When There Seems No Way -- God Will Make A Way - PART 91

THE GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT: In the previous post, we confirmed that God was the greatest missionary of all time. The reason for this conclusion is that God who is one spirit sent His only begotten son into the world (begotten not begat) to ensure that a plan of salvation existed. In other words, God’s love found a way.


Oh the length, breadth, height and the depth of His love - God's love for humankind. Nothing shall separate us from the love of God. His love being fully expressed in the man Jesus the Christ, who was conceived by His own Holy Spirit as the fleshly embodiment of Himself as a Son. The scriptures confirm "wherein all His fullness bodily was pleased to dwell.

God, now being found in fashion as a man delivered to mankind is not longer an unknown message. The scriptures declare that God Himself as a son was the originator and deliverer of God’s message of reconciliation. Similarly, this message upon delivery qualifies Jesus to become officially the apostle of God’s Word to the people in this world. This means that all others who decree that they are apostles must be qualified by the parameters of the Word.

Jesus called to Himself those that were to be His disciples, calling them friends. Later, as the scriptures point out, Jesus promoted His chosen disciples to more esteemed positions by calling them His witnesses. His messengers. His apostles to the uttermost parts of the earth. In short, Jesus had said to them, "Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven. Whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."


It is also important to note that Jesus chose twelve apostles. He did not choose 13 or 14 or 15. Jesus only chose 12 apostles. God, who is spirit chose only one apostle -- Himself as a son to be Heaven's Apostle to Earth. Jesus, as a Son had all the authority given to Him as a son in Heaven and in Earth. But then Jesus appoints 12 apostles. Note that Jesus also chose one who would eventually betray Him named Judas. Judas was later was replaced by another apostle named Mathias who was elected by prayer and ballot casting.


Then the 11 became 12 again. The preliminaries that proceeded before the prayer and ballot selection is recorded in Acts 1:15-26. Therein, we read from the scriptures that in order to fill a position as an apostle was no small matter. The written Word laid out the criteria and procedures necessary prior to any one person being elected. We also read that Paul was also chosen by Jesus to be a chosen vessel. To bear His name Jesus among the Gentiles. Paul proclaimed that He was a latecomer chosen after the 12 afore spoken of - see Acts 9, Galations 1 and I Corinthians15 for scriptural references. The point here is that there is criteria necessary before someone hangs a shingle upon themselves.

The early believers knew that to be an apostle, one would have had to walked with the Lord from John the Baptist’s time. What I am endeavouring to present here is there are apostles and there are apostles. Not everyone who says they are an apostle actually are. The early believers walked steadfastly in the teaching of the Holy Spirit of Jesus now being delivered through the mouths of the 12 plus 1 apostles.


Jesus had chosen apostles to be His witnesses and messengers. Remember that the gospel was first preached by the Lord Himself as a Son fulfilling the apostolic ministry of the Spirit of God. The Word that was preached by Jesus was the very Word of the Spirit of God. The very Word spoken by the Spirit of God being committed to us by them who were taught by Jesus, those who had also handled Him. 


God confirmed their word to us with signs and miracles. Surely, if God confirms the Word no one can disannul the Word. Stand in the offering plate. God is still the same Jesus. God in Christ does not change.