As I look around in groups and post on the internet. I see so many people today that want to add title to their name such as Evangelist, Bishop, Apostle and prophet. I want you all to remember one thing while reading this article, God created us all equal. We are born into sin and need Savior named Jesus. No man or woman is greater then another. Let me NOT... accept any mans person, neither let me give flattering TITLES unto man -Job 32:21 2 Corinthians 11:13 - For SUCH are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming THEMSELVES into the apostles of Christ. Do these people really think because they have given themselves a title they are more a important. That people should not question their teaching. I am here to to do the Lord work and to Glorify God. Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. They add title to their name to glorify themselves. Proverbs 16:4 This is a basic truth of Christianity that we neither hear nor consider very often because it has become popular for man to glorify himself, thinking he is somehow running the show and far more important than what the Bible reveals. Man is important only because God has made us the focus of His creative efforts, not because of anything inherent within us. We have great potential because of Gods workmanship now in progress, but aside from His purposes, we are nothing but animated clay. It should be noted that the current teaching of the restoration of prophet and the office of apostle is far from what Scripture describes of the men who held the gift of prophet and the office of apostle. Those who teach the restoration of the office teach that the men who claim to be apostles and prophets should never be spoken against, should never be questioned, because the person who speaks against them is speaking against God. Yet, the Apostle Paul commended the people of Berea for checking what he said against the Word of God to make sure he spoke the truth (Acts 17:10-11). The Apostle Paul also stated to those in Galatia that if anyone, including himself, should teach another Gospel, that person should be accursed (Galatians 1:8-9). In everything, Paul kept pointing people to the Bible as the final authority. The men who claim to be apostles and prophets today make themselves the final authority, something Paul and the Twelve never did. Across the world there are smiling millionaire preachers and healers, church purpose promoters, very IMPRESSIVE buildings/ campuss/ and architecture, stadium events, womens conferences for dynamic women of God, worship conference extravaganzas, church leadership conferences, Christian wealth and blessing conferences, Holy Spirit conferences where you can get fire and thunder from God, live-satellite feed Christian conferences, Christian celebrities, Christian presidents, Christian entertainers, Christian recording artists, Christian businessmen and women, Christian book/gift/ and music stores, Christian TV networks and programming, and... You get the picture, it is obvious we may have the best religion money can buy! From Christian TV to the Sunday morning church services, to the conventions the marketing and promotion are inescapable. You could spend a life going from one conference to another, listening to cds, DVDs, and seminar recordings as you drive, and fill yourself on all the wonderful material sold. What about if they have Bishop, Apostle, Prophet or Dr. attached to their name? We smile and nod heads because it felt good as we got fleeced in the process. The handsome ministers seem so nice and want Gods best life for us, right? And for a few bucks to a few thousand, some of them will be glad to bring a message to the church or stadium, or better yet, make you a PARTNER in ministry. After a quarter century around Christianity we have been well-sheared by more than one of what the Bible warned us of... The system conditions us to drop our guard, reason away discernment, and most of all ignore what the New Testament scriptures repeatedly warned us of: Matthew 7:15 - Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Matthew 24:11 - And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. Mark 13:5 - And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: Matthew 24:24 - For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. False Christs means false anointed ones, i.e. those who claim unscriptual anointings and gifts. Jesus was not being harsh or judgmental. He was warning us. Luke 6:26 - Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets. (showing the popularity of the false workers...) Luke 21:8 - And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I (Jesus) am Christ Acts 20:29 - For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Romans 16:18 - For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. Galatians 2:4 - And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: (unto themselves) ( FALSE brethren bringing Gods people into BONDAGES, such as tithing, church rules, and tradition) Ephesians 4:14 - 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; 2 Peter 2:1 - But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying (contradicting) the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 Timothy 3:13 - But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived 2 Thessalonians 2:3 - Let no man deceive you by any means: Titus 1:10 - For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 1 John 4:1 - Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Revelation 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: Office of apostle and there was a spiritual gift of apostle. The office or position of apostle was held by the 12 disciples of Jesus plus Matthias, who took Judas’ place, and Paul. Those who held the office or position of apostle were chosen specifically by Christ (Mark 3:16-19). The replacement for Judas is seen in Acts 1:20-26. Note in this passage that Judas position was called an office. It should also be noted that Paul was chosen by Christ (1 Corinthians 15:8-9; Galatians 1:1; 2:6-9). These men were given the task of setting up the foundation of the church. It should be understood that it was for the universal church that these men were a part of the foundation (Ephesians 2:20). The foundation of the church (universal church) was laid in the first century. This is why the office of apostle is no longer functioning. The concept of the five-fold ministry comes from Ephesians 4:11, It was he who gave some to be (1) apostles, some to be (2) prophets, some to be (3) evangelists, and some to be (4) pastors and (5) teachers. Primarily as a result of this verse, some believe God has restored, or is restoring, the offices of apostle and prophet in the church today. Ephesians 4:12-13 tells us that the purpose of the five-fold ministry is, to prepare Gods people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. So, since the body of Christ definitely is not built up to unity in the faith and has not attained to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ, the thinking goes, the offices of apostle and prophet must still be in effect. However, Ephesians 2:20 informs us that the church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone. If the apostles and prophets were the foundation of the church, are we still building the foundation? Hebrews 6:1-3 encourages us to move on from the foundation. Although Jesus Christ is most definitely active in the church today, His role as the cornerstone of the church was completed with His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. If the work of the cornerstone is, in that sense, complete, so must the work of the apostles and prophets, who were the foundation, be complete. The apostle Paul was very concerned about the churches being corrupted by the leaven of sin, the leaven of adding the law, and the corruption of the gospel by those who were deceived by hidden motives such as personal gain, prestige, and personal success. 2 Corinthians 11:13 - For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. What was Paul, a real apostle, talking about? The phrase for such refers to something Christians, who called themselves apostles, were doing. So let us explore the ministry and manner of those such Paul referred to: For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion (opportunity) from them which desire occasion (opportunity); that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; 20 For ye allow, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face. 21 I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak... 22 Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. 23 Are they ministers of Christ? For yourselves know how you ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you: Neither did we eat any mans bread for naught; but wrought with labor and travail NIGHT AND DAY, that we might not be chargeable to any man. Not because we have not power, but to MAKE OURSELVES AN EXAMPLE UNTO YOU TO FOLLOW US (II Thes. 3:7-9). One morning as my wife and I read the warnings given in 2Cor. 11, we said THEY OUGHT TO TEACH THIS IN CHURCH! -when we realized Pauls life and ministry was a role model for the guys behind the pulpit. In todays non-judgemental/ non-discerning church, the wolves of Christianity need not even put on a sheep-mask. Pauls manner of ministry as an example: 2Cor. 11: 7 Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for LABOURING NIGHT AND DAY, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the Gospel of God (I Thes. 2:9). Paul could work night and day and preach the Gospel of God at the same time. As Paul ministered in Corinth: And because he was of the same craft [trade], he abode with them, and wrought [worked]: for by their occupation they were tentmakers (Acts 18:3). I have coveted no mans silver, or gold, or apparel. (no tithes either) Yea, ye [all of you ministers] yourselves know, that these hands (Pauls) have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have showed you all (the ministers) things how that so labouring ye (ministers) ought to support the weak, and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:33-31). For I think that God has set forth us the apostles last, ..Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; And labor, working with our own hands; being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. Not exactly a glorious picture of the flashy, Italian suited center stage orator, is it? To make note of a few points here to look for from Pauls for such and themselves, we have: 1. They transform themselves into apostles. Heres a clue: themselves and such usually attach the title APOSTLE to their name! Paul did not. When I did a search at bible KJV it returned this: Apostle Paul was not found in the new testament. -And never is any woman ever named or called an apostle, co-apostle, or even apostlette. The same went for ANY of the other Biblical apostles. HELLO? As soon as they attach the title Apostle to their name, they probably become a false one. The titles Pastor, Prophet and Apostle attached to the FRONT of any mans name are also non-existent in scripture. 2. preacheth another Jesus: You mean there is a DIFFERENT Jesus presented by the such? Well, well, we have Jesus presented these days as a Jesus who accepts everything and everybody that doesnt care what you do or believe as long as you accept Him as your personal saviour. Some preachers tell you Jesus was rich and wealthy and He wants you to be too! 3. - if ye receive another spirit from these fellows. Yes there are other spirits imparted by these false workers (and usually for the price of admission to their meetings). 4. another gospel: ANOTHER gospel??? Another death, burial, and resurrection of Christ? Paul said cursed were those who went to Galatia with another gospel OTHER than the one Paul brought. There are more another gospels shlepping around than you might imagine. The other gospel Paul referred to in Galatians had to do with bringing gentiles under OT laws such as circumcision, tithing, and sabbath keeping. What about the old accept Christ as your personal saviour invitation with head bowed, eyes closed, ask Jesus into your heart, raise your hand gospel? Can you find those words in scripture?
Posted on: Sun, 26 Oct 2014 15:48:15 +0000