₦airaland Forum

I get your point. Thank you.

I see he also keeps editing his posts because he posted before thinking.

Act 8:23 For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

By the way Paul's apostleship was confirmed by Ananias and by the apostles of the Lamb, no modern day apostle can claim the same.

But what is your point, my brother?

Paul himself was a prophet, does that change the fact that the foundation of the church was the apostles and prophets.
why did you remove your comment that "there's no proof that Silas was a prophet"

I think first you should figure out what your point is before you comment.

Joagbaje:
Nice write up but can you calrify this:?Is it a law that the words of an apostle be confirmed by prophets?

No. We are not under law but under grace
It's clear from the New Testament scriptures that the apostles worked together with prophets to lay the foundation. (Ephesians 2:20, Ephesians 3:5)

The New Testament doesn't tell us exactly everything the prophets did. But there are several prophecies in the New Testament scriptures. We can safely assume that some of those prophecies were given by prophets and the apostles wrote them down.

Not every word has to be confirmed but I think today's apostles have taken too much upon themselves to be apostles and prophets at the same time.

There is nothing biblical or unbiblical about a mega-church. The main thing is that those churches usually grow from the founder's ambition to build his own little kingdom instead of following the call of the ministry:

Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;


It is the founder's motivation that leads to growth in numbers and not much spiritually (through worldly attractions). That motivation is driven by pride. Otherwise the pastor could develop other pastors and other members will attend at a more local church.

But the pastor is too proud of his large congregation. The message is so watered down that other members cannot grow spiritually to a level where they can also pastor. Pastor dies and son takes over and the people keep coming to listen to their idol's son,

What is an Apostle?

The twelve Apostles were witnesses of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus:

Act 1:21  Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
Act 1:22  Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.


But there were others who were apostles but not among the twelve. Example James, Barnabas and of course Paul:

Gal 1:19  But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

Act 14:14  Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,


All the apostles have seen the Lord:

1Co 9:1  Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?


The twelve apostles had special authority (not sure about the others):

Joh 20:21  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
Joh 20:22  And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
Joh 20:23  Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. 


The other apostles were associates of the twelve and approved by the twelve:

2Pe 3:15  And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;


The apostles had a special mission, to lay the foundation of the Church:

Eph 2:20  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;


The apostles were supported by the prophets:

Act 15:27  We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.

Act 15:32  And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.

Eph 3:5  Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;


The apostles (or their companions) wrote down inspired scripture and prepared us for a time without apostles:

Jud 1:17  But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Gal 1:8  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.


The Problem with modern day apostles:

1. Some of them move alone without prophets to confirm their words. (Acts 15:32)
2. Some of them have new teachings that are nowhere in the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17, Galatians 1:
3. Some of them try to exalt themselves to the level of the twelve (Acts1:21-22, Revelation 21:14)
4. Some of them claim to have seen and spoken, not only to the Lord Jesus (who lives forever more) but also to the apostles (dead people).

The problem with many of them is that they are false apostles

2Co 11:13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

Rev 2:2  I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:


If there are modern day apostles, what exactly is their function? And how do they know that they are apostles?
If there are modern day apostles, can they not quietly work without assuming the title Apostle. the Apostles didn't refer to each other as Apostle Paul, Apostle Peter and so on. why?

2Ti 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Hi all, been a reader for a while, so I decided to post my first post today:

I've observed the debate on churches on Nairaland, it's a debate that goes on in every Christian's heart. Non-christians use it as an opportunity to revile, but we know that our God is real and our Lord Jesus lives forever more.

The reason why there are many churches and many doctrines is because God has given us free will. Free will to obey the truth and to seek Him above all things. A lot of churches know the truth but what keeps them from returning to God's way, from listening to correction is pride. This pride leads to stubbornness to the truth and as a result God can send a strong delusion that those who do not love the truth will believe a lie:


2Th 2:11  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
2Th 2:12  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.


Why? Because He is God.

Rom 9:20  Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?


In my Christian walk, I have been to more than a couple of churches including of of the most targeted on this platform. In my search for a "good church where I can grow spiritually", I've come to a conclusion that there's no such church. Some churches have tried to attain the good church status with legalism: don't wear that, don't watch TV, don't do that. Others have tried with hyper-spirituality: fast and pray, fast and pray, fast and pray.

Many of those churches fall into sin anyway because they are led by the antichrist spirit. It is amazing that the antichrist spirit is behind many churches:

Rev 17:6  And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

Rev 18:2  And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Rev 18:24  And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.


How do you know that the antichrist spirit is behind your church?

Worldliness

1Jn 4:5  They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.


Fear

1Jn 4:18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Some Christians lives are based on fear: what would the pastor say? I'm not good enough. I'm cursed because I don't tithe. The fear of God is to keep his commandments not to follow man-made doctrines.

Lack of love

1Jn 4:7  Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

The antichrist spirit discourages fellowship among the brethren because:

1Pe 4:8  Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.


How do you know that you are really born again?

1Jn 3:14  We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

1Jn 2:15  Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Joh 14:15  If ye love me, keep my commandments.


Brethren, come out of Babylon. I'm not saying leave your church, come out of Babylon spiritually. Go to church but know that you are the Church. Your spiritual life and salvation is in your own Christian walk: walking in love, abiding in the Word of God and fellowship.

It doesn't matter how many people attended your last big meeting, it doesn't matter how many people "got saved" at your last crusade, it doesn't matter what the pastor next door did. What matters is how is your relationship with your Lord?