What is an Apostle anyway? Part 2 a look at present day Apostles and Prophets; The signs of an apostle

2Co 12:12  The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, signs and wonders and mighty works.

Paul explains the signs of a true apostle, and Acts chapter 14 explains the purpose of the signs. Act 14:3 NRSV So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who testified to the word of his grace by granting signs and wonders to be done through them. I have underlined the important fact. God testified of the WORD OF HIS GRACE, in other words, testified of truth of the gospel by granting signs and wonders to be performed by the apostles. In this case, the apostle's written about were Paul and Barnabas.

It would be correct to conclude that the only reason that God would grant signs and wonders to modern day apostles would be to testify and confirm the word of His grace, the gospel. However, so many modern day apostles rarely mention the gospel of Christ. They are busy establishing their authority and teaching people to obey their every word and command. There is little or no focus on the gospel. I'm sure they would tell you that they spend their time teaching believers, and that seasoned saints don't need to hear the gospel, and to that I simply say.... Oh... is that right? The answer is a definite no it is not right. So called seasoned saints need to hear the gospel message often as it is the catalyst that produces true love transformation in their lives. This is not the focus of many modern day apostles and so you have to ask yourself, apostles? …. apostles of who?

Let me be clear. I am not against modern day apostles. I do not believe that Ephesians 4:13-14 has ever been fulfilled, and this being the case modern day apostles are necessary if that scripture is ever to be fulfilled. After all, Ephesians NRSV 4:13-14 is the reason that Jesus gave the apostolic gift to humanity. Let me post this passage so that you don't have to look it up at this time: Eph 4:13-14 NRSV  "until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.  (14)  We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming." Let's face it, with 30,000 plus denominations this has not been fulfilled yet. The fact is that many modern day apostles are actually adding to the problem not solving it.

So then what should the modern day apostle be doing you ask? The answer is the same thing Paul and Barnabas did in the first century. They should be staying in one place a long time proclaiming the word of God's grace and allowing God to testify and confirm their preaching by real signs and wonders, the signs of a true apostle.

Which brings me to the signs and wonders being performed by apostles that do not spend all of their time proclaiming the word of God's grace. One must extrapolate that they are what Paul called sings and lying wonders in 2Thess 2:9. Yes, back then, in the first century there were apostles roaming about teaching all sorts of stuff except the gospel of grace. And by the power of Satan were performing signs and lying wonders... something to think about?

It is interesting to me because when I read 2Thess 2, I immediately see how it is a metaphor for all of the spiritually abusive ministries that exist today. Some man or woman, has set themselves up in the temple of God (the church) demanding to be worshipped like God, claiming to speak directly for God....

More to come, the Spirit is not done talking to me on this subject... She/he who has an ear!