These days there are many who claim to be doing God's ministry. In the old testament, there are various services related to the tabernacle. Everyone was not a priest. There are priests; there are those who do certain services and there are also women who do sundry work. Nevertheless except for the priests, none are authorized to enter the holy place. Other ministers should scrupulously follow the instructions of the priests and limit their services to the works allotted to them. Those who exceed their limits shall die. The regulations of the New Testament are also similar. However these days there are those who offer distorted self-explanations to scriptures, there are people who do ministry as they like, they go astray and also cause the fall of others. The plans and determinations of God are however unchanging. Therefore, only people should change themselves to pattern their ministry in accordance with the scriptures.

Let us look at God's ministry in the light of the New Testament. The word 'this ministry' is found in the Bible. Of this, the word 'ministry' denotes only apostolic ministry (Acts 1:17,25). Apostle means, the one who was chosen, called, anointed, and sent by God. Jesus Christ was sent by God the Father; Therefore He is also called an apostle ( Heb 1:3). Apostles cannot be made by any man, colleges, institution or church by itself. There are man-made priests and there are God-made priests. We need God-made priests, the apostles who are prepared, anointed, authorized and sent by God.

Some say that apostles are those who had left everything and some say that apostles are those who are not married. Some say that since they are heading many churches, they alone are apostles. Some think they are apostles because some others have called them so. Some say that they saw a vision or a dream or heard a voice and therefore they are apostles. None of these things will make someone an apostle nor bear proof that he is sent by God. There are also a few who say that there are just twelve apostles and no other. If questioned about apostle Paul, they agree that he is an apostle. They agree Barnabas also is an apostle (Acts 14:14). But if Matthias's name is mentioned (Acts 1:26), they raise their eyebrows. They do not agree that Matthias was an apostle even if the verse Acts 2:14 is pointed out wherein Peter was mentioned to be standing up with the eleven (other apostles) and they maintain against all reasoning that there are just twelve apostles and no other.

The early apostles were twelve. Among them, since one turned into satan, Matthias was added with the remaining eleven apostles and the total again became twelve (Acts 1:26). After these twelve apostles, in their line, God raised apostle Paul and others (Rom 16:7). There are differences between the early apostles and the apostles who came up later. The early apostles were with the Lord Jesus Christ and were eyewitnesses to His works; they had seen His death and His resurrection. They ate and drank with the resurrected Lord, received commandments from Him and were authorized and sent by Him (John 20:19-23).

They are powerful witnesses to the resurrection of the Lord (John 15:27; Acts 2:32, Acts 4:20,33; Paul 1 Cr 9:1). In their line, there are those who are raised as apostles.

Apostles are however alike in many respects.

1. An Apostle is chosen by God to be a role-model to the church and its leader.

2. Apostles receive the foundational doctrines and commandments straight from God. They do not learn them from man nor from those who were before them (Gal 1:11-12).

3. They live as examples for others to follow (Phl 3:17, Phl 4:9;1Th 2:9-10).

4. Signs of an apostle will be accomplished in them (II Cor 12:12).

5. There shall be no variance among their doctrines.

For instance, in Acts 15, what was preached by Paul and Barnabas and what was preached by Peter, James and John were the same. Doctrinal controversy arose because of a few who did not receive the commandment from apostles. The first council assembled and put an end to that evil.

Jesus Christ commanded apostles alone, to proclaim the word of God, to baptize those who accept, to build the church and to preach all that He has commanded. They alone are the foundations of the church. They are also prophets (Eph 2:20). God's ministry is that which is done after learning from the apostles, to be in fellowship with them and ministering under their leadership and guidance. This is the New Testament ministry which is affirmed and anointed by God.

'This ministry' denotes apostolic ministry only (Acts 1:17,25). This is the ministry received from God. Apostles were anointed by God (John 20:21 ; Acts 20:24; 1 Tim 1:12 ). The apostolic ministry of New Testament is mentioned in the Bible to be significantly more glorious than the priesthood of the Old Testament (II Cor 3:8-11). They alone are the ministers of the church as mentioned in Col 1:24,25. 'We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God' (II Cor 6:3-10). This is a ministry of reconciliation committed to them by God. God commanded and committed this ministry to apostles alone (Acts; Acts 1:1-3; Rom. 1:7; II Cor 5:18-20).

Apostles are authorized to bind and loose (Matt 16:18-19; II Cor 10:8, 13:10); to remit and retain sins (John 20:21-23; 1 Cor 5:3-5; II Cor 2:10 ); to feed and rule the flock of God (John 21:15-17); and as stewards of the mysteries of God ( 1 Cor 4:1). Counting them faithful God appoints them for this ministry (I Timothy 1:12; Col. 1:24-25). Only those called for this ministry were commanded to preach, to testify and to appoint others for the ministry and to commit them as witnesses (Acts 1:1-3, 10:40-42). In the New Testament, there is no independent ministry or ministry that is guided by one's own whims and fancies. One can testify and proclaim the gospel and perform some services. But no one should preach the word of God (doctrines) as he likes.

The ministry of preaching the word of God, the ministry of prayer and the authority to commit all belong to the apostles (Acts 6:4, 10:40-42). The chief gift in the church is apostleship (Rom. 1:5-6; 1 Cor 12:28; Eph 3:7-8, 4:11-13). Even those who were blessed with many spiritual gifts were subjected to the apostles by the same Spirit (Acts 6:2-6; 1 Cor 12:28; Eph 4:11-13; 1 Tim 2:7; II Timothy 1:10,11). Having fellowship with apostles is equivalent to having fellowship with the Lord (II John 1:3 ). Hearing their words is equivalent to hearing Lord's words (Luke 10:16). He who receives them, receives the Lord (Matt 10:40; John 13:20) and the one who leaves them leaves the Lord Himself (1 John 2:19). The church that is not established by the apostles is not a church. Those who are not having this ministry preach perverse and human opinions, thus spoiling themselves and those who follow them ( I Pet 2:8; 2 Pet 2:1-2).

This ministry means apostolic ministry alone. Joining this ministry and doing ministry with its fellowship is the true New Testament ministry of God. God gives this ministry only to the true church. The church that is not having this ministry cannot be the body of Christ. You too need an apostle. We are of God. He who knows God (born of God) hears us (1 John 4:6)(NKJV).

'God has committed to us the word of reconciliation' (II Cor 5:18)(NKJV)