The apostle in the New Testament Church. What God showed me about apostles.

Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ... 

 

The first apostle called by Jesus from heaven was the apostle Paul.  Jesus had already been crucified and resurrected and taken by God into heaven when HE called Paul from heaven to be an apostle and teacher.

 

Acts 9

 

1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

 

3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou ME?

 

5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

 

6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

 

7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

 

8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

 

9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

 

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Paul was not the last of the apostles but was the first of the ministers of the New Testament church to be called by Jesus from heaven.

 

Ephesians 4

 

8 Wherefore HE (Jesus) saith, When HE ascended up on high, HE led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

 

9 (Now that HE ascended, what is it but that HE also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

 

10 HE that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

 

11 And HE gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

 

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

 

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The ministers of Jesus for the New Testament Church which Jesus called from heaven were apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.  "Some apostles" means multiple apostles were called.

 

The apostle Paul, speaking to king Agrippa, said:  

 

Acts 26

 

4 My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews;

 

5 Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.

 

9 I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.

 

10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.

 

11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

 

12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,

 

13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.

 

14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou ME? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

 

15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And HE said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

 

16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

 

17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

 

18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in ME.

 

19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:

 

Jesus appointed 12 apostles when HE walked on this earth.  But after HE was crucified and raised from the dead and taken into heaven by God, Jesus began to establish HIS New Testament Church from heaven.

 

Paul was one of those apostles called from heaven by Jesus and appointed by Jesus from heaven and taught by Jesus from heaven.

 

Galatians 1

 

1 Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised HIM from the dead;)

 

10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

 

11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

 

12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

 

15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by HIS grace,

 

16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach HIM among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

 

17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

 

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

 

19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

 

20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.

 

God taught Paul.  And God teaches us who are minister's of Jesus in the church today.  Paul is our example of a new testament minister.  Paul was taught by God from heaven.  We, too, are taught by God by The Word from heaven which comes to us by HIS Holy Spirit.

 

John 14:26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in MY name, HE shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.  

 

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