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AGAPE LESSON 36
APOSTOLIC BELIEVERS
Put together by Bongie Kuzwayo
[John9v1—41]
[John9v1—5] Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. (2) His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind?” (3) Jesus answered, “Niether this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him (4) I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. (5) As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
[John6v29] Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
We, the church, are the Light of the world, (Matthew5v14). It is now in our hands to do His works. We are the sent ones.
This passage of Scripture shows us the works of God in the blind man. The blind man’s life was transformed after he washed in the pool of Siloam. Siloam means Sent. As a pool of sent waters, it is symbolic of Apostolic anointing. The features of the blind man’s transformation after his visit to the pool of Siloam, reveal characteristics which should be evident in an individual who has connected with the Apostolic anointing. These individuals are herein referred to as apostolic believers/people. The characteristics revealed in them are called the works of God:
Apostle (apostelo in Greek) = one who is sent forth.
Apostolic refers to the position of being sent.
Jesus, Apostle and High Priest is sent by the Father.
[John4v34] My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.
The Holy Spirit is also a Sent One. [John15v26] “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.”
This is how the sent ones will conduct themselves:
(1) Like Jesus, He was connected to the Sender, (the Father). [John8v29] “And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things which please Him.”
(2) He understood clearly his assignment. [Luke2v49] And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”
(3) Jesus carried the message of the Father who sent Him: [John20v21—23] So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you. (22) And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. (23) If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them, if you retain the sins of any, they are retained. [John9v4—5] “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is called day; the night is coming when no one can work. (5) As long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”
(4) Jesus came to represent the Father: [John14v10] Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.”
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(5) He finished His assignment and was accountable to the Father: [John17v4] I have glorified You on the earth, I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
(6) Paul forsook all. His social life and interests changed. [Philippians3v12—14] Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected, but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. (13) Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. (14) I press forward to the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
(7) Like the woman at the well – became an instant witness: John4v28—29] The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, (29) “Come, see the Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?”
(8) Like Paul, he worked and strived to finish. [Acts21v13] Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready, not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” (14) So, when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the LORD be done.”
(9) They finally finish. [1Samuel 17v50—51] So, David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David. (51) Therefore, David ran and stood over the Philistine. Took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, the fled.
• These apostolic believers live under the mentality that they are the sent ones.
• The man who was born blind obeyed instantly by taking responsibility to go to the pool of Siloam as instructed by Jesus. We therefore see a remarkable change in his walk.
Jesus has done His part to save us – now it is our responsibility to walk the walk – to learn and do.
(v8) Is this not he who sat and begged?”
There was division among them. Now that he had been exposed to the apostolic anointing, he was beyond recognition.
He says, “I am he.” [Romans1v16] For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation, for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
How is it now that he was beyond recognition?
• He was now bold, his walk purposeful and confident. Apostolic believers walk with wisdom and circumspect. [Acts4v13] Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marvelled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.
10) Therefore, they said to him, “How were your eye opened?” He answered, “A Man called Jesus put clay on my eyes and sent me to go wash – now I see.
(v11) Where is He?
• This man has become an instant witness of Jesus – all attention is directed to Christ; which is a sign of humility. [Acts4v10] Let it be known to you all and to the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, and God raised Him from the dead, by Him this man stands before you whole.
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• His lifestyle inspired others to seek Jesus. He became the message. The proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man, called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God (Acts13v7).
It was a Sabbath This is a seventh Day illumination, because we are on the seventh millennium from Adam. [2Peter3v8] But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as one day.
(v15) Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see”.
• He is clear about the present demand of God and personal responsibility.
(v16) This man is not from God because He does not keep the Sabbath.” “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” Now there was division among them. [Acts4v15—17] But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, (16) saying, “what shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.”
• Division in the house of religion is inevitable wherever these apostolic believers go; where laws and traditions are exalted above Christ. [Matthew10v34] Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.
(v17) “What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?” “He is a Prophet.” = we see rapid upgrade (v11, v17) [First, “A Man – now a Prophet.”
• Because apostolic believers are open to a proceeding word, their upgrade is rapid. They are quick to mature.
(21) “He is of age.”
• Because of their mature spiritual stature, they can discern and explain.
The parents said, “Ask him. He will speak for himself.”
(v25) “Whether He is a sinner or not, I do not know. One thing I know: that I was blind, now I see.”
• They had answers to tough questions. [Isaiah61v6a] But you shall be named the priests of the Lord, they shall call you the servants of our God.
(v26) The Pharisees asked him again how his eyes were opened.
(v27) I told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to be His disciples?
(v30) “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes
• They can contend for the faith and explain to others. [Acts4v19—20] But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. (20) For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” Here Peter and John were threatened and forbidden by the religious folk not to further speak in the name of Jesus (Acts4v17). [1Peter 3v15]
They have clarity of focus – “One thing I know.”
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• Like Paul, they have a single focus [Philippians3v13—14] Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended, but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, (14) I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus
“One thing I know: that I was blind, now I see.”
• They have a clear perception of what is past and what is present; they are clear about the moves of God.
“I told you already, and you did not listen.”
• They are bold to stand before antagonistic religious spirits.
“You are His disciple.”
• He is recognised as the disciple of Jesus Christ.
The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvellous thing, that you do not know where He is from, yet he has opened my eyes! (31) Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears Him. (32) Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. (33) If this man were not from God, He could do nothing.”
• Their distinct feature is their capacity to reason and come to logical conclusions.
When He had found him
• These are the ones Jesus is looking for, because they will demonstrate His works.
“You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking to you.”
• They have a clear revelation of who Jesus is.
“Lord, I believe.”
• They believe and worship.
AGAPE LESSON 36