Submitting To The Apostolic Mantle

OBJECTIVES

After completing this lesson, the student will be able to:

1. Explain the purpose of the Apostolic Mantle.

2. Describe the example of the Body of Christ being taken off course when the purpose of the apostolic mantle is compromised.

STUDY GUIDE LESSON

The purpose of the apostolic mantle is to turn the church back to God; which means those who work under the mantle must have that same purpose. God’s only interest concerning this planet is His people; He wants them to know His heart and mind. Because true ministry is done from the position of the Spirit, it is the plight of the apostle to ordain faithful men and women who will contend for the faith by walking in the Spirit. Ministering from the position of the Spirit destroys the influence of flesh. Anything that is taught outside the boundaries of the Spirit should not be allowed in the household of faith. However, there are those who will come into the ministry with their belief systems. This, in some cases, will start riffs in the church, as was done among the disciples. We must understand that many beliefs are not negotiable.

Galatians 2:1-4

1 Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. 2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.

3 But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:

4 And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage:

Paul was sent to Jerusalem by revelation of God to preach to the original disciples, and to those who were at the general assembly. He ministered privately to Peter and the others in charge: he gave them respect, because he knew their pride in what they thought they knew. His mission was to tear down the wall of partition that they were building among themselves. They wanted Titus to be physically circumcised because he was a Gentile. False brethren, that were Jewish, came in to spy on Paul and Titus to bring them into the bondage of the law. However, they both knew God had said that circumcision should be of the heart and not the flesh.

Galatians 2:5

5 To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

Paul gave no thought to their beliefs. He did not submit to their belief system. This is the example that is set before us. Some things are nonnegotiable and we are not to submit to anything that is not of God. Over the years, leaders have done this by insisting people submit to that which is outside of God. We have the ability to try the spirit to see if it is of God. If it is not of God, we should not just accept it because the messenger is a leader; they can be wrong. We must be sensitive to the Holy Ghost. If Paul had submitted to Titus being circumcised simply because it was what the Jews wanted, he would have had to carry that doctrine with him into the field and teach it to others. He told the church in Galatia if he had allowed the circumcision to happen to Titus, he would have had to tell all of them the same thing, insisting they too become circumcised. However, he knew and stood on the TRUTH. WE CAN’T COMPROMISE THE TRUTH!

Galatians 2:6

6 But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:

When we are in a setting similar to Paul’s, we shouldn’t allow ourselves to be deterred from the truth. Being around certain people shouldn’t cause us to compromise the truth. Like the others, Paul was given a revelation from Jesus Christ. Although the others had been with Christ for three and a half years, Paul had been given just as much as the others in his visitation from God. It is virtually impossible to persuade someone of the contrary when they know and have experienced the truth. When a person has lived and therefore experienced truth, they don’t just preach that truth; that truth has been consummated in them. They have become a by-product of that truth. You cannot change this person in mid-stream.

Galatians 2:7-10

7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

8 (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

God was just as powerful in Paul as He was in Peter. When James, Peter and John saw that Paul was not intimidated by them, they came to this conclusion and gave Paul and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship. Paul was not one who physically walked with Jesus for three and a half years. However, what the other apostles didn’t discern was that Paul had been with Jesus in the Spirit. Jesus had opened Paul’s eyes and heart, and he had been fully persuaded by the truth. He knew when he was hearing truth and when he was not. Peter was intimidated by the false Jewish brethren and was led off course. When you are off course, you can be easily led by anyone. By revelation of God, Peter went to Cornelius’ house and in doing so; the door was opened for him to preach to three thousand Gentiles. God told him not to call that which He had cleansed, unclean.

Peter understood that God had moved from physical circumcision to the circumcision of the heart. This is what makes God angry with leaders: He reveals truth to them, and they know and understand that truth, but when a circumstance presents itself, they move to protect their image, reputation and camaraderie with others; so they back away from the truth that they know God has given them. This displays that they can’t be trusted with the gospel. That was why Peter was sent back to Antioch. God visited Peter personally on the housetop and told him to minister to the Gentiles. He did not say anything about circumcising them. God told Peter they were clean through the Word. The Holy Ghost fell on them while Peter was preaching. He then commanded that they be baptized. At this point, Peter knew God was blessing people without fleshy circumcision.

Galatians 2:11

11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.

Paul confronted Peter for separating himself from the Gentiles. Confrontation is the catalyst for change. Peter would have died and gone to hell if Paul hadn’t stood up to Peter right there in the general assembly.

Galatians 2:12

12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

The people that Peter was afraid of were saved; they had been converted into Christianity but were born into Jewish custom and were therefore previously circumcised. Peter, because of fear, allowed these Jewish Christians to dictate his belief. Thus, Peter separated from Paul and Titus.

Galatians 2:13

13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.

The other Jews went with Peter because he was the leader. Peter backed down from the truth. We shouldn’t have respect for those who have heard from God personally but, because of man and the desire to protect their reputation, fear doing what God has said. When the leader is off course, the people are led off course; this causes division. Peter followed after the flesh and not after the Spirit. After Paul had preached the Word and confronted Peter, Peter was still afraid of the Jews. He was still trying to protect his reputation and still maintained that the Gentiles should be freshly circumcised. It wasn’t necessary for him to verbalize his position, he simply separated himself from the Gentile Christians, compelling others to do the same; even Barnabas was carried away with their dissimulation.

The Word had been preached, but the word met up with “a personality” rather than belief. Sadly, it was in one who had already heard truth. Peter was the Chief Apostle to the Jews and the one God initially gave the revelation. Peter walked in and dealt with the situation by separating himself, which is totally against The Word of God. The whole purpose of Jesus dying and being resurrected was to tear down the wall of partition that separated the Jews and the Gentiles; to make one new man. However, the topic of circumcision divided the Jew and Gentile once again; creating the appearance of two churches and it was the Chief Apostle who took them back. He took them out of the Spirit and brought them back in the flesh. Scripture declares we are to know them that labor among us and study to show ourselves approved. We don’t follow anything that is not The Word of God. If it’s not The Word of God, it’s leading to destruction.

Peter was overtaken by darkness and he never let it go. It is dangerous when God visits you with truth and you won’t let go of what you want, believe or feel. There was a time when Peter preached against circumcision under the law. However, he walked outside of his own message. When Peter saw God using him to bring the Gentiles in, he began preaching that God had torn down the middle wall of partition but he forsook this message for separation. The Jews strengthened that doctrine of separation, because it fed the pride in them. The Jews enjoyed being above all nations, and they wanted to remain above all nations. Consequently, they moved back to the flesh to accomplish it. God loves His people and He will always raise up someone to intercede for them. He loved Peter and the others with him. God raised up Paul, and Paul was fully persuaded that God had brought in a righteousness that was not of the law. After all, he was a Pharisee of the Pharisees. He had killed people to protect the law, and persecuted people for not keeping the law. Paul told Peter he would not take the church back into the bondage of the law.

He withstood Peter and the Pharisees for the people’s sake; to whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you (Galatians 2:5).

God has to have warriors. A warrior can be a champion for God: one who will not compromise the truth. Purpose cannot be compromised. The purpose of God was to make us into one new man. If Paul had not withstood those men, all males in the Body of Christ would probably have to be circumcised. This would have been a doctrine that would have passed down into Christianity. Jesus revealed to Paul that He (Jesus) was the fulfillment of the law.

Paul wanted the church at Ephesus to know the wisdom he had in the mystery of Christ. They needed to know that God had chosen him to bring the new word to them. Paul was a Pharisee, and Pharisees did not deal with Gentiles under any circumstances. However, God chose him to preach the gospel to the Gentiles and bring them together as one by telling them the truth. No one could persuade him to go back to the lie; he contended for the faith. When you do what God tells you to do, stand firm on what He has said and don’t back off of it. God vindicates Himself.

Galatians 2:14-18

14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles,

16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

These leaders represented the government of the Body of Christ. However, Paul openly rebuked Peter in front of everyone. Peter had them all under this false doctrine, but that was the only government that existed at that time. They were ordaining elders, establishing churches, writing the Bible and sending it out. They were establishing whatever covenant was going to be. They were the ones that God had entrusted to establish the covenant. However, they were not walking in the Spirit; but they knew it. Peter had contaminated the whole Body. God has started a new reformation with us. We are an example of the ordained governmental structure of the Body of Christ in this reformation.

However, we have to walk uprightly according to the truth, else what are we going to establish if it is not the truth? All of us have to speak the same thing, have the same mind and the same heart. We have to contend for the faith, that one new creature (Christ). We have to fight for Christ to come forth. Peter was a transgressor, because he was rebuilding the things he had destroyed. The preaching of Christ destroys the doctrine of separation, separatism and circumcision of the flesh. Therefore, in essence, Paul was calling Peter a liar and a hypocrite, because Peter compromised the gospel that he initially preached holding to the belief in the custom and necessity of the circumcision of the flesh.

Galatians 2:20-21

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. We cannot compromise truth when we are preaching the gospel.

People will criticize us for telling the truth but we must keep the household of faith clean. Friendship cannot be an issue. If you are not going to agree with God, it is time to separate or you have to move yourself out of position so that you are not a threat to the reformation. This is a mandate from God; we cannot negotiate purpose. When we are walking in the Spirit, God will guide us and tell us how to deal with each person He has made us responsible for inside of His government. He will not leave us in the blind. There will be confrontations that will reveal what’s not the mind of God; we must not submit to them. We have to be motivated by righteousness.

► LESSON ASSIGNMENT

Below you will find questions that pertain to each of the lesson objectives. You are asked to thoroughly answer each of them in your own words. Once you have done so, compare your answers to those in the section of the lesson entitled “Objectives and Suggested Questions for Class Discussion”.

1. What is the purpose of the apostolic mantle?
2. What is the detriment to the Body of Christ when the purpose of the apostolic mantle is not fulfilled?
3. Where in scripture can we see an example of the Body of Christ being taken off course when the apostolic mantle is compromised?
4. What action did Peter take that created the potential of the entire church moving off course?
5. How do we know that Peter was aware of his error?
6. What was Paul’s response to Peter’s disposition?
7. Why was it necessary for Paul to rebuke Peter?
8. What was Peter’s response to the rebuke?
9. What must be the motivating factor for any confrontation?

► OBJECTIVES AND SUGGESTED QUESTIONS FOR CLASS DISCUSSION

These questions are simply suggestions of ways to stimulate student-teacher interaction and also ensure that the objectives of this lesson are understood. Encourage responses from the students. Be careful to listen for:

1) Errors in perspective

2) Understanding

3) Motive and intent as it relates to their course of study.

This will prove extremely helpful as the Holy Ghost begins to destroy any erroneous mindsets in other lessons.

1. Explain the purpose of the Apostolic Mantle.

• What is the purpose of the apostolic mantle? The purpose of the apostolic mantle is to turn the Church back to God. It is the plight of the apostle to ordain faithful men and women who will contend for the Faith by walking in the Spirit. Further, it is the purpose of the apostolic mantle to make certain all who serve speak the same things and have no divisions in revelation or methodology.
• What is the detriment to the Body of Christ when the purpose of the apostolic mantle is not fulfilled? The Body of Christ will be taken off course and will be pointed back to the ways of the world.

1. Describe the example of the Body of Christ being taken off course when the purpose of the apostolic mantle is compromised.

• Where in scripture can we see an example of the Body of Christ being taken off course when the apostolic mantle is compromised? An example of the apostolic mantle being compromised is in the second chapter of Galatians.
• What action did Peter take that created the potential of the entire church moving off course? Peter agreed with the Jews who said that Titus, who was a Gentile, should be circumcised.
• How do we know that Peter was aware of his error? God had shown Peter a vision and told him not to call that which He has cleansed, unclean. By revelation of God, Peter went to Cornelius’ house and in doing so; the door was opened for him to preach to three thousand Gentiles. Therefore, Peter understood that God had moved from physical circumcision to the circumcision of the heart and knew that God was blessing people without fleshy circumcision.
• What was Paul’s response to Peter’s disposition? Paul was sent to Jerusalem by revelation of God to preach to the original disciples and to those who were at the general assembly. Privately, he ministered to Peter and the others in charge; giving them respect, because he knew their pride in what they thought they knew. His mission was to tear down their wall of partition that they were building among themselves.
• Why was it necessary for Paul to rebuke Peter? Peter had them all under this false doctrine; they were the only government that existed at the time. They were ordaining elders, establishing churches and writing the Bible; sending it out. They were establishing whatever covenant that is going to be. They were the ones that God had entrusted to establish the covenant. However, they were not walking in the Spirit; but they knew it. Peter had contaminated the whole Body. He was a transgressor because he was rebuilding the things he had destroyed.
• What was Peter’s response to being rebuked? After Paul had preached the Word and confronted Peter, Peter was still afraid of the Jews. He was still trying to protect his reputation and still maintained that the Gentiles should be freshly circumcised. It wasn’t necessary for him to verbalize his position, he simply separated himself from the Gentile Christians, and even Barnabas was carried away with their dissimulation. The Word had been preached, but the word met up with “a personality” rather than belief. Sadly, it was in one who had already heard truth. Peter was the Chief Apostle to the Jews and the one God initially gave the revelation. Peter dealt with the situation by separating himself, which is totally against The Word of God. The whole purpose of Jesus dying and being resurrected was to tear down the wall of partition that separated the Jews and the Gentiles; to make one new man. However, the topic of circumcision divided the Jew and Gentile once again; creating the appearance of two churches and it was the Chief Apostle who took them back. He took them out of the Spirit and brought them back in the flesh.
• What must be the motivating factor for any confrontation? The motivation for any confrontation must be righteousness.

LESSON FOUR SUBMITTING TO THE APOSTOLIC MANTLE SELF-EVALUATION

The Self-Evaluation is designed to serve as a tool for you to examine how you are applying that which is taught in the lesson to your own individual life. Please answer honestly and thoroughly.

1. Indicate a time when you have not been in agreement with the purpose of God for your life. In your answer, indicate:

A. What was the situation?

B. Why did you disagree?

C. How did God minister to you concerning purpose?

2. After completing this lesson, how do you now feel about the danger of operating outside of the boundaries of the Faith?