NT apostle, minister anointed by God to deal with scripture and church doctrine based on scripture
NT prophet, minister anointed by God to bring correction to church, to correct both ministers and individuals.
***
Shortly after I was born again in 1975, I was transported into heaven in the night where I was merged into the body of Jesus, made one with the Word of God … God, Jesus, Holy Spirit witnessing.
This same thing happened again a few nights later … exactly the same … no physical images, just a spiritual experience.
(Though I didn't know what this meant at the time it happened, I did come to believe these two acts had to do with somehow equipping me for the work God had chosen for me to do on this earth.)
I feel certain many have challenged this work, some behind my back and others directly to my face.
***
One thing that stood out to me is the 3 who witnessed in heaven. In that which happened to me it was very clear to me 3 witnessed in heaven as to what had happened to me in heaven: The witnesses in heaven: God ... Jesus The Word ... and The Holy Spirit.
There is a scripture that speaks of these three witnesses in heaven.
I John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
***
When they accused Jesus, HE said HE was one witness and The Father was the second witness to HIM.
John 8:13-18 The Pharisees therefore said unto HIM, Thou bearest record of thyself; thy record is not true.
Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but ye cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.
Ye judge after the flesh; I judge no man.
And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.
I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me.
***
For us: The WORD we speak bears witnesses of itself.
I've often thought those who read what I say or hear what I speak have a witness and it is the WORD itself that bears witness.
If a person is of God, they believe the word.
If the person is not of God, they do not believe that word spoken.
Some people try to acknowledge themselves by their autobiography.
When I wrote books and published on Amazon, there is no author page describing me as most writers do.
I knew the words in the books showed the Spirit of God to those persons who had the Spirit of God in them and the others who did not have the Spirit wouldn't understand even if I presented an "author's page" telling of my education and background.
The WORD is the authority of God behind the writing for those who can see.
***
No matter who came against Jesus, HE knew from whence HE came, and that was from God, The Father … and Jesus knew HE returned to God.
No matter who or how many opposed me, I had the record in myself of what God did with me and said to me and how God appointed me for this work on earth.
I don't believe anyone can change that witness we have in ourselves when it is from God.
***
There is a woman in our little church group who showed to me a very strong desire to give. When her father was alive, she sent rather large checks to me. After her father died, her money must have lessened and finally her monthly offerings were $40.
At one point her husband called me.
He said his wife had been "brain washed."
I was very shocked to hear this had happened to this woman and I'm sure my shock was apparent in my response to him as I asked: "Who brain washed her?"
He had no response for me and ended the phone call with that.
Later I realized he thought I had brain washed his wife. But I knew it was God motivating her in that which she did.
Another woman in our group saw me in a special need and offered to loan me $35,000 to pay for extra expense in a building project.
She said to me: "How can I see you in need while I have the money to take care of the need?"
(I knew this was of God.)
As I recall, her husband wanted to have me sign papers concerning the money loaned. I would have done that but she must have intervened for there were no papers and I was able to repay the loan in full within less than six-months.
This woman and I had the witness of God in the act.
***
I see the witness of God in that which Pam Padgett does … and in others among us also.
The work is the witness.
Others do the same work but there is no witness of God in their work. I know their work is of themselves.
But when God is doing the work in a person, I do have a witness of the work.
The work itself becomes witness.
It reminds me of the difference between the alms given by the poor woman and that offering given by the rich.
Mark 12:41-44 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
And He called unto Him His disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
***
In the New Testament, Paul spoke of "letters" which some gave to commend themselves to others but Paul said of himself, "you are our letter" which shows Paul and his work being of God.
II Corinthians 3:1-3 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
Some people try to acknowledge themselves by their autobiography.
When I wrote books and published on Amazon, there is no author page describing me as most writers do.
I knew the words in the books showed the Spirit of God to those persons who had the Spirit of God in them and the others who did not have the Spirit wouldn't understand even if I presented an "author's page" telling of my education and background.
The WORD is the authority of God behind the writing for those who can see.
***
No matter who came against Jesus, HE knew from whence HE came, and that was from God, The Father … and Jesus knew HE returned to God.
No matter who or how many opposed me, I had the record in myself of what God did with me and said to me and how God appointed me for this work on earth.
I don't believe anyone can change that witness we have in ourselves when it is from God.
***
There is a woman in our little church group who showed to me a very strong desire to give. When her father was alive, she sent rather large checks to me. After her father died, her money must have lessened and finally her monthly offerings were $40.
At one point her husband called me.
He said his wife had been "brain washed."
I was very shocked to hear this had happened to this woman and I'm sure my shock was apparent in my response to him as I asked: "Who brain washed her?"
He had no response for me and ended the phone call with that.
Later I realized he thought I had brain washed his wife. But I knew it was God motivating her in that which she did.
Another woman in our group saw me in a special need and offered to loan me $35,000 to pay for extra expense in a building project.
She said to me: "How can I see you in need while I have the money to take care of the need?"
(I knew this was of God.)
As I recall, her husband wanted to have me sign papers concerning the money loaned. I would have done that but she must have intervened for there were no papers and I was able to repay the loan in full within less than six-months.
This woman and I had the witness of God in the act.
***
I see the witness of God in that which Pam Padgett does … and in others among us also.
The work is the witness.
Others do the same work but there is no witness of God in their work. I know their work is of themselves.
But when God is doing the work in a person, I do have a witness of the work.
The work itself becomes witness.
It reminds me of the difference between the alms given by the poor woman and that offering given by the rich.
Mark 12:41-44 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.
And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
And He called unto Him His disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
***
In the New Testament, Paul spoke of "letters" which some gave to commend themselves to others but Paul said of himself, "you are our letter" which shows Paul and his work being of God.
II Corinthians 3:1-3 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
*****