THIS MINISTRY (APOSTOLIC MINISTRY)

These days there are many who claim to be doing God's ministry. In the old testament, there are various services related to the tabernacle. Everyone was not a priest. There are priests; there are those who do certain services and there are also women who do sundry work. Nevertheless except for the priests, none are authorized to enter the holy place. Other ministers should scrupulously follow the instructions of the priests and limit their services to the works allotted to them. Those who exceed their limits shall die. The regulations of the New Testament are also similar. However these days there are those who offer distorted self-explanations to scriptures, there are people who do ministry as they like, they go astray and also cause the fall of others. The plans and determinations of God are however unchanging. Therefore, only people should change themselves to pattern their ministry in accordance with the scriptures.

 

Let us look at God's ministry in the light of the New Testament. The word 'this ministry' is found in the Bible. Of this, the word 'ministry' denotes only apostolic ministry (Acts 1:17,25). Apostle means, the one who was chosen, called, anointed, and sent by God. Jesus Christ was sent by God the Father; Therefore He is also called an apostle ( Heb 1:3). Apostles cannot be made by any man, colleges, institution or church by itself. There are man-made priests and there are God-made priests. We need God-made priests, the apostles who are prepared, anointed, authorized and sent by God.

Some say that apostles are those who had left everything and some say that apostles are those who are not married. Some say that since they are heading many churches, they alone are apostles. Some think they are apostles because some others have called them so. Some say that they saw a vision or a dream or heard a voice and therefore they are apostles. None of these things will make someone an apostle nor bear proof that he is sent by God. There are also a few who say that there are just twelve apostles and no other. If questioned about apostle Paul, they agree that he is an apostle. They agree Barnabas also is an apostle (Acts 14:14). But if Matthias's name is mentioned (Acts 1:26), they raise their eyebrows. They do not agree that Matthias was an apostle even if the verse Acts 2:14 is pointed out wherein Peter was mentioned to be standing up with the eleven (other apostles) and they maintain against all reasoning that there are just twelve apostles and no other.

The early apostles were twelve. Among them, since one turned into satan, Matthias was added with the remaining eleven apostles and the total again became twelve (Acts 1:26). After these twelve apostles, in their line, God raised apostle Paul and others (Rom 16:7). There are differences between the early apostles and the apostles who came up later. The early apostles were with the Lord Jesus Christ and were eyewitnesses to His works; they had seen His death and His resurrection. They ate and drank with the resurrected Lord, received commandments from Him and were authorized and sent by Him (John 20:19-23).

They are powerful witnesses to the resurrection of the Lord (John 15:27; Acts 2:32, Acts 4:20,33; Paul 1 Cr 9:1). In their line, there are those who are raised as apostles.