All through life I have suffered from the plague of allergies.    

Every year starting around March, but sometimes as early as mid-February, the misery would begin. Itchy throat, sneezes, itchy eyes, drowsiness, and a hyper-sensitive nose were typical symptoms that would bother me untill June 10. 
 That was the date I always pegged for the end of the seasonal affliction.

If you know the yearly drill, you know the names... Claritan, Tavis D, Allerest, when it got real bad.

Because we believe in divine health and have not been sick in years, nor carry medical insurance, I always believed the year would arrive when God would take the allergies away.
This is the year.   

As we watched the California rains continue through winter and spring, at first i thought, "OH NO, it's going to be a bad year for allergies".
But then I started reminding myself "wait a minute, I'm a Christian" and walking in God's promises". 

So I got some of God's promises that He told us about:

Psalms 91:10    There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
Galatians 3:13    Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us; for it is written"

and I really like this one:
Ps. 103:2   Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases;  
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy desire with good things, So that thy youth is renewed like the eagle.     

Well, it is not enough to read the promises, we had to take action because "faith without works is dead..",  and He told us to "fight the good fight of FAITH.."    
..and that my faith would be tested.   
The good promise that I was ALREADY healed when Christ suffered for my sins now became the firm hope I would stand on through the allergy season. 
"For by His stripes ye WERE healed"..
So knowing and believing that I was no longer under the curse, and that God gave me many promises in His book, I began to confess what He said, the report of the Lord, not the report of the doctors and drug companies.

Once and a while, a symptom would try to test me, a sneeze here, an itchy eye there.  Every time I fought back with "the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God"  and rebuke the symptom In Jesus' Name...  

The winds have blown, the pollen count has soared, but I am healed of a lifelong affliction. No meds, no tiredness, no days of misery.
This is how we overcame over 50 years of allergies ... What an awesome God..

The sabbath sacrifice requirement.

The sabbath, as was circumcision and other commands, were first given as part of the body of the law from the Old Covenant. On "EVERY Sabbath" there was to be a burnt offering.

Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. Deuteronomy 4:2

( the same "add not" and "diminish ought" applies to the NEW Covenant which the church has polluted by adding in dozens of unscriptural traditions and doctrines. *see Revelation 22:18-19) 

God said in the law "DO ALL" many, many times, and this was repeated by Paul and James, and as Paul wrote in Gal. 4:21 "Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?"

Lev 19:37 And ye shall observe all my statutes, and all mine ordinances, and do them
Deut 31:12 ... and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law

Gal 5:3 Yea, I testify again to every man that receiveth circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.  4) Ye are severed from Christ, ye (who) would be *justified by the law; ye are fallen away from grace.  *to render just or innocent: 
James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Where was circumcision commanded?
-In the law, of course. -Just like the sabbath, the feasts, and a multitude of other commands that confused Christians are entangled with. (Gen 17:13/ Lev 12:3)

"This law" included every sabbath law and command:

"On the Sabbath day, make an offering of two lambs a year old without defect, together with its drink offering and a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil. This is the burnt offering for every Sabbath, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering" (Num. 28:9,10).

 
A Restoration of Church Government Coming Soon

Did you ever think maybe the degree of corruption in civil government is a reflection of corruption in CHURCH government? 
The parallels between the corruption in those taking the oversight of the church and those in civil government are strikingly similar. Titles, wealth, position, and power are the values of a corrupt people.  There are even a host of un-Constitutional (unlawful) departments, taxes, fees, and administrators just as the church has created its' own officialdom of unscriptural positions.

     

What does honest church government look like?

For sure it looks NOTHING like what we see in the organized church around us even though God created "governments" as a gift in the church.
1st Corinthians 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, divers kinds of tongues.
(btw, pastors are not even mentioned there)

Let's look at some church government through the words and actions of the apostles of Christ. The clues are all there in scripture so let's see some of the CORRECT examples.

1. Remember Jesus told His disciples to forget the titles.
Matt 23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your teacher, and all ye are brethren. 

Mat 23:10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your master, even the Christ.(23  to sit on my right hand, and on my left hand, is not mine to give; but it is for them for whom it hath been prepared of my Father. (more on this important verse below)

2.  Next, we know the church is built upon the foundation of the Rock, Jesus Christ, and upon Him, the apostles and prophets. Jesus commissioned the apostles to give the gospel freely and prayed for those who would believe through the apostles words. -John 17:20
Eph 2:20 Being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief corner stone;

Here is where many get side tracked.
The church did not institute 12 official offices. Matthias was appointed to take Judas' place, at the beginning of the church in Acts.  There is not one capitalized "A"postle named as a titled official.

In Acts 1 and 2, the disciples were together and the Holy Ghost poured out as Jesus had promised. Peter gave the first gospel message to a gathered crowd and thousands were saved and converted. But before you spell "building fundraiser" or say "we're gonna take up a love offering", the apostles decided to dedicate themselves to prayer and the ministry of the word.

They by-passed a busy admin. schedule, appointment calendar, counseling sessions, & staff meetings, and shortly afterward Peter could say "silver and gold have I none"...

3.
But by Acts 6 they needed some staff to help minister to the widows because the church was in "revival" and growing.  As for the apostles, Acts 6:4 But we will continue stedfastly in prayer, and in the ministry of the word.
So the "multitude" of the church decided to add (not hire) some "ministers". The Spirit-filled church selected seven Spirit-Filled men "full of FAITH and the Holy Ghost", the apostles prayed over them. laid hands, and sent them to minister. One of them was Stephen.
Did you notice the absence of an "assistant" or "associate" Pastor named in the passage?

Acts 9. Peter decided to visit the churches scattered about Judea, Samaria, and Galilee. He took no organizational "By-Laws', preacher licenses, or remind anyone to tithe or pay his way.  He prayed for and healed a few people and raised one from the dead. Then he ended up at Cornelius' house to give the gospel to  him, his friends, and family.  The Holy Ghost feall and they were all converted. Peter left without a "love-offering" and went back to Jerusalem. No pastor was hired for the new church in Caesarea, nor was anyone "put in charge'.  Those dear saints had to get by with the Scriptures, the Holy Ghost, and somebody's house.

4.
Acts 11, the Jerusalem church heard that Peter had given the gospel to some Italians, contrary to Jewish law. When Peter reported to the mostly Jewish church, along with 6 male Jewish witnesses who went with him, the church realized that non-Jews (gentiles) were included in the New Covenant!
(with no "General Board", reading of "by-laws", "business reports" etc., no missions board or fundraising protocols enacted, no districts, sections, prelates were created)

-and not a sign of any church hierarchy or official titles. NO PREACHER LICENSES, In fact, the Jerusalem church was losing importance as the gospel spread after the persecution scattered the disciples (Acts 12:19), thus God making sure there was not an Executive Board, Committee, Head Bishop, or exalted Presbyter. No Bible College offered a doctorate or degree in theology.
The trinity had not been invented and they did not celebrate Christmas or easter. Jesus' mom, Miry' was by now a great grandma.

5. Church Government in Action
By Acts 15 the church had grown into thousands of people in dozens and dozens of towns and villages, and in Acts 15, an important issue had arisen in regard to church doctrine and a major assembly convened. 6 And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider of this matter.

No Popes, Cardinals, Church Boards, Ministerial Association, District Presbyters, President, General Superintendents, Hat-wearing Bishops, Robed clerics, ordained Bible College Grads, Sunday School Superintendent, Doctors of Divinity, Assistant Pastor, Senior Pastor, or even a single "Reverend..." is mentioned. None of the ladies either, no Pastor Cathy or Prophetess Suzie. 

"And the apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider of this matter."

Apostles AND elders. Paul and Barnabas.  Even a group from the Pharisees sect who wanted to keep the Law of Moses. After lots of discussion (vs7), Peter spoke to the assembly. Then James stood and spoke. He gave his opinion on the matter. No decree was given by a titled "Pastor", "official "Bishop", pope, cardinals, or any of the other bogus positions tossed around Christendom today. NO one was given "pre-eminence", no faction was evident, the church body functioned with Christ as the Head.

6.
 The church government issues a doctrinal policy:
22) 
Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men out of their company, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
23) and they wrote thus by them, The apostles and the elders, brethren, unto the brethren who are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, greeting. 
(notice!: they did not address this to the Pastors, Bishops, Leaders, Spiritual Coverings, denominational officials, etc. like the apostate church does now) 

Oh, and before I forget, in Matthew 23 when Jesus told His "boys", the twelve apostles, not to be called "masters"? (gr. "kathegetes")....    The word there was given only one time in scripture, just for them and us and right in the context of position-seeking by some carnal thinking disciples.
 The word is "kathagetes", Strongs 2519, KJV.  a guide, a master, teacher. In modern English it is "LEADER", as also in the NAS used 2x as leader , leaders. 
The Weymouth New Testament reads it as:
"And do not accept the name of `leader,' for your Leader is one alone--the Christ."

"WHAT!  -Don't call us leaders?" -the "boys" may have asked.
"Read my lips" Jesus could have said, "no flattering titles,  no special "leader" badges.. YO! -Hey, Matt, Lukie, are you writing this down?" 
That was "k-a-t-h-e-g-e-t-e-s", and I am trying to save you and the church a lot of problems like the ones we got with the Pharisees around here who want to kill me". "So I want you to know I am using this word "kathegetes" only ONE time so you and the disciples are real careful to not go around making distictions among yourselves". He said "ONE is your leader, CHRIST".

The "boys" said to themselves, "WHOAA! -that may empty out a lot of pews some day when the people figure out they are supposed to follow CHRIST, not some guy with an ordination certificate"

7.
Back to Acts.
Here is the "church government" so far: "apostles, elders, brethren, with the whole church."
They in turn sent the determination on doctrine to the "brethren".
(not a single titled pastor, bishop, clergy, or even any so-called official "leaders").

-And so the "church government" sent forth the apostles. A body of elders including all the gifts of ministry God set in the church. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, teachers, pastors, elders in the faith, all meeting without any of them over ruling or taking charge over the others. Jesus was the Head of that body, those men, elders, were all submitted to Him and each other. 

How simple.

It seems we need to spit out yet another bone from the institutional church, that is, the terms, title, and concept of the 'leader' (in German, "fuehrer") and get ourselves to following the Lord Jesus. 

John 21:22 Jesus saith unto him...   Follow thou me.
1Cor 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ
 Ezekiel 34:15 I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord Jehovah.

 Next, we will look at one of the "local" churches and take a look at church leadership as it was given in scripture. Stay tuned as we visit an assembly of church elders!             

There is only ONE Covenant

1st John 2:26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that would lead you astray.

One of the issues we were presented with recently was tithing, for which a church spokes person gave a good cover story from the life of Jacob, the grandson of Abraham. On the surface it really sounded reasonable.  It might inspire someone to do likewise, especially anyone who blindly accepts whatever they are taught by their leaders.

This unusual approach  was presented based on a vow from Genesis 28:
 ²⁰ Then Jacob made this vow: "If God will indeed be with me and protect me on this journey, and if he will provide me with food and clothing, ²¹ and if I return safely to my fathers home, then the Lord will certainly be my God. 22 And this memorial pillar I have set up will become a place for worshiping God, and I will present to God a tenth of everything he gives me."

You must give credit to those that use Jacob's vow to justify the tithe.
Doesn't that sound reasonable?
Make a deal with God in exchange for protection and provision, just make a pledge or vow to give 10% of everything God gives. It's even in the Bible, and a godly man did so. 

The use of pulpit-influence would then be another way to keep the churches' cash-flow healthy and pay for the new electronics and their pastor's frequent travel and dining out. 
Paint it over with some emotion-evoking phrases like gratefulness to God and it sells good week after week. 
Some churches go to the extreme of making it a heaven or hell issue.  Either way, guilt and shame can become a form of manipulation and those in the pew that trust and believe what is said from behind the pulpit are led astray by what we hope, are good-intentioned leaders..

Jacob's Vow in LIGHT of the New Covenant

This is a great opportunity to not only look at the small issue of Jacob's vow to give 10% (BTW, 10 is a number associated with Law),  but also compare the NEW Covenant with several of the ones found in the OLD Testament.  -There were actually a handful of them, some greater and some smaller.  

Let's ask ourselves the following:
1. Jacob's vow. Does anyone in the New Testament scriptures make this vow?
    Answer:  Easy, no one did. zip, nada, zilch.
2. Does the New Covenant lack in promises that we need to go back and follow Jacob's vow in order to be blessed and provided for?   Answer: What ARE the New Testament promises?
3. Do we need to go back to Moses' Law and try to do some or all of that body of law? (The OLD Covenant)
4. Should we observe Abraham's Covenant?
5. Should we go back to the Covenant God made with Adam?

Aren't there some good things here and there we could pick and choose from?

There is a tragic error committed by many Christians who love God. They do not know or understand the Covenant God made with us in Jesus Christ.  I would dare say the majority of us pew sitters were in that category as we let our leadership define what Christianity is.
  So in ignorance and confusion, scripture is misapplied, cherry-picked, misunderstood and worse yet, mis-taught to the trusting folks in the pew.

Hebrews 8:6 But now hath he (Jesus) obtained a ministry the more excellent, by so much as he is also the mediator of a better covenant, which hath been enacted upon better promises.

Hebrews 7:22 By so much also hath Jesus become the surety of a better covenant
"surety" a surety, a sponsor,  a guarantee
"better": stronger, -, that is, (figuratively) better, that is, nobler: - best, better
"covenant" (specifically) a contract (especially a divisory will): - covenant, testament.
 
Jesus is the guarantor of a better contract-testament-will-covenant than ANY of the previous ones. It is a better one than the one that included tithing, the Law of Moses, Jacob's vow, Noah's Covenant, Abraham's promised blessings, and the one God gave Adam.

The NEW COVENANT supersedes, overrides, disannuls, makes void, and replaces the ones that went before, and gives us the promise:

Romans 10:4 "For Christ is the end of the law unto righteousness to every one that believeth."

Colossians 2:20 If ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, do ye subject yourselves to ordinances,  (tithing, feasts, circumcision, dietary laws, etc)

Hebrews 9:10 being only (with meats and drinks and divers washings) carnal ordinances, imposed until a time of reformation

Romans 4:16 For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace; to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all

Our SALVATION Covenant in Christ is in the Greek word "SOZO" which means: Saved, Healed, Made Whole, Delivered and Preserved.
(sozo is the Greek word from the original scripture writings that the writers gave us)

We don't need to go back under an old vow and try to make a deal with God.
ALL the promises are in Christ  -better promises and "a better covenant." 

HERE are some scriptures declaring the superior promises of our covenant. We don't need to make a deal with God by making an oath or promise based on an OLD covenant; in fact, there is a sin commited by making an oath: James 5:12 "But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by the heaven, nor by the earth, nor by any other oath: but let your yea be yea, and your nay, nay; that ye fall not under judgment"

Let's compare some of these "better promises"  with an old one like Jacob's.

2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
Is there some thing in "all things that pertain to life and godliness" that is lacking so we need to make a deal like Jacob?

• Philipians 4:20 "And my God shall supply every need  of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
  
  You don't have to "tithe" to have your needs met in our "better covenant", that's ridiculous. We only need to put faith in what God said He would do.
  
• Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things? 
  
  You don't need to buy God's favor with a tithe or gift out of a covenant He never made with the church. The blood of Jesus gave us a "better covenant" that surpasses all of the ones found in the Old Testament. They are freely given through faith NOT works... (Can you cast out a demon by quoting the law? )
  
• Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
  
• 2 Corinthians 1:20 (NLT) For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding "Yes!" And through Christ, our "Amen" (which means "Yes") ascends to God for his glory.
  What part of the previous blessings does "ALL" leave out?
  
• Galatians 3:14 that upon the Gentiles might come the blessing of Abraham in Christ Jesus
  There is no Abraham's tithe,  Jacob's tithe, or Levitical tithe required in our Covenant.
  
• Romans 4:4 Now to him that worketh, the reward is not reckoned as of grace, but as of debt.
  5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is reckoned for righteousness.
  
• Romans 15:29 And I know that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of Christ. -Which blessing do you want? Jacob's blessing which did not include a lot of the promises found in the New? Or the "fulness of the blessing of Christ"?
  
  Matthew 6:31 Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
  33) But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
  
  -You can't buy it with a tithe, earn it by your own works, or manipulate God into blessing you. It is by GRACE, not by works, and ALL the Promises of God are in CHRIST.
  

+++++++ (from the epistle given to the churches from the apostles and elders in Acts)

21:25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. 

 All we are required to do is to BELIEVE in what He said, put our FAITH in Him, TRUST him,  and walk in them accordingly. Jesus gave His instructions to His apostles, who wrote what He said, and they gave the terms of the New Covenant to the churches. (John 17:20)  They wrote what they were given through the Holy Ghost.
  
The CHURCH was never told to tithe, keep a weekly sabbath, observe the feasts and new moons, keep the host of dietary laws, go to Jerusalem 3 times a year, pay a temple tax, or do any of the commands, ordinances, or statutes that are written in the law of the old Covenant.  

The church IS told to repent, live holy, and abide in the Words Jesus gave us through His disciples. 
1 Corinthians 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
John 17:20
@ 2Peter 2:15-16 Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote unto you;
16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; wherein are some things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unstedfast wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

?????  Where did the apostles, the foundational writers of the New Testament scriptures, tell us to observe or keep any part of the sabbath day laws, an Old Testament feast, keep dietary laws, circumcision, or a tithing vow like Jacob's?

No dear reader, these are not in even one verse in our New Testament covenant. 
And where was the dividing line?
It was at the death of the testator, Jesus Christ. His death gave us His Will and the apostles and early church did what he told them to do.  It began in the Book of Acts. 

But here is where they said you would come under a curse if you do:

Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one who continueth not in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them.

James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is become guilty of all.

(BTW, the curse includes things like sickness, disease, unbelieveing people coming against us, "accidents", debt, broken relationships with family. I wonder if any Christians ever have these happen in their lives or their churches?) see The Curse and Christians  

Here is what they called people who would put you under a law or vow God never made with the church:

Galatians 1:7 which is not another gospel only there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

Now in the early church, a problem arose regarding the Old Testament laws and Christians:

Acts 15: 24 Forasmuch as we have heard that certain who went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls; to whom we gave no commandment;
19 Wherefore my judgment is, that we trouble not them that from among the Gentiles turn to God;

28 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things:
29 that ye abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with you. Fare ye well.
30 So they, when they were dismissed, came down to Antioch; and having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle.   31 And when they had read it, they rejoiced for the consolation.

Church Government
The end-time man of God

What does a man of God look like?
Is he someone who declares himself to be sent from God and sport a title, degree, and an ordination certificate? Is he a leader that declares himself to be God's anointed? Is he on TV, radio, or behind a pulpit?  Is he famous, rich, well known, popular, wears a backwards collar or priest's shirt? Is he a man of God because dozens, hundreds, even thousands follow his ministry?

What the end time man of God looks like is not what people think. Very few will recognize him. Most are all too familiar with the imitation.

What ever ministerial gift a man or woman claims, we will attempt to give a profile of what the genuine man of God is and does. He will be the anointed of God in a restored and resurrected ministry that looks like the one in Acts. God will do this in our midst, but the majority will not recognize him-as history repeats.

He is dead. Not physically, but he died or is dying to self.
Mat 10:39   He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Mat 16:25   For whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Mark 8:35   For whosoever would save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's shall save it.

He doesn't care about the latest movie, sports, worldly music or politics.
He's in the world not of it.  John 17:16
He does not take pleasure in worldly matters other than being responsible and law abiding.

He prays. Often, and in private.
His prayers are effective.
He is not afraid of demons and casts them out.
He is mature in the faith and believes what God says. 
He prays for people and MANY receive healing. 
His words bring life, not traditions.

He seeks FOR God's sheep, not FROM them.
He does not self promote his name, face, or ministry. He is dead to that.
He builds God's kingdom, not his own.
He does not look to God's people for money or praise. John 5:41 I receive not glory from men.
He does not want people's money or to be honored by them. Luke 6:26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for in the same manner did their fathers to the false prophets.

He does not care about buildings. He builds up people.
He points people to the Jesus of Scripture, not the jesus of his tradition, denomination, "doctrinal statement", "creed", or even what he thinks.  
He does not have a "church manual", rules, or membership list.
He makes people followers and disciples of Jesus, not himself. 
He will answer but not argue.

He seeks to be a "doer of the Word" and not a talker about the Word.
His loyalty is to God, not a country, political party, nor a denomination.
He does not seek fame, a crowd of followers, or popularity.
He seeks and desires "holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."

He speaks the truth. He speaks scripture a LOT.
God's Word flows out of him, "if any speak, let him speak as an oracle of God"
God confirms his words. So do Scriptural signs and wonders,"these signs shall follow them that believe..."
He speaks the truth in love, but does not condemn.
He reproves, rebukes, and exhorts with all longsuffering and doctrine.

He studies God's Word diligently andd can "rightly divide" the Word of truth. 2Timothty 2:15
He does not justify the wicked.
He won't tell a person lost in sin that they are saved.
He recognizes God in others 

He does not exchange his ministry for a paycheck. God provides for him.
He knows how to live by faith and never begs.
He goes to God for his needs, not the church. 
He knows God will supply his every need. Phil 4:19
He receives freely, he gives freely. Mat. 10:8
He gives in private where God sees, not in public where men see. Mat. 6:4
He loves God, not mammon. Mat. 6:24
He remembers the poor. Gal. 2:10
He does not have "fundraisers".

He has humility, not pride. He died.
He humbles himself to the Word, even when it hurts.
He does not defend himself, he defends God's sheep.
He has suffered and suffers rejection.
He is disliked by the establishment religious leadership.
He forgives them that reject him, oppose him, and despise him. 
He still loves them.

He is meek, not flashy.
He is sober, not trite.
He never tells a risque joke.
He does not crave attention or feed on the attention of a crowd. He is dead.
He does not use gimmicks, manipulation, or flaunt his authority.
He speaks with God's authority because he speaks God's Words.

He hates the deeds and error of the Nicolaitanes and he has overcome them.
He is the head of his home in word and deed, and provides for them. 
His neighbors, co-workers, and relatives know he is a Christian.
He has testified to all of them.

He knows who and what Jezebel is, and who and what Balaam is, and he has overcome their ministries in the church.
He resists the devil. James 4:7
He appears weak, but he is strong. 2Cor 12:10 Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
He overcomes temptation consistently. He is dead.

He speak grace and gives grace, he speaks of sin and cannot stay silent in the face of it.
He comes in the nature, character, and authority of Jesus. The Name, not his.
He is not impressed by the rich, famous, or powerful whether they call themselves Christian or not.

He is a servant, not a king or a hireling.
He and his family are not royalty. 
He does what Jesus said a disciple would do. Mark 16:16-20
He has renounced ownership of 100% not just 10%. Luke 14:33.

He is not in competition with other ministries, nor does he compare himself to them.
He follows God's Word, not somebody's book, ministry, or program for growth. 
Drink waters out of thine own cistern, And running waters out of thine own well.
.
Those who know the Lord will love him.
Those who love their religion will loathe him.

He may be an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor or teacher, but he won't have a business card or certificate to prove it. God will prove him. He may be someone who quietly goes about the work of the ministry, he is not a showman. Period. 

If a man is sent from God, he will do and say what God said.

rory moore 2010  This page may be updated to in the days to come.