Apostles Today

For further information on Apostles Today please read the book.  

What is an apostle?

“An apostle is one sent on behalf of another with the authority of the sender to successfully fulfil that for which he is sent, and to fully represent and make known the sender”

The first apostles were appointed by Jesus

“…He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles.” Luke 6:12-13

These 12 [Judas was replace by Matthias – Acts 1:25] are called the apostles of the Lamb.

(Rev. 21:14)

Apostles in the early church

In Acts 13:2-4 the Holy Spirit identified Saul (Paul) & Barnabas to be set apart and sent out as apostles, (Acts 14:14). There are up to 26 apostles named in the New Testament.

When Jesus ascended into heaven, He released gifts

“When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men” Eph. 4:8

It is a five-fold gift: “He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists and some pastors and teachers.” Eph. 4:11

Each of the five gifts releases grace to the body of Christ:

“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift” Eph. 4:7. Every saint needs the grace that each five-fold minister releases.  

The gifts are for a specific purpose - to equip [perfect] the saints & to edify [build up] the body of Christ, and must do the work of the ministry until “we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” Eph. 4:12-13

Apostles are appointed by the will of God

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God.” Eph.1:1

“Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father…) Gal.1:1

Why do we need apostles?

God has set an order in His body 

“And God has appointed these in the church; first apostles, second prophets, third teachers …” 1 Cor.12:28

The church is to be built on the right foundations

“Having been built on the foundations of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.” Eph.2:20

Apostles bring revelation of the mystery

“How that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (… by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ.) Eph.3:3-5

Apostles represent Christ

“He who receives you [the apostles] receives Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” Matt.10:40

Apostles are given to bring the nations to the obedience of the faith

“Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name.” Rom.1:5

The church grows through the apostles’ doctrine (the teachings of Jesus)

The early church “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine …” Acts 2:42

 Apostles are fathers

They have the heart of a father for the church because they have been appointed by Jesus to bring the revelation of the Father to the church. “.. you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.” 1Cor.4:15

Apostles are vital ministries: in the founding of the church; and  in the life and the development of the church of Jesus Christ.

Apostles are needed today:

·                     to set the church in order

·                     to restore proper foundations

·                     to ordain elders in every place

·                     to bring the revelation of the mystery

·                     to release the grace of God

·                     to work mighty signs and wonders

·                     to bring the church to maturity.

APOSTOLIC COUNCIL

The apostolic council is not a standing body,

The apostolic council comes together whenever necessary to deal with issues and problems facing the church,

The apostolic comes together to further fellowship, co-operation and build relationship with other leaders of the church of the region, the State or the Nation.

Purpose of the council: to provide oversight and leadership for ministers, ministries and fellowships who want to be part of the apostolic church as patterned in the Scripture and that is emerging everywhere today.

The council is a place where senior leaders can relate as peers and submit in a mutual relationship and be accountable for their doctrine and practice.

Membership of the council: will include leaders of various apostolic companies and leaders of apostolic and prophetic bodies. Members of the council will be in full agreement with and part of the apostolic and prophetic restoration that Christ is bringing to pass in His church. Each member of the council will accept and honour the ministry calling and appointment upon the other members of the council; each member will accept the oversight of the council and be willing to submit and be accountable to other members in issues of faith and practice.

The formation of this council is not the beginning of a new movement or denomination or network, but a realistic outworking of Scriptural practice.

A Fellowship for Ministers: if you are a pastor or a minister moving towards the apostolic/prophetic restoration of the church and you desire to be in fellowship with other ministers and with apostles and prophets, then please make yourself known. There are regular conferences, seminars and schools held in Australia; as well there are gatherings for ministers and leaders to come together in apostolic company for times of refreshing and encouragement.

If you are a senior leader and you are interested in being part of such a council, please email Paul Galligan on: paul@revivalministries.org.au  for further dialogue.

APOSTLES - THE MASTER BUILDERS

What is an Apostle?

To understand 'what is an apostle' , we need to first of all understand or 'consider' the apostle, Jesus Christ. Hebrews 3:1 says Therefore holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus." As the apostle, Jesus is building the house of God, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.  v6.

Literally the Greek word apostolos means 'a sent one'. Jesus is the 'sent one' of God. An apostle is sent by someone. The first twelve were sent by Jesus (Jn.17:18). We need to note that the word 'sent' in John 17:18 and in a number of other verses, is the Greek word, apostello, which means to send, to send as a delegate or to set at liberty.

An apostle is sent by someone and is meant to represent that one. Jesus was sent by the Father and represented the Father, that is, He made the Father known to men. Whoever received Jesus received the Father (Jn.14:9-10a). In Matthew 10:40 Jesus told the apostles when He was first sending them out, Whoever receives you receives Me and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent me .

Apostles in the New Testament

In fact when one begins to look for apostles in the New Testament, we find that they are talked about everywhere. It is very surprising that in the church that we are a part of, we mostly only hear of pastors. We do not hear of apostles; we are told that there are no apostles today; yet we automatically assume that there are pastors today. By what authority do we make such decisions?

In the New Testament, apostles are referred to many times and at least 26 people are called apostles, and it seems that others are referred to. There are no direct references to pastors except in Ephesians.4:11 He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers". No one person is actually called a pastor in the New Testament.

By what authority do you say you are a pastor? For many it is on the basis of denominational authority or man's practice only; it is not by divine appointment, and yet all of the ministries in the New Testament church are by divine appointment. God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues  1Cor.12:28. 

Apostles mentioned by name

The twelve apostles of the Lamb, Matthias replacing Judas.

The twelve in Matt.10:2-4; Matthias in Acts 1:26;

Other apostles given by Christ in His ascension Eph.4:11

Paul and Barnabas in Acts 13:2 &14:14;

Andronicus and Junia [and other apostles referred to] in Rom.16:7;

Apollos by inference in 1Cor.1:12 & 4:6; Apollos is spoken of along with Paul & Peter

Titus in 2Cor.8:23, - messenger in KJV is literally apostle.

James, the brother of the Lord in Gal.1:19; The brothers of the Lord in 1Cor.9:5 - they are named in Mark6:3 to be James, Joses, Judas, Simon;

Epaphroditus in Phil.2:25 - messenger in KJV is literally apostle, same Greek word apostolos.

Silvanus and Timothy in 1Thess1:1 & 2:6

Who sent Paul as an apostle?

Acts 13:2-4a says the Holy Spirit told the leaders at the church in Antioch to separate to me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit. They were sent out by the Holy Spirit but the Holy Spirit used the gathered leaders, certain prophets and teachers  (v1) to actually send them.

In Acts 14:4 & 14, Barnabas and Saul, now called Paul, are identified as apostles. They are no longer referred to as a prophet and a teacher, but as apostles. They are not apostles of the Lamb (Rev.21:14). There can only ever be 12 of them, and Matthias (Acts 1:25-26) replaced Judas to be the twelfth apostle.

So what sort of apostles are Paul and Barnabas and others referred to in the New Testament? They are apostles according to the ascension gift ministries given by Jesus when He ascended (Eph.4:7-12). Note that the gift ministry of apostle was finally released to the twelve by the Spirit after Jesus had ascended - they were empowered by the gift on the day of Pentecost, but the twelve are always unique because they had been with Jesus from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up (Acts 1:21-22).

All other apostles are appointed by Jesus in His ascension. To deny that there are apostles today is to deny that Jesus is seated on the throne.

What is the task of the Apostle?

To build the house of God

It has already been mentioned that the task is firstly to represent and to make the sender known. The mission or task of an apostle is then to build the house of God. Jesus declared in Matthew 16:18 that He would build the church. He had already appointed the twelve apostles and it was by training them and preparing them that Jesus knew that the church would be founded according to His will. Then in His ascension He gave the five-fold ministries to build on His behalf.

To lay the right foundation

Paul tells us in 1Corinthians 3:10-11 that as an apostle he is a 'wise master builder' who is able to lay the right foundation - which is Christ Jesus - and to set the building plan in place so that other ministries can build on that right foundation. The foundational role of the apostles is confirmed in Ephesians 2:19-22 where Paul says that the house of God is built on the foundation of apostles and prophets. Even though the church has ignored the ministries of apostle and prophet for centuries, the Scripture is clear that they are necessary foundation ministries for the building of the church.

What is the grace of an apostle?

To be a father

Firstly the apostle is to be a father, bringing up the children to be sons. In 1Corinthians 4:14-16, Paul talks to the Corinthian church as my beloved children . He said You might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel.

Paul writes to the Galatians in a similar way. My little children, for whom I labour in birth again until Christ is formed in you  Gal.4:19. The Galatians are already saved and Paul was the one who preached to them. As an apostle Paul took responsibility to bring up the ones he brought to Christ. He was a father to them and he was concerned that they would grow to maturity in Christ.

Are apostles the only ones to be fathers in the body of Christ? No! All mature ones are to be as fathers, but one of the manifestations of apostolic grace is the fathering spirit, that brings up the children to maturity, becoming fathers in due time. The apostle John recognized three generations in the church at any given time: little children, young men and fathers (1Jn.2:12-14).

To bring forth revelation

Secondly the grace on the apostle is to bring forth revelation, to make known the mystery (Eph.3:2-8). Paul talks about the grace that God gave him to understand and to explain the mystery of Christ and His church. He refers to this again in Colossians 1:25-26a I became a minister according to the stewardship which was given to me from God for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery ... .

Oh, how the church needs accurate preaching and teaching of the word today!

Oh, how we need the exposition of the Scriptures, not the opinions and concepts 

of men!

Oh, how we need the deeper wisdom, the mystery, which God ordained before the

 ages for our glory  1Cor.2:7.

To be a master builder

Thirdly the grace on the apostle enables the apostle to be a master builder (1Cor.3:10); to have the vision to build the church and to facilitate the other ministries to work together to bring the church to maturity (Eph.4:12-13). As we return to the New Testament pattern of ministry, making disciples rather than building churches, as we follow the apostolic example of the apostles and brethren in the Scriptures we will become a pattern for others to follow (Phil.3:17).

To recognise the calling of others to ministry

Fourthly the grace of the apostle is to discern and recognise the calling upon individuals' lives to become ministers; to raise them up in the ministry; and finally to send them out to do the work of the ministry.

Timothy in the Scripture is a marvelous example of this. It is recorded in Acts 16 that Timothy was a disciple "well spoken of by the brethren" (v2). Paul wanted Timothy to go with him, and he did. Paul trained Timothy for the ministry and in due time was able to send Timothy out in ministry as a beloved and faithful son in the Lord  (1Cor.4:17). Even when Timothy is operating autonomously in ministry, Paul writes to him, exhorting him to stir up the gift of God which is in you  (2Tim.1:6).

To love the church

Fifthly, the grace of the apostle is to love the body of Christ. Paul loved the church dearly. He said to the Corinthians "Our heart is wide open" (2Cor.6:11). In another place he talks of the all-consuming burden of the churches that he carried (2Cor.11:28).

The reality of Apostleship!

The word apostleship is used four times in the New Testament. It is the Greek word apostole. This word means 'commission'. We call the instructions that Jesus gave to the apostles in Matthew 28:19-20 the Great Commission. The Great Commission is to go to nations to make disciples. Notice that in the making of disciples, bringing them to faith and baptism is only the first part of discipleship; and yet, worldwide, the church only concentrates on "getting people saved" so they can go to heaven, and fails to teach them the word of God so that they can be effective disciples in the world, demonstrating the reality of Christ and His kingdom.

1) The specific calling to be an apostle

Apostleship is mentioned in Acts 1:25, and refers specifically to one of the disciples becoming the 'twelfth apostle of the Lamb'. In general apostleship here refers to the specific calling of a person to be an apostle. Two men qualified to become the twelfth apostle but one was chosen - this was his predestination based on God's calling and choice, not on man's qualifications or choosing.

A person needs to know the specific calling and appointment to be an apostle. Paul bore witness that he had seen the Lord! Many have said that an apostle today needs to have seen the Lord. While this is not strictly stated in Scripture, the principle is important. Many are confused today about who are apostles?

My testimony is that I have seen the Lord; I know I am an apostle by His commissioning and appointment. Therefore the opinion of others holds no sway with me. If you are a minister of Christ you need to know His appointment. 

2) A ministry to the nations

Apostleship is mentioned in Romans 1:5, and here Paul tells us that grace and apostleship  are the means whereby nations are brought to the obedience of faith . Grace and apostleship are the means God gives to fulfill the Great Commission.

The Great Commission is to make disciples of all nations. We can have a vision to reach a certain people or to plant so many churches, but God has commissioned us to reach all nations by making disciples and it is by the grace He gives and by the gift and ministry of apostleship that we are enabled to reach whole nations.

This is done not primarily by preaching the gospel nor by planting churches but by making disciples, which includes preaching, baptizing and teaching. Making disciples is the means to multiplication, and thus fulfilling the Great Commission.

In Christ we have received grace and apostleship to reach whole nations

and to reach all nations.

In our ministry to the nations, as the teams go out from SHILOH, we are seeing nations being reached. An example of this has taken place in Kenya. A brother who was the presiding bishop of the largest Pentecostal denomination [4000+ churches] in that nation, came to Australia in late 2006. In Australia he met some disciples who gave him some of my teaching material that opens up the apostles' doctrine.

When I went to Kenya in 07, he asked me to come and teach his pastors the apostles' doctrine. We did this as a team in a small way in 2007 and then in 2008 I spent two and a half weeks serving with the bishop in a number of seminars for pastors of that denomination.

The leader of another denomination in Kenya [2700 pastors] is a personal friend who has received revelation of the apostolic and openly makes teaching available to the pastors of that denomination. It is not a Pentecostal denomination.

By faithfully teaching the apostles' doctrine, which is all that Jesus commanded us (Matt.28:19) and all that the Holy Spirit revealed to Paul and others as written in the New Testament, we are witnessing nations being reached. The apostles' doctrine is non-denominational; it is not bound in any way; it is the straightforward teaching of the word of God as it is written.

3) The fruit of the ministry

Apostleship is mentioned in 1Corinthians 9:2, You are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord . This refers to the home-based fruit of the individual apostle. Paul is saying that the Corinthian brethren are the proof of his apostleship.

Each apostle who is truly ministering as an apostle will be able to develop a home base or a number of churches who are the fruit of the ministry and thereby the certification of apostleship. Then the apostle or apostles or an apostolic delegate such as Barnabas in Acts 11 being sent to the new church in Antioch (v22), are sent out from the home base. There needs to be someone to send and a base to be sent from!

Apostleship is much more than being a successful itinerant minister. There needs to be fruit of the apostle's ministry in the home base and in the ministries [sons] raised by the apostle. For example Paul was able to send Timothy my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ  1Cor.4:17. Paul was confidently able to send out Timothy and to know that he would fully represent him. Timothy was fruit of Paul's ministry.

In sending Onesimus home to the master, Philemon, Paul said, I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains … I am sending him back. Therefore receive him, that is, my own heart  Phile. v10-12. The change in Onesimus that would be evident to Philemon, was the fruit of Paul's ministry.

Paul says that he was an apostle of Jesus Christ according to the faith of God's elect  Tit.1:1. He said to the Corinthians If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you  1Cor.9:2. If you are an apostle, then who are you an apostle to? This question must be able to be answered.  

4) The sphere of the ministry

Apostleship is mentioned in Galatians 2:8 and here it refers to the sphere of ministry of particular apostles. Peter was recognised as the one responsible to take the gospel to the 'circumcised', and Paul to the 'uncircumcised'.

These were very large spheres of responsibility and we know that many other apostles were involved in both spheres. Thomas, one of the twelve, took the gospel to India. Recently we were ministering in India and found that the legacy of Thomas is still a reality today.

Paul speaks of the sphere of ministry in 2 Corinthians 10:12-18. He makes some important points:

·        we are not to compare ourselves with those who commend themselves  v12

·        we are not to try to measure ourselves or compare ourselves with others v12

·        we need to know the limits or boundaries of the sphere of ministry which God has appointed us  v13

·        we are to know where we have authority v14

·        we are not to boast beyond measure  or in other men s labours  v15a

·        the faith of the brethren in the apostle s own sphere enlarges the apostle s effectiveness v15b

·        we are to preach the gospel in the regions beyond  v16a; the apostolic message is to cover the whole earth.

·        we are not to boast in another man s sphere of accomplishment  v16b

The sphere of ministry of an apostle has to begin somewhere. For Paul it was to be sent out on a missionary journey. He came back from that journey having effectively planted churches, by having made disciples.

When we began our ministry in Toowoomba at the beginning of 1998, we began by teaching the word, breaking bread and praying from house to house. Within time, we had disciples who had become part of the ministry. By mid 2001 there were enough disciples to form an apostolic company. Out of this base I personally have been able to go to the nations with teams and many others have gone in teams from SHILOH apostolic company to the nations.

From mid 1999 we had been able to establish short term training schools and now we have a functioning apostolic training centre.

There is a plan

The church cannot be built without functioning apostles. Paul said, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it  1Cor.3:10. The typical church scene today is one of confusion. Every church leader, including pastors of denominational churches, are building after their own vision, after their own will. They do not relate to an apostle; they have not been trained in apostolic doctrine and understanding of the word of God; and therefore the church is being built in every which way, not representing the church of the Scripture and failing to reflect the glory of God.

It is important to understand apostles, the ministry of an apostle and apostleship in these days of restoration. Many are called apostles or are calling themselves apostles in these days. Many are asking how do we know who is an apostle? I trust this short teaching helps us recognize and receive the ministry gift of the apostle, that Christ has set in the church.