Can the Real Apostles please stand up?? Oh wait, they can’t…
People in today’s era are trying to resurrect the office. Or they have. In the Charismatic movement (more specifically the New Apostolic Reformation – NAR) it is more alive today then it was when Christ walked the Earth. Figuratively speaking. Too many people want to own this title, and take the authority that the Apostles had when they walked with Jesus.
Many people believe they have been called by the “Lord”. That, in some crazy way, it is time for the new order(Apostolic) to come in and change the ways of the church… How will they do this?? Easy… If they convince enough people that this office is on going, and that, they are hand picked by Jesus Christ Himself, then they are the ones who have the authority. They are the mouth piece for Christ having the spiritual ability to change the Word of God!!
Doesn’t that make sense?? It does to me. If you have this title and truly convince others that the time has come for a new foundation to be laid, then you can create, or change the word to how you see fit.
These people strive to create this illusion so they can dictate the direction of the church. Because they are the “Church Builders” now, and God is the one driving them, therefore “We” need to listen to the words they speak.
They truly believe they have just as much authority as the Original Apostles and what they speak is directed from God. A few of these men, (Bill Johnson, Tod Bentley, and Che Ahn) all believe this movement is what God foretold in Revelations. Each one ordains the other, giving false confirmation to themselves that they are men who walk with God. But hey, they convince the masses easily.. So whatever they are doing, they are doing it well. The lost sheep or “walking dead” have no idea who they truly follow, because none of these people may truly be following Christ. But an image disguised as an angle of light.. An imitator, that is wrapped with enough glory, to keep them coming back for more.
Why the Apostles have ended:
Acts 1:1
1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,
- Being Chosen was a physical selection from Christ. That’s why Paul fits into this category of one with the original 12 (apostle to the gentiles) while traveling on the road to Damascus.
- If we only go from the broad term of an apostle, it means – one who is sent. That can easily mean when your boss sends you out to complete a task. You can confirm, you are an apostle of said job. But… that is not what Acts is referring too here. The word teaches us of those who have seen Jesus and lived under His teachings or have been physically sent by Him.
Being Chosen as an Apostle
Act 1:21-26
26 “It is therefore necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us— 22 beginning with the baptism of John, until the day that He was taken up from us—one of these should become a witness with us of His resurrection. 23 And they put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas (who was also called Justus), and Matthias. 24 And they prayed, and said, You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen 25 to occupy this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place. 26 And they drew lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.”
- With Acts 1, Peter notes that the next Apostle is to be one that accompanied with them, a man who saw the resurrection of Christ.
The signs that will follow the true apostles
Mark 16:14-18
14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.
These miracles were a confirmation to illustrate that Christ was who He said He was… They were only for a time (season) that God wanted to fulfill, so the people would have witnessed the great authority of the prophesy being fulfilled by Jesus Christ. This continuation should not be what Christians search for nor yearn for today.
Below you will see a list of all the miracles the Apostles were able to achieve. I will admit… there are miracles of healing for today… I will even say, there may even be a time where someone speaks in another language to a tribe in Africa, but again, the miracles done in the past were to be a witness for those who did not believe the identity of Christ.
- Tongues – (Different Languages)
- Cast Out Demons
- Healing the Sick
Paul Confirms His apostleship
1 Cor. 15:3-10
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
- One importance I first want to note, is that James is called out. James who has his own book in the bible is not considered one of the apostles. They also call out five hundred brethren. Men who have considered themselves followers of Christ… Also, not considered one of the Apostles.
In the next scriptures Paul assures his authority
- Romans 1:1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to bean apostle, separated to the gospel of God
- Galation 1:1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead),
- 2 Cor 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy ourbrother,
- 1 Cor 1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
- Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:
- Col 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
Next Paul adamantly confirms his selection by Christ, by reassuring he as seen Jesus Christ.
1 Cor 9:1 “Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?”
Troubling Times for Those Men I Spoke About..
Paul then rebukes those who come as one of the apostles and was not handpicked by the Lord.
2 Cor. 11:12 But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works
The Final List – True Characteristics of an Apostle
- Seen Jesus with your own eyes and have been under His ministry
- Jesus had to of Chosen them
- Editor Note: 1 and 2 are the recognized qualification for an apostle sent by Christ. Though one can make an argument, it was Paul not Matthias who was the one to fill the spot of Judas. For Matthias was picked by casting lots and not a oral commandment from Jesus.
- Casting Out demons
- Speaking in new tongues – Languages
- Taking up Deadly serpents
- Drinking Anything Deadly and living
- Laying Hands on the Sick and healing them
