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I agree Gary about H. Freeman being a Bible teacher from the notes I`ve seen on this site. I look forward also to listening to his teaching on the tapes.

I`ve written some notes from (Apostle) William Rowe (`60`s Melbourne, Australia). He & his family came out from England, sent from the main church to lead the work here in Australia. These notes are from his book, `One Lord, One Faith.`
Here is a quick overview.

THE SIGNS OF APOSTLESHIP.
The Power Sign.
The Passion Sign.
The Vision Sign.
The Virtue Sign.

THE SEAL OF APOSTLESHIP
Pioneering.
Building-up.
Administrating.

THE SERVICE OF APOSTLESHIP
A Vital & Authentic Witness.
A Spiritual & Authoritative Ministry.
A General & Affectionate oversight.
Supernatural & Apostolic Activity.

I have only written the first part on `The Signs of Apostleship.`
If you would like the others I will write them out for you.
In the light of these notes it would be interesting to hear what you see of Hobart Freeman & his ministry. I couldn`t seem to get it as an attachment so just cut & pasted.


The Signs of Apostleship

`Truly the signs of an Apostle were wrought among you
in all patience, in signs, & wonders, & mighty deeds.`
(2 Cor. 12: 12)

Signs are the visible indications of invisible realities. Cause has its effect; substance has its sign. Signs are the words of a special language. Words indicate hidden thought; signs point to unseen realities. It is imperative to learn the vocabulary & grammar of the sign language with which we are dealing. One sign may require another for its identification & confirmation. The power- sign for instance may have a divine or Satanic origin (Acts 2: 43. 2 Thess. 2: 9) So with the power – sign God gives a love – sign of divine purpose. The one identifies & confirms the other. Yet one may be so taken up with signs as to miss the substance. Others may have spiritually mastered the sign – language & have passed on to a keen & certain apprehension by faith of the things of God.

To the initiated a single little bird may give in advance a sure knowledge of a glorious summer on the way. We speak of a `straw in the wind.` We learn by straws, but we can pass on to know the direction of the wind without them. The right understanding of signs & the abilities of faith unveil for us the unseen realities of God. We have found that Apostleship is needed to day & that it is scripturally provided for. Now we seek to interpret correctly the signs.

THE POWER SIGN.

`....Signs & wonders, & mighty deeds` (2 Cor. 12: 12)

The Power – sign is one of the Apostolic signs. We see these grand evidences in the history of the early Church. We dare to believe that `Jesus Christ (is) the same yesterday, & today, & forever.` (Heb. 13: At the same time we note in our study of the scripture that outstanding power – signs amongst the Apostleship in the New Testament were manifested through the instrumentality of a few of its members – mainly Peter & Paul. As we have seen already, not all Apostles are gifted in the same manner nor degree of richness. There is James & an Epaphroditus as well as a Peter & a Paul. They are equally called if not equally used in the same way. This we may expect today.

As the Lord in His sovereignty may determine so the power will flow through this or that member in varying degree at different times. We magnify the Lord for many mighty demonstrations of His power through the Apostleship throughout the years. Progressive Christian & Apostolic experience is always stretching out for more.

Our standards are always higher than our reach. As we look at the Church in the Acts of the Apostles in full flood of supernatural power we find a further challenge to our faith.
It is not only a challenge to our faith in the Apostleship; it is a challenge to every ministry, to every member & not to one Church alone but to all Churches. Is any an Evangelist? Then he is confronted with the supernatural ministry of Philip in Acts 8: 6 – 7. Is any an Elder? Then before him comes the necessity of a supernatural power as indicated in James 5: 14 – 16. Is any a simple believer in Christ? Then the sweeping supernatural signs of Mark 16: 17 – 18 are required. Of course, the same principle applies, that individuals will differ in the measure of supernatural giftedness. The challenge of the need of a greater measure of the supernatural comes to us all – Apostles......Evangelists.......Elders.......& every disciple of Christ. We look for a further latter-day outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The Lord is preparing vessels, `not a few,` of all types & sizes. Glorious as the present blessing has been it should be but an earnest of what is to come.

THE PASSION SIGN

There is such a thing as the sign of Apostolic passion. Power is not the sole criterion of Apostleship. There is a heavy enduement of divine passion in the call. Perhaps one has to progress further in the mastery of the sign – language to appreciate this. To the less spiritual Corinthians Paul contends for his Apostleship & emphasises the power – sign, but to the Christlike Philippians he declares, `...I have you in my heart...` & `How greatly I long after you....in the bowels of Jesus Christ.` (Phil. 1 : 7 – Doubtless they understood. This is not a vapid sentiment but a mighty function of love that brings to birth divine purposes in the Church of Christ. With what burning passion he contends for the Gentile believers against the legalizers. As a hen gathereth her brood under her wings so the Apostle covers the flock under his care.

This great Apostolic heart has a surge of passion overflowing for Israel. `For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh; who are Israelites....` (Rom. 9: 3 – 4) This is a sign of true Apostleship to the eye of faith. Think of such burning words as `I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus;` `I count not my life dear` & `I am ready to be offered.` he was burnt – up for the Lord & His people! He was a burnt – offering on the altar of God. His life seemed as tinder in the matchless but awful blaze of divine love & purpose. Whether he looked up to the Head, or around at the members of His Body, or out on the lost, the fire of Apostolic passion consumed him. Apostleship is fixed with the sign of passion.

THE VISION SIGN

`Am I not an Apostle?.... have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord?` (1 Cor. 9: 1)

Undoubtedly the Apostle was meeting the objections of the carnal Corinthians respecting his call. He does do again in the same letter to the same people. (1 Cor. 15: 7 – 9) This apparent requirement that Paul must needs have personally seen the Lord in the days of His flesh, in order to verify his Apostleship, is by no means a proof of a divine condition. Paul goes on to say in the next sentence, `If I be not an Apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you.` (1 Cor. 9:2) Or as much as to say, `If that is the carping criticism of others, it cannot affect my Apostleship to you. You are the seal of it! Nevertheless I have seen the Lord.`

Whether or not corporally or in vision – probably both – makes no matter, the glory of the Person of Christ had broken over his soul in a mighty conquering manner. `He has seen the Lord in the way.` (Acts 9: 27) The effect lasting through the years drew from the heart of the Apostle before Agrippa, the exclamation, `I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision.` (Acts 26: 19) It was a heavenly vision of the ascended, glorified Head from whom He was a Gift to the Church that Paul relied, `When He ascended up on high, He ... gave gifts unto men...He gave some, Apostles....` (Eph. 4: 8 – 11) He had the glory – sign of His commission. An Apostle must have the sign of the heavenly vision. The heavenly vision is the throbbing theme of Apostolic witness, fellowship & service. Burning ourselves – we shall burn it into some. The depths of Apostleship can be measured by the substance, radiance & insistence of its vision. We are jealous that no diversionary interests shall dim the wondrous vision of the glorious Head.

THE VIRTUE SIGN

As power & passion are hand in hand so vision & virtue walk together. Notice the sequence in the following sentence. `Truly the signs of an Apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, & wonders, & mighty deeds.` (2 Cor. 12: 12) Fancy ` patience` before `wonders, & mighty deeds!` We had never thought of patience as a sign. The virtue of patience. But it puts us on the track of the virtue sign. If the Apostleship meeds anything, it needs patience. It is a divine virtue. `The God of all patience.` Without patience we can, as an Apostleship, squander what we have received. We can fail to finish the course. Then, what of the virtue of faithfulness? In Hebrews 3: 1 – 2 Christ Who is spoken of as `the Apostle,` was declared to be `faithful to Him that appointed Him.` The true Apostles were men that were faithful to the end. The Apostles, the messengers, the `sent – ones` finished their circuit in the perfect will of God at the feet of the glorious Christ Who sent them.

Patience & faithfulness are lovely jewels set side by side. Humility is a virtue of an Apostleship that magnifies the Master; it is another sign. Neither as being `Lords over God`s heritage...` What is more wonderful than the meekness & humility of the Apostle – Christ? That is the spirit! Listen to true Apostleship! `Have I committed an offence in abasing myself?` (2 Cor. 11: 7) How is humbles us when we think of the exalted ministry of this servant of God. What of this? `Ye have reigned as kings....God hath set forth us the Apostles last....` (1 Cor. 4: 8 – 9) All these & many other such virtue signs have their base in holiness, the great virtue sign, `Holy Apostles & Prophets....` (Eph. 3: 5)

Power needs passion to balance & control it. So does vision demand virtue. The supernatural calls for the practical in both cases. Vision must be accompanied by virtue for `Without holiness no man can see God.`

Let us then pray for a greater world – wide manifestation & recognition of Apostleship & for its development in power & grace. It is Christ`s own personal gift & appointment.`

[Updated on: Wed, 25 September 2013 06:18]