TRUE APOSTLES

By Josh Adkins

The recent apostolic resurgence/movement is in many ways a godly thing. The Lord has always commissioned leaders to help advance His kingdom, and it’s wonderful to see many awakened to this previously overlooked calling. However, this generation really needs to get clear about a few things in regard to the apostolic:

If you are ACTUALLY called as an apostle (many who claim to be are not), it’s an invitation to die. Stop. Before you print up new business cards or change your Facebook profile, read that again: You are called to DEATH.

For some that literally means martyrdom. For others, it will mean laying down your livelihood for the body of Christ. You will be persecuted more than most in your pioneering. You may be poor while others made rich. You may experience struggle and suffering while others comfort. Yet, you are called to love even more deeply!

Before all of this, you will likely be tested and tried by fire - not because of sin, but to fulfill all righteousness (not the salvation kind, but sanctification). You may be rejected by many. What you do in these seasons will determine if God can entrust you with governing His people.

The Lord may endue you with great wisdom and supernatural power, but not to flaunt - to serve. To be a true “sent one” is to be on the front lines, often taking the greatest blows to protect those you lead. This is your call. I’m not saying the Lord may not bless you with some wonderful things along the way, but as a whole, imitating Christ is your destiny!

Now, here’s what being an apostle of God SHOULD NOT look like: wearing fancier clothes, nicer shoes, or driving a nicer car than anyone in your community as a reward for being called. It doesn’t look like saying the word “apostle” or “apostolic” every time you talk to someone about your ministry or on social media broadcasts. It’s not demanding people address you by title, as if your name changed. Your name didn’t change; His grace came.

Also, you’re not automatically more spiritual than others. You may be spiritual or you may not be. That depends on your life in the secret place with God, not as a result of a title. You’re not allowed to lord over people, even in “steering the ship.” Condescension is not the way of the kingdom of God.

True apostles have authority, but to be floors, foundations, and trampolines for others to be launched into their destinies. In that authority, God will affirm you, but He will also correct you more strictly! You are to go lower, be kinder, serve longer, and work harder than anyone, so that those you plant, raise up and send out will flourish in Christ Jesus!

For Scriptural references, read the New Testament again. Not desiring to be mean, but we leaders really need to grow up and stop receiving validation by fleshly means. Our worth should come from the Father, in merely being His son or daughter.

I hope this helps someone take down their Facebook title and instead serve in love today!

[P.S. Basically the same goes for true prophets.]

Editor's note:  The above text was originally posted HERE on 2/9/2019.  God bless you!

Sackcloth and Ashes

“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes."
~Jesus of Nazareth (Luke 10:13 NKJV)

What mighty work was done in Chorazin and Bethsaida?

Answer: The Bible does not specifically record the works which were done in Chorazin. However, in Bethsaida, it is specifically recorded that Jesus opened the eyes of at least one blind man (read Mark 8:22-26).

In this land, in the United States of America, have you ever seen a mighty work of God?

Here is a specific testimony ... one of many which are available ... of blind eyes opened in the name of Jesus Christ in the United States. This is the exact kind of mighty work that Jesus did in Bethsaida ... and He is still doing today.

Testimony link: https://youtu.be/8myl-bbiKgw



Many mighty works have been done in this land!

Yet, in this land, have you ever seen anyone truly repent?

What does true repentance look like?

Would you say that this land better or worse than Chorazin and Bethsaida?

The words of Jesus: "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!"

What can I do personally to change the nature of this land?

Can I make a Blog post about repentance -or- can I truly repent and believe and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ -or- can I do both?

What is the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Answer: http://www.believersforchrist.com/2018/08/gospel.html

What are sackcloth and ashes?

Answer: https://www.gotquestions.org/sackcloth-and-ashes.html

What do sackcloth and ashes look like in 2019 U.S. America?

I've heard many preach about repentance. Many will tell you what they think repentance is -or- they will tell you how it should look to satisfy their eyes. "Oh look: He's really repenting." But the truth is, repentance seems to be more of a mystery and point of debate than a real and true way of life. Many preach repentance as a work in itself ... missing the point of the Gospel of Jesus Christ entirely ...

Repentance is the proper response to the mighty works of God being present in the land.

Look again at Luke 10:13: Repentance is what Jesus expects as a result of His mighty works.

Repentance is the proper response to the presence of God.

The mighty works are present. I've seen them.

But where is the example of repentance that satisfies God?

I need that example in my life.

I need to be that example.

That example is the outflow of the true heart towards God.

Prayer: God, make my heart pure in Your sight.

Photo Credit:  Walking With A Limp

Have you come to “WHEN” yet?

"And the Lord turned the captivity of Job WHEN he prayed for his friends." (Job 42:10)

The plaintive, self-centred, morbid kind of prayer, a dead-set that I want to be right, is never found in the New Testament. The fact that I am trying to be right with God is a sign that I am rebelling against the Atonement. ‘Lord, I will purify my heart if You will answer my prayer; I will walk rightly if You will help me.’ I cannot make myself right with God, I cannot make my life perfect; I can only be right with God if I accept the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ as an absolute gift. Am I humble enough to accept it? I have to resign every kind of claim and cease from every effort, and leave myself entirely alone in His hands, and then begin to pour out in the priestly work of intercession. There is much prayer that arises from real disbelief in the Atonement. Jesus is not beginning to save us, He has saved us, the thing is done, and it is an insult to ask Him to do it.

If you are not getting the hundredfold more, not getting insight into God’s word, then start praying for your friends, enter into the ministry of the interior. “The Lord turned the captivity of Job when he prayed for his friends.” The real business of your life as a saved soul is intercessory prayer. Wherever God puts you in circumstances, pray immediately, pray that His Atonement may be realized in other lives as it has been in yours. Pray for your friends now; pray for those with whom you come in contact now.

Source: Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

Cursed is the Man who trusts in Man

Thus says the Lord:

Notice closely the reflection of this man's gaze.
He is looking unto the cross of Christ.
His HOPE is the LORD!

“Cursed is the man who trusts in man
And makes flesh his strength,
Whose heart departs from the Lord.
For he shall be like a shrub in the desert,
And shall not see when good comes,
But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness,
In a salt land which is not inhabited.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

(Jeremiah 17:5-8 NKJV)

If you put your hope in anything other than the Lord, you will be let down. For example, if you put your hope in your husband ... he will let you down. If you put your hope in your wife ... she will let you down. If you put your hope in yourself ... you will let yourself down. If you put your hope in your family (or even your church family) ... they will let you down ... REMEMBER ... Jesus was destined to the cross. None of his followers were meant to stop Him from fulfilling His purpose there. But LOOK, one of his faithful (Peter) tried to stop Him ... To which, Jesus spoke: "Get behind me Satan."

Furthermore, if you put your hope in your organization (even your church organization) ... it will let you down. If you put your hope in your country (even if your country appears to be the best) ... it will let you down ... REMEMBER ... The battle of Ai (Canaan) in the Bible ... In the Book of Joshua, chapters 7 and 8 ... The Israelites were only the best when their men were completely obedient to God ... If you put your hope in your leaders (even if your leaders appear to be the best) ... they will let you down ... REMEMBER ... Uriah the Hittite and David ... David was one of the best leaders of all time ... But David betrayed Uriah and his entire nation ... Men are unfaithful ... But God is faithful ... Put your trust in God and serve men through Christ ... Then, like Uriah the Hittite and Stephen the Martyr, even in death ... You shall be found faithful.

Does your theology violate the will and intention of God?

For example:  Some believe theologically that God picks and chooses the people that He saves.

One of the problems with this theological belief is that it opens the door for a person to believe that they are not chosen for salvation.  Or, in other words, it opens the door for one to believe that they are actually chosen for destruction.  It allows room for someone to think that they are unsaveable ... "So why try to place my faith in God? He has already chosen to hate me. I'm already disqualified. Look at what I have done.  I'm a mess. Oh well, I might as well enjoy myself and partake in as much sin as possible before I die." ... This is the kind of path that a person can follow when the idea of "election" is mishandled.  It opens the door to doubt and leaves room for lies to remain.  This leads to destruction. Doubt, lies, and destruction are not fruit of The Holy Spirit.

The truth about God's actual will and intention...

"The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9 AMP)

"[For; Indeed] God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world guilty [condemn the world], but to save the world through him." (John 3:17 EXB)

Our proper response to his will and intention...

"Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?" (Romans 6:1-2 NLT)

This is what the Scripture says:

“Today listen to what he says [if you hear his voice…].  Do not be stubborn [do not harden your hearts] as in the past when you turned against God [as in the rebellion; Ps. 95:7–8; referring to Ex. 17:1–7].”  (Hebrews 3:15 EXB)

"But you, dear friends, must continue to build your most holy faith for your own benefit. Furthermore, continue to pray in the Holy Spirit. Remain in God’s love as you look for the mercy of our Lord Jesus the Messiah, which brings eternal life. Show mercy to those who have doubts. Save others by snatching them from the fire. To others, show mercy with fear, hating even the clothes stained by their sinful lives. Now to the one who is able to keep you from falling and to make you stand joyful and faultless in his glorious presence, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus the Messiah, our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time and for all eternity! Amen." (Jude 1:20-25 ISV)

God bless you!

More on the subject of the will of God...  10 Facts About the Will of God

Reconciled Theology

ENMITY

The carnal mind remembers doubt.

"Because the carnal mind is ENMITY against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." (Romans 8:7 KJV)

Webster's definition of ENMITY: positive, active, and typically mutual hatred or ill will.

What is ENMITY against God?

Look at Romans 8:7 again: ENMITY against God is the carnal mind.

The carnal mind = ENMITY against God = active hatred against God.

The carnal mind will remember all the possible reasons it has encountered that might cause you to doubt. It, being an active enemy of God, will remind you of these reasons. Some of these reasons it can quickly find in the Bible. It will cause you to imagine that you are an amazing Bible scholar in coming up with all the reasons why God won't do what He says He will do by faith.

This is why, almost miraculously, even some of the most novice Bible readers can recall so many of the few reasons in the Bible that can be used to cast doubt. It is the nature of the carnal mind to doubt. Faith pleases God. The enemy of faith is doubt.

The carnal mind remembers doubt.

The carnal mind cannot remember faith.

This is why so many quickly remember things such as Paul's thorn and yet can't seem to understand that the nature of Paul's thorn is not clearly stated in the Bible. This is the work of the carnal mind. It grabs hold of vagueness and builds castles of doubt with its imaginations. And from these strongholds it wages war against God and against His body of Christ.

Remember: The carnal mind = ENMITY against God = active hatred against God.

Paul dealt with this very thing in the body of believers at Corinth when he wrote to them: "For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?" (1 Corinthians 3:3 KJV)

What is said of envy and strife?

"For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work." (James 3:16 KJV)

The carnal mind is the reason why so many remember that Jesus couldn't do many mighty miracles in His home town and yet can't seem to remember that He healed sick people in His home town AND that He was in His home town before the cross AND that He healed ALL that came to Him. And yet it also can't remember the reason for the hindrance ... unbelief (doubt).

It's not the church's fault that people doubt.

It is the carnal mind.

Believer in Christ: Stop being mad at the church. The carnal mind is the enemy of the church ... Not you. For you have the mind of Christ.

Believer in Christ: Stop blaming the members of the church for everything that goes wrong in the world. The church is not the problem of the world.

The members of the church (the members of the body of Christ) are not your enemy.

Your enemy is God's enemy.

God's enemy is the carnal mind.

"For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."
(Romans 8:6 KJV)

Beloved, build up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (Jude 1:20-21 KJV)

God bless you.

HOPE CREATES THE PLAN!

Believer in Christ:  Our hope IS the creator.

"...our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, WHICH IS our hope..."  (1 Timothy 1:1 KJV)

Our hope is a person:  Christ Jesus

Jesus Christ is the creator of all things.

"For by him [Christ Jesus] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: ALL THINGS WERE CREATED BY HIM, AND FOR HIM: And he is before all things, and BY HIM ALL THINGS CONSIST. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven."

(Colossians 1:16-20 KJV)

Christ lives in us and we live in Him.

HOPE CREATES THE PLAN!