Microsoft Word - Apostolic Alignment

Chapter 2: Growing A Great People This chapter will not make much sense to you until you have read Chapter 1, so if you haven't already done so, please read Chapter 1 first. Proven Sons Philippians 2:22 KJV - But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. From the above verse, we can see that God's way of PROVING, TESTING, and PREPARING a man of God is to have him serve another man of God. Jesus even said in Luke 16:12, "And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man‘s, who shall give you that which is your own?" 1 Corinthians 4:17 KJV - For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church. Here again, in the above verse, we see that there should exist in the body of Christ father and sons relationships. Note also that Paul authenticates and validates Timothy's qualifications by noting Timothy's demonstrated FAITHFULNESS. This is a problem today. Too many self-appointed people try to become leaders. And too many God appointed leaders have not submitted themselves to a period of proving and serving another man of God. Because of this, many ministries have no seasoning, little experience, little salt, and have not developed lines of accountability. Then these ministers try to lead God's sheep and they have had no proving ground first. EVERY MINISTER needs to serve in a proving ground first, yoked to another more seasoned man of God, BEFORE he leads God's people on his own. This is God's SAFETY NET, both for the sheep and for his ministers. I am so sick of hearing about people who have gone out and gotten mail-order ordinations. Also, many ministries today try to join a ministerial association that they have no natural connection with, in order to accomplish their self-serving motives. But neither of these strategies can take the place of a true FATHER-SON RELATIONSHIP. Those that prove themselves are then authenticated, validated, vindicated, and have passed the tests of character and faithfulness that automatically qualify them for further promotion and responsibility in God's kingdom. How To Grow A Great Church Psalm 127:1-5 KJV - Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep. 3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. 4 As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so

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