Ephesians 4
11 And HE 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:
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Paul is one of these NT apostles/teachers which was called by Jesus from heaven after the crucifixion and resurrection and placed into the ministry.
Acts 26 (Paul speaking to king Agrippa)
Then Paul stretched forth the hand, and answered for himself:
2 I I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews: 3 Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.
4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; 5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:
7 Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.
8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?
9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. 11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities. 12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.
14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou ME? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord?
2 I I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews: 3 Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently.
4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; 5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
6 And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers:
7 Unto which promise our twelve tribes, instantly serving God day and night, hope to come. For which hope's sake, king Agrippa, I am accused of the Jews.
8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?
9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. 11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities. 12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.
14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou ME? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord?
And HE said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in ME.
19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in ME.
19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
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Paul was not like one of the 12 apostles called by Jesus when Jesus walked in the flesh as a man on this earth.
Jesus had already been crucified and resurrected and taken into heaven when HE called Paul from heaven.
This is exactly the same as the NT ministers are chosen today by Jesus and called by Jesus from heaven to be ministers to the NT church as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers according to Ephesians 4:8;11-12.
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Acts 22
7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou ME?
8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And HE said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of HIM that spake to me.
(The men with Saul/Paul, saw that bright light, but they did not hear the voice of Jesus for the call was only on Saul/Paul.)
10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.
11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.
Acts 9
8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to THY saints at Jerusalem:
14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on THY name.
15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto ME, to bear MY name (The Word) before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for MY name's sake.
17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.
19 And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.
20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that HE is the Son of God.
21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?
22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:
24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.
25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.
26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that HE had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
(After Jesus speaks to us, we are completely different, born again by God by the Holy Spirit.)
28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.
29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
Matthew 10:23 Jesus says: But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.
29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.
30 Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.
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Matthew 10:23 Jesus says: But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
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(Comments by Joan Boney)
When I was approximately 4 years old, I visited my aunt and she took me to church. We sat down on one of the benches, and I heard my name called ... "Joan."
I stood up and said: "Yes".
My aunt got me to sit back down on the church bench.
Apparently no one heard that voice calling my name but me.
(like Acts 22:9)
When I was 37 years old, God said to me: "Joan ... you know all those mistakes you've been making all these years. Those weren't mistakes. Those were sins."
I was very shocked! I thought they were mistakes.
A few nights after this, I was asleep in the night. I was transported into heaven and was with God, and Christ, and the Holy Spirit. At that time, I was merged into the body of Jesus, made one with the Word of God, God and the Holy Spirit witnessing.
A few nights later the exact same thing happened to me again. There were no images. Both happenings were spiritual.
The result: I was on fire for things of God. Now I wanted to read the Bible. I wanted to be with the people of God. I was completely changed from the person I had been before this happened.
I no longer cared anything for my secular business.
I only wanted things of God.
Jesus called me, ordained me for the ministry offices (apostle-prophet), and taught me by HIS Holy Spirit as I read the Bible, explaining to me various scriptures and opening my understanding. I was also given the following spiritual gifts: gift of exhortation, word of knowledge, faith. (all to be used in the church for the church)
On January 10, 1980, in the night while I was sleeping. A very loud, trumpet-like voice spoke 3 words into my ear: "Hartford, Seattle, KWJS"
I awoke instantly and wrote "KWJS" on a notepad. I found it to be a radio station. I said to God, "Are YOU telling me to go on radio?"
"I wouldn't know how to do that."
Then the Holy Spirit brought these words to my mind: "Call the radio station manager."
Immediately I called the station manager at KWJS. I said to him, "I think God might be showing me to go on radio. How would you do that?"
The station manager said: "Make an audition tape 29 1/2 minutes long and send it to me and if you fit our programming we will offer you a contract."
I recorded the tape immediately and mailed it to the manager and within 5 days I was broadcasting exhortations to the church on station KWJS. Within a year I was on 15 radio stations from Connecticut (NYC) to Seattle, coast to coast in USA, just exactly as the angel told me that night in that dream.
2012: God gave me a dream showing me to publish exhortations on a blog: Jesus Ministries Exhortations
2015: God showed me to write ministry books on Amazon.
2020: God showed me by a dream to begin Podcasts.
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