Author: Jerome Jones

Publisher: Independently Published

Published: 2021-10-07

Total Pages: 166

ISBN-13:

The words from Acts 5:12 - 28 is the foundation of the entire study written in this book. Although we will travel throughout the Bible, perhaps all the way back to Genesis and all the way through to Revelation. This will be the hallmark of this study, as it is the fundamental foundation on the Apostolic vision and vocation. You know, many times when we think about the early days of the church, and even where we are right now, we have this thought that it was simply easy to be a representation of Jesus Christ. How easy it was to be known as a Christian. But that, however, is not what the Scripture teaches us. As we look into the Word of God and see the lives of those that were a part of the ancient church, let's understand that it was no simple thing to live and witness for Christ in the first century. Over and over, God's servants were persecuted, humiliated, in prison, and beaten. And this, all because they were faithful to their Lord. In these verses before us, and particularly, verses 17 and 18, we read of the indignation, of the Sadducees, who laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. While the servants of the Lord were in prison, however, the angel of the Lord came by night and opened the prison doors, he told them, go, stand, and speak in the temple, to all the people, all the words of this life (verses 19 and 20). Now, I want you to notice the commandment that was given to the apostles, the angel of the Lord, came, and opened the prison doors. One thing that we need to see here is that whatever predicament that one finds himself or herself in, because of the gospel, they do not need to fight to rid themselves of that position. The apostles were shut up in prison, locked up, put in the common prison, because of their testimony of Jesus Christ, because of their preaching of the gospel. And because they were locked up for preaching the gospel, they then did not have to free themselves of their situation. It was the angel of God that claimed and opened the prison doors. So, I want you to buckle up now, and go on a thorough analysis with me into this study on the Apostolic Vision and Vocation as we move further, because it is interesting to compare the Ministry of angels with that of men. If you notice, in His word, we see the Ministry of angels, and we see the Ministry of men. The angels are the ministers of God, who serve him in his presence, and wait to do his bidding. That's number one. Just as the angels do God's bidding, we, however, are also the servants of God, and should be available to him for whatever he wants. You know, for God, all of God's creation should be available to God to do whatever God wants. Now, as we look further, the angels have their ministry, and men have their ministries. So, why is it that angels can open prison doors and speak to the apostles, but they cannot enter the joy and privilege of preaching the gospel? It's because God has not given angels that privilege to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is the operation that God has held and delegated to the redeemed, his BORN-AGAIN sons. So, we see now that the angels did not embark on trying to preach the gospel. But the angel gave the message of God to the men of God, that was instructing them to go and to declare on to all the people, all the words of this life. I welcome you to learning about the Apostolic Vision and Vocation in this book, for your growth and maturity in Christ Jesus.