Each Christ-follower must wait until he or she is sent and be satisfied with the leading of God in his or her life. So many get a big head and run when they are not sent. Others refuse to take the responsibility of the office to which God has called them. Some claim false gifts. Some are more in show business than in servant business. Some are "professional Christians," making big money and having fame and many adoring fans.
If God has called you to be a mother, be a mother. It is an office in the Church. If God has called you to be a father in a home and a husband to your wife, this is an office in the Church. If God is currently calling you to be a member of a family in submission to your father and mother, this is a high calling in the Church--many are failing to be able to function in this office at this time.
God isn't looking for superstars. He is looking for those who will listen to His voice and yield themselves in submission to Him. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Matthew 9:38 for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable. Romans 11:29 All these [the gifts of the Spirit] are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one, just as He determines. 1 Corinthians 12:11 Like clouds and wind without rain Is a man who boasts of his gifts falsely. Proverbs 25:14 'I have not sent them,' declares the LORD. 'They are prophesying lies in My Name. Therefore, I will banish you and you will perish, both you and the prophets who prophesy to you.' Jeremiah 27:15 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. Revelation 2:2 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:13
Speaking ability and theological knowledge does not qualify anyone for ministry.
The Anointing of the Holy Spirit is not enough for ministry if the person with the Anointing is not obedient to the direction of the Holy Spirit, the Anointing. So many run where they have not been sent. We have many examples of people jumping in when God had not called them to an office or a ministry--both in the Bible and it present-day religion. Notice that this doesn't say, "in the present-day Church," because the Church is a specific thing, the Body of Christ. It has orders, patterns set by God. These false gifts, false teachers, and false apostles are not part of the Church. The members who falsely claim such gifts, offices, or ministries may indeed be part of the Church, but their disorder will not be allowed into the Kingdom of God. Disorder is not part of the Church. King Saul tried to take over the office of the prophet at a certain point when he was built up in pride. Satan even tried to raise himself up to the level of the Lord God. Up until God moved in 1948, we had heard very little, if anything at all, about the apostle. Then, God moved and restored the office that had been so mutilated during the dark ages. Since then, there are many people calling themselves and others to this office when God has not sent them. They lay hands of people for gifts of the Spirit and their prophesies never are fulfilled, leaving the person who was prophesied over wondering what is wrong. There were some men in the southern part of the U.S. who saw that the Scripture requires apostles. They looked around for a while and didn't seen any apostles, so they decided to be the apostles. They called themselves. There was an organization that was coming into cities and doing seminars in which, for a substantial fee, a person could become an apostle, a five-fold ministry. For a fee, anyone could become an "apostle." And people paid the fee. Another organization was going from city to city doing seminars, again, for a substantial fee, and going to the seminar would yield a certificate, suitable for framing, telling that the person who went to the seminar had the gift of healing. And some people paid the fee.
Immediately after apostles were restored to the Church, Satan stirred up the hearts of some Christians to usurp the office. Make no mistake, there are genuine apostles. The false do not make the genuine any less genuine.
In addition, the ministry of pastor has been distorted. There is a ministry of pastor mentioned in Ephesians 4 as one of the four ministries associated with the office of apostle, but the local elders (plural) were to pastor (verb) the flock. There is no mention of a singular locally abiding pastor or elder, and no mention of a local elder who received a salary. The apostles, however, traveled. It was the apostles who set elders into their offices. Local elders received no salary. Apostles, like Paul, received their living because they traveled--although Paul didn't take the money but earned his living making tents. Apostles must be called of God. It was not easy for Paul to be accepted by the rest of the brethren. Paul was called independently of the other apostles, but he didn't try to establish a work that was independent. He went to the others twice to confirm what had been revealed to him. Apostles had their expenses covered since they were traveling men. The Bible gives the pattern. Each of the apostles, including Peter, were under the government of all the other apostles. No apostle could teach doctrine that was in conflict with the apostles' doctrine. Peter didn't consider himself qualified to establish doctrine on his own despite the great revelation that God had given him. Apostles were set by the existing apostles who were there from the start. We have been defiled by divisions in the Church, but the Church is called to unity. The office of apostle (traveling elders and deacons) is set to bring about this unity by equipping the saints. It will never come to unity with men and women who call themselves into offices.
Author/Compiler
Last updated: Sep, 2013
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