What is an apostle? Most of you have heard the term. Most everyone
in the church world is discussing this term and how it relates to the
church today. Are there apostles? Did they become extinct when the
Paul died?
If there are apostles, how would you recognize them? These are great questions that we hope to clarify for you.
An apostle lays a brand new foundation starting from scratch and is able to set things in order. Paul's entire way of living changed - not just his way of thinking but everything was set in order for the change. He stated in Romans 15:20, and so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man's foundation. As Paul was totally changed because of his Damascus Road experience, so are many people being changed being changed because the Lord is doing it again. Christ's apprending Paul was the act of a moment, complete and immediate. Paul's apprending of Christ began at the same moment but was continued throughout life, so that in old age, he could say, Not as though I had already attained...but I follow after, if that I may apprehend.
If there are apostles, how would you recognize them? These are great questions that we hope to clarify for you.
The Apostle Lays a New Foundation
An apostle lays a brand new foundation starting from scratch and is able to set things in order. Paul's entire way of living changed - not just his way of thinking but everything was set in order for the change. He stated in Romans 15:20, and so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man's foundation. As Paul was totally changed because of his Damascus Road experience, so are many people being changed being changed because the Lord is doing it again. Christ's apprending Paul was the act of a moment, complete and immediate. Paul's apprending of Christ began at the same moment but was continued throughout life, so that in old age, he could say, Not as though I had already attained...but I follow after, if that I may apprehend.
It is a point of the upmost importance to understand the ministry of the apostle to observe that Paul knows
nothing of any progressive stages or gradual progress in his conversion
to the gospel. He looked back to it throughout his life as a sudden
overwhelming event, which surprised him in the full tide of his Judaic
career, and drove him, in spite of himself, into a new channel. He is
a conquered rebel whom God leads in triumph in the face of the world.
If he preaches the gospel, he cannot make any boast of doing so, he was
compelled to preach it, under a higher necessity, which he had no power
to resist. There he stands -- a slave in chains (I Cor. 9:15-18).
Paul did his utmost to resist the power of Christ and His truth. The revelation on the way to Damascus overwhelmed him. He was led into the city a prisoner of Jesus Christ. During the next three days, he could do nothing but bow in speechless amazement at the terrible sin that he had been guilty of, and the inconceivable grace that had been bestowed upon him.
Apostles are Called By Jesus Christ
In Luke 6:13, Luke stated, And when it was day, he called His disciples to Himself and from them, He chose twelve whom He also named apostles.
Jesus made the final decision. Jesus spent the whole night in prayer. Even though He flowed in the anointing of God and walked in spiritual revelation, He still spent the entire night praying about His decision.
Why did Jesus choose these twelve? No one knows how the selection process took place.
Set Apart
Paul stated in Romans 1:1, Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God. This calling was not a choice of Paul's to make. He was separated unto the gospel of God for one specific purpose in life.
Ministry Office of the Apostle is a Gift and Calling
The ministry office of the apostle is a gift and a calling, not a spiritual attainment. There is a price to pay for it; however, as you will see, God calls by His grace and He chooses by His grace according to His foreknowledge.
An apostle does NOT produce scripture that is not found in the Word of God. Today, we have the gospels, the letters of Paul and Peter, and various other apostolic men who were gifted and called by God to produce the final revelation in Scripture of what God needed to say to man.
Servanthood
An apostle is called to be a servant. I'm afraid this may disappoint those who strive to please others for self-satisfaction. The apostle, along with the prophet, are foundation gifts. Even in a physical building, you CANNOT see the foundation, but the building would not and could not stand without a sturdy foundation. Paul was announced as a servant of Jesus Christ, then an apostle. That is how he announced himself. A 'servant' in the Greek means a slave, one who belongs to his master.
Do you want to be an apostle? If so, you must learn to serve, to do things you do not feel like doing. Paul states in I 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.
Personal Testimony
Ann and I traveled to Southeast Asia and Europe in 1997 for a seven week tour. While on this trip, we had a supernatural visitation from the Lord and knew our lives would never be the same. We began an indepth study into covenant and the role of the apostle and spiritual father. As we prayed, the Lord reminded us that Bishop Bill Hamon of Christian International, Santa Rosa Beach, FL, a father of the prophetic movement, had spoken into our lives in 1986. This began an open flow of prophetic words concerning our role in the fathering ministry. As we spent time with Bishop Hamon and he became our spiritual father, we began to understand the importance of accountability and covering. We now have spiritual sons and daughters that look to us as a spiritual father, and we are blessed to speak into their lives. Our son, Rob, and daughter-in-law, Melissa, now pastor the church, Church of the Harvest International, that we planted when we arrived in the Atlanta area. They look to us not only as physical parents but also their spiritual parents.
As we now live in the dimension ordered for us by our Lord Jesus, we realize that "they that are of Christ have crucified the flesh." To truly serve in the role as an apostle, we must 'walk in the Spirit' so we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. It is not about others serving us. It is about Ann and I being servants to those that the Lord has commissioned to walk hand in hand with us on this journey.
Paul did his utmost to resist the power of Christ and His truth. The revelation on the way to Damascus overwhelmed him. He was led into the city a prisoner of Jesus Christ. During the next three days, he could do nothing but bow in speechless amazement at the terrible sin that he had been guilty of, and the inconceivable grace that had been bestowed upon him.
Apostles are Called By Jesus Christ
In Luke 6:13, Luke stated, And when it was day, he called His disciples to Himself and from them, He chose twelve whom He also named apostles.
Jesus made the final decision. Jesus spent the whole night in prayer. Even though He flowed in the anointing of God and walked in spiritual revelation, He still spent the entire night praying about His decision.
Why did Jesus choose these twelve? No one knows how the selection process took place.
Set Apart
Paul stated in Romans 1:1, Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God. This calling was not a choice of Paul's to make. He was separated unto the gospel of God for one specific purpose in life.
Ministry Office of the Apostle is a Gift and Calling
The ministry office of the apostle is a gift and a calling, not a spiritual attainment. There is a price to pay for it; however, as you will see, God calls by His grace and He chooses by His grace according to His foreknowledge.
An apostle does NOT produce scripture that is not found in the Word of God. Today, we have the gospels, the letters of Paul and Peter, and various other apostolic men who were gifted and called by God to produce the final revelation in Scripture of what God needed to say to man.
Servanthood
An apostle is called to be a servant. I'm afraid this may disappoint those who strive to please others for self-satisfaction. The apostle, along with the prophet, are foundation gifts. Even in a physical building, you CANNOT see the foundation, but the building would not and could not stand without a sturdy foundation. Paul was announced as a servant of Jesus Christ, then an apostle. That is how he announced himself. A 'servant' in the Greek means a slave, one who belongs to his master.
Do you want to be an apostle? If so, you must learn to serve, to do things you do not feel like doing. Paul states in I 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.
Personal Testimony
Ann and I traveled to Southeast Asia and Europe in 1997 for a seven week tour. While on this trip, we had a supernatural visitation from the Lord and knew our lives would never be the same. We began an indepth study into covenant and the role of the apostle and spiritual father. As we prayed, the Lord reminded us that Bishop Bill Hamon of Christian International, Santa Rosa Beach, FL, a father of the prophetic movement, had spoken into our lives in 1986. This began an open flow of prophetic words concerning our role in the fathering ministry. As we spent time with Bishop Hamon and he became our spiritual father, we began to understand the importance of accountability and covering. We now have spiritual sons and daughters that look to us as a spiritual father, and we are blessed to speak into their lives. Our son, Rob, and daughter-in-law, Melissa, now pastor the church, Church of the Harvest International, that we planted when we arrived in the Atlanta area. They look to us not only as physical parents but also their spiritual parents.
As we now live in the dimension ordered for us by our Lord Jesus, we realize that "they that are of Christ have crucified the flesh." To truly serve in the role as an apostle, we must 'walk in the Spirit' so we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. It is not about others serving us. It is about Ann and I being servants to those that the Lord has commissioned to walk hand in hand with us on this journey.