Post by Les Brewer on Apr 22, 2020 17:12:59 GMT
HE GAVE “SOME” APOSTLES
I’m a critical thinker as well as an objective thinker. I’ve studied the word for the work of spreading the gospel for going on my 33rd year. I’ve read the bible frontwards and backwards; I’ve studied comparative religions to a point; also systematic theology; read some of the so-called “church fathers” and all the major tenets of the faith we call Christianity. When I came to Christ I had been good through the hard life of a rebellious sinner and because of extenuating circumstances I ended up going to church; where I gave my life to Christ. Not long after my salvation I was called into ministry; and consequently given a night vision of the Lord’s nail scarred feet and a voice speaking to me “I have called you to be an apostle and I am sending you to the nations”. It wasn’t subjective imagination it was a real vision and call to ministry in a way I would never imagined on my own accord; I still don’t feel worthy. This is what Jesus said through Paul in Ephesians and to my knowledge I’ve never seen it annulled in scripture. However there are no apostles with the anointing and authority of those first apostles to scribe scriptures down through penury divine inspiration. Yet we still have the model for the church to adhere too especially when a group of churches fall under the same spiritual leader.
(11) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
(12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
(13) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: Ephesians 4:11-13 KJV
I am an under-shepherd I submit to the Chief Shepherd and Apostle of my soul; he has given me a flock to shepherd around the world; I pastor pastors and elders and people from many places. Behind the scenes pertinent questions are asked of me and answered; I mentor them through the medium of this virtual connection which results as if I were there in person. A person is justified by the fruits of his labor and the fruits of my labor; are young pastors coming to the maturity of their calling. Our God is not seen or felt with the physical eye or hands; yet he commands an army of generals who obey his beckoning; I go where God tells me to go when he tells me and I stay the length of time he tells me.
I have been around the world physically; yet I am just as effective at a distance as I am in person. It is God who will judge us all for our works whether they are gold, silver, or precious stones; or whether they be wood, hay, or stubble for the day of judgement shall declare them. For we all lay naked before his all-seeing eyes. One man sows and another man reaps; it is not he who sows or he who reaps but God gives the increase.
Therefore let us do those things which make for peace not stirring up the pot of accusation and mimic the accuser of our souls. If we are indeed called our works will declare it; judge not that you be not judged; but if you do judge; judge righteously discerning the truth of the matter.
I’ve read the New Testament times and I’ve seen where Jesus or the twelve apostles planted churches but rather had churches in their homes. Paul and his converts did however plant churches and established them throughout the Middle-East and Greece. This brings me to a point; by your description (anyone who denies my apostolic mantle) only Paul was an apostle while those Jesus called would not be apostles since they did not plant and establish churches but rather had fellowship from house to house.
The word apostle is apostolos in Greek; it is thus defined:
Apostolos is from G649; a delegate; specifically an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ (“apostle”), (with miraculous powers): - apostle, messenger, he that is sent.
G649 ap-os-tel'-lo: set apart, that is, (by implication) to send out (properly on a mission) literally or figuratively: - put in, send (away, forth, out), set [at liberty].
In the sense and definition of apostle I am called; however I have planted churches in the past and many ministers of the gospel whom some I am still mentoring and some I do not. I have been sent to preach the gospel; however I am Bishop which is an overseer of Faith Evangelistic Ministries International in Ghana West Africa where we have three up and coming churches. Michael Owusuyaw is the National Overseer of that ministry and we are in touch throughout the year and he receives and at upon my counsel and mandates for the ministry there. Two of those churches are presently house churches and one has been hindered from be established because of the present lockdown.
Yet we must remember that ultimately a church is not a building full of people but a people full of building the Kingdom of God. As a spiritual overseer and under-shepherd I am an edifier of the souls of men and woman called to be saved by grace through the vicarious sacrifice of Jesus Christ the Apostle of my soul and the anointer and lifter of my head. I only pray that I may be effective in winning more souls to Jesus and lifting up more pastors and spiritual leaders to conduct the work of the gospel to the glory, honor, and praise of God.
Keep the Faith and the Faith will keep you! Selah
Shalom, Agape, & Amen!
Bishop D. Ray Ritchie (Faith Evangelistic Ministries Int.)
I’m a critical thinker as well as an objective thinker. I’ve studied the word for the work of spreading the gospel for going on my 33rd year. I’ve read the bible frontwards and backwards; I’ve studied comparative religions to a point; also systematic theology; read some of the so-called “church fathers” and all the major tenets of the faith we call Christianity. When I came to Christ I had been good through the hard life of a rebellious sinner and because of extenuating circumstances I ended up going to church; where I gave my life to Christ. Not long after my salvation I was called into ministry; and consequently given a night vision of the Lord’s nail scarred feet and a voice speaking to me “I have called you to be an apostle and I am sending you to the nations”. It wasn’t subjective imagination it was a real vision and call to ministry in a way I would never imagined on my own accord; I still don’t feel worthy. This is what Jesus said through Paul in Ephesians and to my knowledge I’ve never seen it annulled in scripture. However there are no apostles with the anointing and authority of those first apostles to scribe scriptures down through penury divine inspiration. Yet we still have the model for the church to adhere too especially when a group of churches fall under the same spiritual leader.
(11) And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
(12) For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
(13) Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: Ephesians 4:11-13 KJV
I am an under-shepherd I submit to the Chief Shepherd and Apostle of my soul; he has given me a flock to shepherd around the world; I pastor pastors and elders and people from many places. Behind the scenes pertinent questions are asked of me and answered; I mentor them through the medium of this virtual connection which results as if I were there in person. A person is justified by the fruits of his labor and the fruits of my labor; are young pastors coming to the maturity of their calling. Our God is not seen or felt with the physical eye or hands; yet he commands an army of generals who obey his beckoning; I go where God tells me to go when he tells me and I stay the length of time he tells me.
I have been around the world physically; yet I am just as effective at a distance as I am in person. It is God who will judge us all for our works whether they are gold, silver, or precious stones; or whether they be wood, hay, or stubble for the day of judgement shall declare them. For we all lay naked before his all-seeing eyes. One man sows and another man reaps; it is not he who sows or he who reaps but God gives the increase.
Therefore let us do those things which make for peace not stirring up the pot of accusation and mimic the accuser of our souls. If we are indeed called our works will declare it; judge not that you be not judged; but if you do judge; judge righteously discerning the truth of the matter.
I’ve read the New Testament times and I’ve seen where Jesus or the twelve apostles planted churches but rather had churches in their homes. Paul and his converts did however plant churches and established them throughout the Middle-East and Greece. This brings me to a point; by your description (anyone who denies my apostolic mantle) only Paul was an apostle while those Jesus called would not be apostles since they did not plant and establish churches but rather had fellowship from house to house.
The word apostle is apostolos in Greek; it is thus defined:
Apostolos is from G649; a delegate; specifically an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ (“apostle”), (with miraculous powers): - apostle, messenger, he that is sent.
G649 ap-os-tel'-lo: set apart, that is, (by implication) to send out (properly on a mission) literally or figuratively: - put in, send (away, forth, out), set [at liberty].
In the sense and definition of apostle I am called; however I have planted churches in the past and many ministers of the gospel whom some I am still mentoring and some I do not. I have been sent to preach the gospel; however I am Bishop which is an overseer of Faith Evangelistic Ministries International in Ghana West Africa where we have three up and coming churches. Michael Owusuyaw is the National Overseer of that ministry and we are in touch throughout the year and he receives and at upon my counsel and mandates for the ministry there. Two of those churches are presently house churches and one has been hindered from be established because of the present lockdown.
Yet we must remember that ultimately a church is not a building full of people but a people full of building the Kingdom of God. As a spiritual overseer and under-shepherd I am an edifier of the souls of men and woman called to be saved by grace through the vicarious sacrifice of Jesus Christ the Apostle of my soul and the anointer and lifter of my head. I only pray that I may be effective in winning more souls to Jesus and lifting up more pastors and spiritual leaders to conduct the work of the gospel to the glory, honor, and praise of God.
Keep the Faith and the Faith will keep you! Selah
Shalom, Agape, & Amen!
Bishop D. Ray Ritchie (Faith Evangelistic Ministries Int.)
