PREFACE

I am of the belief there are no Apostles among us in this age. Disciples, teachers, ministers, missionary’s and even some who can truly prophesize in the Lord — but no more apostles.

We must hear God and answer Him. Hear His Son, Jesus Christ call to us. See and know the shed blood of the Sacrificial Lamb, the conquering of death and the resurrection unto a new life, eternal life.

Asking forgiveness of our sins, repenting, being born anew, a new man or woman no longer in bondage to this world and sin but given salvation through God’s grace, love and mercy — and our faith.

We are to be disciples. Who ought to stand boldly when we no longer are subsisting on milk and we are eating the meat of the word, discerning wisely in the Holy Spirit — God’s will which is in God’s word available to every person on this earth.

Disciples who learn and then can also teach. Show by example. The salt of the earth, a light unto the world.

But there are no more apostles.

In this time of the great falling away, myriad false teachers and growing unsound doctrine it is a blessing to be a disciple of the Lord’s and be strong in the faith as evil abounds all around us.

Let us not worry about being an apostle — let us put all our desire, effort, learning and devotion and service into truly following Christ, truly learning, and truly standing boldly in and for the Lord, in and for the inerrant living word of God.

A disciple who does not run, waver, cower, or follow another — but endures and fights the good fight remaining a steadfast disciple and servant of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit all our days on this earth.

Ken Pullen

ACP

Thursday, November 9th, 2017

 

Disciples and Apostles

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

 

“And when it was day, He called unto Him His disciples: and of them He chose twelve, whom also He named apostles” (Luke 6:13).

Many people fail to distinguish between our Lord’s disciples and His apostles. They suppose they are the same. This is incorrect, however, for our Lord had a multitude of disciples while He had only a few apostles. His apostles were chosen from among His disciples, as we learn from the above message from Luke’s gospel.

A disciple is a follower; an apostle is a “sent one”. A disciple is a learner; an apostle is a teacher. There is a great lesson here for us all to learn.

We must come before we can go. We must follow before we can be sent. We must learn before we can teach. We must listen to the Lord before we can speak for the Lord.

“Thus saith the Lord”, was the familiar phrase with which the Old Testament prophets began their messages. But at the head of the long list of Old Testament prophets we find Samuel, a young lad, saying: “SPEAK LORD, FOR THY SERVANT HEARETH” (I Samuel3:9).

Before we can do or say anything for God, then, we must listen to God. This explains why the reading and study of the Word of God is so important.

First, salvation itself comes by hearing and believing God’s Word, especially about Christ, and His death for our sins. Romans 10:17 says: “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God”, and I Peter 1:23: “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever”. Then, having been saved, we can serve God acceptably only by diligent study of His Word. Perhaps the most important passage in the Bible on this subject is II Timothy 2:15:

“STUDY TO SHOW THYSELF APPROVED UNTO GOD, A WORKMAN THAT NEEDETH NOT TO BE ASHAMED, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH.”