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Topic: Apostles and Wolves
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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 12:45pm
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Lloyd C. Phillips writes about apostles recognizing
apostles and recognizing wolves or pretenders among the
sheep:
"I think that there is an important distinction in that
no true apostle will long function without being
recognized by other apostles. As I noted previously this
gives the church some safety in that false apostles will
not be accepted by true apostles who are zealous for the
safety of the church." (http://www.apostles-
today.net/questions/ApostolicRecognition.htm)
When Paul went to see the apostles in Jerusalem and they
saw the ministry of apostleship in him, they gave him the
right hand of fellowship. Just like Phillips writes
above, on one hand they were able to recognize a genuine
apostle (Paul), and on the other hand they were able to
recognize those who were wolves among the sheep. The
evangelist Philip didn't recognize Simon the sorcerer as
a wolf in sheep's clothing; but Peter and John did when
they came down to Samaria. (Acts 8:4-24.) Paul later
wrote: "I know that after I leave, savage wolves will
come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from
your own number men will arise and distort the truth in
order to draw away disciples after them" (Acts 20:29-30).
While he was there, Paul (and the other apostles) knew
who these wolves were and knew who the apostles among
them were.
I can't help but note that the recognition of other
apostles and of wolves among the sheep doesn't happen so
much today. I recently knew a person who is connected to
what is called an apostolic ministry as a minister of
sorts. This person pretended to want to sow the things of
God into my life, but it didn't take too long to note
that another spirit was at work through him and that he
sought to take full advantage of me. I broke contact with
him, but I had to wonder how the 'apostolic people' above
this person didn't know that he is a wolf in sheep's
clothing. Lately, though I told this wolf not to contact
me, he emailed me. I didn't read it but threw it in the
trash and deleted it from there. So, why do wolves fit
shoulder to shoulder (close connection) with apostles
today when a wolf couldn't get a foot in the door with
the apostles in the past?
The issue of wolves among the sheep seems pretty
important to God. He's a Shepherd and by nature defends
sheep from wolves. At the start of the early Church, just
simply lying and trying to slip in with ranks to which
they didn't belong won potential wolves-among-brethren
death (Ananias and Sapphira). This caused people to see
how serious God is regarding this matter, and all the
dishonest and insincere stayed away from the early
Christians because of this instance; yet the miraculous
only multiplied. Why do wolves fit so well with
Christians, ministers, and apostles today? It's pretty
simple: wolves live for themselves (they live for and
from the flesh) and therefore can only fit in with people
who either always walk in the flesh or make concessions
to the flesh. It's also quite common for Christians to
walk in the flesh, so wolves are at constant traffic
among Christians today. I think the Work can use a
drastic change, if for no other reason, then so that
wolves won't traffic freely among the sheep, stealing,
killing, and destroying as this recent wolf with 'an
apostolic connection' almost did to me.
Edited by Kachi Anonyuo on 07/13/2014 at 12:47pm
__________________
"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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