1 CORINTHIANS 12:28   And God hath set some in the church, first Apostles...

EPHESIANS 4:11 and He Gave some, Apostles...

The word Apostle means one sent forth, a sent one. Missionaries are sent.

ACTS 13:2-3   As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
Vs.3   And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

An Apostle is one who establishes churches, a true Apostle will have the other ministry offices residing in his call, such as Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, And Teacher. These different ministry gifts are needed in establishing churches.

Signs of an Apostle

2 CORINTHIANS 12:12   Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

  A. Sufferings

  2 Corinthians 11:23-29   Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in
  labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths
  oft.
  Vs.24   Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
  Vs.25   Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a
  night and a day I have been in the deep;
  Vs.26   In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine
  own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the
  wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
  Vs.27   In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in
  fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
  Vs.28   Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care
  of all the churches.
  Vs 29    Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?

  B. Last of All

  1 Corinthians 4:9-13    For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it
  were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and
  to men.
  10. We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are
  strong; ye are honorable, but we are despised.
  11. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are
  buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
  12. And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being
  persecuted, we suffer it:
  13. Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the
  offscouring of all things unto this day.

  Matthew 23:11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

  Luke 12:48...For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required..

  C. Holy Ghost Power

  1 Corinthians 2:4-5   And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of
  man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the spirit and of power:
  Vs.5   That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

  Acts 19:11-12   And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
  Vs.12   So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and
  the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

  Romans15:19   Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God;
  so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the
  gospel of Christ.

D. Preach in far away Places

  Roman 15:20   Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named,
  lest I should build upon another man's foundation:

  * No one can be an Apostle, in the sense of the original twelve, but God does call others
     to this ministry office.

  Acts14:14   Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their
  clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,

* Recognized or not, Apostles are out there, giving their lives in service to their Lord.

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