Thursday, July 2,
2015, 11:01 p.m. – The Lord Jesus put in mind the song, “Your Servant Witness.” Speak, Lord,
your words to my heart. I read Titus 1:1-4
(NASB).
Paul,
a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those
chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,
in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago,
but at the proper time manifested, even His word, in the proclamation with
which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior,
To
Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and
Christ Jesus our Savior.
A Bond-Servant
What is a bond-servant? A bond-servant is a slave – “someone
who belongs to another; a bond-slave, without any ownership rights of their own”
– “used with the highest dignity in the NT – namely, of believers who willingly
live under Christ's authority as His devoted followers” (http://biblehub.com/greek/1401.htm).
We, as Christ’s followers, are to be his bond-servants, living
as slaves of righteousness, with him as our Lord and Master (See: Ro. 6). Jesus
said his sheep listen to him and they follow him (Jn. 10:27-30). We were bought
with a price, the blood of Christ. Our lives are no longer our own to be lived
however we want. We are to glorify God with our lives, following him in
obedience wherever he leads us (1 Co. 6:19-20; Jn. 12:26). Jesus died for us
that we might die to sin and live to righteousness (2 Pet. 2:24). He died that
we would no longer live for ourselves but for him who gave himself up for us (2
Co. 5:15). We are to be his willing servants - submissive, obedient, and
surrendered to the cross of Christ in our lives.
An Apostle
What is an apostle? An apostle is “one commissioned by
another to represent him in some way, especially a man sent out by Jesus Christ
Himself to preach the Gospel; someone sent (commissioned), focusing back on the
authority (commissioning) of the sender; a messenger, one sent on a mission” (http://biblehub.com/greek/652.htm).
Jesus chose 12 apostles (disciples) to follow him in
ministry. One betrayed him, died, and was replaced with another. Some others who
lived during the time in which Jesus lived and ministered on the earth were also
called “apostles,” such as were Paul and Barnabas, and James, the Lord’s
brother, etc. They were all called and commissioned by Jesus Christ, were sent
out on a mission as his representatives, and were his messengers to spread the
gospel of our salvation. Their apostleship was not through the agency of man,
though, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father. They also did not inherit
their apostleship through any man, such as through succession. As members of
God's household, we are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
Yet, there is the question as to whether or not believers in
Jesus Christ are ever called “apostles” today, i.e. speaking of those who did
not live during the time of Jesus, and who were not witnesses to his
resurrection. Revelation 18:20 says, “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you
saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you
against her.” This was in reference to the fall of Babylon the Great.
Some people believe this is speaking only of the apostles of
New Testament time, and of the Old Testament prophets, while others believe the
reference to apostle is speaking of ordinary ministers of the Word, who are
called of God to preach the gospel, and that “prophet” is in reference to those
with the spiritual gift of prophesy, who proclaim the Word of God in practical
and applicable ways to our lives and world today. After all, the definition of “apostle”
certainly fits with what every believer is called to do. We have all been
commissioned of God to take the gospel to the nations, and to make followers of
Christ of people of all nations, I believe. We are the light of the world and
the salt of the earth, and we are to let our lights shine before all men. We
are to snatch people from the flames and save them, and to turn sinners from
the error of their ways. As the body of Christ, we are his representatives to
the world around us. We are his servants and witnesses.
“But
you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s
own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called
you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Pet. 2:9).
Is it Critical?
So, is it critical that we settle the question of whether or
not a believer in Christ today could be an apostle, i.e. a “sent out one”? In
one sense, I would say, “Yes.” In another, I would say, “No.”
We need to understand, first of all, that the apostles of
the New Testament were given the authority to speak the very words of God to
the people via direct revelation from Jesus Christ. The God-breathed words of
God given to them by direct revelation of God were written down for us, which
are compiled together in the New Testament in the Holy Bible. These words are
scripture to us, i.e. the authority of God in our lives, and they are his
instructions to us on how we are to receive Christ, and on how we are to live
our Christian lives by faith in Jesus Christ. We are to obey the God-breathed Word
of God, which the apostles often spoke. Yet, I believe the books of the New
Testament (Matthew-Revelation) are the completed revelations of Jesus Christ
for his church to follow, and that we should not add to or take away from these
words. So, if someone comes along and claims to be an apostle of Jesus Christ,
like those who lived during the time of Jesus, and they claim to have more
divine revelation for us that we must obey, don’t obey them. Test what they
say.
Now, with that said, there are those within the body of
Christ who have a specific calling of God to be sent out, as a missionary, to
preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the meaning of “apostle,” so we
could call them apostles, but I believe that can get confusing, as most all of
the New Testament references to apostles were speaking of the apostles chosen
by God who lived on the earth at the same time as Jesus did, and who were
witnesses to his resurrection, and most (if not all) of them spoke the
God-breathed words of God, which have become scripture to us, and which we must
obey. We don’t have to obey the words of everyone who calls himself or herself
an apostle (or a prophet) today, but there are many false apostles who would
have us believe we must, just because someone claims that title for themselves,
or just because they believe they have inherited that status via succession from
one man to another to another. So, test everything against God’s Word.
Are Titles Necessary?
So, does having the title "apostle," or the title
"prophet" make us more credible, or more gifted? Or do titles such as
these guarantee that we are Spirit-filled, called and commissioned of God for
his service, or that we are actually walking in obedience to God, listening to
his voice, and teaching in the power of the Spirit within us? NO! In fact,
proclaiming such titles as these does not even guarantee that those who call
themselves such even know Jesus Christ personally, i.e. they may not have been
born of the Spirit of God at all, but they may be operating fully in the flesh
of mankind. They could even be servants of Satan disguised as prophets and
apostles of Christ. So, test everything! I have seen too many people call
themselves “prophet” or “prophetess” or “apostle” who are following man and not
God, who are operating in the flesh, and not in the Spirit, and who are not
students of the Word, but are being led by human emotion. So, test everything!
So, what is really important here? For one, we are to be
humble and submissive servants of Christ, doing what he tells us to do, for the
glory of God, for the truth of the gospel, and for the encouragement, godliness
and spiritual maturity of the saints of God. We don’t need titles to do that. In
fact, titles can get in the way, and can be a hindrance. As well, we should
know that we are all called of God to his service, and we are all his
representatives. We are all his witnesses, too, sent out into all the world to
make followers of Jesus Christ of people of all nations. We don’t need to call
ourselves “apostles” to do that, though. And, no matter what God has called us
to do, not one of us is any better or above the other. We are all
fellow-servants of Christ and members of his body. We are all necessary. We are
not greater or less just because of our calling and ministry (See: 1 Co. 12). We
just have different gifts and different roles (body parts), and some people are
called to lead, but to do so in all humility, and not to lord it over the
people, but to lead by example (1 Pet. 5:1-11).
So, let’s humble ourselves before God in full submission and
surrender to his will for our lives. Let’s listen to him and follow him
wherever he leads us. Let us test our own hearts to make sure that what we are
doing is of God, and that it is being done with the right heart motive, which is
not for the praise of man, but for the glory of God, for the faith of those
chosen of God, and for the encouragement of the saints. Let us bathe what we do
in prayer, and pray for those to whom God would have us minister, and let us
remember that all that we have that is good is from God, and not from
ourselves, so we should give all the praise and glory to God alone. And, let us
have teachable spirits, willing to learn from others, but to also test
everything we hear to make sure it lines up with the teachings of scripture and
with God’s divine character and will. And, let us do what we do out of hearts
of love for God and for other people, and not for selfish gain.
Your Servant Witness
/ An Original Work / March 13, 2012
Humbly I bow, Lord, before You,
Bringing my requests to You.
May I listen; hear You speaking.
May I follow You in truth.
Gently lead me in Your service.
Guide my steps and strengthen me.
Fill me with Your love and mercy.
May I live for Thee!
Let me be Your servant witness,
Telling others of Your grace.
May I always share the gospel
With those I meet face to face.
May I show the love of Jesus,
Caring for the needs of men;
Be Your servant witness always
For my Lord, Amen!
My desire to be like Jesus,
Living for Him ev’ry day.
May I obey all His teachings
Given me, so I’ll not stray.
Love You, Jesus, Lord, my master.
You are the King of my heart;
Follow You where’er You lead me;
Not from You depart!
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