Five Spiritual Gifts In The Church — Apostles

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, (Ephesians 4:11)

In order to establish the church, fulfill the saints, preach the gospel and spread the Word, God has set up five spiritual gifts in the church. There are the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers. I think the pastors should be translated as shepherds, because there are verses that do not be called by the instructors, for you have one instructor, the Jesus. The shepherds love lambs, sheep and lost sheep like parents care for their children.

Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and they were given the authority of the healing and driving out demons. Then the Lord promised signs would accompany those who believed. It can be seen that the gifts of healing and driving out demons can be practiced by believers in the name of Jesus not only by the apostles.

Jesus chose the twelve apostles. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. We can see that the twelve apostles are always with the Lord and have the authority to drive out demons. And once they did not drive out the devil so they inquired of Jesus, Jesus said that this kind of demons went out only by fasting prayer. We know that the power and play of their authority are related of their spiritual state.

After Jesus ascended to heaven, in those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. And the apostle Peter said, "Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

We can see that God has chosen the apostles and gives them spiritual authority to carry out miracles and wonders and need they deny themselves for kingdom of God. Apostles must suffer for Jesus and give the church order and a variety of gifts. Their duties, mission and task is to pray with the Lord and preach the gospel of the Lord according to the will of the Lord. They sent people to manage things, arrange the distribution and use of money, appoint elders according to the will of the Holy Spirit. They concentrate on prayer and preaching gospel, they are sent for this purpose, and the other ministry of work are prepared for this.

And the arrangement of money is also bright, so that money is spent on the gospel, charity and so on that can build up everyone and be good for the gospel.

What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. (2Corinthians 8:19 NIV)

We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberalgift. (2 Corinthians 8:20 NIV)

For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man. (2 Corinthians 8:21NIV)

The apostles were chosen by God and constrained by God. Paul said Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, or because of these surpassingly great revelations.Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.

When the Samaritans had received the Lord's Word, they were baptized, but none of them had the Holy Spirit. When the apostles knew, they sent Peter, and John went to help them to pray and lay their hands upon them, the Samaritans received the Holy Spirit. When Peter preached to Cornelius, they were given the Holy Spirit while they were listening. So Peter gave them a baptism on the spot.

We can see that God gave the apostles the authority of the spiritual washing of rebirth. Forgiveness of sins is up to the Holy Spirit, and how to forgive sins without the Holy Spirit? The Holy Spirit is the truth to prove who is sent by God for preaching the Word of God. No one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. The implementation of the baptism of living water, which people can do their own. But the baptism of the Holy Spirit is given by God. God gives this gift to the apostles.

Paul said that the Corinthians were the seal of his apostleship, not the proof of man, but the proof of the Spirit, written in the people's heart, and known by the people. The gift of the apostle is to preach the gospel everywhere, build and help to build churches everywhere, assist on churches depending on the lack and needs of the churches,establish the foundations of truth, contend the truth. In Paul's letters, he asked to see that the apostle had such a mission and heart for the churches by all churches. The church is what Jesus bought with his own blood and filled with the Spirit of God.

Paul said, and what I want to know is not the words of those who are arrogant, but their power.It is evident that the gift of the apostles confirms that he is the apostle, that the fruit of the apostles proves that he is the apostle.

I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles. (2 Corinthians 12:12 NIV)

The brother of Jesus who supported the circumcision before and after he heard what Peter said, the miracles and wonders witnessed by Paul and Barnabas, his heart become righteous, he obeyed the truth and not to support circumcision. Peter stood up and contended for the truth at the important moment. In Paul's first defense, no one listened to him, even abandoned him, but he still pleased God and contended for the truth. It is evident that God has given the apostles a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith to preach the gospel and contend truth.

Rom 1: 5 And we are blessed from him, and the part of the apostles, among the nations, that he may believe in his name.

We can also see that Judas was originally an apostle but later the devil entered Judah's heart so he finally sold Jesus, laid away his apostleship. However Matthias, Paul,Barnabas were not apostles before and later became apostles. It can be seen that the gift of the apostles can be got and can also be lost, can be got by the devil and later will not be saved.

Once Peter was falsified, he was blamed by Paul. It is evident that the apostle will make mistakes because he is a man with a flesh. We should obey the arrangement of the apostles for he is not in his own will, but in order to accomplish the will of the Lord, to establish the order of the church according to the meaning of God, so that we can be build up by Jesus's World and extended the borders of the gospel.

However do not go beyond Bible is written, do not respect people beyond the God. Do not discriminate among ourselves, just respect everyone. You who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

The apostles preach the gospel, establish the church, carry out miracles and wonders, bring the spiritual washing of rebirth, contend for the truth, identify heresy, distinguish the spirit, hold the Word of God. God builds the church on the foundation of the apostles and prophets.

There are true apostles, there are also false apostles. Check everything. And the gift of the apostles will be got and will be lost. In the preaching of the gospel, it is revealed that who is true and false. The church of Corinth is the seal of Paul’ true apostleship.

Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 9:2 NIV)

I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. (Revelations 2:2 NIV)

Do not be a servant of man but Christ. God has freed us to be free men and we should serve God with one heart to obedience to each other and pursuit more gifts which can help build brothers and sisters up according to the gift of God.

We serve brothers and sisters as servants for the Jesus in order to build people up. In the church, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

We should not lead man to the stage of man but Christ. And John the Baptist said, I will fade, and the Lord will prosper. So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God.