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BISHOP ROGERS - Called to Be An Apostle

July 24, 2007

Called to be an Apostle

The most important part of any structure is always the foundation. If the foundation is not properly laid, there is no hope of the building ever rising to it’s full purpose. That is why the ministry of Apostle and Prophet need our greatest attention at this time.

Eph 2:20-22  20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;  21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.  KJV

I have met so many who say they are called to be an Apostle. Nearly every young man I know is declaring this belief. That is why it is imperative for us to begin to define what an Apostle is and does, how he is called, and when he is commissioned. Many are called but few are chosen the scriptures declare. So we must help those who are genuinely called to become and those who are not to quit claiming the office.

One of the things that we must help those who think they might be called to this office is to clearly understand what it involves. I remember a young man who came to my office some years back and said “I am called to be an Apostle”. I will go to the churches in this area and straighten them out.

I answered this young man like this – “you might very well be called to be an Apostle and God may use you do this, but it is important that we understand what an Apostle is and what he experiences. I then quoted this verse.

1 Cor 4:9-16   9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last , as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.  10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.  11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;  12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:  13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.  14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.  15 For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.  16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.  KJV

After sharing this scripture with him I will never forget his response. It was “well perhaps I am not called to be an Apostle”. This passage is a good place to begin. It begins to remove all the “hype” surrounding the Apostolic call today. If you and I can read this passage and say “yes that is what I am called too”. Then perhaps we can go on into the process of being made into a mature Apostle. Last, spectacle, fools, weak, despised, naked, hungry, buffeted, persecuted, defamed, filth, offscouring, and no place to dwell, these are the words that the Apostle Paul uses to describe this calling.

That is not how most who feel they are called to be an Apostle see themselves. When we remove the so-called glamour from the office many lose the desire to walk in it. I have been doing some study from the book of Isaiah. As he came into his high calling. He had already been serving as a prophet, but God had more for him. Before he could enter into his high calling something had to die in him. That is what has to happen to all who are called to be an Apostle. If we can say “even if I am rejected, despised by my peers, go hungry, am humiliated and defamed and never have a place to call my own – I know God has called me to be an Apostle. And if we can allow the Lord to finish the crucifixion of all that hungers for the honor of men and the desire for authority then we are becoming candidates to become an Apostle. Here is the experience of Isaiah just before he entered his high calling.

Isa 6:1-8   1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.  2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.  3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.  4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.  5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.  6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:  7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.  8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?Then said I, Here am I; send me. KJV

We are told that Isaiah and Uzziah were good friends. In order to understand this passage we must know a little more about Uzziah. He started out as a good King but he came to a place where he wanted more authority than God intended for him and tragedy was the result.

2 Chron 26:3-5   3 Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty and two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.  4 And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah did.  5 And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.  KJV

2 Chron 26:16-21  16 But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.  17 And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant men:  18 And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah , to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God.  19 Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar.  20 And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him.  21 And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son was over the king's house, judging the people of the land. KJV

Do you see it? The desire for more authority than God intended is what led to Uzziahs’ downfall. The desire for authority and control is a leprous and deadly thing. We must allow the Holy Spirit to search our hearts and drive out any carnal attitudes we might have for authority and to be honored by others. Even Isaiah association with Uzziah would keep him from his high calling.

Amos 3:3   Can two walk together, except they be agreed ? KJV

One of the things that has led me to write this article is a dream the Lord gave me a number of years ago. In it He showed me the present condition of the five-fold ministry. I will not elaborate on it here except to say that the ministry of the Apostle was in the worst condition. As I recalled this my heart was broken and I began to intercede for all who are called to serve in this office. Before the Church can arise to it’s end-time purpose the office of Apostle will have to be fully established. Look with me at this passage in Revelation.

Rev 2:2  "I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars  NKJV

These are strong words. But the Lord commends the Church at Ephesus for “testing” those who say they are Apostles and are not”. We too must not allow what is going on today without testing those who say they are Apostles and are not. If our desire is to build a network of those who will call us Apostles and be under our authority, we must be relentless in allowing the Holy Spirit to allow the Uzziah in all of us to be crucified.

TEST- 3985. πειράζω pĕirazō, pi-rad´-zo; from 3984; to test (obj.), i.e. endeavor, scrutinize, entice, discipline:— assay, examine, go about, prove, tempt (-er), try.  Strongs Concordance

If you have made it this far and not gotten mad at me and thrown this article away then perhaps you are called to be an Apostle. If so my brother may the Lord grant you the grace and patience you will need to become all that He has called you to be. If ever the Church needed tested men and women of God she needs it today.

Anytime a word of correction is called for a risk of being mis-understood is always present. So I would like to take a few minutes to clarify my position. First I have so much love and appreciation for the five-fold ministry. I know many hundreds of Godly men and women who are laboring valiantly for the Lord at great personal sacrifice and with pure motives. I also love and value all movements and ministries that have blazed the trail before my generation. I choose to honor and loose all that they have gained. Nevertheless our fathers and fore-fathers have passed down some things that cannot be built upon.

From what the Lord showed me four of the five-fold ministries will have to be taken down to the only true foundation of Jesus Christ and His nature and character before the Church can rise to it’s end time purposes.

More to follow... 

Be Blessed

Bishop Robert Rogers

 

Copyright 2007 - One Million Voices, Oak Crest Church of God, Muskegon, Michigan