As we think on the word given us by the Holy Spirit, that will cause
us to go in the way God shows us in the Holy Bible. Certainly that way will end up being a
way of success where things turn out well in the sight of God according to God's plan for us and HIS purpose.
The apostle Paul says:
Philippians 2:5-7 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
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Jesus came to this earth, not as a
"god", though Jesus was God as God's first begotten Son.
But Jesus didn't exalt Himself by things such as wearing hats and robes to say "Look at Me. I'm religious. I'm the Son of God. Pay respect to Me."
Jesus did not call himself "Reverend" and such, to cause humans to think HIM to be something, though HE was something.
Those who were of God would know HIM by HIS works and word.
Jesus' word was with
power and authority and by HIS WORD the people of God knew HIM.
HE did not exalt himself among men, but rather
"HE made himself of no reputation."
Paul tells us to do this same thing.
When
we speak to other people, do we try to make them think we are something
special? Do we structure what we say to bring glory to us? Do we try
to exalt ourselves in their eyes?
We probably tried to do that earlier in our lives, going in the way of this world.
But now, do we do that?
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For several weeks, I spent time with the verse where Jesus made Himself
of no reputation. I kept it before me, thinking of how humans try to
impress people. I wanted to do this scripture and purposed to go an opposite way to the flesh of man.
As
we think on an instruction from Bible and think on how that instruction
is often violated and have a desire to do the verse, I believe God
enables us to do what is right in HIS eyes.
And as we do that verse over and over as we live in this life, we develop a good root system and lay a good foundation as we walk on this earth.
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Philippians 2 And being found in fashion as a man, HE humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
"Not my will but THY will be done."
Jesus did not want to go to the cross. Three times HE prayed that "this cup" be removed from HIM if possible. But Jesus saw it was God's way. Jesus also knew HIS cross would cause the scripture to be fulfilled. So Jesus chose to lay down HIS life because it was God's will for Him.
My own plan for myself was nothing like God's will for me.
I wanted to marry. But that was not going to be what God designed for my life. I fought God for many years. Finally, I agreed to what God wanted me to do and after that, I was fine.
There
are people today who make fun of me and say evil about me but I do ask
God to forgive them for they don't realize that which I'm doing is what God ordained
for me to do and to be, doing the work of a minister called by God. It
is by the will of God, as Paul spoke of himself when identifying
himself to the church as an apostle, preacher, and teacher.
I am called by Jesus as an apostle and prophet to minister to the churches by the will of God ...
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What did ministers of the New Testament Bible call themselves?
When we are set in the church to do the work of a minister, it is good to define to the church the work that we do ... apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher ... these are by the same Holy Spirit but are different types of works for the NT church.
This is what the Bible shows us about ministers of today's NT Church:
Ephesians 4 (Jesus set up the ministers and the NT Church from heaven)
8 Wherefore HE (Jesus) saith, When HE ascended up on high, HE led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
11 And HE (Jesus) gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
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The New Testament Bible shows ministers identifying themselves as: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. (this is what ministers in today's church should do)
💥 Peter said:
I Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
2 Peter 1:2 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
1 Peter 5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
Qualification of an elder in the NT Church: (elder and bishop are the same office, interchangeable titles)
Titus 1 (Paul speaking to Titus)
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:
6 If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.
(This
scripture shows Peter was married and had children for that is one
qualification for being an elder in the NT church ... Also we have a
scripture showing Jesus going to Peter's house and healing Peter's
mother-in-law: Matthew 8:14-15 And
when Jesus was come into Peter's house, HE saw his wife's mother laid,
and sick of a fever. 15 And HE touched her hand, and the fever left her:
and she arose, and ministered unto them.)
Titus 1:
7 For a bishop (elder) must
be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry,
not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; 8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate; 9
Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be
able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
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💥 Paul called himself "a preacher, apostle, and teacher".
2 Timothy 1:11 (Paul says of himself) Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
Paul also wrote several epistles to the churches where he identified the offices to which he was called by Jesus:
Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
I Corinthians 1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God,
2 Corinthians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,
Galatians 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;)
Ephesians 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:
Colossians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,
I Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
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;
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💥 Philip is called an "evangelist" ... and he had 4 daughters who prophesied (?prophets)
Acts 21
8
And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto
Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which
was one of the seven; and abode with him.
9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
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💥 In Book of Acts, several ministers are identified by their ministry office:
Acts 11 (New Testament prophets in the New Testament church)
27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.
28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus,
and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth
throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius
Caesar.
29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:
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Acts 15:32 And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.
There are several other scriptures which refer to ministry offices in the NT Bible but always calling these offices: apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher.
(In the New Testament Bible no man is called pope, archbishop; vicar, cardinal, nor is any man called "Reverend".)
We establish our churches and doctrines today by the New Testament Bible, doing as shown in these scriptures.
But
many chuches today change the scripture and call their ministers by
titles not in the New Testament Bible and teach their followers to do
such. I believe this will bring judgment from God upon those who fail
to go by the New Testament Bible.
The New Testament Bible is "our handbook" showing what to do today in the churches of Jesus.
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