433. Prayer Day Conference 1928

Eph. 4:7-16. There are many different ministries in the body. Each member of this body is living and has its assigned tasks. It is He who gave some to be apostles, etc. Jesus Christ, Himself, was an apostle. To be worthy of this, He had to go down. No one can fancy himself as an apostle if he does not do the same. An apostle must be frugal and content, whatever his circumstances are. He must have a good testimony from everyone and from the truth itself. If his opponents are to be truthful, they must give him a good testimony. He pays his debts and is commended by the shopkeeper, as well as his wife and children at home. If they are truthful, they must give him a good testimony. If this is not your experience, do not imagine that you are an apostle. Having a good testimony of the truth itself is greater than everything. Those who have been down to the lower parts of the earth can help lead captives out. We have such men among us who do not require letters of commendation; here is a hall full of living letters of commendation and people who have been liberated from captivity, who can bear witness to the good fruit of these men’s work. We cannot send out an untested youth into the ministry, nor a beginner who has only been with us for a few years. We would not wish such evil upon anyone. If he has a bad disposition, we can be sure that it will become evident when others are entrusted into his care and under his direction. Then he will seek his own. An apostle must be offered completely so he constantly lives in godly fear. In his ministry with souls, he must not lose his balance because of an inclination in one direction or another. Not everyone is a minister of the Word. When God sends someone, He is counting them faithful and placing them in the ministry. They do not act on their own initiative. Not all of us are apostles or teachers, but we can still take part in serving. Do not be like Diotrephes who loved to have the preeminence; because he even excluded the apostle John, the disciple whom Jesus loved. It is self-interest and self-love that drives people to want to have the preeminence.