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.
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I was born again in 1975 while reading a book about sin.
I thought, at the time, the book saved me.
I wanted my family and friends to be saved so I purchased multiple copies of that book and gave them to others, expecting them to be touched by God as I had been by reading that book.
So far as I know, none of them were.
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I have heard of others saying they were born again at a Billy Graham meeting … and as a result they highly recommended this evangelist to others and they praised this evangelist.
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A woman at the bridge center told everyone that she was Church of Christ and talked about the church group she attended.
People often share things about their church group thinking that by doing this they worship God … never realizing they are worshipping their church group.
They think they are turning people to God by talking about the church they attend, but really they are trying to turn people to their own church group.
They divide the body of Christ by asking: "Where do you go to church?"
They are carnal and their focus is on the church group rather than being upon God.
The apostle Paul said of such people:
I Corinthians 3:1-9 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
(One says: "I'm Baptist." Another says: "I'm Methodist." Another: "I'm Catholic.")
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
(One says: "I'm Baptist." Another says: "I'm Methodist." Another: "I'm Catholic.")
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
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We do not worship God by telling others of a church group or talking about how wonderful is a human preacher.
II Corinthians 3:5-6 Paul explains: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
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II Corinthians 3:5-6 Paul explains: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
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We, the members of the body of Christ, worship God each time we tell what God has done for us or what God has shown us.
We share God and Jesus, The Word, each time we speak of that which has been revealed to us by God.
Our goal on this earth is to glorify what God has done, not what man has done.
For man can do nothing except it comes from God.
Man is simply God's creation, called by God to do the work of God but the work he does and the word he speaks comes from God and not from himself.
The real minister of God speaks only that which God reveals to him.
The minister is no more than one who takes dictation from God and shares what God has told him.
Ministers must be faithful to God to repeat that which God has said so how can that minister take credit for saying that which God has told him and how can you worship that man for repeating that which God said to him. It is his job and duty to speak what God has given him.
Why marvel at the man for receiving what God said?
Instead, be in awe of God who gave The Word to man.
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Our goal on this earth is to glorify what God has done, not what man has done.
For man can do nothing except it comes from God.
Man is simply God's creation, called by God to do the work of God but the work he does and the word he speaks comes from God and not from himself.
The real minister of God speaks only that which God reveals to him.
The minister is no more than one who takes dictation from God and shares what God has told him.
Ministers must be faithful to God to repeat that which God has said so how can that minister take credit for saying that which God has told him and how can you worship that man for repeating that which God said to him. It is his job and duty to speak what God has given him.
Why marvel at the man for receiving what God said?
Instead, be in awe of God who gave The Word to man.
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So we, each Christian, speaks of God and praises what God has said.
We keep our focus on The Word, and resist praising the human who delivered The Word.
We keep our focus on The Word, and resist praising the human who delivered The Word.
As Paul said, The man is simply the instrument by whom God speaks, but The Word is God and it is God who gives the increase.
That human who delivered The Word cannot cause you to believe The Word delivered. Only God can cause you to believe The Word. Worship God WHO allowed you to believe.
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That human who delivered The Word cannot cause you to believe The Word delivered. Only God can cause you to believe The Word. Worship God WHO allowed you to believe.
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Learn to worship God by speaking of God and by thinking on The Word, not on the man who spoke The Word.
Worship The Word.
We see a tree or mountain or great bird and we rejoice and marvel but don't we thank God for creating that which is so beautiful to us and wonderful? I know I thank God when I see the creation. I enjoy the created, but I worship the creator by thanking God for the creation.
Learn to worship the creator, God!
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