APOSTLES AND APOSTLESHIP

Transcription

1 APOSTLES AND APOSTLESHIP Biblical Reflections on the Role of Apostles and Apostleship Especially as it relates to the 21 st Century John Ridgway Apostolic Meeting Hideaway, CO 2-5 March 2008

2 Apostles and Apostleship INTRODUCTION Today there is an even more urgent need to understand apostles and their role in the body of Christ as we seek to bring the Good News to the lost mainstreams of our society in the USA and around the world. Without the leadership that apostles bring to pioneering the pathways of the gospel into the unreached segments of society, the influence of Christ beyond existing believing communities will be very limited. The discipling of the nations will be greatly impeded. Thus it is of the utmost importance that we study this subject from the scriptures so that we will have the freedom to exercise the roles that the Holy Spirit has placed in each of our hearts today. Here are a few thoughts to stimulate this study. Let us look at 4 categories: 1. Jesus 2. The Twelve 3. Other apostles in the New Testament 4. Apostles today 1. JESUS OUR APOSTLE and high priest. Hebrews 3:1 fix your thoughts on Him. On what He said and did and how he did it ( apostolic pathways). He is our pre-eminent example. 2. JESUS TRAINED 12 APOSTLES (Often referred to as THE TWELVE) We notice that very soon after Jesus recruits the 12 apostles, He is already engaging them in the battle (versus in the barracks) and getting them to reach out to the lost in their neighborhood. Mark 3:13-19 then 6:7-13 and 6:30 Luke 6:12-16 and 9:1-10 Matt 9:35-38 and 10:1-42 a) bruised, hurting, confused, aimless, lost. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. verse 5(M) b) kingdom c) you are the equipment keep it simple. verses 9-10(M) 1

3 d) oikos e) opposition f) stay with it g) start small, This is a large work I ve called you into, but don t be overwhelmed by it. It s best to start small. Verses 40-42(M) 3. THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES Leadership of the early church.apostles.peter, James and John Later.apostle Paul The prophets gave leadership in the OT The apostles gave leadership in the NT along with prophets and elders (on the local level) Apostles experienced the miraculous (signs and wonders) Apostles experienced severe opposition (beatings, imprisonments, death) 4. APOSTOLIC TEAMS Peter and John, Peter, James and John Paul, Timothy and Titus (apostolic letters) Paul and Barnabas (apostle and prophet) 1 st Journey Paul and Silas (apostle and prophet) 2 nd Journey Eph 2:20, 3:5, 4:11 and Rev 18:20 apostles and prophets (holy) 5. OTHER APPOSTLES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT John 13:16 messenger ( apostolos) Rom 16:7 Andronicus and Junias, relatives of Paul who were outstanding among the apostles 1 Cor 9:5 other apostles, The Lord s brothers (James, Gal1:19), Peter 1 Cor 12:28 apostles 2 Cor 8:23 representatives of the church (apostolos) Titus (partner and fellow worker) 2

4 Eph 2:20, 3:5, 4:11 apostles Phil 2:25 Epaphroditus messenger(apostolos) 1 Thes 2:7 Silas and Timothy (along with Paul) 6. APOSTLES TODAY In the context of Paul s first missionary journey, he refers to himself as an apostle, (Gal 1:1) who was not sent from men or by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father. In Gal 1:19 he refers to the apostles Peter and James ( the Lord s brother and not one of the Twelve) and then in Ch2 he talks about his companions Barnabas and Titus and goes on to explain about the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews and his ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. This is in the light of the confusion taking place in Galatia and Paul s confrontation of Peter in Antioch as well as the confusion that was taking place in Barnabas mind. Even today the apostolic track to the lost Christian scene and the lost secular/non-christian scene will have strategic differences that need to be understood by apostles working in different spheres of influence. Often the apostle perceives the scriptures in a different way (Gal 3-4) resulting in a new freedom for the lost ( Gal 5) that enables them to live in the Spirit. In the context of Paul s second missionary journey, he refers to apostles on 3 different occasions. In the first case, he is defending his ministry as an apostle and lists 7 characteristics about his apostleship (1 Cor 9:5). In this context he also speaks of other apostles as something quite normal for the early church which would also apply today. In the second case, Paul speaks of apostles as an important part of the church (1 st century 21 st century) and are important to the pioneering phase. 1 Cor 12:28 states, And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers.. In the third case, Paul speaks of apostles as representatives of the churches (mobile servants facilitated by local communities) in 2 Cor 8:23. Paul also speaks in the context of his second journey of false apostles (2 Cor 11:13) and super-apostles (2 Cor 12:11) possibly analogous to pastors, senior pastors and mega pastors. The false apostles were deceitful workmen masquerading as apostles of Christ and the superapostles appeared to be high flying, high profile, high pride workmen and both groups of men were causing havoc in different ways and can be seen in today s arena as well. In Paul s mind the things that marked an apostle was the miraculous (2 Cor 12:12) not necessarily the spectacular especially on the physical level in terms of size of crowds, large numbers etc. In the context of Paul s third missionary journey, he speaks extensively about apostles as he writes back to the Ephesians. He speaks about apostles (as well as prophets) laying foundations 3

5 (2:20) for the body of Christ. He speaks about how the mysteries of Christ and His gospel(3:5) have been revealed to God s Holy apostles (and prophets) and especially the gospel to the Gentiles(3:6) and how the Gentiles are equally accepted as part of God s family. In today s world there is considerable pressure for the Gentiles to join Christianity and experience a social cultural religious conversion before they are accepted by the Christian community. The need for apostles today is more imperative than ever as we live in a world that is dominated by Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Shinto-Buddhism, Communism, and Secularism etc. The latest PEW Forum research was highlighted by CNN this week (27 Feb 2008) and indicated that 44% of Americans have either left the religious roots of their childhood or changed religious streams. How do we reach the unreached in our societies? It will need a new band of apostles and prophets to unearth the mysteries of Christ and His gospel for this generation as the size of the Gentile community enlarges on our own shores. For the first time in its history the USA will become a minority Protestant nation. And so the reference in Eph 4:11 is more relevant than ever where Paul points out that God has given the church apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers who enable the body of Christ to grow both in quality and quantity. Whenever there is not a full use of all such resources, this will hinder the growth of the body of Christ and may explain why in countries like India the Christian community has remained stagnant at 2% for hundreds of years. If we do not give full recognition and freedom to the apostles and prophets in our midst we hurt ourselves and indeed such resources go elsewhere. Part of our role today will be to validate every budding apostle and prophet in our midst and encourage them to exercise their gifting and calling to the full. In 1 Tim 2:7 and 2 Tim 1:11, we get the sense that apostles were not only to be messengers and representatives of Christ to the lost but are also heralds/evangelists and teachers. 7. APOSTLESHIP What do we mean by apostleship? In Romans 1:5, Paul speaks about receiving grace and apostleship which in his case was for calling people from among all the Gentiles. The Message states apostleship this way, the urgent task of passing it on to others. In 1 Cor 9:1-2 Paul says of the Corinthians, Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?...For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. Let me reflect at least 10 factors that make up our apostleship: 1. This task is from God and not from men or by man and the apostle represents Jesus Christ by the will of God the Father. 4

6 2. This task is to the lost ( whether to lost Jews or lost Gentiles, etc). Paul explains in Ephesians 3:7-8 that his life work is to help people understand and respond to this Message and he was referring to people who have no background in God s ways (Gentiles). Again in 1 Tim 2:7 Paul states, my appointed work: getting this news to those who have never heard of God. When Jesus sent out the apostles in Matt 10:5, He sent them to lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. 3. The apostle lays foundations. 1 Cor 3:10 and Eph 2: The apostle resolves issues through biblical understanding. Acts 15, 1 Cor 1:10-31 and Galatians and discerns biblical pathways for the new Gentile believers as illustrated in the epistles. 5. Encourage local believers. Acts 15:30-32,36 6. Link local communities using local and mobile believers and in the process developing a healthy interdependence between the apostolic and the local. 7. Develop deep friendships. 1 Thes 2: Function as teams. Paul, Titus and others, 2 Cor 8:16-23 and Acts 20:4 talks about at least 7 other men travelling with Paul and who came from different places where Paul had ministered. Seemed like a lot of cross-fertilization occurred. 9. Revisiting frequently. Lifetime commitment. 1 Cor 4:15 not many spiritual fathers who know the history from beginning to end. 10. Training younger apostles. 2 Tim 2:2. Note Paul s lifetime influence on his 2 best friends who were also apostles Timothy and Titus. 8. THE JOB DESCRIPTION OF THE APOSTLE It is really helpful that we come to terms with our job description and how the world in general views us and our ministry. Examine 1 Cor 4:8-13. Paul concludes Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world. The Message states, We re treated like garbage.and it is not getting any better I don t think it is going to get any better for us today. 9. WE NEED EACH OTHER TODAY Apostles are a certain breed and can function very independently and that is their strength. But in the process, apostles are easily prone to pride, to sexual temptations (thus the emphasis on holy apostles) and appearing superior and giving the impression that they are doing the real ministry. 5

7 As a consequence, God usually allows apostles to go through horrendous experiences that usually break them. For example, Paul was a multiple-murder and lived with the fact that he had destroyed the church in Jerusalem all his life. He told the Corinthians in Ch15:9 that he did not deserve to be called an apostle because he persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Such massive failure led Paul to be able to experience the grace of God in his life and so he could say that he had received grace and apostleship. Peter was another apostle who faced huge failure at the point of his greatest confidence. Luke chapter 22 details this failure. Later Peter was able to greatly appreciate God s grace as evidenced by the way his epistles reflect this theme and his second epistle begins and ends with the topic of grace. In fact his first epistle relates strongly to suffering and God s purposes in that. But Luke 22 is very revealing as it points out that at the point of our greatest failure, Jesus is really going to bat for us and prays for us especially at these times. Let s look at this passage: LUKE 22 Luke 22:24 an argument among the apostles at the Last Supper about who is the greatest and Peter would have surely been in the centre of this argument. Pride was operating at its best. Luke 22; Jesus explains true greatness. Luke 22:31 Jesus announces to Peter that Satan has asked to sift you (plural, you all) as wheat He is going to shake your cage so violently that it will tear you apart. In fact Satan s objective is to wreck our relationship with Jesus Himself as evidenced by the rendering in the Message, Satan has tried his best to separate all of you from Me like chaff from wheat. Luke 22:32 then makes this amazing statement, But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. JESUS PRAYS FOR US IN OUR WORST MOMENTS. And Jesus goes on to say, When you have come through the time of testing, turn to your companions and give them a fresh start. So often our massive failures not only help us to lead by grace alone, but also turn out to be a great encouragement to our fellow apostles. Luke 22:33 Peter in great pride announces, Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death. Jesus however predicts his failure you will deny me 3 times. Luke 22:54-60 details Peter s great display of cowardice and disowning of Jesus 3 times. Luke 22:61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered. Luke 22:62 And he went outside and wept bitterly A broken and ashamed man. 6

8 But after the resurrection, Jesus asked Peter 3 times, Do you love me? Peter replied 3 times, Yes Lord, I love you. Jesus responded 3 times, Feed my sheep (Give your companions a fresh start). Then Jesus said, Follow Me (John 21). Grace and humility now marked that apostle. He would be an apostle who would encourage other apostles. In 1 Peter 5:5, Peter quotes Proverbs 3:34, which states, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. On the other hand apostles are also prone to great discouragement and can feel they have accomplished very little. Paul in his last letter to his best friend Timothy felt very much this way when he said, everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me. Demas has deserted me.alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. I am sure Timothy wrote him back and encouraged him much the same way Tychicus encouraged the Colossians and the Ephesians (Col 4: 7-8 and Eph 6:21-22) who in turn encouraged Paul when he was in prison. We really need each other not only to watch over each other in the midst of temptations but also in the midst of discouragements. 10. THE APOSTLES OF OUR TIMES There are many such apostles that are very worthy of our study. Here are a few that I am familiar with: Indian context: William Carey, Pandita Ramabai, Amy Carmichael, Mother Teresa China context: Hudson Taylor, John Sung Burma: (Today known as Myanmar) Adronium Judson Latin America: Allen Gardiner Japan: Kanzo Uchimura Let s pray in twos together. 7