Ex.32:31 And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. 32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.
Moses was faithful in the in way he built. He was faithful to his people. He was faithful to the ministry God had called him to. He was faithful to intercede for the people and to remind God that they were his people. Moses shows us the true heart of an Apostle of God. This man stands as our representative of what makes up a true apostle. Moses did not seek his own but sought to care for the children of Israel.
Deut 9:13 Furthermore Jehovah spake unto me, saying, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: 14 let me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under heaven; and I will make of thee a nation mightier and greater than they. Moses response…Thus I fell down before the LORD forty days and forty nights, as I fell down at the first; because the LORD had said he would destroy you. I prayed therefore unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, destroy not thy people and thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed through thy greatness, which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand. Remember thy servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; look not unto the stubbornness of this people, nor to their wickedness, nor to their sin: Lest the land whence thou broughtest us out say, Because the LORD was not able to bring them into the land which he promised them, and because he hated them, he hath brought them out to slay them in the wilderness. Yet they are thy people and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest out by thy mighty power and by thy stretched out arm.
Duet. 9:25 He was like the Good Sheppard willing to lay his life down for the sheep.
Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth. Num 12:3. His meekness was above all the men in the earth. The word meek means enduring injury to one self with patience, without resentment never exercising violence as a solution or remedy. When Aaron and Miriam challenged his authority Moses did not argue or fight for his position but certainly intervened on her behalf. When Miriam was struck with leprosy, Moses cried out to God for her healing. This is the example set of true leadership. Leaders who know it is by the power of God they must lead for the authority is not in them but in God. For we have this power in earthen vessels that the Excellency of power may be of God and not us. Therefore we will not abuse the authority of God for we are only earthen vessels. Leaders will esteem the other better and they will not fight for position. Moses was a very meek man and he learned to delegate authority. The same spirit that was on him came upon the 70 elders and later the same spirit came upon Joshua. Whenever challenged by opposition he called upon the name of the Lord for his protection. It was the Lord who fought for him he did not fight for himself.
We can learn more from the Apostle Paul the true nature of an apostle. This will hold true for anyone calling themselves an apostle today. It is by the fruit of the spirit that brings forth the attitude of love that emulates an apostle. Listen and read Paul as he explains:
Acts 20:17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. 18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons 19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: 20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, 21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: 23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. 24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. 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. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. 32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. 33 I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. 34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. 35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. 36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. 37 And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, 38 Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.
Let a cry come from our heart that all ministries of the Lord will have this same heart. None will take silver, gold, or apparel but all will labor with the word of grace, teaching and warning the flock. Holding nothing back that is profitable for the flock with much humility and tears. Who can read the above and not have tears well-up as we touch the heart of a true man of God? Paul preached the word of God without fear yet with great tribulation and danger to his life. He went publicly from house to house. He did not go into tall buildings or cathedrals or denominations but house to house. He showed them all things and elders wept for they loved this man of God. Moreover, how can we not weep for we long to see this same gospel preached by true men of God no matter what their position may be in the earth? This is the cry from the whole body of Christ. “Restore Oh Lord the desolation of many generations.” Amen
Isa. 61:4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolation's, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolation's of many generations. 5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. 6 But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God:
The ministers of God will build the old waste places and the wastes cities. These are the local churches abandon all over the word by God’s people. God declared through his prophet the raising up of ministers of God who have a true heart. They are his apostles. They are a new species, a new order of ambassadors brought forth to preach the word of reconciliation and the everlasting Gospel of God. The Priest of the Lord will repair the desolation of the past two thousand years. That which has been laid waste, barren unfulfilled is the parched land left in a draught neglected as unimportant and unnecessary by the standards of Christian leaders and by many of the members of the body of Christ. The called out ones to assemble themselves together unto the Lord their God need the cities repaired so they may worship God in the place he has chosen. Every city must have the express image of his person showing the brightness of his glory upholding all things by his word. This is the ministry and the heart that all of us must display to the world. If we will believe in our hearts, confess with our mouths the word 4of faith we shall be saved. the voice 1998
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Apostles Chapter 4: Part 1
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APOSTLE CHAPTER 4: PART 2