DISCIPLE OR APOSTLE?

DISSIPELS OF APOSTELS?

Jesus het dissipels geroep en hulle geleer sodat hulle later apostels kon word - Matthéüs 4:12 - Matthéüs 5.

“EN toe Hy die skare sien, het Hy op die berg geklim; en nadat Hy gaan sit het, het sy dissipels na Hom gekom; en Hy het sy mond geopen en hulle geleer en gesê:”
‭‭MATTHÉÜS‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭AFR53‬‬

Dissipel - Strong’s G3101 - student, volgeling, toegewyde leerder en volgeling, in die Nuwe Testament gewoonlik van Jesus
Apostels - Strong’s G652 - verteenwoordiger, boodskapper, gesant, kerkplanters, gestuurdes

Ek glo elke Christen begin as ‘n volgeling van Jesus, maar ons kan nie daar vassit nie. Ons moet leer en geestelik groei en ons roeping vind - 1 Korinthiërs 12, Romeine 12. Daar is ‘n boek geskryf met God se plan vir jou lewe. Die 12 dissipels was geroep om 12 apostels te word. Die apostels moes uitgaan en dit wat hulle geleer het toepas. In die Nuwe Jerusalem is daar 12 poorte met die name van die 12 stamme van Israel, 12 engele, 12 fondamente met die name van die 12 apostels, 12 edelgesteentes en 12 pêrels - Openbaring 21. Daar is nie 12 dissipels nie; daar is 12 apostels. Twaalf is die nommer wat God se regering simboliseer. Ons moet deel wees van God se regering sodat Sy Koninkryk kan uitbrei. Ons sal altyd dissipels wees wat Jesus volg en by Hom leer, maar ons moet ook ons roeping vind.

“Maar julle is die liggaam van Christus en lede afsonderlik. En God het sommige in die gemeente gestel: in die eerste plek apostels, ten tweede profete, ten derde leraars, daarna kragte, daarna genadegawes van gesondmaking, helpers, regeringe, allerhande tale. Almal is tog nie apostels nie, almal is tog nie profete nie, almal is tog nie leraars nie, almal is tog nie kragte nie? Het almal genadegawes van gesondmaking, spreek almal in tale, kan almal dit uitlê? Maar beywer julle met die oog op die beste gawes; en ek wys julle 'n nog uitnemender weg.”
‭‭I KORINTHIËRS‬ ‭12‬:‭27‬-‭31‬ ‭AFR53‬‬

“U oë het my ongevormde klomp gesien; en in u boek is hulle almal opgeskrywe: dae dat alles bepaal was, toe nog geeneen van hulle daar was nie.”
‭‭PSALMS‬ ‭139‬:‭16‬ ‭AFR53‬‬

“Daarom, broeders, moet julle jul des te meer beywer om julle roeping en verkiesing vas te maak; want as julle dit doen, sal julle nooit struikel nie.”
‭‭II PETRUS‬ ‭1‬:‭10‬ ‭AFR53‬‬

DISCIPLE OR APOSTLE?

Jesus called His disciples to follow Him and to to teach them to become apostles - Matthew 4:12 -Matthew 5.

Matthew 5:1-2 MEV
Now seeing the crowds, He went up on a mountain. And when He sat down, His disciples came to Him. [2] And He began speaking and taught them, saying:

Disciple - Strong’s G3101 - student, follower, a committed learner and follower, in the New Testament usually of Jesus Christ
Apostle: Strong’s G652 - representative, messenger, envoy, often used in a technical sense for the divinely appointed founders of the church, he that is sent

I believe every Christian starts as a follower of Jesus, but we can’t get stuck there. We must learn and grow spiritually in order to find our calling - 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12. There is a book written with God’s plans for your life. The 12 disciples were called to become 12 apostles. The apostles had to go out and apply what Jesus taught them. In the New Jerusalem there will be 12 gates with the names of the 12 tribes written on it, 12 angels, 12 foundations with the names of the 12 apostles written on it, 12 precious jewels and 12 pearls - Revelations 12. There was no mention of 12 disciples; only 12 apostles were mentioned. Twelve symbolises God’s government. We must be part of God’s government to build His Kingdom. We will always be disciples that follow Jesus and learn from Him, but we must also mature and find our calling.

1 Corinthians 12:27-31 MEV
Now you are the body of Christ and members individually. [28] God has put these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, and various tongues. [29] Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? [30] Do all have the gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? [31] But earnestly covet the greater gifts. Yet I show you a more excellent way.

Psalm 139:16 MEV
Your eyes saw me unformed, yet in Your book all my days were written, before any of them came into being.

2 Peter 1:10 MEV
Therefore, brothers, diligently make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble.