified to in such an accurate way by the apostle that it will have the power to promote obedience to others.

True apostleship can only begin with the revelation of the Son of God. This is because for every individual, the revelation of the Lord automatically carries with it the callings, ministries, and giftings for each individual person. All resides in the Son of God.

The apostle can only promote obedience to the gospel to the extent that they are themselves living in accordance to it.

Mat 10:40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

Greek: To welcome with open arms i.e. receive with hospitality.

The reception that the apostle receives is in fact the reception given to the Lord Himself. This is because the apostle always lives and acts in accordance to the voice of the Spirit through the rhema word of God. A hospitable welcome given to the apostle is a hospitable welcome given to the Lord whose rhema word the apostle is executing.

The called apostles must realize that the Lord must whittle down everything in their lives to the point that nothing else is left but their living their lives out of God’s rhema word.

This is what gives the apostle his or her experiential oneness with the Lord and makes them fit to be ambassadors of the Lord with the backing of His full credentials.

As we had studied last time, the rhema word of the Lord is the FAITH OF GOD. To live out of the faith OF GOD, the Lord must take the apostle through a season of material want and lack that will take number of years. This will get the apostle to a place where she or he learn to live strictly out of the rhema word of God and not out of the appearance brought by circumstances. Herein lies a signs and wonders ministry.

The rhema word of God gives to the apostle the Lord’s credentials in that the rhema word of God represents the desires, the faith, the power, and the timing OF GOD HIMSELF.

Luke 10:16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

Greek ; He that is making light of, or is despising you, despises me. He that is paying attention to what you are saying pays attention to me.

The apostle must live in a continual state of obedience to the Lord. He or she must live in strict obedience to the rhema word of God so that when they are rejected it is in fact the Lord who is being rejected.

The opposite is true; when the apostle is being listened to, it is in fact God’s rhema word, which is being listened to. Hence the Lord Himself. The apostle is no consequence or of importance. The rhema word of God is the revelation of the Son of God.

John 6:57 As the living Father hath sent me ( Greek: apostolic sending), and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

Greek: The apostle or the one sent on an apostolic mission lives moment to moment through the Father who does the works.

Any time that the apostle acts in the flesh, he or she will experience a loss of the full credentials of the Lord’s power, which is found only in the voice of the Spirit

John 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

Greek: The apostle, or the one on an apostolic mission, is birthed from God and lives continuously out of God just as a tree must live out of its roots. Not only is their ministry birthed from God, but also their constant presence in this world must be accomplished out of this same dependency.

The apostle has no agenda. His or her agenda is the Lord.

The apostle therefore lives in utter dependency upon the Lord. The apostle has been broken by the Lord and lives out of the strength and the power of God. There has been a death to his or her ability to overcome, so that their overcoming now comes through the revelation of the Son of God.

His or her whole existence is sustained and originates through his or her relationship with the Father.

John 5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

The apostle’s work originates in God. It is consequently done with the full authority of God and in signs and wonders of the rhema word.

Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

Greek: It is the priority in this case, or it is always necessary that we obey God rather than men.

The apostle is called to obey God rather than men. He or she cannot be men pleasers. One reason for this is that the rhema word of God most times goes contrary to reason, logic, and the flesh of men.

Acts 6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

Greek: It is not pleasant or agreeable that we would leave, abandon, or forsake the word of God. This is part of the apostolic commission.

Acts 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

Greek: But we will steadfastly without pause adhere ourselves to prayer, and to the office of the Word of God. The apostolic commission.

Acts 9:22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

Saul, later Paul, was more and more filled with God’s power and was continuously strengthened. (This is the ongoing responsibility of the apostle.)

He therefore threw into disorder and the perplexing of mind the enemies of God through the display of God’s power.

Acts 6:10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.

The opponents of God had absolutely no inward strength of spirit to take a stand against Steven. This is the resurrection power abiding in the apostle.

Please remember, the rhema word is the only thing that the apostle has left when he or she has lost everything else for the sake of the Lord. The voice of the Lord is all that is needed.

Acts4:33 And with great power gave (discharged their responsibility, debt or duty) the apostles witness(martyrdom) of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

One of the calls of the apostle is to give witness of the resurrection of the risen Christ.

The Greek word for witness is martyrdom. True resurrection witness of the Lord can only come through the death of ourselves which brings the resurrection of the Son of God.

The apostle gives back the witness of the resurrection as something that is simply his or her obligation or duty. The Greek word “gave” tells us that it is in fact the apostle’s responsibility or debt to give witness of the revealed Son of God. In other words this is the “normal realm of function” for the apostle.

Gal 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

An apostle does not get their ministry, calling or ordination from men.

He or she are not raised up by men but by Jesus Christ.

Thusly the apostle cannot please men outside of God’s will, but must always please God who chose and raised him or her up. Not pleasing man, but a bond or love slave of God.

Eph 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints, which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

Col 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,

The apostle can proclaim the will of God, because he or she live strictly out of the will of God.

1Tim 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;

He or she can proclaim God’s commandments, because the apostle lives strictly out of the commandments of God.

2Tim:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

With the promise of resurrection life goes the provision for its proclamation.

Hence the apostle in proclaiming Christ’s power and life must be an ambassador of the life of Jesus. In other word he or she must live in the resurrection life of God, which comes forth from the death of Christ’s cross, which has touched everything in their lives.

Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

The apostle lives in accordance with God’s level of faith for His saints. God’s level of faith is His rhema word. Therefore the apostle lives out of God’s rhema word.

He or she must also live in conformity to the full scope of the Word of God.

These two things together promote r godliness or being “God like”, which is one mission of the apostle.

Through this, the apostle stimulates and promotes the faith of God towards His chosen ones. The stimulation of this faith is to make others thirsty for the Son of God and not just simply for the blessings, prosperity and other things that come from God.

True promotion of faith by the apostle is to reveal the Son of God, and give the saints the knowledge of what is their participation, ministries, and callings into the riches found in the Son of God whom the apostle has just revealed to them.

Secondly, the apostle reveals to the church an accurate witness of the Word of God found both in the logos and rhema word. This allows the saints of God to participate in the truth of the Word, which will produce godliness in their lives.

The apostles thus must live themselves in that accurate recognition and participation of the truth so that they may be able to testify to it and bring

Rom 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

if by any means I may provoke to jealousy them that are my flesh, and may save some of them.

Greek Scriptures: Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the nations, I do my ministry honor, or I lay much stress in magnifying my office, or I continuously glorify my ministry.

If I may provoke to jealousy

Herein lies one of the commissioning of the apostolic calling.

2 Cor 4:1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not Because by the mercy of God, we were called into this ministry, we do not become discouraged. (We know that if God divinely summoned us, He will take care of us, and see us through; therefore we do not lose heart.)

2 But have renounced (we gave up once, and now forbid) the hidden things of dishonesty (anything that brings shame or disgrace to the gospel, or to us), not walking in craftiness(not conducting ourselves in the doctrines of men), nor handling the word of God deceitfully(by trickery, adulterating or corrupting God’s word for base gain) ; but by manifestation of the truth (but by manifesting the gospel in its accuracy and genuineness through the Word of God and by our lives) commending ourselves to every man’s conscience( we present ourselves to every type of men’s conscience) in the sight of God. (Before the constant gaze of God)

(We must remember that the conscience of man is a component of the voice of the Holy Spirit. Paul here says, that the soundness of the apostle’s doctrine and the genuineness of his or her life in accordance to the gospel must be so great, that it must hold up to the scrutiny of the voice of God bearing witness or passing judgment to what the apostle ministers in their hearer’s consciences. Secondly, the apostle must also deal with the scrutiny of God Himself, whose penetrating look is ever upon the apostle.

2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap( accumulate in piles) to themselves teachers, having itching ears( teaching them things which are pleasant to their ears and that allow for compromise, complacency, halfhearted obedience and little sacrifice)

Another doctrine of man is taking and corrupting the Logos Word of God and making it into a denominational tenet, principle, or dogma. The denominational tenet then becomes the idol, in that any rhema word coming forth as the will and the voice of the Holy Spirit in opposition to the denominational dogma is categorically denied.

The doctrines of men are also the spiritual and psychological teachings of man, which deny the Lordship of the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence, the current mass quantity of doctrines and books about angels.

Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

Cor 9:1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

The scriptures above in Ephesians three, eight and nine, and First Corinthians nine, one and two, tell us much about the apostolic ministry. I would like to teach the verses in Ephesians chapter three in the following manner.

I have been approached by people whom have presented our family with an offer to become part of a company that sells a host of different services to the community, all from on location. In other words I could become a person who could sell life insurance, mortgages, stocks, mutual funds, and bonds with proper training and licensing. The folks who visited us gave Mary and I an elaborate presentation of what their company offers, as well as the levels of participation in which we could get involved with them. We could simply purchase one or several of their services, or participate as a company partner in progressive levels of involvement, by selling the different products that would be offered to others. This is precisely what the fellowship of the mystery means. A mystery is what is unknown to us. In this case we knew nothing about the company. When these friends taught us the company presentation, the mystery was revealed and we understood what the company was all about. The fellowship of the mystery is our understanding of what our participation and levels of involvement could now be with the company.

The apostle primarily reveals the mystery of the Son of God through the written or logos word of God. The prophet reveals the Son of God primarily through the rhema word. Both of them functioning together provide the fullness of the revelation of the Son of God, who becomes the foundation on which any local assembly must build.

The apostle has the grave responsibility of knowing the scriptures soundly, as well as maintaining a walk of intimacy with the Lord. He or she can present and reveal the mystery of the Son of God to the church as it is found in the written word, as well manifesting Him through His ongoing works by the rhema word.

The revelation of the mystery of the gospel, as well as that of the Son of God by the apostle, must have enough richness so that believers within a local assembly can understand what is their participation and levels of involvement into the unsearchable riches of the Son of God, which are Jesus callings, giftings, and ministries to them; Hence the fellowship of the mystery.

Furthermore, I believe that the seal of apostleship is defined in these two ways. The believer as mentored by the apostle, is first brought to a place of adequate spiritual freedom as he or she grasps the liberty brought to him or her by the revelation of the mystery of the gospel, as the apostle teaches it.

As the disciple begins to grasp whom he or she is IN CHRIST, the apostle introduces the fellowship of the mystery; assisting the disciple to discover his or her office, callings, and spiritual gifts so that the disciples in turn can do the work of the ministry.

Ephesians 6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

Colossians 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:

1 Corinthians 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God(The will of God as found in the gospel and in His Son) in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, (even the hidden will of God) which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: {in: or, among}

Whom we preach, (The apostle preaches the revealed Person of Christ, and not a thing) warning every man (exhorting, admonishing and warning), and teaching every man in all wisdom (teaching every person the will of God found in the sound doctrine of scriptures); that we may present every man perfect (to the level of Christ’s maturity and character) in Christ Jesus:

2 Corinthians 12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

Indeed the signs of an apostle were worked out in the realm of all endurance; both by signs and wonders, and works of God’s dunamis (miracles).

Signs: The miracle from the point of view that gives proof to the reality of God, and to the authenticity of the apostle as a sent ambassador of God commissioned with His credentials.

Wonders: The same miracle from the point of view of its startling, astonishing, amazing qualities, which the world beholds, and causes it to believe in God.

Most of us desire to be used in powerful ministries of signs and wonders were the sick get instantaneously healed, and demons are cast out with one single word. Such is the case sometimes, and such should also be our level of faith.

It is my experience however that many a time, miracles, and signs and wonders, take place in the realm of lack, where all dependencies and resources are whittled away and nothing remains but God Himself. Then we see the Lord manifest Himself in the sphere of signs and wonders. The apostle has nothing else to fall back upon; except the Lord Himself. Such miracles are brought forth in the realm of patience, uncompromising obedience, and hardship. Signs and wonders are the manifestation of God to the person whose circumstances are dead, and in where resources want or lack, and where the sole trust is in God’s rhema word. Through obedience, patience, waiting upon the Lord, and the adopting the ways of God, the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience.

1 Corinthians 4:9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

Hath set forth To expose to view; or to exhibit

Last in receiving honor, last in being recognized by men and by the body of Christ, last in being raised up by Christ, and smallest in importance and in the estimation of men.

Appointed to death: Greek: Upon the death “Doomed to die”

A spectacle unto the world. Greek: A theatre unto the world

The apostolic calling to those who are destined to be God ambassadors. As His representatives, apostles are called to be a portrait or a painting of God’s ways, will, and timing upon the earth. The Lord allows the apostle to go through the humiliating and frustrating circumstances of being last so all that does not represent the voice of the Lord, His ways, and His timing, are taken out of the way.

The apostolic calling bears with it the spirit of 1Corinthians four and nine. The apostle is “doomed to die”; though in most cases it is not a physical death. One of the greatest and most painful deaths is the death to reputation, as the apostle becomes the Lord’s ambassador. Reputation is sure to be lost, because the ways of God found in His rhema words, are an abomination in the sight of unsaved man.

Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

A walk of genuine faith, which is produced by the rhema word of God, which in turn is the faith of God, is the only spiritual atmosphere in which we will learn to operate in the miracle working power of God. As I have stated before, one of the reasons why the American church is so weak, and there is such an absence of the manifest miracle working power of God, is that we do not walk by faith.

2 Cor 1:9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

Sentence: The answer of death

1 Corinthians 4:13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

filth and offscouring: The food scrapings on a dirty plate, and the sweepings gathered from a dirty floor, which are rinsed off or thrown away.

The Lord engineers all of this in the apostle’s life, as He whittles him or her into a walk by the simple rhema word, and continuously humbles them so that they only walk in His ways. Ambassadorship requires living by God’s rhema word and conforming to His ways. Only then can there be true a representation of the Lord here on earth.

1 Corinthians four, ten through thirteen describes more of this refining process through which the apostle suffers the loss of all things and finally finds the resurrected Christ within, to the reveal Him and display His ways.

1 Cor 4:10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

Greek: We are morons on the account of Christ

We are frail and weak, you are confident and strong

We are those who get no respect from people

1 Cor 4:11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
We are hungry and thirsty

We are dressed scantily or with poor quality of clothing
We are treated poorly
We have no home of our own

And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

We labor for the gospel’s sake to the point of exhaustion

When we are abused by men, we bless back

When we are persecuted, we patiently endure it.

2 Corinthians 5:13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.

If we are out of our minds; out of our wits or insane

1 Cor 9:12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

Greek: We did not make use of the different rights afforded to us by the gospel as apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ. Some of these rights include having a Christian wife and getting our income from the gospel. (Please study the preceding verses above this one.) We do not make use of our rights, but instead put up with all things so as not to impede the pioneering progress of the gospel.

2 Cor 12:14 Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.

I am not seeking your possessions, I am seeking you (the person).

2 Corinthians 12:15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

spend Incur personal expense

spent To exhaust by spending; To spend oneself totally up for the individual and for the sake of the gospel.

Mat 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Provide (To acquire, procure, or possess) neither gold, nor silver, nor brass(coins or brass, or money) in your purses,

Nor scrip(a traveling bag for provisions) for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

dependency upon the Lord and the “loss of all things” is the source of all apostleship or ambassadorship. The loss of all things purifies the believer from all until he or she begins to live solely out of God’s presence. Utter dependency on the Lord becomes utter dependency on the rhema word of God. Utter dependency on the rhema word of God bounds the apostle to learn and limit his or her life strictly to the ways of God. Both of these things bring the apostle into oneness with the Lord and equip him or her for ambassadorship with the full credentials of the Lord power.

American believers live just the opposite to this. We lean on money, a host of personal insurances, guarantees, warranties and comforts. Our dependency on them is our independence from the voice of God and the manifested presence of God. Hence our powerlessness!

The restoration of the apostolic walk must come forth in this country, at least amongst prophets and apostles. Called apostles, cannot operate as apostles if they do not have an experiential understanding of Matthew chapter ten. I personally would like to have a lot more money than what I currently have. Our intentions, for one, are to give freely into Native American ministries who desperately need it. However, if the need is to continue to operate in the walk depicted in Matthew chapter ten, though considerably more difficult and not always enjoyable, we must continue to do so. This walk is one which is full of the miracle working power of God and which amply displays the ways of God.

The apostle is of no concern in all reality. His or her ministry is not one of exaltation but one of being continually humbled either by seasons of material lack, or by the stringent limits placed upon their lives by the boundaries of the rhema word of God. Our experiences have borne this fruit into our lives. Lack of material resources for over four years have taught us to live by the resource of the rhema word. Our financial lack for these years has been a real struggle. I am learning not to doubt God for resources. The struggle is not with the material provision, but has been with the Lord Himself. Many times, it has been for me very difficult for to deal with the seemingly illogical and irrational decision by the Lord, to keep me in such financial circumstances when I have known that I could with relative ease do financially better for my family. Yet through God’s painful dealings, I have found His wisdom. If we are to learn and operate in the sphere of God’s way, our ways and our will must be laid down. Apostleship, and ministry in the fullness of God’s power, is solely energized in God’s ways.

John 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

John 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

I Cor1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

An apostle is divinely summoned and divinely appointed ambassador belonging to Christ Jesus. The formation of the apostolic office comes as the apostle learns to do everything through the will of God. An apostle is the product and a vessel of God’s will, ways and timetable. The apostolic office is not a ministry, which one chooses for himself or is conferred upon by men. It is a divine willed by the Lord. He is divinely picked and divinely sent out and his life is result of the will of the Lord.

John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

John 8:28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

John 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

Through the agency of God’s will. The apostle called to be an apostle has no other choice than to fulfill his through the will of God, in that it is the agent or vehicle for the apostolic ministry to be executed successfully.

The apostle himself does not matter but the one giving him the commission, the Lord. The apostle sacrifices all programs and agendas to become a vessel of God’ ways, will, and His timetable. Thus the apostle becomes an ambassador or a representative of the Lord.

Gal 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

In absolutely no way from the calling, ordination or authorizing of men. No through their assistance, support, influence, or the open doors that man can provide. Paul, an apostle not from men as a source. Not raised up by men but by Jesus Christ

Thusly the apostle is never intended to please man outside of God’s will, but to please God who chose and raised him up. Not pleasing man, but a bond slave of God.

Thusly the apostle cannot please men outside of God’s will, but must always please God who chose and raised him or her up. Not pleasing man, but a bond or love slave of God.

Eph 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints, which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

An apostle by the agency, influence, and the open doors willed by God.

Col 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,

The apostle can proclaim the will of God, because he or she live strictly out of the will of God.

1Tim 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;

He or she can proclaim God’s commandments, because the apostle lives strictly out of the commandments of God.

2Tim:1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

With the apostolic proclamation of the resurrection life which is in Christ Jesus there it the promise and ability for us to live in this quality of life right now? This is fellowship of the mystery.

The apostle can only proclaim the life of the resurrected Christ to us to the degree that he lives in it.

Titus 1:1Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

(Greek: … and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the full knowledge of the truth.

The apostle lives in accordance with God’s level of faith for His saints. God’s level of faith is His rhema word. Therefore the apostle lives out of God’s rhema word.

The apostle stimulates and promotes the faith of God’s chosen ones. The stimulation of this faith is to make others thirsty for the Son of God and not just simply for the blessings, prosperity and other things that come from God.

The apostles thus must live themselves in that accurate recognition and participation of the truth so that they may be able to testify to it and bring others into its participation or fellowship.

In accordance with the faith of God’s chosen out ones as a precise and full knowledge of the truth, which is in accordance with godliness towards God. He leads the saints into the accurate discernment, recognition and participation of the truth, which belongs to and harmonizes with what tends to godliness. He must live in that accurate recognition and participation of these very truths.

Romans1:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

He or she promotes obedience to the faith and make disciples amongst all the nations. It is a traveling ministry

The apostle can only promote obedience to the gospel to the extent that they are themselves living in accordance to it. I limit the administration of the kingdom to my hearing of the rhema word

The apostle does not have the power to do anything from myself as a source

The apostle does not matter who sent him and His mission. The emphasis on the commissioning is the author.

None can be sent but the one who is under orders.

The man commissioned is always the representative of the one giving the commissioning. The apostle represents in his own person the Lord and His rights.

He must be as good as the one who sent him.

God’s commission cannot be fulfilled unless there is an absolute subordination and death of the sent one’s will.

God’s authority is given to the one who lives under God’s authority.

God’s power is given to the one who lives out of God’s power as the source of life.

The sent by the Lord should be as the Lord Himself.

A man that is sent with full authority must stand fully under the authority of the Lord and as a slave of the Lord derives all that He is and has from the Lord,

He forfeits his own initiative and unites his won will to the one who sent him.

An apostle is always a mathetes (disciple).

The commissioning to represent Jesus and His cause means humiliation rather than exaltation.

There is no special position or personal privilege.

The apostle has no personal influence on how his ministry will turn out.

He is brought under the will of God who destroys his autonomy and leaves the apostle with no other choice but to a full and obedient dedication to the will of God and a military walk to the voice of the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 4:9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

Hath set forth: To expose to view; or to exhibit.

Last in receiving honor, last in being recognized by men and by the body of Christ, last in being raised up by Christ, and smallest in importance and in the estimation of men.

Appointed to death: Greek: Upon the death “Doomed to die”

A spectacle unto the world. Greek: A theatre unto the world.

God has exhibited, showed off, and exposed to view. The apostle becomes a man exhibited, or to be gazed at. Last in rank, importance, recognition and so forth.

The apostolic calling to those who are destined to be God ambassadors. As His representatives, apostles are called to be a portrait or a painting of God’s ways, will, and timing upon the earth. The Lord allows the apostle to go through the humiliating and frustrating circumstances of being last so that he is whittled away from all that does not represent the voice of the Lord, His ways, and His timing.

1 Corinthians 4:13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth(As soap being rinsed off from dirty plates) of the world, and are the offscouring(scrapings of food thrown away) of all things unto this day.

Filth and offscouring: The food scrapings on a dirty plate, and the sweepings gathered from a dirty floor, which are rinsed off or thrown away.

The Lord engineers all of this in the apostle’s life, as He whittles him or her into a walk by the simple rhema word, and continuously humbles them so that they only walk in His ways. Ambassadorship requires living by God’s rhema word and conforming to His ways. Only then can their be true a representation of the Lord here on earth.

1 Cor 4:10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

Greek: We are morons on the account of Christ

We are frail and weak, you are confident and strong

We are those who get no respect from people

1 Cor 4:11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;

We are hungry and thirsty

We are dressed scantily or with poor quality of clothing

We are treated poorly

We have no home of our own

1 Cor 9:12 If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

2 Cor 1:8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

Excessively we were burdened beyond our power.

It is throwing beyond magnitude. We were utterly at loss, destitute of earthly and fleshly measures and resources.

But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

It is a judicial sentence of death. “An official resolution that stamps a matter as done.’

(Literally Paul asks, “Am I going to save myself by earthly efforts? My answer is NO!! I MUST DIE!! ONLY IN CHRIST AND THROUGH CHRIST)

Whether on asking myself, should I die or whether I should come out of mortal peril, I answered, “I must die”.

So as to trust in God alone who is raising the corpses

2 Cor 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

Our sufficiency and ability and our qualifications is not found in ourselves as a source but only in God, his grace and power as its root sources.

But have renounced (we gave up once, and now forbid) the hidden things of dishonesty (anything that brings shame or disgrace to the gospel, or to us), not walking in craftiness(not conducting ourselves in the doctrines of men), nor handling the word of God deceitfully(by trickery, adulterating or corrupting God’s word for base gain) ; but by manifestation of the truth (but by manifesting the gospel in its accuracy and genuineness through the Word of God and by our lives) commending ourselves to every man’s conscience( we present ourselves to every type of men’s conscience) in the sight of God. (Before the constant gaze of God)

Paul here says, that the soundness of the apostle’s doctrine and the genuinenesss of his or her life in accordance to the gospel must be so great, that it must hold up to the scrutiny of the voice of God bearing witness or passing judgment to what the apostle ministers in their hearer’s consciences. Secondly, the apostle must also deal with the scrutiny of God Himself, whose penetrating look is ever upon the apostle.

2Cor 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

The power is the property of God.

2Cor 4:12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

The manifested death of Christ within the apostle is as an “energy dynamo” that never ceases but always works with effect. We are always being handed over to death, so that the very life of Christ can be like wised energized with effect for the sakes of others.

Death is actively energized and efficient in us. The death of Christ is effectual in the apostle. Christ’s death always mighty in the apostolic workings. This death is for the benefit of others

2 Cor 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

To rot thoroughly being disabled or being brought to decay, consumed, or ruin.

2 Corinthians 5:13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.

If we are out of our minds; out of our wits or insane

If Paul goes beyond the bounds of normalcy it is in his highest devotion towards the Lord; but on the other hand wisdom and prudence towards his disciples.

Cor 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

Not urging or driving us, but shutting us up to one line, or one side of the road and one purpose, as in a narrowed wall road.

2Cor 6:3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

Not even one occasion of sin or offense. No occasion for stumbling.

I am not seeking your possessions, I am seeking you (the person)

2 Corinthians 12:15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

Spend: Incur personal expense

Spent: To exhaust by spending; To spend oneself totally up for the individual and for the sake of the gospel.

Incur personal expense for your Christian well-being. I will pour my very soul out for your progress in the faith. I will exhaust myself by spending and using myself up for your spiritual maturing in Christ.

2Cor 13:4 For though he was crucified through weak

ness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

The apostle lives out of the power of God as the root system in his life.

1 Timothy 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

Greek: I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who endued me with His power (only as He found me dependable.) The gift of His power was given to me as He found me worthy of trust. Once that the trust and power were there God placed me into my ministry.

John 6:57 As the living Father hath sent me ( Greek: apostolic sending), and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

Greek: The apostle or the one sent on an apostolic mission lives moment to moment through the Father who does the works.

As I have taught, the works of the Father are translated into rhema words. The apostle must continuously discern and carry out the rhema word. That is the apostle’s whole objective in life.

Any time that the apostle acts in the flesh, he or she will experience a loss of the full credentials of the Lord’s power, which is found only in the voice of the Spirit.

John 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

The apostle has no agenda. His or her agenda is the Lord.

The apostle therefore lives in utter dependency upon the Lord. The apostle has been broken by the Lord and lives out of the voice, strength and the power of God. There has been a death to his or her ability to overcome, so that their overcoming now comes through the revelation of the Son of God.

His or her whole existence is sustained and originates through his or her relationship with the Father.

John 5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

The apostle’s work originates in God. It is consequently done with the full authority of God and in signs and wonders of the rhema word.

Utter dependency on the rhema word of God bounds the apostle to learn and limit his or her life strictly to the ways of God. Both of these things bring the apsotle into oneness with the Lord and equip him or her for ambassadorship with the full credentials of the Lord power.

His ministry is not one of exaltation but one of being continually humbled either by seasons of material lack, or by the stringent limits placed upon their lives by the boundaries of the rhema word of God. .

The greatness of the apostle and the prophet is found in how faithfully he or she restrict their lives to the accuracy of rhema word of God.

John 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

He that has seen me with discernment has seen the Father.

Mat 10:40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

Greek:To welcome with open arms i.e. receive with hospitality.

Luke 10:16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

Greek ; He that is making light of, or is despising you, despises me. He that is paying attention to what you are saying pays attention to me.

Rom 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

if by any means I may provoke to jealousy them that are my flesh, and may save some of them.

Greek Scriptures: Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the nations, I do my ministry honor, or I lay much stress and care in magnifying my office, or I continuously glorify my ministry. The apostle does his ministry honor

If I may provoke to jealousy

Ephesians 6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

Mysteries for one, are doctrines of God which are brought to life through revelation knowledge and are bring out the scriptural patterns of God’s kingdom.

Eph 3:4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ).

The apostle not only reveals the mystery of Christ, its dispositions and arrangements but also teaches others how to participate according to their calling into this mystery.

It comes to say that the apostle is used within church to bring the church into the comprehensive participation of what that it has been called into.

Bring forth the dispositions of God according to His grace.

Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

Ephesians chapter three verses eight and nine guides us a bit deeper into the supremely significant importance of the apostolic and prophetic revelation of Christ our mystery. As we have discussed before, the Person of Christ contains within Himself all of the treasures and riches of who God is, and of what He possesses. These treasures, the Greek scriptures tell us, are undetectable, un- searchable, and unreachable through all of our fleshly efforts. Only through a spirit of revelation into the mystery of the Person of Christ can these treasures be manifested out to the body through the preaching of the gospel. Verse nine tells just this. Part of Paul’s apostolic/ prophetic ministry as described in verse eight and nine, is to not only reveal theses undetectable riches. In verse nine he goes on to tell us that the purpose of this revelation is to make everyone else within the local body aware as to what is their part, participation, share, and calling into the riches of Christ is.

The apostles thus must live themselves in that accurate recognition and participation of the truth so that they may be able to testify to it and bring others into its participation or fellowship.

In accordance with the faith of God’s chosen out ones as a precise and full knowledge of the truth, which is in accordance with piety towards God.

Leads them into the accurate discernment, recognition and participation of the truth, which belongs to and harmonizes with what tends to godliness. He must live in that accurate recognition and participation of the truth.

With the promise of life goes the provision for its proclamation. Hence the apostle in proclaiming you shall live through Christ is an apostle according through the very proclamation of this life.

2 Timothy 1:13Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Greek: Hold fast the outline or pattern of healthy words…in a world that belongs to faith and love.

1 Timothy 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome <5198> words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

2 Timothy 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound <5198> words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound <5198> doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

Titus 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound <5198> doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Titus 1:13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound <5198> in the faith;

Titus 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound <5198> doctrine:

1 Cor 9:1 ¶ Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.

Ephesians2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Foundation consisting in the apostles and prophets. Case of location, or the building up of the church must occur IN what the apostles and prophets lay.

Being built up in the Lord while resting on the revelatory foundation of the prophets and apostles. This foundation being the very person of Christ. His direction, His will, wisdom, gifts, power.

The article not before prophets shows that apostles and prophets are of the same kind of people.

2Peter 3:2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

The apostles and prophets are both exclusive bearers of revelation. The prophet’s revelation is progressive while the apostles can operate in complete revelation based on the written word of God.

Mark 1:2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send (apostello) my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Which shall prepare Literally who will lay down all of the needed gear, utensils and equipment at another’s disposal.” In this case, we furnish the Lord with a crucified life that will allow Him to operate in His wisdom and prudence through us.

Thy way is in the Greek accusative case. The accusative case points out an object or goal. The goal God’s servant is to embrace and execute God’s very unorthodox methods within the limits of His prolonged time schedules. My friend this is the key to becoming a revivalist!

Titus 1:5 For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee:

To set in order from the word “ortho” which means straight as with the orthodontist’ “one who straightens teeth.”

Ac 14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

To set straight besides or after. To arrange what was left behind after Paul’s departure.

Epidiorthoo .To what still remains to be set in order.

Wanting the things that are failing, lagging or, inferior.

Ordain: To appoint or set down in every office.

2 Corinthians 12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

Indeed the signs of an apostle were worked out in the realm of all endurance; both by signs and wonders, and works of God’s dunamis (miracles)

Signs: The miracle from the point of view that gives proof to the reality of God, and to the authenticity of the apostle as a sent ambassador of God commissioned with His credentials.

Wonders: The same miracle from the point of view of its startling, astonishing, amazing qualities, which the world beholds, and causes it to believe in God.

Col 1:29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Greek (paraphrase) I athletically agonize to always respond to God’s rhema word that contains God’s energy to make it come to pass, and if which I obey, will give me the victory as its energy is successfully carried out into the external world as a miracle.

Romans 15:19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached( I have filled up the gospel) the gospel of Christ.

It is important for us to be aware that if we are to do our part in filling up the gospel of Christ it will never be accomplished through our mere preaching of God’s word. The gospel must be proclaimed in the power of the signs and wonders that accompany our spiritual gifts.

Ephesians 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
The apostle Paul always categorizes apostles and prophets together. They are in the same class because their revelatory functions in many ways are similar.

Ephesians chapter three, verses four and five tells us that apostles and prophets have been specifically called to a ministry of revealing the mystery of God, which is the person of Christ into a local body. Though every believer has been called to reveal the Person of Christ through their ministries, the revelatory anointing in apostolic and prophetic people is especially emphasized. When the prophetic flow is curtailed or prohibited in our assemblies, we in fact cut our own necks off. The revelation of the Person of Jesus Christ is crippled at best.

Mark 3:14 And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,

Mark 6:30 ¶ And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.

Mark 9:37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

Luke 9:48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.

Luke 10:16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

John 5:37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.

John 6:57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

John 7: 18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

John 8:16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.

I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.

John 8:26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.

John 8:28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

John 8:29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.

John 8:38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father

John 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

John 10:25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.

John 10:37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.

But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

John 12:49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.

And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.

John 13:16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

John 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

John 16:27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.

28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.

John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them

I Cor1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

John 8:28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.

John 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

Gal 1:1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)

Thusly the apostle is never intended to please man outside of God’s will, but to please God who chose and raised him up. Not pleasing man, but a bond slave of God.

Thusly the apostle cannot please men outside of God’s will, but must always please God who chose and raised him or her up. Not pleasing man, but a bond or love slave of God.

Eph 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints, which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
An apostle by the agency, influence, and the open doors willed by God.

Col 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timotheus our brother,

The apostle can proclaim the will of God, because he or she live strictly out of the will of God.

1Tim 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;

o He or she can proclaim God’s commandments, because the apostle lives strictly out of the commandments of God.

2Tim:1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,

With the apostolic proclamation of the resurrection life which is in Christ Jesus there it the promise and ability for us to live in this quality of life right now? This is fellowship of the mystery.

The apostle can only proclaim the life of the resurrected Christ to us to the degree that he lives in it.

Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

(Greek: … and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the full knowledge of the truth.

The apostle lives in accordance with God’s level of faith for His saints. God’s level of faith is His rhema word. Therefore the apostle lives out of God’s rhema word.

The apostles thus must live themselves in that accurate recognition and participation of the truth so that they may be able to testify to it and bring others into its participation or fellowship.

The apostle does not matter, but He who sent him and His mission. The emphasis on the commissioning is the author.

None can be sent but the one who is under orders.

The man commissioned is always the representative of the one giving the commissioning. The apostle represents in his own person the Lord and His rights.

He must be as good as the one who sent him.

God’s commission cannot be fulfilled unless there is an absolute subordination and death of the sent one’s will.

God’s authority is given to the one who lives under God’s authority.

God’s power is given to the one who lives out of God’s power as the source of life.

The sent by the Lord should be as the Lord Himself.

A man that is sent with full authority must stand fully under the authority of the Lord and as a slave of the Lord derives all that He is and has from the Lord,

He forfeits his own initiative and unites his won will to the one who sent him.

An apostle is always a mathetes (disciple).

The commissioning to represent Jesus and His cause means humiliation rather than exaltation.

There is no special position or personal privilege.

“The apostle has no personal influence on how his ministry will turn out. He is brought under the will of God who destroys his autonomy and leaves the apostle with no other choice but to a full and obedient dedication to the will of God and a military walk to the voice of the Spirit.

2 Cor 1:8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

Excessively we were burdened beyond our power.

It is throwing beyond magnitude. We were utterly at loss, destitute of earthly and fleshly measures and resources.

But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:

It is a judicial sentence of death. “An official resolution that stamps a matter as done.’

(Literally Paul asks, “Am I going to save myself by earthly efforts? My answer is NO!! I MUST DIE!! ONLY IN CHRIST AND THROUGH CHRIST)

Whether on asking myself, should I die or whether I should come out of mortal peril, I answered, “I must die”.

So as to trust in God alone who is raising the corpses

2 Cor 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

Our sufficiency and ability and our qualifications is not found in ourselves as a source but only in God, his grace and power are its root sources.

2Cor 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

The power is the property of God.

2Cor 4:12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

Death is actively energized and efficient in us. The death of Christ is effectual in the apostle. Christ’s death always works mighty in the apostolic workings. This death is for the benefit of others

2 Cor 4:16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

To rot thoroughly, being disabled or being brought to decay, consumed, or ruin.

2 Corinthians 5:13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.

If we are out of our minds; out of our wits or insane.

If Paul goes beyond the bounds of normalcy it is in his highest devotion towards the Lord; but on the other hand shows wisdom and prudence towards his disciples.

Cor 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

Not urging or driving us, but shutting us up to one line, or one side of the road and one purpose, as in a narrowed wall road.

2Cor 6:3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

Not even one occasion of sin or offense. No occasion for stumbling.

·I am not seeking your possessions, I am seeking you (the person)

2 Corinthians 12:15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

spend Incur personal expense

spent To exhaust by spending; To spend oneself totally up for the individual and for the sake of the gospel

2Cor 13:4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

The apostle lives out of the power of God as the root system in his life.

Oneness With The Lord

1 Timothy 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

John 6:57 As the living Father hath sent me ( Greek: apostolic sending), and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

Greek: The apostle or the one sent on an apostolic mission lives moment to moment through the Father who does the works.

As I have taught, the works of the Father are translated into rhema words. The apostle must continuously discern and carry out the rhema word. That is the apostle’s whole objective in life.

Any time that the apostle acts in the flesh, he or she will experience a loss of the full credentials of the Lord’s power, which is found only in the voice of the Spirit.

John 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

The apostle has no agenda. His or her agenda is the Lord.

His or her whole existence is sustained and originates through his or her relationship with the Father.

John 5:36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

The apostle’s work originates in God. It is consequently done with the full authority of God and in signs and wonders of the rhema word.

Utter dependency on the rhema word of God bounds the apostle to learn and limit his or her life strictly to the ways of God. Both of these things bring the apostle into oneness with the Lord and equip him or her for ambassadorship with the full credentials of the Lord power.

The greatness of the apostle and the prophet is found in how faithfully he or she restrict their lives to the accuracy of rhema word of God.

John 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

He that has seen me with discernment has seen the Father.

Mat 10:40 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

Greek:To welcome with open arms i.e. receive with hospitality.

Luke 10:16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

Greek ; He that is making light of, or is despising you, despises me. He that is paying attention to what you are saying pays attention to me.

Ephesians 6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

Eph 3:4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ).

The apostle not only reveals the mystery of Christ, its dispositions and arrangements but also teaches others how to participate according to their calling into this mystery.

It comes to say that the apostle is used within church to bring the church into the comprehensive participation of what that it has been called into by God.

Bring forth the dispositions of God according to His grace.

Greek: Hold fast the outline or pattern of healthy words…in a world that belongs to faith and love.

1 Timothy 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome <5198> words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

2 Timothy 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound <5198> words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound <5198> doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

Titus 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound <5198> doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Titus 1:13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound <5198> in the faith;

Titus 2:1 But speak thou the things which become sound <5198> doctrine:

Are You An Apostle?

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