Modern day so-called apostles and prophets

• Issue: Nowadays some in evangelical Christendom claim believers, with adequate training and sponsorship, can become apostles and prophets.
• For example, in Kansas City there is a school for training apostles and prophets.
• Scripture provides an example from the Church’s early history of a person desiring to gain apostolic authority and power to bestow the spiritual gift of tongues-speaking. Acts 8:18-23 documents that when a man named Simon, probably a Samaritan, saw Peter and John bestowing the gift of the Holy Spirit on Samaritan believers, and most likely seeing them miraculously gain the ability to praise God in a known language they had not previously learned (perhaps Hebrew), he sought to purchased from those Apostles the apostolic authority and power to do the same works. God through Peter’s comments showed us what He thinks of such aspirations. Peter condemned Simon’s request, saying;
  • The idea that God’s gift, either of apostleship or the Holy Spirit, or both, is for sale is rejected by God.
  • Entertaining the notion that apostleship or the Holy Spirit can be purchased shows a heart not right with God.
  • The idea is wickedness, of which one should repent.
  • The idea reveals a heart of bitterness and iniquity.

Acts 8:14–24 (NASB95)

14Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John,

15who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.

16For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

17Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.

18Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,

19saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

20But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!

21“You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is not right before God.

22“Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you.

23“For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.”

24But Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me yourselves, so that nothing of what you have said may come upon me.”