I went to a non-denominational meeting of pastors a few months ago. The organizers had invited a well known apostle from this area to speak. This man had received the blessing, the unction, of a well known Pastor/Prophet from another country and therefore had gained esteem locally. I’ll refer to this apostle as Apostle X.

Apostle X revealed several things about his ministry while he was preaching. He is the pastor of a large church. He is an evangelist. He has a teaching ministry. And, during his preaching he stated, “The Prophet commands the Spirit.” He was, of course, referring to himself as the prophet who controls the Holy Spirit. Following this announcement, he said, “If you want to receive the unction raise both your hands!” Sadly, almost all the pastors from this city raised both of their hands. Now, let me explain why I find this to be saddening.

And God gave some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the followers of Jesus for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4.11-13)

The Bible clearly states that God gave these five to the church in order to have a complete and healthy church. Apostle X was claiming to be all five in one person. This goes against what the Bible clearly teaches. It is saddening that he makes this claim, but sadder still that the majority of the pastors in the city where I live and minister do not know the clear teaching of Scripture on this matter.

The claim made by Apostle X – the prophet commands the Spirit – was shocking! Yet, very few of the pastors in the room found it offensive to hear a man say, “I can command the Holy Spirit of God!” Rather, they hoped this was true and hoped that Apostle X would command the Spirit to give them power. They are hungry for what no man can give them.

One of my greatest concerns is that Apostle X may very well have a powerful spirit that he can command. However, no man can command the Holy Spirit of God. Only God the Father and Jesus the Son can command the Holy Spirit.

I found Apostle X to be a very present example of a false apostle; a man who does not understand the New Testament nor how it applies to apostolic ministry today. This is but one example of the misuse, or abuse, of the title “apostle” today.

Nonetheless, I will not allow the misuse, or abuse, of the word “apostle” deter me from seeking the function of the apostle in the church today.

In 2 Corinthians 11.13 we find that false apostles masquerading as apostles of Christ already existed in the New Testament church less than a generation after it began. That did not deter the true apostles of Christ from calling themselves apostles and carrying out their God-given functions within the church.

So, false apostles existed then and they continue to exist today. Our method for determining the true from the false is to test the messages with Scripture. I know four true apostles. In the weeks to come I’ll explain that.