There are obvious differences between the world we live in, and that in which the Bible was written. These differences are cultural, technological, and practical, plus it seems evident that the early church had more grace and power than we typically experience. Reading the book...
Many people in reading their Bibles look through religious eyes, and this can sometimes taint the ability to see clearly. The Pharisees knew their Scriptures well but didn’t recognise the Messiah when He came. Over the years, people have had such a religious image of...
There is a huge and largely unrealised need for apostles. The Church is supposed to become one, to become like Christ and to reflect Christ, and yet the Body of Christ in the main seems to be unaware that this is essential. The Church cannot...
It has been common teaching for many years that once the original apostles died out, that the apostolic age had ended. Along with this it is believed that there were no additional apostles, and moreover that we no longer need them since the completion of...
An honest comparison of Christianity as a whole today, with the same 100 years ago, reveals huge contrasts, and the change continues. We can trace the roots of much change to Christ himself. From the time of the reformation onwards, God has worked with His...
There was a point not all that long ago that pretty much nobody alive believed apostles existed. Like dinosaurs they were considered a mighty thing of the past. Now, it seems that there is an apostle on every corner, and adding ‘apostle’ to one’s business...
The Apostle John’s Observation The apostle John writes very revealingly of a church leader called Diotrephes, in his third epistle (3 John 9-10). John said Diotrephes “loves to be first”. This is a telling piece of information. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12:28 that in the church...
Fallen Apostles We come to possibly the saddest aspect of all. It is possible, and it has occurred, that a genuine apostle might fall from grace, into backsliding and sin, and become a false apostle. the principle also applies to prophets, teachers, elders and to every...
False Shepherds at the End of the Age Jesus said many false prophets will appear (Matthew 24:11) and deceive many people (but not necessarily believers). He added that false Christs and false prophets would perform great (false) signs and miracles in order to try and deceive...
Summarising the Characteristics of the False Leader In summarising the characteristics of the false shepherd that have been given, we note certain common details that seem to be consistently part of the picture. Firstly, at the root there is always a problem in the heart, from which...
