That Ye May Be Mindful Of The Words Which Were Spoken Before By The Holy Prophets, And Of The Commandment Of Us The Apostles Of The Lord And Saviour - Part 2471

"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 ..." (Revelation 2:2)

Apostles. Increasingly, we are seeing individuals self-proclaiming themselves to be apostles. The question is -- how does their profession align with the scriptures? First, we should understand that the vocation of apostle is only found in the new testament -- when the Lord decided to do a brand new thing. Second, we should know that later in Jesus' earthly ministry, we see the vocation of apostle applied to the twelve disciples (including Judas who eventually betrays Jesus) -- as evidenced in the gospel accounts of Matthew, Luke, and Mark.

From the scriptures:

"And when Jesus had called unto [Him] his twelve disciples, He gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphæus, and Lebbæus, whose surname was Thaddæus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him." (Matthew 10:1-4)

"And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called unto [Him] His disciples: and of them He chose twelve, whom also He named apostles; Simon, (whom He also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphæus, and Simon called Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor." (Luke 6:12-16)

"And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told Him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught." (Mark 6:30)

There are a couple of points worth noting herein. Matthew connects Jesus giving power to the twelve disciples so that they could come against unclean spirits (including casting them out) and similarly to healing all manner of sickness and disease. Luke alludes to the twelve being chosen only after Jesus continued in prayer all night. Mark has just finished sharing Jesus' experience in His hometown, where He could do no mighty work, except lay hands on a few sick folk that were healed, before sending them out two by two. (Mark 6:1-7) In this latter account, Jesus calls unto Himself the twelve, giving them power over unclean spirits, commanding them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only. (Mark 6:7-8)

How does this translate? No scrip, no bread, and no money in purse. And Jesus said to them, "In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them, "Verily, I say unto you -- it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgement, than for that city." (Mark 6:10-11)

So what did they do? The twelve went out and preached that men should repent, casting out many devils, anointing many that were sick -- healing them.

Interestingly, the corresponding scripture is from Nehemiah -- wherein Nehemiah (the son of Hachallah) has sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, fasting and praying before the Lord God of heaven, asking Him for mercy for those who love Him and observe His commandments -- and for restoration.

"Also, I shook my lap, and said, "So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performs not this promise, even thus to be shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, "Amen" and praised the Lord. And the people did according to this promise!" (Nehemiah 5:13)

Nehemiah prayed before the Lord, fasting, and mourning, asking for His mercy for those who love Him ... but also not eating (partaking not) of the bread of the governor. In other words, there has to be a separation from the things of this world. Apostle Paul in Acts 18:6 shook his raiment, saying unto the Jews who opposed themselves and blasphemed -- "Your blood be upon your own heads; I [am] clean: from henceforth, I will go unto the Gentiles." (Acts 18:6)

Continuing in Luke 9, Jesus calls His twelve disciples aside, giving them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. But He also sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. What did they do? The twelve did not hesitate in their mission -- going through the towns, preaching the good news gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and healing everywhere. (Luke 9:10)

But there is more. In Luke 11, Jesus is speaking with the lawyers and Pharisees and says --"Therefore, also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles and some of them they shall slay and persecute ..." (Luke 11:49; I Corinthians 1:30; Colossians 2:3)

"But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world; to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty, and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are; that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption; that, according as it is written, "he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." (I Corinthians 1:27-31; Psalms 8:2; I Corinthians 1:20, Romans 4:17; I Corinthians 2:6; Ephesians 2:9; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Jeremiah 9:23-24; II Corinthians 10:17)

To them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. (I Corinthians 1:2)

And the apostles said unto the Lord, "Increase our faith." (Luke 17:5)

There is much more on this subject to come in the following days, but for now, are we beginning to see how apostles differed from the world?

We will conclude today with a scripture from Acts 4 and II Peter:

"And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all." (Acts 4:33)

"That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:" (II Peter 2:2)

Stand in the offering plate.