The Need for Apostolic Ministry

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Apostol2013

Apostol2013

Senior Member
#81
Jan 27, 2013
2,105
39
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#81
The Holy Ghost power is given that the believer be given dominion to be witneses for him the Holy spirit is given for liberation and the renewing of the mind the heart also that the whole being be transformed , in ordee.for liberation to be implemented the believer must be willng to die so that Christ shall live the curing of the heart a true circumcision not like given to thefathers in isRael under the old covenant but a covenant mightier than the first with an asurance of an eternal life , now the gift is given of the holy Ghost that the believer utilizes it to its fullness for edification through the renewing of the man in the likeness of our Lord but without power from above w cannot do nothing but only a learned believer can truly understand this sayi.g o i deliver , if you do not pocess the gift of the holy ghost ask for it and you shall receive it ...it is for your benefit....
 
Allin

Allin

Banned
#82
Jan 6, 2012
1,233
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#82
God began to make me aware of the apostolic ministry in spring '98; but He never put a name on it until summer '06. Yet, from that time till now, I've never read a definition or explanation of the apostolic ministry that is as concise as the definitions in these two articles:

1. Traits of apostles: Characteristics of an Apostle | Defining Words

2. Traits of apostolic people: Characteristics of Apostolic People | Defining Words

Here's an excerpt from the second article (the article is in black):

Concerning apostolic people:

  1. The sum total of their Christian mission is not encapsulated in the services or programs within the four walls of the church.
  2. Faith language or kingdom talk is incorporated in their daily interactions at home, work and abroad.
  3. They are responsible for planting seminal ideas or thoughts that spawn change in the hearts of those they network with.
  4. They exist for the benefit of others, not at the expense of others. They are self-supporting financially, and even generators of wealth to help others.
  5. The goal of their mission is to bring people into the Kingdom by demonstrating the Kingdom’s superior fruit. It’s a “taste and see that the Lord is good” approach.
  6. Apostolic people bring the super to the natural. Some are concerned with the apostolic movement waxing “secular” in its emphasis. Rather it is an invasion of radical demonstrators of effectual Kingdom power into the secular world.

Are we there yet? Nope.

What hinders us from becoming the Apostolic people God has called us to be?


  1. Our unwillingness to take ministry beyond the four walls of the church. The sacred vs. secular life.
  2. The hierarchical view of apostolic ministry. Ruling eldership is only one aspect of apostleship. The office of an apostle is currently recognized mainly as a top-tier title of authority within established works, rather than a ministry commissioned for pioneering or for instigation.
  3. The comfort of contemplative Christianity. It’s easier to think about change, preach about it, write about it, than to affect it.
  4. Limited view of ministry. Ministry, to most, is a three-point sermon and an altar call. On a great day, we’ll pray for someone, or operate in a spiritual gift. Ministry in the marketplace will require more than this. We must grow into hearing God for divine business or governmental strategy. We must be healers of more than individuals. We must learn to heal companies, businesses, systems or even nations. We’re thinking too small.
  5. Unwillingness to send sent ones. We take the best and brightest among us, in the church, and anoint them for the pastorate. If they have a grace for leadership, we call them into five-fold ministry, when God might be raising them up to take another mountain. Who knows, but the next governor might be in your Sunday School, right now. The next president of the school board could be in your youth group. We take the most articulate and well-received, and conscript them to pulpit ministry. What if their ministry is “secular” in application?
  6. We don’t realize the potential reward. We have faith for a Heavenly reward based on church attendance and volunteerism inside the church. The greatest potential for apostolic growth, in the here and now, is based on what we do “out there.”

For those who still wonder what the big deal is with being apostolic or apostolic ministry, I'll give a simple and concise definition of what it means to be apostolic (very simple): an apostolic person is a person who listens purposely to God (listens with the intent of obeying) and then acts on or obeys what God reveals to him. Samuel said to King Saul, "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offering as in obeying the voice of the Lord? For behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams" (1Sam. 15:22). Paraphrase: "Do you really think God prefers what you have to offer Him over your obedience to Him? Get it right, friend: obedience to God comes before good intentions (sacrifice), and to listen with the intention of obeyingis more precious to Him than the very best of anything you have to offer Him." Simplify. When the Lord in summer '12 told me to leave a church, He said He will lead me to "an apostolic people" whom He explained to me will be those who listen to and obey Him. Again, an apostolic person isn't some special or important Christian; rather, an apostolic person is a person who listens purposely to God (listens with the intent of obeying) and then acts on or obeys what God reveals to him. God called King Saul to be apostolic, but Saul wanted what Saul wanted and so refused; therefore, God found David, "a man after My own heart who will do all My will" (Acts 13:22). Amen.
 
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