Apostles!???

I have been struggling with the functioning or lack thereof that I see in the Body of Christ and crying out to God about our condition. I thought I’d share my thoughts with you so that you also would pray as well and find truth. It is overwhelming to me to observe the manner of church structure today because as I search the Word of God I fail to see where it comes from. We have allowed man to create an order that God has not said. And we submit ourselves to that which God has not said. How can we prosper?

Let’s start with what I deem to be the bottom but most regard the top, Apostles. I say bottom because apostles lay the foundation. (Not a new foundation but what has already been laid) My husband is in construction and makes it clear that no building can be built with the foundation on top. So let’s talk about those that call themselves apostles. I don’t actually know all the specific requirements that one is qualified to be an apostle. I do know without question that it is not a position that man can appoint himself to, or it be given by another man. This and all appointments within the body come from God.  (We will talk later about the purpose of appointments) However, let’s just look at what the Word says about apostles. His Word says, “For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! To this present hour we both hunger and thirst. We are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. We labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless, being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we encourage. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now." Please understand all these conditions they endured are because of Christ!

Okay, what man do you know today called an apostle that is poorly clothed, homeless, weak, dishonored, etc? Now I don’t really expect them to be homeless. But I also don’t expect that they teach that they should have the best homes, clothes, cars, etc. Also it says they worked with their own hands! What? Seldom do we see any of the “5 fold ministers actually work”! Oh, I hear you, “a laborer is worthy of his hire”. Yes they are. But proportionately with their calling and the people God has called them to minister to. Paul said, he worked so that we would know how too. And with all the ministering Paul did he still built tents.

Beloved it breaks my heart to see a poor gathering of the body, a church, where the sheep are in need, much need and yet the leader has enough gold around his neck to pay someone’s rent. I know, some of you are thinking I’ve gone too far. You give your tithes and offering to God. And you should. But in the Word it says that the people brought what they had and laid it at the feet of the apostles and no one had need! Because the apostles of God distributed to each as they had need. If these men today are indeed apostles why are the people of God in as much need as the people of the world? Is God’s hand short? Are His eyes dim? No! I have to ask are these “apostles” called of God, and what heart is within them that they don’t care for God’s people above themselves. Truly not the heart of God our Father and Lord.

The Word says that apostles are persecuted, reviled and defamed. Why? Because they were boldly proclaiming the Word of God without compromise with demonstration of God’s power, not for their own profit and glory. All glory was for God alone. They refuse to allow any earthly pleasure to entangle their hearts therefore they hungered and thirst and wandered as sojourners on the earth preaching Jesus Christ as Lord. They stayed where-ever was fitting and gave their peace to that house. They did not fly in private jets and stay in five-star hotels and demand a certain amount of money to bring the Word. Freely they received and therefore freely they gave. They were known by the word of their testimony and not loving their lives to the death. They were honored not because they demanded it but because their lives were ones that we strive to imitate even today. These were apostles!  Who are these men claiming to be apostles today?

Who am I to judge? I am a Christian! And we will judge angels His Word tells us. We have been commanded by the Word of God to test the spirits to see if they are of God. I love Peter, yet I know him only by the words that he spoke, the works that he did and the testimony that he lived. We have been told by His Word to know a tree by its fruit. When I see the fruit of a true apostle and I have,  I am and surely will be quick to hear, slow to speak and give honor where honor is due.

In His Word do we meditate day and night!

In all my years as a Christian I have never spoken on nor heard a teaching on the value and benefits of meditation. I believe this is a grave disservice to the church. For His Word tells us that “This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” First let me point out that He says meditate “in” it not on it. His Word instructs here that we meditate within the Word, just as we know He commands that His Word dwells within us.  

This command tells us that in meditating in His Word there will be consequences. If we meditate within it day and night we may observe to do what is written and be prosperous and have good success. Therefore it is clear that if we do not meditate in His Word we will not observe to do what is written and we will not prosper nor have good success. The reasons to know about meditation should be abundantly obvious. The Lord requires it of us and it is part of His plan for our success.

So, what is meditation?  Seldom will you hear me compare the people of the world with the people of God because there should be a stark contrast between the two. However, in this instance I believe the world has a better understanding and practice on meditation. They use meditation for various reasons. And yet, because of their disassociation with God their meditation is without the full profit, yet does provide some benefit to them. Meditation is the act of uttering, considering, contemplating, reflecting, pondering, and imagining. I believe successful meditation would require us to control or influence our souls (our mind, will and emotions) for a period of time for the purpose of concentrating on the Word of God.

The psalmist said I remember God when I lay on my bed and I will meditate on Him in the night watches. That means that when we lie on our beds instead of allowing our minds to ponder and rehearse the day’s activities or consider plans for tomorrow, we think of and consider the things of God. Perhaps we mutter or ponder His goodness toward us for this day. I find it important especially initial to not only think or ponder with the mind but to mutter with the mouth, because the mind hears the words spoken and responds in consideration as oppose to only thinking and trying to still the soul.  The Word says I will mediate on His Works and talk of His doings. It takes practice to keep our minds stayed on Him even for a brief time. However, if we practice, meditation gets easier and the benefits greater.

I could recite numerous health articles that would tout the benefits of meditation in the natural that include stress reduction, restful sleep, heart health, weight loss, decrease muscle tensions, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, increase breathing and lung capacity, prevents and controls chronic disease, more optimism, etc. Do you think for one moment that the Lord God who created ALL did not provide with full knowledge all these natural benefits when He commanded that we meditate on Him?  Yet, the spiritual benefits are greater in that when we meditate on Him we are being obedient to His Word, and we will have an increased understanding and knowledge of His Word. He will give peace to those whose mind is stayed on Him. His Word says, I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart, and my spirit makes diligent search. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! Yet, through meditation He has given us a vehicle to search.