Devotional for God’s Family – 1
Alright, what do apostles do that is different than prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers?
The two examples of Apostles that we have been referring to are Jesus the first and most and then Paul. The characteristic that is evident is that their call to apostleship came from outside of them. We read in John chapter 20 that Jesus was a Sent One from the Father.
John 20:21 (ESV): Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”
In the same way, Paul was called from someone besides himself.
Acts 9:5–6 (ESV): I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”
Acts 9:13–16 (ESV): But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”
Even the Disciples of Jesus were first called apostles by Jesus, they did not call themselves apostles. The word apostle means a sent one or a messenger. A person cannot be sent by their own bidding, that is not being sent. And a messenger does not carry a message that he came up with.
So, in the case of Jesus, the 12 Apostles and Paul too, each were sent to start a new work. Whether a physical work or a spiritual work, and most of the time both, there is a definite kingdom of God building venture under way. Even though it may be in old buildings, or old families, the new work and the strength, strategy and momentum behind the new thing will be through an apostolic move of God, at the hands of an apostle.
At the heart of the modern day apostle is reformation. Just like Jesus and Paul who stood eye to eye with a broken religious system, they fought against the schemes of the enemy that had wormed its way into what God had previously established. As a matter of fact, Jesus said that His plan has been and still is to send apostles and prophets like the tip of a spear into the middle of the broken religious systems of the world.
Luke 11:49 (ESV): “Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles…”
The religion of man and the Freedom of Jesus Christ, the true church, clash under the feet of sent apostles. Apostles take their stand at the battle front and break through the front lines of the enemy with power and authority. They release into faith filled people gifts and abilities, creating maps and roads for the development of outposts and biblical strongholds for Jesus.
This is clearly seen in the life of Jesus and Paul too.
What is also seen in the life of Jesus and Paul (who was confronted and transformed through the apostolic work of Jesus) is love. In reading thus far you might gather that the apostle is a crusty, hard general who doesn’t take no for an answer and is just looking for a fight. This is not the case at all.
Apostles are tender and caring, often sensitive and very gentle with God’s people. But ruthless with the enemy. Compare these two verses and consider who Jesus is speaking to.
Matthew 23:29–33 (ESV): Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, 30 saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. 33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?
Matthew 11:28–30 (ESV): “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Gentle, patient, kind and compassionate with His sheep; ruthless, violent, wrath filled with the working of demons and evil.
Another characteristic of an apostle, they carry out orders of reformation given to them from a position higher than themselves. Jesus’ submission to the Father is clearly seen in the garden of Gethsemane.
Luke 22:42 (ESV): “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
And Paul was under the authority of the local church at Antioch and the 12 Apostles at the Jerusalem church.
Acts 13:2–3 (ESV): While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
Lastly, and I could go on and on, but I won’t J, is that as fiercely as an apostle pushes the kingdom forward, they recognize that there is a true need to push the kingdom inward just as strongly. Jesus relied upon the fellowship He had with the Father to fuel His ministry.
John 4:32 (ESV): But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”
And Paul learned this lesson from studying Jesus.
2 Corinthians 11:3 (ESV): But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
As Jesus is connected and in sweet fellowship with the Father, Paul is connected and in fellowship with Jesus – and so are we. This is the fuel to the apostle of today. The accomplishment of the directives given to the apostle are done through the simplicity of daily fundamental disciplines of the faith that are found in scripture.
The apostle never trades off his devotion to Jesus with the desire to do stuff. The minute that happens, and it is a temptation, the building that is accomplished becomes meaningless.
Psalm 127:1–2 (ESV): Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.
Apostles are needed in our day. If what you read resonates in you and you want to understand more and maybe even step into your God given call, first pray and acknowledge that you might be called as an apostle or at least be a part of an apostolic ministry in our day.
Don’t hesitate to reach out and ask for more information so that you can be equipped.
Father in heaven, thank You for the dimension of Jesus that exists in the church today. Please raise up many apostles in our day who have boldness and power to break through all of the spider webs of the enemy that have held tightly the advancing of the body of Jesus. Lord, we are willing, send us!
Devotional for God’s Family – 2
What is the value of the modern day prophet? And what is their function?
Well, first let’s take a look at Scripture.
1 Corinthians 14:1,3 (ESV): Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.
The benefit to the house of God is building the church, encouraging those who are or will be building the church and comforting all involved as they build the church.
Do you see where this is going?
Because of the care and the compassion of Jesus, He knows that the prophetic arm of the church is a highly needed aspect to the ministries in any local church.
The Apostle Paul is so adamant about this, that he says this.
1 Corinthians 14:5 (ESV): Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.
Paul acknowledges the gift and he promotes the gift in the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 13 tells us that there is a day coming when prophecy will cease. That day will be when we see Jesus and all the prophecy written in scripture is fulfilled. After the prophecy is fulfilled this particular gift becomes obsolete in the same was that the law became obsolete when Jesus established the New Covenant through His blood sacrifice.
We aren’t there with all of the prophecies of the Bible. There is much about the prophecy of scripture that has not been fulfilled. So, God uses the gifts today in the local church to continue to build His church as the Word points to the finish.
Prophecy in the Old Testament was the Word of God, that is how God communicated with His people. That is why there was stringent requirements placed upon the prophets and the accountability for those who heard the words of the prophets of old.
The Word of God became letters transferred between churches during the New Testament days and ultimately brought together as a whole, referred to as the canonizing of what we call the Bible in the mid 300’s. Many mistakenly believe that once canonization was complete, prophecy became obsolete, and went away.
A basic study of Scripture will show that this is not the case. In 1 Corinthians 14:1-3 Paul defines for all of us what prophecy is in the New Testament era. By-the-way, if you were wondering, we are New Testament church in the New Testament era. Listen very closely to what the Apostle Paul says and doesn’t say.
1 Corinthians 14:3 (ESV): On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.
Paul does not say that what people prophesy is the Word of God. If so, then we would have about a zillion additional pages to the Bible, now wouldn’t that be chaotic? Now some would have you believe that their prophecy should be put in the Bible, hahaha, but don’t you believe it.
Still others have thrown out prophecy all together and have a misguided sense of what Paul intended for the church. He said he wishes that everyone would prophesy and be in an environment where this gift is used to build the church of Jesus Christ.
Therefore, what we must understand is that when a prophecy is spoken to people it must be compared to the Word of God.
Let me show you another passage that reveals this truth.
1 Corinthians 14:29 (ESV): Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.
What would Paul be thinking that a prophetic word would be weighed against? Paul and other New Testament writers who were speaking the New Testament through revelation and that being put on paper and transferred from one church to another is exactly what the individual prophecies were being compared to.
Now that we have the canonized scripture, we have a more available source of truth to weigh the prophetic words that are spoken. No where did Paul say or insinuate that prophecy was to go away from the church as some would have you believe.
Nor did Paul say that the prophetic words of the saints were to become biblical text as it was in the Old Testament. Clearly, the purpose for prophecy is different from the Old Testament and the New.
One day prophecy will go away, when it is fulfilled, just as they do today.
A prophecy leaves us when it becomes fulfilled and we are left with the substance of the prophecy. The prophecy of Jesus in the Old Testament is gone, certainly we can read about it, but we don’t live by that prophecy as saints did in the days of old. What we now have is the fulfillment of that prophecy. We have something better than the hope found in the prophecy about Jesus, we have Jesus!
Today prophecy is the same. It is a picture, a painting on the wall of what will come. And that painting is meant to point in the direction of how to build the church, encouraging us to build the church, and to comfort us in the bumps and scrapes we get along the way as we are building the church.
Prophecy never leaves scripture, never replaces scripture and never contradicts scripture. Prophecy is tied to scripture and exalts scripture in the heart of the listener. Prophecy pleases God because it doesn’t work without faith, that’s what makes it miraculous. And, you should develop this gift. It will sit around and be nothing in you if you do not accept it and embrace it just like any of the gifts that God gives you.
There are those who have a very strong anointing in this gift and are used by God is very big ways to not simply speak into a person, but speak into the church as well, and even regions. But listen carefully, the voice of the prophet and the apostle alike is heard loudest by those who have a heart to listen.
Are you open to God speaking to you prophetically? You know as well as I that the enemy will attempt to distort anything good that God plans for His people. Paul lays out for us the divine purpose of New Testament prophecy and we all need to be built up, encouraged and consoled along the way, why? Because God says so.
Press in and see that God is right. God’s blessings come through God’s ways as we pursue God’s will.
Lord, I choose today to not veer from what You say, no matter what man says. I agree with the Apostle Paul that we should all prophesy because it builds up the church, and Lord, looking around at our world and the intense hurt that exists in our world, I believe You are waiting to build up Your church. You are waiting for the faithful to rise up and do what You say, the way You said for it to be done. How often do we cherry pick what we like and don’t like about the Bible?! Your heart is to bless and multiply – Look upon us Lord, find us faithful according to Your Word.
Devotional for God’s Family – 3
Acts 21:8 “On the next day we departed and came to Caesarea, and we entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.”
So, evangelists do exist. I wonder if they exist in our day…have they died out when Billy Graham went home to be with the Lord? Does God still intend to evangelize the world in big ways?
Hmmm…
I want you to think about the term evangelist as one who reaches rather than one who preaches.
Skilled communicator? Maybe
Funny, warm and inviting? Maybe
Easy to listen to? Maybe
An ability to land a salvation invitation? Maybe
Bible thumper? Maybe
It would be better to see the evangelist as one who reaches.
…
If you think often about the lost in your region and you feel burdened for the condition of their souls, that is a marker of the heart of the evangelist.
Sometimes you might even feel that the church is completely off base because others do not have the reach passion that you have. Sometimes, even the pastor doesn’t give a good enough, long enough or urgent enough invitation for your liking.
You probably feel as though the whole purpose of the church is to see people saved?
“WHY AREN’T MORE PEOPLE BEING SAVED!?”
You my friend might be an evangelist. And I praise God for the deep burden and passion that you have to see the lost found by Jesus. Everyone does feel what you feel for the lost, you feel it deeper and are willing to give up more to reach.
I think it is important to understand that when we think about the word evangelist, we often think of what we have seen. Maybe we think that God only uses mighty evangelists to reach millions, and we assume that they are the true ones and unless you operate at that level, you really aren’t an evangelist.
To me, it is amazing when God comes through with a powerhouse evangelist and sweeps a region and many people accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.
But I would rather see 10 people, who simply reach one person for Jesus per month in a church. That would be one hundred and twenty baby Christians. In a year, if added to that there were 20 people reaching the lost, we would be expanding and all the while, keeping up with the demand for discipleship by making systems to help them form spiritually.
I want you to know the key to evangelism.
Acts 4:29-30 “…grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
Evangelists operate with boldness, it is the key to expansion of the kingdom of God, Jesus said so.
Look carefully with me at what happened when these sweet first century Christians prayed for boldness…really, what happened when they prayed for boldness?
Acts 4:31 “…and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.”
Say it, you need to say it, what was it that happened when they prayed for boldness?
Is it too bold of me to say that the key to evangelism is boldness and the key to boldness is being filled with the Holy Spirit?
“Well, Pastor David, I have been filled with the Holy Spirit.” Ok, what degree of boldness do you walk in today? Or, maybe a better way to ask that question is have you told anyone about Jesus lately?
I don’t want you to feel guilt! I want you to be made bold! And boldness comes from one place and one place only, according to the Bible. Boldness is not found in evangelistic sermons or devotionals. Words cannot make you bold. Wanting to not feel guilt cannot make you bold. Even wanting to please Jesus won’t make you bold. Open your eyes and ears and I will show you what can. By-the-way, do you want to be bold for Jesus?
So, here is the key to boldness shown to us by none other than Jesus.
Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The word power in the Greek is dynamis, which means having in your possession controlling influence. Or another way of looking at it is force, might, and ability.
Listen, the boldness we want comes from the realization of the presence of power that we have. Knowing we have power makes us bold. That power is the presence of the Holy Spirit. Listen, you are probably thinking, “Wait, I already have the power of the Holy Spirit.” Do you? Most people have the knowledge of power but not the activity of that power. The activity of power is simply…boldness.
Let me simply ask you this question – do you operate evangelistically (or at least want to) with boldness and power? If not…then you don’t have enough just yet.
The early church prayed for more boldness and the answer God gave them was they were refilled with the Holy Spirit, and they continued to speak with boldness. Why? Because they knew they had the power.
Evangelism in our day is not going to be victorious based on a strategy alone, although a strategy would really help. Evangelism is based upon the power of the Holy Spirit in a person and then the boldness that comes from the realization of that power stirring in that person, by that person.
Its simple, are you boldly talking about Jesus? No, well don’t feel bad, let’s get filled with the Holy Spirit and then see what happens to your boldness.
Let me reiterate, Jesus says that they are going to be filled with the Holy Spirit’s power in Acts 1 to evangelize the world, and then in Acts 4 the church is praying for boldness and Jesus fills them with the Holy Spirit again.
Are we any different? Has Jesus changed His plan and purpose to reach the nations?
I desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit to such a degree that I am completely aware of His presence and power. I pray to be emboldened by that awareness of the Holy Spirit so that I can speak whenever He asks me to, and frankly, do whatever He tells me to do.
Lord, we need millions of evangelists in our world today. Please fill us with the Holy Spirit. Give us boldness as we continue to proclaim the good news of Jesus as You stretch out Your hand in our day to heal, and do signs and wonders through the powerful name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
For the stout hearted: Evangelists are all about reach and often they will use creative ways to present the gospel. Think of ways that you can share the gospel. I have seen bubble gum, sword swallowing, juggling, golfing, racecar driving, fishing, running, BBQ (my favorite), groceries, workplace relationships, calamity, etc… used as a means to tell others about Jesus. How about you, what creative ways have you seen the gospel presented? Let’s go!
Devotional for God’s Family – 4
Ephesians 4:11-14 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
This morning we are going to talk about pastors.
Did you know that this particular gift is the most operational gift in the church today, but the least referenced in the New Testament?
I believe that we have a pretty good general understanding of the pastor and the governmental/office role that this person has in the local church.
Jesus has made many pastors. And usually the church has many pastors, but I would say, usually, only one head pastor.
The term pastor or shepherd is not simply the job title for the person who leads the church. We have made it that, and that’s easy to understand why, as we want to honor those who are in leadership. But we have been doing this for so long, we have redefined a word that probably should not be redefined.
When we say pastor, we automatically assume this person is the church leader, when in fact, in the church there may be many pastors working together to care for the flock – there are small group leaders, children’s workers, men’s ministry facilitators and many more who are shepherds. Without them, we couldn’t we would be with one individual at the helm who may or may not be a pastor.
I know that is hard to understand, but anyone of the five-fold offices are very capable of leading a local church, or even a network of churches.
People filled with the Holy Spirit can operate in the flowing grace of God to meet the needs of a dynamic congregation as the Lord enables them to from apostle to teacher. They can also surround themselves with others who have a richer anointing in a particular gift to augment the robust work of ministry needed.
Pastor/shepherd describes a dimension of who Jesus is and how He wants the individual members of the local church to be cared for. When we shepherd others, it is Jesus who works in and through us. We are simply a conduit of His love; love reaches us, passes through us unto others.
The word shepherd (Greek: poimen) means one who herds sheep, or one who serves as a guardian or leader.
Shepherds lead sheep to pastures where they can eat and streams to drink clean water.
Shepherds lead sheep to safe places so they can close their eyes in safety and sleep.
Shepherds take sheep to places that are suitable for reproduction and multiplication so that the flock grows.
Shepherds protect the sheep when wolves and other ravenous beasts prowling around seeking to eat the sheep.
I want you to understand that my heart is deeply concerned for what I see happening in our world today. I want you to hear me out on this and think about the reality of what I am saying.
Over many years we have seen in the church that apostles, prophets and evangelists have become obsolete (so we think). There is more than one reason why and this is not the time to dissect that. Suffice to say, this line of thinking has brought us to where we are today.
As I write this, there is a large population of Christians who now believe that pastors are obsolete too. You see, you can not shepherd sheep from a distance, the flock and the individual sheep will be torn apart. Individual sheep cannot survive in the wilderness alone. The moment that the wolves realize that a sheep is separated from the flock, they pounce and devour.
Even if a sheep knew the right thing to do to protect themselves, what do they have as a means of defense?
Matthew 9:35-36 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Notice the concern that Jesus has as He looks upon the cities and villages.
Friends it is a mistake, an absolute bonified mistake to believe that you can survive in your home away from the care of God appointed shepherds. We are in a time and place where the enemy is pulling wool over the eyes of many sheep and making it easy to believe that you are being shepherded well from a distance.
Ask any shepherd if sheep do well distant from the shepherd.
“Well, pastor David, I hear a great message every week or really anytime I want. I can go to the internet or turn on the tv, and there is good spiritual food there.”
That you can do – but that is not shepherding. Sheep do not shepherd themselves, if they did God wouldn’t have raised up shepherds to lead sheep, He would simply tell the sheep to take care of themselves.
When you listen to a great message, you are being blessed through the ministry of teaching, which is a separate ministry than shepherding.
Ephesians 4:11 “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers.”
Please do not be led astray by online ministers and teachers, or anyone really, who says that you do not need to be with a congregation, that you can have church in your living room by yourself. I am super grateful for your giving and praying; however, I am thinking about you and what God says you need. You need the ongoing care of a shepherd. I so want you to want to be cared for.
If you do want to be cared for, it won’t be much longer until we can once again have good fellowship. If it is hard to hear what I am saying, please ask the Lord to help you see and feel what He wants for you.
There are legitimate reasons to not meet and a pandemic is one of them.
Please be feeling a hunger to be back in the shepherding fellowship of believers. Inside that fellowship is a movement toward health and vitality for everyone as each is working together to function as a body, the Body of Christ. The shepherd is making sure that all parts are nourished, protected and connected.
Have you ever seen a functional heart or an eyeball in jar somewhere separated from the body? Not me – creeps me out thinking about it. So it is with each of us in regards to not being in the covering and fellowship of a pastor.
Lord, please help us accept Your care for us through shepherds. We admit that we need it and we are starving for that care. Even though we have You, You have commanded that we put ourselves in relationship with and submission to Your leadership through others. Even though we have may have been led by poor shepherds, God that doesn’t mean that we can stop engaging the church. Change my mind and heart to accept the church. Thank You Jesus for being my Shepherd, You are the Good Shepherd.
Devotional for God’s Family – 5
Ephesians 4:11 “And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers.”
Do you remember some of your Sunday school teachers? I do, as a child I was so mischievous. I wish I could say that I was studious and paid attention. I spent more time cutting up, doodling and playing games with my friends – and that was just last week, let alone in my childhood.
You know I am kidding.
Do you know how important those who teach are to the body of Christ? We don’t talk much about it, but the teacher is one of the most important of the office gifts that Jesus gives to the church. Without accurate observation, interpretation and application of the Word of God we would be severely off point.
Let me remind you that the whole five-fold ministry of the local church can be seen in your own hand.
Thumb: apostolic: digging, gripping and full of strength. Easily touching and supporting the other fingers. Without the pressure (purpose) applied by the thumb, the other four couldn’t really hold anything. Nothing can be gripped tightly or thrown far without the thumb.
Forefinger: prophetic: the forefinger points to people, plans and places. The prophetic does the same as prophets point to our ultimate purpose with God forever. Have you ever watched what happens when you tightly pinch the forefinger and the thumb? The middle finger, ring finger and pinky finger either curl to give way or rise up in a state of readiness.
Middle finger: evangelist: Usually the longest finger which reaches the furthest into the community. This finger is usaully first to touch that which is brought into the close community of the church.
Ring finger: pastor: Care and covenant. The pastor often feels married to the church or at least to the population of people he or she is assigned to nurture in the church.
Pinky finger: teacher: on most hands, the pinky sits on the most meat in the hand and is vital in the need for balance necessary for longevity and sustainability of effective work. And, so it is with the teacher in the church.
The accuracy of the Word of God is important to the correct movement of God in our day.
The unwavering dependence on the Word of God is important to the correct movement of God in our day.
The knowledge of the Word of God is what sets people free and makes the church viable in our day.
All of these are the heart throb of the teacher. It is important to understand that although God has given to us teachers, we cannot rely solely upon the teacher to teach us the Bible.
Whether we have the gift of teaching or not, we have a responsibility to be in the Word of God learning on our own. Nothing should take the place of personal study, that is where the Lord Himself teaches us.
He desires that we learn from Him and that we learn from the teachers that He places in our lives. Both are necessary.
Lord, thank You for teachers in the church. Especially those who patiently teach our children. They lay a foundation so the knowledge can be built up into great works of faith for Your kingdom. Thank You Jesus for expressing yourself to the world in these five ways. Thank You for saving us and giving to us gifts that come from the Father’s heart.
Blessings
Pastor David
