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Apostle and the Prophet Many in the body of Christ are confused about the calling of the Apostle and the Prophets of today. They are to differ Greatly from the the original Apostles and old testament Prophets. The original twelve Apostles indeed were unique in the fact that they were directly chosen by Jesus, they were eye witnesses, who walked with Jesus physically and ate, and laughed and enjoyed his humanity as well as his Divinity, with the Apostle Paul being the exception to the rule. The meaning of the word apostles are the sent forth ones. It comes from the Greek I send and from and is essentially the same word apostolos as we use in English. The original Apostles laid the foundation of the New Testament Church. They had the authority to write our New testament Scriptures. Today's Apostles are not foundational, but are men who are chosen by The Spirit of the Living God and sent to be His ambassadors. However, the word also includes anyone who has been sent by God for a special calling like missionaries or special emissaries. Paul, Barnabas and Silas all held the office of apostles "sent" by the Lord, who were not counted with the twelve, as well as the disciples and many other New Testament persons. An apostle in any age is one that has been sent by God to bring the church to maturity. The Prophets of old were the mouth piece of God. The kings would make inquiry to God by the mouth of the prophets. It would be a good thing if the leaders of the world had a Prophet in His administration for inquiry, today. Today the Prophets are equipped with the testimony of Jesus and with the Spirit of Christ, to tell the church of the times and seasons to come.
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.Rev 19:10
Today's apostles may establish ministries, which includes church planting, but it could also be other things as well such as, a traveling missionary could be an apostle, An apostle could have an apostolic calling on the internet reaching millions over the airwaves. Some may have other gifts of divine revelation of the revealed Word of God. Some may be called to raise and train pastors, evangelist, and teachers. The point is that, God can make an apostle whatever He desires him to be, according to his own will.
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 2 Tim 1:9
Especially in these last days, apostles are given to bring churches together more than establishing new ones. The time is short and the days are at hand.
Here are numerous references to apostles in the New Testament besides the original twelve. The original Greek must be consulted in several of these examples.
- The Seventy (Luke 10:1, 3) Matthias (Acts 1:26)
- James, the Lord's brother (Gal. 1:19)
- Paul (Acts 14:14)
- Barnabas (Acts 14:4, 14; 1 Cor. 9:5 & 6)
- Apollos (1 Cor. 4:6-9)
- Andronicus (Rom. 16:7)
- Junia (Rom. 16:7)
- Epaphroditus (Phil. 2:25, {messenger is apostle in the Greek}
- Titus (2 Cor. 8:23 {also messenger)
- Unamed brother with Titus (2 Cor. 8:18, 23)
- Timothy (1 Thess. 1:1, 2:6)
- Silas/Silvanus (1 Thess. 1:1, 2:6)
So we conclude that there are more Apostles and Prophets today than ever before, not only Apostles and Prophets but Pastors Evangelist and Teachers.
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 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: 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; Eph 4:11-14
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The Ministry of a PioneerBishop Samuel Dennard was a powerful man of God who believed in living a godly life of holiness. He was often discouraged about the level of sin among the clergy, but he was not a man of strife or confusion. He was a prayer warrior and the most humble man I had ever met. He understood spiritual matters and knew by experience, how to live a holy life. He was an intelligent but wise man. When it came to spiritual matters he was relentless in going after lost souls. He cast out devils, no matter where they were.
Once there was a young man who attempted to rob the Bishop as he sat in his car. The young man put the gun in the face of Bishop. But moving under the anointing, Bishop arrested the young man's spirit. "Young Man" he said, with his powerful deep voice, "you can't shoot me, God is here!" “Put that gun away before you are caught.” The young man was startled at the behavior and responce of the Bishop. Bishop then said to the young man, “Come closer to me so I can see you in the light.” The young man begins trembling as he slowly approached the car with the gun still pointed at the Bishop. Bishop ignored the gun and said to the young man, son, God loves you, you just made a mistake that's all. The young man began to feel sorrowful about what he tried to do. As Bishop told him the story of Jesus, the young man dropped his head and threw the gun onto the ground. But bishop was determined to save the young man from his own destruction. "Place your head in this car." He said. The young man, with tears running down his cheeks placed his head into the car where bishop then laid his hands on him and cast the devil out of him, saying, "come out you murder spirit, I command you to come forth out of this young man now, in Jesus Name!” The young man screamed and fell backwards out of the car to the ground crying profusely. He was on the ground for at least five minutes, when suddenly he slowly got up. Bishop then led the young man in prayer asking the Lord to fill the young man with the Holy Spirit. After this the young man began praising the Lord with thanksgiving and praise. Another time Bishop was diagnosed with Leukemia of the blood. The doctors told him that there was nothing they could do; there is no cure for this disease. They wanted to place him in a convalescent home, but Bishop said, to the doctors, "send me home." They sent him home to die slowly. When Bishop got home he noticed that his blood was black. He fell on his face before God and prayed with fasting all night, all day, and all night, the next day. The next day he felt energized as he got up and began to notice a change in his body. He looked at the palms of his hands and they were red with fresh blood pumping through his veins. He was healed of that infirmity, and never seen the doctors again. God had given him a miracle! Bishop was thirty five at the time of this miracle. And many other miracles did God Give to Bishop for a testimony of His glory.
For more on the Bishop.....
Apostle Wallace and Bishop Dennard At the union rescue mission
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