Luke 6:12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; 14 Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, 15 Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, 16 And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor. 17 And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases.
Jesus went to a mountain to pray all night but when it was daylight he chose his twelve Apostles. It was from a high place of prayer that Jesus prepared to choose the twelve to be the foundation of his church. These men were the ones to whom he revealed himself in the natural during his ministry on earth. After his resurrection he revealed himself as the resurrected Christ. Then he revealed himself unto them as the Ascending Christ departing in the clouds. But when the Holy Ghost fell upon them they became the anointed apostles fully equipped to build his church. The twelve have a special place in the Kingdom of God. The twelve gates to the New Jerusalem are named after them. These men drank of the same cup as our Lord. Their mission was to the house of Israel but they turned the world upside down. Their hands did many signs, wonders and miracles. They held nothing back and gave to their office the full capacity of apostleship.
Luke 9:1 When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. This was the first time the Lord sent them. The word sent in the Greek is apostello meaning to set apart or to send out on a mission. Thus we get the word Apostle. In the English we could say a sent one or a missionary and it would not seem as mystical as the word Apostle has become in the religious world. These men were ordinary men but became extraordinary because of the anointing of the Holy Ghost. The only thing that makes the difference among men is the Holy Spirit. Thus an apostle is a person filled with the Holy Spirit who is sent out to set at liberty those who are lost.
Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. The word, go, is the Greek word poreuomai and it means to traverse, travel or take a journey. An apostle is one who becomes the extension of the ministry of our Lord. He represents the Lord in his stead. He takes up the preaching of the cross, carries the cross where it has not been and applies it to the lives of those who will listen. In this work the apostle collects the building blocks of the church and helps it to become and maintain itself as a living tabernacle. The church then maintains its life by continuing to walk and practice the word imparted to them by the apostle.
Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. The apostle's doctrine is the Torah applied to the church. The apostles also make many references from the prophets.
Acts 2:16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; Acts 2:29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day. 30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; Therefore the foundation of the apostles' doctrine is the written word of God from the old testament applied to the church through the cross of Jesus Christ. All the scriptures declared Christ.
John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they, which testify of me. We could read it today like this; search the scriptures for in them is eternal life through Christ.
The apostles simply lifted Christ up out of the scriptures and shared the living bread to all the believers. Everything we need is contained in this process. This is the reason we must continue with all diligence to search the scriptures through the understanding of the apostles' doctrine. The Mormon's teaching allows for a change from one leader to the next. Whatever their present leader speaks it is their truth even if the leaders before are contradicted. This is not so for our doctrine is based upon the apostles doctrine which they preached from the Torah and the prophets. No one can contradict their teaching for if they do they are preaching another doctrine and they are cursed. There is only one mediator between God and man and that is the man, Jesus Christ. The apostle doctrine is living and continues in this day. Everything that needed to be said is contained in their teaching. Anything we hear or teach must have its roots in this teaching.
This process has not stopped for all things contained in the scriptures must be applied in the lives of the present church. All things have not totally been revealed until they are also revealed in us. They cannot be made perfect without us. The apostles doctrine is continually revealing and building Christ in us. It started with the twelve apostles and through Paul and continues on to this present day. It never stops. Peter also declared this when he wrote, "Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth."
2Peter 1:12
Therefore we are saved, being saved and we will be saved. This process is working in all believers who make up the church. God has never stopped sending his gifts to the church. The church is a living, immortal body of Christ and cannot die. We are the called out ones, the body of the living Christ in the earth. If we pass from this physical body we simply move into the cloud of witnesses for our life is hid in Christ. We are those while in the body looking for immortality and eternal life, now.
1Peter 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Acts 7:37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear. 38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us: Stephen makes clear that Moses was referring to Christ as the prophet God would raise up. It was the ones given the lively oracles of God who persecuted and threw stones at Stephen until he gave up the ghost. He called them Acts 7:51 Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers.
Never the less, God still raised up Jesus. We live in a day when many religious minds are just the same in their religious attitude toward the Holy Ghost yet God is raising up a prophet like unto Jesus; that prophet is his body, the full expression of himself. Now the same scriptures are being fulfilled and are applied in Jesus to his body.
When Peter came to Cornelius' house he realized that the scriptures talked of the salvation of the Gentiles. This added more of the foundation in the apostolic doctrine, which opened the door for the teachings of Paul and other apostles. In the Jewish mind salvation was of the Jews and not the Gentiles, the heathen of the earth. Acts 10:1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: 35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
James reached in the Old Testament and declares how the prophets agree for it is written ahead of time. He takes the word from the old and applies it new to the church. Acts 15:15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: 17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. This is the companion scripture from Isaiah 61 we already discussed. The spirit always bares witness to itself through two or more witnesses. We still see this truth even now. The tabernacle of David was a tent and in the tent resting on the earth was the ark. We are the tabernacle and the ark is resting on our earth. We were once fallen but the Holy Spirit is rebuilding our waste cities so the residue of men might seek the Lord in every city.
Paul continues to lay the apostolic foundation by his teachings on Abraham's seed, the true circumcision, the contrast between Israel on earth and above, the free woman and the one in bondage, and many more scriptures where he reveals from the Torah the Christ. Acts 9:22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews, which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.
Acts 26:22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: 23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles. The book of Hebrews written either by Apollos, Paul or an unknown apostle reveals the contrast between Moses Tabernacle and the true tabernacle which is in heaven. The book of Hebrews quotes Psalms teaching and comparing the true High Priest with the Levitical Priesthood. There are many more topics taken from the Torah and applied to Christ. Hebrews even speaks of all the heroes of faith throughout the Old Testament confirming
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2Tim 3:16-17 Therefore we can firmly state that the apostolic doctrine was based clearly upon the Torah, the prophets and Moses or in other words all of the Old Testament. Therefore we must continue in the apostolic teaching even to this day.
Rev. 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
It may come as a shock to some that there could be false apostles in the church who are liars. They become liars the moment they depart from the apostolic teaching. They become liars when they steal the glory of Christ for themselves. They show they are false when they depart from the cross of Christ. They have the spirit of anti-Christ when they deny Christ came in the flesh. If they say we have no sin they make themselves liars and the truth is not in them. They profess themselves to be wise but they are fools and change the glory of the incorruptible God into their own glory. They deny the teaching of the Torah and they depart from the word claiming Why do we need the word when we have all the spirit? We cannot have the spirit without the word. We cannot have faith unless we continue in the apostolic teaching. Faith is generated by the word as established by the apostles. Stray from this truth and you will find yourself walking as the anti-Christ.
Furthermore these false apostles set themselves up in places of worship and command the high places on the stage of humanity. They build themselves little kingdoms ruling over their subjects with an iron hand. The writer once talked with a man on the phone that said he was an apostle. He pastored a church with seven hundred faithful members. He even let me know he had written forty books. The seal of his apostleship was his congregation and the writing of his books at least in his mind. Let us look at what an apostle really is for a moment and we many find that an apostle is not a pastor or the Sheppard of the church. No, an Apostle is not one who lords over others and directs the affairs of the believers in the church he may have built or started.
We have already noted that an apostle is sent from the church by the elders and the Holy Ghost. Acts 13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus.
The prophets and teachers of the given locality laid their hands on the two when the Holy Spirit spoke, Separate me... The spirit did not call them apostles but called them by their names to the work, (ergon,) meaning to work to toil as an occupation. This was not a part-time job but a job for a lifetime. The Holy Spirit sent them to this work for their life's occupation. It cannot be emphasized enough the importance of hearing the Holy Spirit say, "For the work where unto I have called them." They were called, invited and summoned to this work. When an apostle is called the Holy Spirit will guide him and provide for the needs and anointing for the ministry.
Today's apostles must not rely on the church for their support on a continual interim. The church does not exist to provide for the apostle. The apostle provides for the church. It is true that in all ministries called by the Holy Spirit the gift will make room for itself but will always be supported by the Holy Spirit. True ministries look to the Holy Spirit for their support & needs. True apostles look to God and their own hands to provide for their needs. Looking to fleece the church for dollars and cents to support apostleship is the number one reason why we do not have real apostles flourishing throughout the world. If we could get this one fact straight, we would see only "called" ministries operating in the spirit relying of the Lord and not the local church. False prophet and apostles only flourish where there is economic gain. Cut off their money supply and they will disappear and show-up on T.V. If an apostolic ministry is relying on the local church for his support then that ministry changes it purpose and calling. He may no longer call himself an apostle. He now becomes a specific member functioning in the local assembly.
The same scripture applies, Gal. 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Having begun in the spirit do you now continue in the flesh? This scripture should be applied to all ministries in this very day and hour. This truth alone would clean up the churches and rid us all of the fleshy ministries running around telling us how powerful they are and how much greater revelation they posses than anyone else. This would rid us of the ministries always dropping hints as to their needs. Their devious operations and desire for self gain would drop off the face of the earth. When God calls a ministry he provides for that ministry. The resources of God are plenty and he will provide for the work of the ministry. Those he calls and sends to work must look to God for their needs not the church. This does not mean that the church should not be actively involved in the support of all ministries. It does mean that the elders should be very discrete, diligent and accounting for the release of monies only under the direction and influence of the Holy Spirit. All believers in Christ must become accountable for their giving before the Lord.
2Cor. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. Churches must hold themselves accountable for where, when, who and how they lend their support. There are too many believers throwing their money around without seeing Holy Spirit direction and accountability. A true apostolic ministry would rather go without than to burden any given local church with their continued support for the rest of their life.
The following is a list of scriptures supporting this view, which may seem extremely radical especially to any ministry that has strayed from looking to Jesus the supplier of all their needs.
Acts 1:2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: The spirit emphasis is whom he had chosen.
Acts 14:4 But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles. (The apostles were preaching in the city.)
Acts 14:14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out. The apostles refuse to take any glory unto them for the work of the Lord.
Acts 15:4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them. 5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. 6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter. At that time, the apostles and local elders most major decision of doctrine. There was a mutual working of authority between the local elders and the apostles. They were workers together.
Acts 16:4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. The emphasis is they went through the cities.
1Cor 1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, More than just Paul or the twelve apostles began to emerge as apostolic ministries. Apostles most often worked together in various locations.
2Cor. 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia: Rom. 16:7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. The ministry of the apostle continues even to this day.
1Cor 12:27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
1Cor. 9:4 Have we not power to eat and to drink? 5 Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? 6 Or Barnabas, and I only have not we power to forbear working?
1Cor. 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
2Cor. 11:7 Have I committed an offense in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? 8 I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. 9 And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome unto you, and so will I keep myself. 10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia. 11 Wherefore? because I love you not? God knoweth. 12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. the voice 1998
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THE TWELVE APOSTLES: