APOSTLE EDWARD SSEWANYANA: THE APOSTLES TODAY: PART 1 (B)

Now let's examine the individuals throughout the New Testament who were called to be apostles. You will discover that many individuals who traditionally were called pastors or evangelists were obviously apostles. Religion tries to hide and suppress the Apostolic office, but today God is unveiling the Apostolic office and overturning the religious tables. The following are apostles chosen by God:

"Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the APOSTLE and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus" (Heb 3:1).

The twelve Apostles:

“Now the names of the TWELVE APOSTLES are these;

·The first, Simon, who is called Peter,

·and Andrew his brother;

·James the son of Zebedee,

·and John his brother;

·and Bartholomew;

·and Matthew the publican;

·James the son of Alphaeus,

·and Lebbaeus whose surname was Thaddaeus;

·Simon the Canaanite,

·and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.”

He was the Lord's brother and different from James, the brother of John, who was martyred.

"But other of the APOSTLES saw I none, save James the Lord's brother" (Gal 1:19 KJV).

"The only OTHER APOSTLE I saw was James, the Lord's brother" (Gal 1:19 CEV).

"And when JAMES, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be PILLARS, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision" (Gal 2:9).

"And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven APOSTLES" (Act 1:26).

Paul (formerly Saul) of Tarsus:

"Am I not an APOSTLE? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?" (1Co 9:1).

"Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an APOSTLE, separated unto the gospel of God" (Rom 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)" (Gal 1:1).

"Paul, an APOSTLE of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Savior, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope" (1Ti 1:1).

Timothy and Silas:

"Paul, and SILVANUS, and TIMOTHY, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ" (1Th 1:1).

"Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ" (1Th 2:6).

Notice that the authors of the first epistle to the Thessalonians were Paul, Silas (Silvanus) and Timothy, in the second chapter "we" refers to Silas and Timothy also. This means that all the three authors of the epistle were apostles.

Andronicus and Junia:

"Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow prisoners, who are of note AMONG THE APOSTLES, who also were in Christ before me" (Rom 16:7).

Junia was a woman, showing that God also calls women to be apostles.

"Which when the APOSTLES, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out" (Act 14:14).

"And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. For I think that God hath set forth US (Paul and Apollos) THE APOSTLES last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men" (1Co 4:6,9).

"Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labor, and fellow soldier, but your MESSENGER (apostolos), and he that ministered to my wants" (Phi 2:25).

"Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellowhelper concerning you: or our brethren be inquired of, they are the MESSENGERS (apostolos) of the churches, and the glory of Christ" (2Co 8:23).

7 Apostles of 7 Churches:

"The secret meaning of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand and the seven gold lampstands is this: the seven stars are the messengers of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches" (Rev 1:20 ISV).

"After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of ALL THE APOSTLES" (1Co 15:6-7).

"Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and APOSTLES, and some of them they shall slay and persecute" (Luk 11:49).

From the given scriptures we find out that God called and used many individuals to establish His kingdom upon the earth. God laid the foundation of the churches upon the Apostles. Till today, God still calls the apostles first, so that they may train, equip and appoint prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers in the churches they establish. "And God hath set some in the church, FIRST APOSTLES, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues" (1Co 12:28 KJV), God has chosen apostles to be in the first rank or order; or as superior in honor and in office. He has given them the highest authority in the church; he has more signally endowed them and qualified them than he has others. The word "first" is the Greek word "proton" which means first in time, place, order and importance. Since this is the most important office God ordained in the Church, the devil has fought hardest to extinguish it and has spread false doctrines to pervert men's minds against that office. However, God made a promise that before the return of Jesus Christ, all the offices of the early church shall be restored before Jesus Christ returns. "Whom the heaven must receive until the times of RESTITUTION OF ALL THINGS (including Apostles), which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began" (Act 3:21). God restored the office of Evangelist in the 1950s during the golden days of the "Voice of Healing" revival with Evangelists such as Oral Roberts, Jack Coe and A.A. Allen, He restored the office of Pastor in the 1960s, the office of Teacher was restored in the 1970s with notable teachers such as Kenneth Hagin, the office of Prophet in the 1980s and finally the office of Apostle in the 1990s. Restoration of all things is happening before our very eyes and Jesus Christ is soon returning. The gospel of the Kingdom of God shall surely be preached in power over all the earth and thousands of churches shall be established upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets. God's move is on, so you had better get in, get out or get run over.