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Topic: The Greatest of These
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Author
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Kachi Anonyuo
Senior Member
Joined: 06/23/2014
Location: United States
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 47
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Posted: 07/13/2014 at 12:37am
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In 1Cor. 12 and 14, Paul talks about the gifts of the
Spirit, especially prophecy and tongues. But sandwiched
between those two chapters is chapter 13 which talks
about "the greatest of these" or the thing that is more
important than gifts, callings, talents, etc., which is
Love.
Art Katz had some very poignant messages before he
passed. In one of his articles and interviews (or maybe
I'm mixing his story with another minister's story here),
someone asked him if he had ever met anyone with the
title of 'apostle' whom he felt was genuine apostle. He
responded that in North America, he had not met anyone
with the title of 'apostle' that he could truly say was
an apostle (or I think it was another Israeli minister
who said this). He said that American ministers tend to
be goal-oriented and so dwell on the outward rather than
the inner character of the heart which is foremost for a
genuine apostle.
I myself have met several ministers who called themselves
apostles. The Lord, never one to accuse, never told me
whether or not they were apostles; He would allow it to
be glaring or He would imply whether or not they were
genuine by His response to them. An example of the first
case was when I met a pastor in Kalamazoo, MI who told
me, the very day we first met, that he was an apostle who
would be anointed into the ministry by Rick Joyner. While
he had some Grace on his life, he was clearly not an
apostle. An example of the second case was when I met a
man whose father (and he, perhaps) was said to be an
apostle. He was rather brusque and discourteous, and when
I asked the Lord if he was an apostle, the Lord instead
replied by telling me signs (which this minister didn't
have) by which I would know a genuine apostle when I met
him.
Paul said the apostle comes first in order (1Cor. 12:28)
and that Love also comes first in order: "the greatest of
these is Love" (1Cor. 13:13). I continue to be surprised
that Love ranks so low among the 'signs of an apostle'
today. You rarely hear it mentioned; but it is the first
among the character signs of an apostle.
When God had Gideon assemble an army, He had to thin down
the soldiers so that He would be left only with warriors.
He thinned them down twice, the first time when excusing
those who showed up to fight but were really too scared
to fight; 22,000 (2/3) took leave. Then at the waters, He
told Gideon to relieve of duty all those who were more
interested in satisfying their thirst than being obedient
and watchful: 9,700 were cut away, leaving only 300. In
the very same way, according to the 'manifest signs of an
apostle' (miracles) that Paul mentioned, most who call
themselves apostles today already don't qualify for the
title: that's the 22,000 taking leave. And if today we
were to classify the 'character signs of an apostle',
Love (Jesus' good shepherd heart to lay down life for
those under them) would be first, relieving the 9,700
from their duty and leaving only the 300 who can look out
for others ('while drinking') as they look out for
themselves-- those who love.
It seems to me that Western society is not used to seeing
the God-kind of Love and therefore doesn't know with what
to compare those who say they are apostles and are not.
In all sincere honesty, I believe that especially in our
loveless society and dark times, genuine apostles are
going to stand out like the sun in the sky on a cloudless
hot day, even if they tried to hide. God's Love has
become foreign to this planet, and since it is the first
thing that marks a genuine apostle, it will be the first
thing people will take note of in a genuine apostle. May
God give us revelation about these kinds of things and
help us to distinguish 'man's apostles' (who are those
who act and do things like those around them) from
genuine apostles who are those who are like Jesus.
Edited by Kachi Anonyuo on 07/13/2014 at 12:49am
__________________
"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them... Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant" (Mt. 20:25-26).
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