Post by Zac Loh on Dec 9, 2008 23:13:04 GMT -5
In the original Bible Greek, the word `apostle’ is defined as `an ambassador of the gospel, he that is sent’.
In Acts 13:3, Paul was sent. In the following verses 6-12, we read that Paul was being an ambassador of the gospel to the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. In that process, the sorcerer false prophet Bar-Jesus attempted to hinder the message of the gospel being preached by Paul.
The Holy Spirit filled Paul, and the gift of faith manifested. By supernatural faith, exemplified by his great boldness, Paul looked intently at Bar-Jesus and pronounced the judgment of God upon Bar-Jesus. And immediately, Bar-Jesus, became blind by the supernatural manifestation of God.
And, as a result, Sergius Paulus believed the gospel.
We see a definitive connection between the gift of faith and apostle.
Applications
• We need the gift of faith to preach the gospel to people high up in politics or society. These people are keys and factors to the spreading of the gospel because of their influence over govermental authorities and their ample resource/assets to finance/facilitate the gospel. The gift of faith opens door, breaks open the opportunity for the gospel, as evident in Paul’s ministry. The gift of faith can manifest in many different ways - in getting contacts, ability to make appointments, ability to speak-face-to-face, ability to get attention and impact the recipient.
• We need to gift of faith to reach the hard-to-reach people group or people who is highly hostile, or who have Zero temperature cold indifference.
• We need the gift of faith to preach publicly in the streets or bars, anywhere or anytime which is extremely embarrassing – a situation which a common person will feel acutely fearful or intimidating.
• Missionaries will need this gift.
• Church planters will need this gift.
One Level At A Time
As you know, there is a higher level of apostles which is in the Ephesians Group Of Gifts (Ephesians 4:11).
It seems that there is a principle at work here, in our discourse: God promotes us step-by-step.
The gift of teacher in the Ephesians Group will, before that, have the gift of the word of wisdom in the Corinthians Group, who first already had had the gift of teaching in the Romans Group.
The gift of prophet in the Ephesians Group will, before that, have the gift of prophecy in the Corinthians Group, who first already had had the gift to prophesy in the Romans Group.
So, we can infer that Paul was promoted to the gift of apostle belonging to the Ephesians Group later; as at this moment in Acts 13:6-12, Paul was still in the Corinthians Group level.
In Acts 13:3, Paul was sent. In the following verses 6-12, we read that Paul was being an ambassador of the gospel to the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. In that process, the sorcerer false prophet Bar-Jesus attempted to hinder the message of the gospel being preached by Paul.
The Holy Spirit filled Paul, and the gift of faith manifested. By supernatural faith, exemplified by his great boldness, Paul looked intently at Bar-Jesus and pronounced the judgment of God upon Bar-Jesus. And immediately, Bar-Jesus, became blind by the supernatural manifestation of God.
And, as a result, Sergius Paulus believed the gospel.
We see a definitive connection between the gift of faith and apostle.
Applications
• We need the gift of faith to preach the gospel to people high up in politics or society. These people are keys and factors to the spreading of the gospel because of their influence over govermental authorities and their ample resource/assets to finance/facilitate the gospel. The gift of faith opens door, breaks open the opportunity for the gospel, as evident in Paul’s ministry. The gift of faith can manifest in many different ways - in getting contacts, ability to make appointments, ability to speak-face-to-face, ability to get attention and impact the recipient.
• We need to gift of faith to reach the hard-to-reach people group or people who is highly hostile, or who have Zero temperature cold indifference.
• We need the gift of faith to preach publicly in the streets or bars, anywhere or anytime which is extremely embarrassing – a situation which a common person will feel acutely fearful or intimidating.
• Missionaries will need this gift.
• Church planters will need this gift.
One Level At A Time
As you know, there is a higher level of apostles which is in the Ephesians Group Of Gifts (Ephesians 4:11).
It seems that there is a principle at work here, in our discourse: God promotes us step-by-step.
The gift of teacher in the Ephesians Group will, before that, have the gift of the word of wisdom in the Corinthians Group, who first already had had the gift of teaching in the Romans Group.
The gift of prophet in the Ephesians Group will, before that, have the gift of prophecy in the Corinthians Group, who first already had had the gift to prophesy in the Romans Group.
So, we can infer that Paul was promoted to the gift of apostle belonging to the Ephesians Group later; as at this moment in Acts 13:6-12, Paul was still in the Corinthians Group level.