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Volume 10 ... #3
The work of apostles and prophets in the NT Church Today
After Jesus arose, HE gave ministry gifts to the church to help the church.
Eph. 4 ... 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: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into HIM in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From WHOM the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
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The apostle Paul is an example of the NT apostle given by Jesus after HE arose for Paul was not like the other apostles of the Bible. Paul didn't walk with Jesus before the crucifixion as they did. It was not until after Jesus rose from the dead that Paul was called by God and set into the ministry as an apostle.
The work of the NT apostle: (that which God has shown me about apostles)
Apostles have a special anointing by God to deal with doctrine, with scripture. Paul told us that after his death he knew many would rise up in the church to draw away disciples after themselves. As long as Paul was among them, he kept order in the church and kept the doctrine from perversions of men who sought their own glory. But the time would come when Paul would no longer be there.
Paul says: Acts. 20 ... 25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. 26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which HE hath purchased with HIS own blood.
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
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Today, so much doctrine of Bible has been twisted and removed from the churches.
Just consider the following spoken by Jesus: Mt. 5:32 ... But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
The man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
The apostle Paul said the following is the commandment of the LORD concerning women who have married.
I Cor. 7 ... 10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: 11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband:and let not the husband put away his wife.
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Apostles will deal with perversion of scripture. Apostles will hold fast the doctrines of the Bible and will insist before all that these true doctrines be followed.
This is one of the major works of NT apostles.
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Work of NT prophets:
God often shows prophets sin in the church ... specific sin being committed by individuals in the church ... and prophets are sent by God to deal with such sins.
This is very difficult work, though prophets are enabled by God for the work.
The one doing the sin often strikes out at the prophet and tries to make it seem the prophet is wrong. Therefore the prophet has to work through this and reestablish with God the truth of the message and hold fast to the message even when attacked by the wrong doer. It is difficult.
A prophecy once spoken over me is: "You will have to stay very close to God."
Elijah was once very discouraged and wanted to die. (It is not unusual to want to stop doing the work after you have been battling over sin.)
I Kings 19 ...And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the (FALSE) prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. (these false prophets that Elijah killed were Jezebel's prophets, though false.) 3 And when he (Elijah) saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.
4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. 6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.
7 And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. 8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.
9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and HE said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?
10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken THY covenant, thrown down THINE altars, and slain THY prophets (the real prophets of God) with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord.
And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind:and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire A STILL SMALL VOICE.
13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave.
And, behold, there came A VOICE unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken THY covenant, thrown down THINE altars, and slain THY prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
15 And the Lord said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: 16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.
18 Yet I have left ME seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
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So Elijah departed and did the assignment given him by God.
There is an example in Bible of a prophet having to deliver a message and being told to "flee" after delivering the message.
It is difficult work though God sustains the one called to do this work.
The very people you are sent to help often attack and accuse you.
But you do the work because God sent you to do the work. God has HIS ways of sustaining the prophet though the work is very hard.
Prophets are sent to the church. The prophet brings the way of God so that person in the church can depart from the way of death and destruction.
The flesh of man wants to be exalted. So the flesh despises the prophet who brings the way of God.
It is a very difficult work even though God sustains the prophet.
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