APOSTLE
M
A True Portrait
Mark 3:13-16 “And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he
desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named
apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and
have authority to cast out demons. He appointed the twelve…” (ESV)
APOSTLE MEANS SENT ONE
Local ministers are called to preach,
teach or to shepherd God’s people
but an Apostle is one who is called
and then sent outside the local church
to reach others. The Picture of a
missionary today is the closest fit to
the biblical portrait of an apostle.
Lets examine biblical criteria for
apostleship:
1. Discipleship - An Apostle is
firstly called aside by Jesus to
spend time with Him and learn
obedience.
2. Commissioning - An apostle is
then sent to preach the gospel
he has received from Jesus
Himself once his obedience is
complete.
3. Mission - An apostle takes the
truth into new geographic and
spiritual regions. Spiritually
means where error prevails
they teach the truth, where
darkness/ignorance prevails
they come with the light of the
gospel.
4. Testimony - An apostle faces
and overcomes dangers and
great suffering, this includes
self induced suffering in order
to preserve the integrity of their
precious cargo, i.e. the gospel.
5. Ministry - They are given power
to perform miracles as proof
of the authenticity of their
message.
PAUL’S APOSTOLIC CREDENTIALS
1. Discipled by Jesus and not man
“I was chosen to be an apostle by
Jesus Christ and by God the Father,
who raised him from death. No mere
human chose or appointed me to this
work.” (Galatians 1:1)
Paul seems to have spent 3 years
in seclusion receiving his message
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from Jesus. “But even before I was
born, God had chosen me… so that
I would announce his message to the
Gentiles. I didn’t talk this over with
anyone. I didn’t say a word, not even
to the men in Jerusalem who were
apostles before I was. Instead, I went
at once to Arabia, and afterwards I
returned to Damascus. Three years
later I went to visit Peter…” (Galatians
1:15-18)
2. Commissioned by Jesus not
man
“I want you to know that no one
made up the message I preach. It
wasn’t given or taught to me by some
mere human. My message came
directly from Jesus Christ when he
appeared to me.” (Galatians 1:11-12)
“They realized that God had
sent me with the good news for
Gentiles…” (Galatians 1:7)
3. Given a mission of great
geographic and spiritual scope
Geographic Dangers - “I have
been shipwrecked three times, and
I even had to spend a night and
a day in the sea. During my many
travels, I have been in danger from
rivers, robbers, my own people, and
foreigners. My life has been in danger
in cities, in deserts, at sea...” (2
Corinthians 11:26)
Spiritual Dangers i.e. persecuted
by the Devil’s people - “Five times
the Jews gave me thirty-nine lashes
with a whip. Three times the Romans
beat me with a big stick, and once
my enemies stoned me… My life has
[also] been in danger… with people
who only pretended to be the Lord’s
followers.” (2 Corinthians 11:24-26)
4. A Lifetime testimony of
faithfulness in Suffering
“Was it wrong for me to lower
SHARE|MAGAZINE January - March 2015
myself and honor you by preaching
God’s message free of charge? ...Even
when I was in need, I still didn’t bother
you… I have not been a burden to
you in the past, and I will never be a
burden.” (2 Corinthians 11:7-9)
“I have worked and struggled and
spent many sleepless nights. I have
gone hungry and thirsty and often had
nothing to eat. I have been cold from
not having enough clothes to keep
me warm.” (2 Corinthians 11:27)
“We don’t want anyone to find
fault with our work, and so we try
hard not to cause problems. But in
everything and in every way we show
that we truly are God’s servants. We
have always been patient, though we
have had a lot of trouble, suffering,
and hard times. We have been
beaten, put in jail, and hurt in riots.
We have worked hard and have gone
without sleep or food. But we have
kept ourselves pure and have been
understanding, patient, and kind.
The Holy Spirit has been with us,
and our love has been real. We have
spoken the truth, and God’s power
has worked in us. In all our struggles
we have said and done only what is
right. Whether we were honored or
dishonored or praised or cursed, we
always told the truth about ourselves.
But some people said we did not.
We are unknown to others, but well
known to you. We seem to be dying,
and yet we are still alive. We have
been punished, but never killed, and
we are always happy, even in times of
suffering. Although we are poor, we
have made many people rich. And
though we own nothing, everything is
ours.” (2 Corinthians 6:3-10)
5. A Ministry of Verified Miracles
“God gave Paul the power to work
great miracles.” (Acts 19:11)
“When I was with [