Recognizing the True Apostle of Christ - God chooses and uses the humble, the meek, the ordinary ...

' However, Jesus chose the foolish, and ordinary men of his day as apostles to confound the wise ' 
                                                                                                                              ~ 1 Corinthians 1:27.

For the heart of the true leaders and apostles of Christ is meek and humble.
While they are also warriors demonstrating a boldness, strength and courage that comes with the Holy Spirit, the purest souls honor Him with a constant cloak of humility. 
They drive all focus to Jesus alone. 

John the Baptist, a great man of God, divorced himself completely from the ways of the world. His extreme existence demonstrates the magnitude of his faith, trust and devotion to God. He roamed the desert eating locusts and honey, risking his life, crying out to all to prepare for the Messiah. 

John's words remind us powerfully, ' He Must Increase, But I Must Decrease '~ John 3:30

The true apostle appears to be quite ordinary, simple and does not go out to bring attention to themselves.  

They are not the showy, cocky entertainers, who ride on the coat tails of Christ. Yet we have all witnessed celebrated figures who have taken this route, and they have already received their reward and glory from the world. The false apostle struts, and charms the world with confidence and 'wisdom'. A stream of false apostles have impressed with their own version's of Jesus message ... yet their pride is their biggest giveaway.

So stay riveted to God's word, let it be the rudder that guides, lest the world sways you.

As for the machinations of the world, it is also interesting that man has chosen to inaccurately depict Jesus as a handsome man despite the Word of God revealing that he was not comely.  

In fact it is said that Jesus most accurate description lies in the passage of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 52:14-53:3 ~ “Just as there were many who were appalled at him-- his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness…He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering .”

Later verses in the New Testament indicate that the Suffering Servant was Jesus. ( refer to  Matthew 8:17; John 1:29; Acts 8:26-39; Phil 2:7-8; and 1 Peter 2:24. )

It was the Father's Heart, the Spirit of God living in Christ that drew the people to Him, rather than good looks. 

Modern day depictions of Jesus are based on worldly perceptions

Still, the human inclination is to fall for worldly benchmarks of how a leader should look, sound, act or BE.

But that which impresses the world ( the world's views and standards ) , does not apply to the realm of the Divine ...

And the world will continue to hand over it's leadership to confident, cocky, assertive, attractive figures .... But God confounds and lavishes the full extent of His wisdom and gifts upon the ordinary ones ... simple souls who are pure of heart and malleable like children. The ones who will never steal the glory for themselves.

The scriptures reveals that Moses was the most humble man to ever live, and look at the role that he played. God used Moses mightily ! ' Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth. '~ Numbers 12:3

Humility is one of the strongest, clearest traits of a true apostle, for the heart of God travels much deeper than the eyes of man.

It is the benchmark to recognizing the true apostle of God. 

Choose the one who leads you wisely.

Love, Mahira A.

Here is an excerpt from an interesting article that I found online -

" The main problem with recognizing modern day apostles is that most people are looking for a worldly kind of authority.

However, Jesus chose the foolish, and ordinary men of his day as apostles to confound the wise (1 Cor. 1:27).

The forceful, domineering and "take charge" leadership that the world looks for in authority is often contrary to the spiritual authority of God.

Leadership in God's kingdom is not about assertiveness or self-confidence, but rather humility and brokenness.

The institutional church has yet to learn this apostolic truth and therefore is set up more like a modern day corporation with government heads at the top. "" ~

www.sonstoglory.com/moderndayapostles.htm