Apostles
Today
AUSTRALIAN
APOSTOLIC COUNCIL
An
apostolic council is being formed here in Australia.
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.
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.
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.
The following article is Chapter 2 from the manual "HE GAVE SOME
TO BE APOSTLES..." by Paul Galligan.
MINISTRY
GIFT OF THE APOSTLE
APOSTLE
means a "sent one", a special delegate, one commissioned
for a particular task or role, one sent forth with a message. The key
to apostolic ministry is that God calls the apostle, raises that person
up, generally after many years of training and preparation, and sends
the person to do the work of an apostle.
Three
features of an Apostle:
- ‘One
who has had a visible encounter with the resurrected Christ.’
What does that mean? Paul the apostle never saw Jesus in the flesh
but he had a visible encounter with the risen Lord on the road to
Damascus. Likewise Stephen the first martyr had a visible encounter
of the Lord as he was being stoned. My testimony is that the apostolic
calling needs to be based on a very clear encounter with the LORD,
as there is much contending against this ministry.
2. ‘One who plants churches.’ The apostle is the church
builder.
- ‘One
who functions in the ministry with signs, wonders and miracles.’
Every ascension gift ministry can expect to function with signs and
wonders. The calling of the apostle should be confirmed by the Lord
in this way, specifically. Acts 2:43 "… many wonders and
signs were done through the apostles."
2Cor.12:12
"Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you
with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds."
{The
three quotations are from the word wealth in the Spirit Filled Life
Bible p.1738; the extra comments are mine.}
The
Lord calls people by name to be apostles
Apostles
are empowered by the Lord to cast out evil spirits and to heal
Apostles
are sent by the Lord to specific people groups
THE
CALLING OF APOSTLES
In
Matt. 10 we read of the calling of the first apostles by the
Lord Jesus Christ. The first calling we all receive is the call to follow
Jesus; then comes the appointment to a specific ministry.
Out of many who were following Jesus, God called the twelve to be apostles.
Mt.10:1
"When He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them
power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds
of sickness and all kinds of disease." The signs of the
apostle given by Jesus are power over unclean spirits and the ability
to cast them out, and the ability to heal the sick.
In
Matt. 10: 2-4 Jesus names the ones who are to be His apostles.
He called them by name. They were chosen by Jesus after
a night spent in prayer talking to His Father. (Lu. 6:12–16)
v.5-6
the apostles are sent out by the Lord. He gave them
specific instructions: to which people group they were to go, and where
they were not to go.
v.7-8
speaks of what the apostles are to do. They are to "…
preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse
the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons."
Mt.
10:9-15 how to conduct the ministry. They were sent
out by the Lord and were obedient to His instructions.
Apostles
will be persecuted for the conduct of apostolic ministry
v.16-20
Persecution will come when people step out into a full on ministry
for the Lord, even from family. The apostles were to expect persecution
but not to fear it because the Holy Spirit would tell them what they
were to say (v.19-20).
v.27-31
The apostle is to be prepared to lay down his life.
v.32-33
he is called to confess Christ before men; if you
do this Jesus has promised to confess your name before the Father.
v.34-39
this will bring division and cause strife. ‘He who does not
take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me’ (v.38).
He
who receives an apostle receives the Lord
Mt.
10:40-42 There are rewards for those who receive an apostle. Jesus
said [speaking to the apostles] "He who receives you receives
Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me." If
you receive an apostle you receive the Lord (v.40). The Lord
says this about no one else!
TWELVE
APOSTLES OF THE LAMB
The
apostles had been with Jesus for some time before He named them. They
had already had some training with Jesus. He knew them.
Rev.
21:14 In the New Jerusalem the walls of the city are built on the
foundations of the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb. The walls are made up
of living stones, (1 Pet.2:5)
The
church is built on the foundations of the apostle. Eph.2:20, "Jesus
Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone." The apostles,
both the twelve and those who are given as ascension gift ministries,
are foundational ministries upon which the apostolic church of the Lord
Jesus Christ is built.
There
are only 12 apostles of the Lamb. In Acts 1:15-26 we
read of a replacement being chosen for Judas; the qualifications for
that replacement: one who had been with Jesus from the day of
His baptism with John to the day of His ascension (21-22).
There
had to be 12 apostles of the Lamb.
THE
KEYS OF THE KINGDOM
Matt.16:18-19.
Jesus gives to the apostle Peter the keys of the kingdom.
Peter
uses the keys:
In
Jerusalem - Acts 2:17-41 Peter was the one chosen by
God to stand up with the 11 and preach on the Day of Pentecost with
the result that 3000 Jewish men were released into the kingdom. On that
day Peter used the keys to open the door to the kingdom of heaven to
those 3000 Jewish people.
In
Samaria – Acts 8:14-17 After Phillip had preached in
Samaria as a successful evangelist with signs and wonders, men and women
alike had believed and been baptised, but had not received the Holy
Spirit. The church in Jerusalem sent Peter and John, the two leading
apostles, who laid hands on them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
Peter fulfilled his commission by using the keys to open up the baptism
of the Holy Spirit in Samaria.
In
Caesarea – Acts 10:30-46 Peter went to the house of
Cornelius, a Gentile, to share the gospel and using the keys of preaching
about Jesus, released the Holy Spirit to them. Then he baptised them
in water. Peter opened the kingdom of God to the Gentiles.
Peter
is used as a foundational apostle in three specific ways in the book
of Acts to fulfill the Great Commission (Acts 1:8).
Paul,
the apostle, has the same keys Peter had and used them.
Paul
was given the keys firstly when Ananias was sent to heal him, see him
filled with the Holy Spirit and baptised in water. Acts 9:15-16
we read the commission given to Paul by Jesus through Ananias, "he
is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings and
the children of Israel". When Ananias laid hands on Paul,
he released to him the keys of the kingdom of heaven.
In
Acts 13:1-4 Paul is sent out as an apostle by the Holy Spirit
to do the ministry work of the apostle. Before that he is called a teacher.
He is already recognised as having the ascension gift ministry of Teacher.
The church met together ‘ministered to the Lord and fasted,’
then the Holy Spirit spoke to them "Now separate to Me Barnabas
and Saul for the work to which I have called them". The
other prophets and teachers then laid hands on them and sent them out.
In
Acts 14:1-4 Paul and Barnabas begin to minister as apostles,
preaching and teaching to Jews and Gentiles alike, winning new converts
and experiencing strong opposition. In v.3 we read that the Lord
was "bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs
and wonders to be done by their hands." Signs and wonders
follow the apostle!
In
Acts 19:1-7 we see Paul using the keys of the kingdom of heaven
to plant the church in Ephesus.
How
did Paul use the keys in Ephesus?
- He
preached Jesus to them.
- They
were baptised in the name of Jesus.
- They
received the Holy Spirit, spoke in tongues and prophesied.
These
twelve men became the foundation stones of the church in Ephesus.
APOSTLES
IN THE BOOK OF ACTS
Acts
2:38 ‘Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every
one of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission
of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."’
Here we see Peter using the keys: calling people to repent, be baptised
in the Name of Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit.
Acts
8:14-15 ‘Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard
that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John
to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might
receive the Holy Spirit.’
The
apostle is used to release the Holy Spirit.
Acts
9:15-16 ‘But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel
of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of
Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s
sake."
Paul
the apostle was called and commissioned by Jesus.
Acts
10:1-44 Peter was sent by the Lord to the house of Cornelius, to
Gentile believers. He preached Jesus to them, the Holy Spirit fell and
he baptised the believers.
Peter
the apostle is founding the church.
Acts
13:4 ‘So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit …’ It
is the Holy Spirit who anoints and sends. Paul and Barnabas
are sent out to do the ministry work of apostles.
Acts
14:21-23 ‘And when they had preached the gospel to that city
and made many disciples they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch,
strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue
in the faith, and saying, "We must through many tribulations enter
the kingdom of God." So when they had appointed elders in every
church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in
whom they had believed.’
Apostles
plant churches, they strengthen the church, appoint and commission elders
[pastors]. They are able to discern those who are to be raised
up into leadership.
Acts
18:1-8 Paul visits Corinth and we see apostolic work happening:
the church is being raised up, the work of evangelism is being
done and the word of God is being taught. This was the foundation
of a strong church being raised up in Corinth which moved in signs and
wonders.
Acts
19:1-7 In Ephesus, foundations are being laid in individual lives
and the church is being planted. The church in Ephesus grew into
a strong apostolic and evangelistic church with all the gift ministries
operating.
MINISTRY
OF AN APOSTLE:
- Apostles
are called by name and are sent by the Lord to go forth.
Mark
3:13-19
v.13,
Jesus went up on the mountain and ‘called to Him those He wanted’.
v.14-15,
‘He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He
might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses
and to cast out demons’.
Acts
13:1-4 the Holy Spirit identified Saul and Barnabas to be set
apart and sent out.
- Apostles
are used to plant churches and lay foundations.
In
Acts 2, Peter the apostle lays foundations on the day of Pentecost
when he tells people that they are to ‘Repent, and let every
one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission
of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’
In
Acts 8 the apostles Peter and John are sent to Samaria where Phillip
has been preaching. They prayed for the new believers that they might
receive the Holy Spirit, (v.15).
v.17
‘Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
The foundations are being laid.
Acts
10 records Peter speaking in the house of Cornelius. He preaches
Jesus to the Gentiles, the Holy Spirit comes and Peter commands them
to be baptized. The church is planted.
In
Acts 19:1-7 the apostle Paul is used to establish the church
in Ephesus. The disciples are baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Then Paul ‘laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them
and they spoke with tongues and prophesied’ (v.6).
3.
Apostles are given power by Jesus to heal, cleanse, raise the dead
and cast out demons. In Matthew Jesus sends out the
twelve and commands them in v.8 to "Heal the sick,
cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons."
This
is repeated in Mk. 3:15, where Jesus gave the apostles "power
to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons". This is part
of the great commission given to the apostles before Jesus ascended
into heaven, Mk. 16:17-18 "And these signs will
follow those who believe in My name they will cast out demons; they
will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they
drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay
hands on the sick and they will recover."
Apostles
preach the gospel with signs and wonders: Rom. 15:18-19, Paul
is writing to the church in Rome, "For I will not dare
to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished
through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient in mighty
signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from
Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel
of Christ".
A
gospel without power is not a gospel at all!
2
Cor.12:12 "Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished
among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds."
4.
Apostles are used by God to release the Holy Spirit. In Acts
8 Phillip went down to Samaria and preached Christ to the people.
Many responded, believed and were baptised. v14-17 "Now
when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received
the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them who, when they had
come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptised
in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they
received the Holy Spirit."
In
Acts 10 Peter preaches to the Gentiles in the house of Cornelius.
v 44 "While Peter was still speaking these words,
the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word."
In
Acts 19 Paul came to Ephesus and met a group of disciples and
asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit. They replied ‘We
have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit’ (v.2).
Paul opened up the Scripture to them and then he ‘laid hands
on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues
and prophesied’ (v.6).
5.
Apostles have authority from Jesus to bind and to loose.
Matt.16:19
‘And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and
whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and what ever
you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven’.
Matt.28:18
‘And Jesus came and spoke to them saying, "All authority has
been given to Me in heaven and on earth’.
Jesus
imparted His authority to his apostles, Luke 10:19 ‘Behold,
I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and
over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt
you.’
6.
Apostles are called to prayer and ministry of the word.
In
Acts 6:1-4 a dispute arose between the Hebrews and the Hellenists
(Greek speaking Jews) over daily distribution to the widows. The apostles
decided to appoint seven men who would oversee these needs.
v2-4
‘ Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said,
" It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and
serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men
of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may
appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually
to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
7.
Apostles exercise administrative oversight, raising others up to do
the work of the ministry. Acts 6:1-7 Seven others
are raised up to help with the work; they are commissioned with the
laying on of hands. The result of multiplying ministry: "the
word of God spread, the number of the disciples multiplied greatly."
8.
The ministry of the Apostle includes pastoring, feeding and tending,
shepherding the flock. Peter the apostle was commissioned
by Jesus to the pastoral ministry.
Jn.
21:15-17 Jesus instructed Peter to "Feed My lambs",
"Tend My sheep", and again to "Feed My
sheep".
9.
Apostles are to minister publicly and from house to house.
Acts
2:42-47 The early church was taught the ‘apostles doctrine’
and they ‘continued daily with one accord in the temple and
breaking bread from house to house’.
In
Acts 20:20 Paul is speaking to the church at Ephesus, reminding
them how he proclaimed the gospel to them and ‘taught publicly
and from house to house’.
10.
Apostles are to declare the whole counsel of God.
Paul
as an apostle was able to say that he had not ‘shunned to declare
the whole counsel of God’ (Acts 20:27). Acts2:42
speaks of the apostles doctrine which was taught in the early
church. In Hebrews 6:1-2 six foundations are listed which have
to be laid before the church can go on to maturity. These foundations
are: repentance from dead works, faith towards God, doctrine of
baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead and eternal
judgment. The apostle is to call the church back to foundations,
to ensure that they are properly laid. Unless foundations are properly
laid, God is unable to release the greater depth of His word to believers.
James
the Apostle declares the counsel of God to the council of Jerusalem.
Acts 15:6 ‘the apostles and elders came together to consider
this matter’, then in v13-21 he speaks the wisdom of
God into the situation.
11.
Apostles ordain elders.
The
apostles visited churches in different cities: Acts14:21 then
they ‘appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting,
they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed’ (verse
23).
Paul
commissioned Titus to appoint elders, Titus 1:5 ‘For this reason I
left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are
lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you’.
12.
Apostles are to persevere and expect persecution and tribulation.
Matt.
10:5-15 lists the instructions Jesus gave to the twelve before
He sent them out, then in v16-26, Jesus warns them that persecutions
are coming. In 2 Cor.11:23-28 Paul lists the sufferings he
has endured as an apostle. Jesus warns in Lu. 21:16 ‘You will
be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and
they will put some of you to death’. These warnings are repeated
in Mk.13:9-13. Jesus was rejected and persecuted. He told His
disciples, ‘A servant is not greater that his master, if they
persecuted Me, they will also persecute you’ (Jn.15:20).
The apostles in the early church experienced this persecution,
Acts 4:1-22. Peter and John were arrested and put in jail, and
commanded not to preach in the name of Jesus. Paul expected persecution
and summed it up in 1 Cor.4:9 ‘For I think that God has displayed
us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been
made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men’.
13.
Apostles carry concern or burden for the churches.
2
Cor.11:27-28 "In weariness, toil, sleeplessness, hunger and
thirst, often with fasting." An apostle is like a parent
watching over their children. By his letters it is apparent that Paul
carried a deep burden for all the churches he had visited. 2 Cor.12:14
‘Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will
not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the
children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for
the children’.
14. The Apostle is prepared to give all for the souls of the saints
in the churches.
The
apostle Paul says to the Corinthians in 2 Cor.12:15, ‘And
I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more
abundantly I love you, the less I am loved’,
15.
The Apostle does all things for edification of those in the churches.
2
Cor.12:19, ‘Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves
to you? We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved,
for your edification’.
16.
Christ proves Himself mighty in the ministry of the Apostle.
2
Cor.13:3, ‘since you seek a proof of Christ speaking in
me, who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you’.
17.
An Apostle lives and ministers by the power of God.
Paul
knew he had to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit. 1 Cor.2:1-5,
‘And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence
of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For
I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and
Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human
wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your
faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.’
Paul
was dependant on the power of God that was within him, 2 Cor.13:4,
‘For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the
power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with
Him by the power of God toward you.’
18.
An Apostle knows the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love
of God, and the communion (fellowship) of the Holy Spirit,
2 Cor.13:14, and is able to share that with others.
19.
The Apostle knows the weapons of warfare and is able to use them effectively.
2
Cor.10:3-6, ‘For though we walk in the flesh, we do not
war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not
carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down
arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge
of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of
Christ.’
An
apostle is able to punish all disobedience.
20.
Apostles are not to be compared with each other, or compare themselves
with others. 2 Cor.10:12, ‘For we dare not class ourselves
or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they,
measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among
themselves, are not wise.’
21.
Apostles know their sphere of ministry that God has appointed for
them.
2
Cor.10:13, ‘We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within
the limits of the sphere which God appointed us, a sphere which especially
includes you.’
22.
The Apostle facilitates the gospel going to the regions beyond.
2
Cor.10:14-16, Paul knows that he is called ‘to preach the
gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s
sphere of accomplishment.’
The
Apostle is to obey the command that Jesus gave in Matt. 28:19-20,
‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and
lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’
23.
The Apostle can be used to expose false apostles.
Paul
exercised this discernment in 2 Cor.11:13, ‘For such are false
apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles
of Christ.’
24.
The Apostle is supported financially by various churches.
2
Cor.11:7-9, the apostle Paul states that he has received wages
from other churches so he can preach the gospel ‘free of charge’
to the church in Corinth. Apostles have a right to be supported. 1Cor.9:1-18,
Paul is pointing out to the Corinthians that those who preach the
gospel should be supported, just as those who render any service have
a right to receive remuneration.
v13&14
‘Do you not know that those who minister the holy things eat
of the things of the temple, and those who serve at the altar partake
of the offerings of the altar? Even so the Lord has commanded that
those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel’.
25.
Apostles are also called to teach.
In
the Great Commission given by Jesus (Matt.28:20) the apostles
are commanded to ‘teach them all things that I have commanded
you.’
The
apostles taught ‘the apostles doctrine’ Acts 2:42. The
apostle Paul taught in Corinth: Acts 18:11, ‘And
he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God
among them,’ in Ephesus: Acts 19:9-10, Paul
‘…reasoned daily in the school of Tyrannus. And this continued
for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the
Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks,’ in Rome: Acts
28:30-31, ‘Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented
house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of
God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with
all confidence, no one forbidding him.’
Paul
taught Timothy and instructed him to teach others, 2 Tim.2:2,
‘And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses,
commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.’
26.
Apostles are sometimes abandoned.
2
Tim. 4:9-16. Paul found that there were those who forsook him,
those who sought to do him harm and those who resisted him.
27.
The Lord upholds His apostles.
2
Tim.4:17-18, ‘But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so
that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all
the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of
the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve
me for His heavenly kingdom.’
28.
Apostles must be disciplined in body/flesh.
1
Cor.9:27, ‘But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection,
lest, when I have preached to others, I myself would become disqualified.’
29.
Apostles must be temperate in all things.
1
Cor.9:25, ‘And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate
in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we
for an imperishable crown.’
They
are to exercise self-control. Eph.5:18, ‘And do not be
drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.’
SEVEN
OTHER CHARACTERISTICS OF THE APOSTLE.
{One
Lord, One Faith. W.A.C.Rowe. p248-9}
1.
God gives the Apostle the ability or enduement of Leadership.
Phil.
3:17 ‘Brethren, join in following my, example, and note
those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern’. Paul is
saying ‘follow my example’. The Apostle is to
live a life that is an example to others. ‘Follow me as I
follow Christ.’
2.
An Apostle walks with authority.
2
Pet. 3:2 ‘…that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken
before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles
of the Lord and Savior.’
Peter
had been given specific authority by the Lord, but that same authority
is given to all apostles by the Lord. The people of God should be
mindful of the words that come to them through the apostle that God
sends.
- An
Apostle’s life should be an exemplification of Grace.
Rom.
1:5 ‘Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience
to the faith among all nations for His name.’ Grace is received
through Jesus Christ.
Rom.
12:6 ‘Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is
given to us, let us use them.’ Each one has received grace
but there is a grace for the apostle to walk in and minister to the
Body. The apostle’s life ought to demonstrate the grace received..
- Comprehensiveness
of Ministry in the Apostle.
I
Thess.5:23 ‘Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely;
and may your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless at
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ God is bringing the
saints into this blameless perfection through the restoration of the
five fold ministry. There is a comprehensiveness of ministry of the
apostle to see the big picture and raise up the church.
- An
Apostle is to walk in integrity of stewardship.
Acts
2:42 ‘And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine…’.
Just as the law of Moses governed the life of the Old Testament church,
the apostles doctrine is what governed the life of the New Testament
church.
1
Thess.2:4 ‘But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted
with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who
tests our hearts’. Apostles have been entrusted with the whole
counsel of God.
- Enablement
of Administration.
2
Cor.11:28 ‘…besides the other things, what comes upon me daily;
my deep concern for all the churches.’ Paul the apostle has
an administrative oversight for the churches. Acts 4:35 ‘…and
laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone
had need.’ The early church ‘shared all things’.
When they wanted to give of their excess they brought it to the apostles,
and sought the counsel and confirmation of the leadership as to the
distribution of the gifts.
1
Cor.16:1 ‘Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have
given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also.’
Titus
1:5 ‘For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in
order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city
as I commanded you.’
2
Tim.4:10-12, Paul is exercising his oversight by giving instructions
to the saints.
- A
Quality of Blending of the ministries.
Mature
apostolic ministry often exhibits characteristics of all forms of other
ministries. Eph.4:11 ‘And He Himself gave some to be apostles,
some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers.’
Paul
demonstrated that blending of ministry. 2Tim.2:7 ‘…for
which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle – I am speaking the
truth in Christ and not lying - a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and
truth.’ Paul preached the gospel as an evangelist, he taught
the Word and he ministered as an apostle.
CONCLUSION
As
one reads the New Testament, looking to understand who are apostles
and what they do, one finds an abundance of material. So much of the
teaching of Jesus is directed to apostles. Much of Paul’s writing is
sharing about the ministry of the apostle. The New Testament is written
by apostles or by their close co-workers as in the case of Luke. The
book of Acts is the Acts of the Apostles.
The
Lord Jesus, the Head of the Church, is restoring the gift ministry of
the apostle in the church worldwide. The final ‘setting in
order of the church’ is taking place so that the Lord can
release the last days revival in every nation. The river will flow,
but not until the foundations are strongly and properly set, according
to the Word of God and not according to denominational tradition.
When
the one hundred and twenty disciples gathered in the upper room after
the ascension of Jesus into heaven, the Bible says, "These
all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication."
(Acts1:14) Out of the committed prayer Peter was led to replace
Judas, the apostate apostle who had suicided by this time. Once the
foundation apostles are fully in place, then the Day of Pentecost "fully
came!"
The
Lord was setting the church in order to receive an unprecedented
outpouring
of the Holy Spirit.
And
who was being set in order? Apostles, the foundation ministry of the
church. The Lord is showing us that the apostles have been set in the
church (1Cor.12:28); they are first! They are the foundation
ministry upon whom all else is built. Apostles must be received, for
when the church receives an apostle they receive Jesus the Messiah and
in receiving Him they will receive the Father God!
The
last days mighty revival is beginning to flow in some countries already.
Here
in Australia it is time:
time
for apostles to be set in place so that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit
that will touch "all flesh" begins to flow (Joel
2:28);
time
for the river of God that flows from the throne of God (Rev.22:1), under
the threshold of the east gate (Ezek.47:1), to begin to be channeled
over the foundation stones set in place by the Lord. Thus this
Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness
to every nation (Mt.24:14); the Gospel will be preached to every
creature with signs following (Mk.16:15-18).
The
following article is Chapter 1 of the manual "THE SPIRIT AND POWER
OF ELIJAH" by Paul Galligan. All the chapters of this manual are
available on the study manuals page on this site.
APOSTLES
ARE FATHERS
God
says, "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before
the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD, and he will turn
the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of
the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth
with a curse." Malachi 4:5-6
The
‘great and dreadful day’ referred to here, has not
yet come, and before that day, God is going to send Elijah
the prophet.
In
Lu.1:16-17 the angel of the Lord is prophesying the coming of
John the Baptist, saying "And he will turn many of the
children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also go before
Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers
to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to
make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
The
manifestation of the spirit and power of Elijah was
‘to
turn the hearts of the fathers to the children’
‘the
disobedient to the wisdom of the just’,
‘to
make ready a people for the Lord’.
This
was speaking of John the Baptist’s ministry to prepare the way for the
Lord’s first coming. But the spirit and power of Elijah
is coming again before the coming of the ‘great and dreadful day
of the LORD.’ This will be before His second coming.
At the first coming of the Lord there was rejoicing, with an angelic
choir singing in the heavens, (Lu.2:13-14). In other words this
was not a ‘dreadful’ day. Before that day comes, God
is going to give fathers who have a heart for His people.
WHO
ARE FATHERS?
ADAM
THE FIRST FATHER
Apostles
are fathers! They carry a headship for the church that is not given
to anyone else. The first apostle was Adam and he is the father of mankind.
We are all by nature children of Adam. He was meant to be the father
of a godly human race, but the covering we received from Adam
was broken when he fell into sin and God could not repair that
covering. God intended Adam to be fruitful and multiply and to fill
the earth with godly children (Gen.1:28), but Adam failed. Before
we were saved, we were children of Adam, who was a sinner and because
we were under that broken covering we all are born sinners.
NOAH,
AN APOSTOLIC LEADER
The
next apostolic leader in the Scripture is Noah. Noah was used by God
to build an ‘ark of salvation’ in his generation and bring
deliverance to his family,
having
preached God’s salvation to the whole human race.
ABRAHAM,
A TRUE FATHER
Two
thousand years after Adam, God raised up another apostolic father, Abraham.
He was called by God, who changed his name from Abram, which means ‘father’,
to Abraham, which means ‘father of many’, (Gen.17:5).
God chose this man on the fore-knowledge that he would rule his own
household well and that he would train up his children to do righteousness
and justice, (Gen.18:19). He was a father in his own household
and trained them in the ways of God. Abraham is known as the father
of the faith and we are his children through faith in
Jesus Christ (Rom.4:16). God gave to Abraham the promise
that through him every family on the earth would be blessed. God was
replacing the fallen apostle [Adam], with His chosen one, Abraham. As
believers we have a father in Abraham.
The
blessing, promised through Abraham to the whole human race, could not
come immediately. Until Jesus came it was confined to one small people
group, the children of Israel. Isaac is Abraham’s seed and from him
came Jacob. Jacob is the father of the twelve tribes of Israel.
MOSES,
FATHER OF A NATION
About
four hundred years later, God raised up Moses who became an apostolic
father to the children of Israel. Through Moses, God allowed one nation
of people to come under an apostolic covering that separated them from
all the other nations that were still under the fallen covering of Adam.
The Bible says in 1 Cor.10:1-2, that the children of Israel were
all baptised into Moses. God gave them the law and formed them into
a nation. They had a ‘father’; they were under a
covering and they had identity; they knew who they were. To
this day the Jewish religion is based on the law of Moses. However this
covering was only partial and did not release the blessing promised
through Abraham to all the nations.
JESUS
CHRIST IS THE APOSTLE OF GOD
THROUGH
CHRIST THE BLESSING OF ABRAHAM COMES TO ALL
There
are many apostolic figures throughout the Old Testament, but the next
important apostolic figure is Christ. It is through Christ that
the blessing of the promise given to Abraham is released to all. Moses
could only give a covering to the Jews. Through Christ that which our
father Adam lost, is restored.
The
blessing of Abraham is the promise of the Spirit, "that the
blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that
we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith,"
Gal.3:14. The blessing of the Spirit could not come until Christ
came. It is through Christ that we receive our inheritance. Gal.3:26
"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus,"
and verse 29 "And if you are Christ’s, then you are
Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise." When
we are born again we become a child of God, and the inheritance is ours;
but when we step into ‘sonship’, that is when we actually inherit.
JESUS,
THE APOSTLE OF GOD, IS OUR FATHER
Jesus
is the apostle sent by God, (Jn.20:21). He is our Apostle, Heb.3:1
"… consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ
Jesus." He became a ‘father’ to ‘children’,
"Here am I and the children whom God has given Me,"
Heb.2:13.
Jesus
is our spiritual father. He is leading many sons to glory (Heb.2:10).
He
was the Son to His Father and He has given us to the Father. We are
the brethren of Jesus, but in the household of God, Jesus is our Father.
He also knew we would need fathers for the church, so "He
Himself gave some to be apostles …", Eph.4:11.
JESUS
RECEIVED AND WALKED IN HIS INHERITANCE
Jesus
had an inheritance promised to Him in Ps.2:7-8 "I will declare
the decree; the LORD has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten
You. Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance,
and the ends of the earth for Your possession." Jesus
stepped into the inheritance of His ‘sonship’ at His baptism.
He was always the Son of God, but He was born a babe and grew as a child
being subject to His earthly parents (Lu.2:51). However it was
at His baptism that He was publicly acknowledged by the Father as a
Son. Matt.3:17 "And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying,
‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’" It
was after that, that He began to walk in His inheritance – taking authority
over the devil, healing the sick, performing miracles, preaching the
kingdom of God.
JESUS
RAISED TWELVE APOSTLES TO BE THE FATHERS OF THE CHURCH
One
of the main aspects of Jesus’ ministry was to raise up twelve apostles,
who were to be the foundational and leadership ministries of the church.
They were the apostolic fathers through whom Jesus gave birth
to the church. They are forever the foundation ministries of
the eternal church. Rev.21:14 "Now the wall of the city
[representing the church of Jesus Christ] had twelve foundations
and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb."
PETER
THE APOSTLE HAD A SPECIAL COMMISSION IN BIRTHING THE CHURCH
He
gave to Peter the keys of the kingdom, (Matt.16:19). Peter used
these keys to release the Holy Spirit [the Spirit was promised to us
through Abraham], to Jews on the day of Pentecost (Acts
2), and to Gentile believers (Acts 10), and
to Samarians (Acts 8). Peter had a special place
as an apostle and he fulfilled the commission given to him by Jesus.
He was chiefly the apostle to the Jews, while Paul was raised up to
be an apostle to the Gentiles, Gal.2:8.
WHAT
IS AN APOSTLE?
A
REPRESENTATIVE WHO HAS THE AUTHORITY OF THE ONE REPRESENTED.
An
apostle is one sent on behalf of someone else, similar to a governor.
The governor has absolute power because he is sent by his government
and is to fully represent them, but also has authority to make decisions
on their behalf. Jesus said to Peter in Matt. 16:19 "… whatever
you bind on earth will be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on
earth will be loosed in heaven."
JESUS
GAVE HIS AUTHORITY TO APOSTLES
Jesus
had authority to fully represent His Father, Matt.28:18 "All
authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth."
Jesus commissioned His apostles and sent them out with His authority
and power. An apostle is one who will fully represent Jesus in
the earth, Matt. 10:40 "He who receives you receives
Me and he who receives Me receives Him who sent Me." That
same authority and power that Jesus had, is released to the Body of
Christ through the apostles or those exercising apostolic ministry.
Not all are apostles but we are all meant to be apostolic.
A
GRACE GIFT
The
true nature of the apostle is that it is a grace gift, given by the
Lord Jesus Christ. Eph.4:7-8 "But to each one of us grace
was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says:
‘When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts
to men." Grace saves us (Eph.2:5), empowers us and
enables us to be the people of God He wants us to be. Both the apostle
and the disciple are dependent on the grace of God. 2 Tim. 1:9 tells
us that this grace was "given to us in Christ Jesus before
time began."
THE
CHURCH IS APOSTOLIC
APOSTOLIC
SIGNS
Jesus
has commissioned the whole church to be apostolic and we are an apostolic
people. We can expect apostolic signs to follow us. Mark 16:17-18
"And these signs will follow those who believe; in My name they
will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take
up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means
hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
These signs are to follow every believer. They are apostolic
signs and they belong to the people of God. They are similar to the
signs that Jesus gave to the apostles in Matt.10:8.
THERE
HAS BEEN NO CHURCH LIKE THE EARLY CHURCH
When
the persecution came, the disciples of the first church in Jerusalem
went out preaching everywhere. Philip, who had been ordained as a deacon,
proved to be a mighty evangelist. All the disciples, being apostolic,
went out preaching. These disciples planted a new church in Antioch,
Acts 11:20-21. Similarly in Ephesus in Acts 19, Paul the
apostle quickly raised up an apostolic company of people who reached
"all of Asia" with the gospel.
AN
APOSTOLIC COMPANY
Jesus
appointed apostles as the foundational and leadership ministry of the
church, to bring it to completion. The church is not an institution:
it is the Body of Christ. We, the church, are sent into the world to
preach the gospel. Jesus said to make disciples not church members!
The biblical pattern is of an apostolic company not church membership.
You become part of an apostolic company by relating to an apostle, by
identifying with an apostolic people, and all the grace and anointing
of the Lord is released.
RELATIONSHIP
TO A SPIRITUAL FATHER
The
true church is made up of people, the ‘called out ones’.
God does not dwell in buildings. The church is the house of God, made
up of living stones, 1 Pet.2:5. In the Scripture the church is
also referred to as a ‘city’ and ‘the bride of Christ’.
The church is a living company of people. It is the family of God in
the Spirit. We are the sons of God, male and female, (Rom.8:14).
We can all be sons in God’s family. We are in relationship with
a spiritual father; we are all members of His body. It is being
in relationship with an apostolic father that brings us together into
apostolic companies.
GRACE
AND APOSTLESHIP
The
grace of God on the apostle testifies to who he is, "…God
has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our
works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to
us in Christ Jesus before time began," 2Tim.1:9. True
apostles are called and appointed by God through Christ and the Holy
Spirit. There is an unlimited supply of God’s grace and His anointing.
It is the revelation of and the impartation of grace that enables us
to come into apostleship. Rom.1:5 "Through Him we have received
grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for
His name." Apostleship does not only refer to the gift
given to some, (Eph.4:11), but it refers to the grace given to
the church, enabling us all to come into the apostolic, leading to the
obedience of faith among all nations.
WE
ALL NEED A ‘FATHER’
Every
human being needs a father. Without ‘fathers’ there is
a lack of peace and grace; instead there is a striving to prove oneself.
Having a ‘father’ who loves unconditionally brings peace and security,
and actually releases us into the call of God. The approval and acceptance
that we long for comes to us from God our Father, but often only flows
fully to us through an apostolic father. We need to know we belong in
the family of God, and that ‘knowing’ comes through an apostolic father.
Receiving an apostle is receiving Jesus and the Father (Matt.10:40).
When
we are given or sent an apostle by the Lord, and we receive that one,
something happens: the grace of God is released to bring
us into a real experience of sonship.
THE
FAMILY OF GOD IS NOT HIERARCHICAL
1
Pet.5:5 "… all of you be submissive to one another …"
Eph.5:21
"submitting to one another in the fear of God."
Jesus
said that the greatest among you was to be the least. In the apostolic
church there is no hierarchy. Each member is submitted to one another
in love. Paul says that the part of the body that has the least honour
deserves the most honour, (1 Cor.12:23).
Phil.
2:5-7 "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal
with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond-servant
and coming in the likeness of a man."
Heb.
5:8 "… though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the
things which He suffered." As a son Jesus learned obedience.
The
apostle is as a father in the family of God: it is a family relationship.
There are always at least three generations in the church: fathers,
young men, little children, (1Jn.2:12-14). The fathers in this
context refer to all who have grown into maturity. Walking in ‘sonship’
is walking in maturity; walking in maturity will release the manifestation
of the glory of God through the church.
GOD
IS FATHER AND GOD IS SON
JESUS
IS THE ETERNAL SON OF GOD
Jesus
related to and spoke of His Father. Even as a lad of twelve years, He
said, "Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s
business?" Lu.2:49. At His baptism, God spoke from heaven,
acknowledging Jesus, "This is My beloved Son in whom I am
well pleased." Lu.3:22. Hebrews 1:5-13 powerfully
interprets Old Testament prophetic Scriptures to show the Sonship of
Jesus and to testify to His Divinity: "Your throne O God",
"You are My Son", "I will be to Him
a Father and He shall be to Me a Son".
THE
REVELATION OF FATHER AND SON
In
the book of John, Jesus explains His relationship to the Father:
Jn.14:6
Jesus is the way to the Father;
Jn.14:9
"He who has seen Me has seen the Father."
Jn.14:10
"I am in the Father and the Father is in Me."
"The
Father who dwells in Me."
Jn.14:13
The Father is glorified in the Son through answered prayer;
Jn.17:3
Eternal life is knowing the Father and Jesus Christ;
Jn.17:5
Jesus shared the Father’s glory before the world began;
Jn.17:21
"That they all may be one as You, Father, in Me, and I in You;
that they
also may be one in Us."
Jn.17:23
"I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in
one."
THE
REVELATION OF FATHER AND SON APPLIED
True
unity is being one with Jesus and the Father. The only way for
this to happen is to receive the apostles that He sends. Remember Matt.10:40
"He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives
Him who sent Me." God created us in His own image, according
to His likeness (Gen.1:26), and that image is revealed to be
God as Father and God as Son; God is Father to a Son and Son to a Father.
God is bringing His church into this revelation: He is restoring
us to His own image and likeness. Therefore He is raising up
apostolic fathers and releasing His children into an experience of sonship,
thereby bringing us all into a closer relationship with God.
GOD
IS SENDING ELIJAH!
The
spirit and power of Elijah has been restored and is being released.
Apostles
are being raised
‘grace
and apostleship’ is being received again
from
God the Father through Christ.
This
is releasing the children of God into apostolic relationships.
Apostolic
fathers have been restored
and
many are coming into this experience of grace and apostleship,
to
be manifest as ‘sons’.
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