A. True Apostle Signs; Undeserved.
1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
True apostles know they have been placed into Christ body, and into this gifting, neither because they deserved it, nor earned it, but because God decided it, then declared it.
B. True Apostle Signs; Empowerment
2 corithians 12:12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.
True apostles have signs, wonders and mighty works following them through the empowering of the Holy Spirit. Acts 5:12-16 states “…many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles…The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.”
C. True Apostle Signs; Suffering
1 Corinthians 4:9-13 For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake…we are weak…we are without honor. To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now.
True apostles through the inward desire, even God given burden they’ve been given , for Christ body, are continually given over to self-sacrificial service that involves suffering, sorrow, lack of funds, unwanted fasts, and other various kinds of hardships. This is the true mark of an Apostle, a mark of constant sufferings! The suffering comes from within the body of Christ, as well as outside of the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit gives true apostles a huge burden for the body of Christ that overrides the suffering they partake for Christ body. As Paul said, “I affirm, brethren, by the boasting in you whom I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.”
D. True Apostle Signs; Not People Pleasers nor People Users.
1 Thessalonians 2:5-6 For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness—nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority.
True apostles do not speak to flatter people. True apostles are not self seeking. True apostles do not seek praise from mere men. True apostles do not use their authority through the Spirit for such fleshly things! True apostles live for Christ, they seek to encourage their brothers, they desire unity in Christ body, and they seek the maturity of Christ Body as a whole.
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Gospel Fellowships ( - )
“Christianity was birthed in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and will only continue as we have this empowering from above. God is always looking for the willing vessels that will trust Him afresh for the impossible.” from: Principles for the gathering of Believers under the Headship of Jesus Christ.Since 2012, a growing group of believers in North America started to warn of coming persecution to western countries. This message was shared in a variety of ways. One of the responses to this was to compile a book taking principles from underground Churches around the world of how they thrived under pressure and persecution. The volume, Principles for the Gathering of Believers, had in a short time over 50,000 downloads in ebook format and much interest was shown. Some new house churches started through this and other existing groups were encouraged.