APOSTOLIC REVOLUTION

                            

                   PRACTICAL OUTWORKING OF THE APOSTOLIC MINISTRY

PRACTICAL OUTWORKING OF THE APOSTOLIC MINISTRY-“They Preached The Good News” This may appear simplistic and obvious at the outset but, upon scrutiny, is quite profound. The authentic apostle is not tossed around by every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14) nor is he swayed by every new emphasis currently focused upon by the Christian world. Rather, he is firmly grounded in the orthodoxy of his faith. He is radical in its full proclamation and is not easily wooed away to a disproportionate emphasis of a few truths. Paul said of himself in Acts 20:20 “You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful…” and verse 27 “For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God” (or full counsel of God).

Said in another way: “Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you”, Deuteronomy 4:22. Revelation 22: 18-19 says, “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”

The apostle will preach both:

Power- Philippians 3: 10 - 17          pattern wine-Luke 5: 37 – 39 wineskin

message -1 Thessalonians 1: 6 - 7        model mystery Ephesians 3: 2 – 9 administration

river Revelation 22: 1- 4 its banks.

Each of the above should be of equal importance and priority to the apostle. Many, of course, place emphasis on one or the other. Yet the Scripture clearly places equal weight on the need for both. The church so clearly needs the wine of God, that which releases “fulness of joy”. It is the power that releases the full measure of Gods Kingdom presence in the gifts with signs and wonders, flow into ever-increasing depths of Gods healing, restoring, anointing presence. Yet as a river without banks becomes a marsh so the church dearly needs Gods pattern. It is interesting that the fruit of the river of Revelation 22 is on the banks: “On either side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month and the leaves of the tree are of for the healing of the nations.” The authentic apostle is not so desirous and preoccupied by the life, power, presence, wine of God that he neglects the weighted matter of what God has ordained to bring the most out of these things. Matters of church form, government, authority, holiness and modus operandi, purpose, etc. are given equal passionate focus and emphasis.

Furthermore, the fruit of their preaching is freedom. The epistle to the Galatians, as does Acts 15, leaves no doubt that this good news is precisely that – good news. It is seen that where the apostle goes liberty will follow, both in churches as well as in individual lives (Galatians 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free”). In other words the authentic apostle:

 Prioritises orthodox Biblical doctrine.

 Proclaims continuously all truth whatever the cost or consequences.

 Presents doctrines that set and keep people free.

By definition apostles go, travel, and get to. While some scholars refer to Paul‟s “missionary journeys,” these belie the fact that he was simply doing what he was called to do. In Romans 15:19-20 he says, “I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. It was always my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known…” From Genesis 1 through to Revelation 22:20, the Father‟s apostolic heart has been made clear. Punctuated and commissioned by Matthew 28:18-20 and continued by Acts 13:1-2, the true apostle‟s lifestyle is “to go”. This may be interrupted briefly by planting a church, as Paul did in Ephesus (Acts 19), or by returning to his base church, but apostles don‟t first lead large churches and expect all to come to them. The apostle‟s heart is to search out the lost from neighbourhoods to nations. Such is their passion that no cost is too great and no sacrifice is too daunting, (1 Corinthians 9:15 – 27). It is not merely a case of saving souls or getting converts. These apostles make disciples (followers of Christ more than decisions for Christ). More than settling the question of heaven, apostles want to equip the saints for the work of the ministry so that believers have a clear sense of their priestly duties, fulfilment of their individual calling, assurance that they know their part and how the various parts are joined together.

APOSTOLIC MISSIONARY DYNAMITES

Acts 8: 1- 40 is a great case study to model this dynamic. Philip, the deacon of Acts 6, is a powerful Ephesians 4 evangelist. His impact is profound in Samaria. A city in this region is stunned and then elated by the proclamation and supernatural outworking of the message. Philip does not stay here and build a super-church for himself, nor does he simply move on with his pictures, slides and videos of the crusade. Rather, the apostles come down from Jerusalem, establish and ground these believers in all of the Word so that the impact of the gospel remains and a church is planted. Philip meanwhile, meets the Ethiopian eunuch, preaches to and baptises him.

Church history tells us that this man brought the gospel and revival to yet another country in Africa. Pauls heart for the lost is clearly seen throughout his writings. Paul dearly wanted his beloved Israel to be saved (Romans 10:1); and even his call to go to the Gentiles is continuously acknowledged (Acts 9:15 and 13:47; Romans 1:13; Galatians 1:16). In Romans 15, he speaks of wanting to go “to preach the gospel where Christ was not known” (verse 20). His desire to get to Spain (Romans 15:24 and 28) indicated his heart to push open new frontiers. He continues to request that churches pray that new doors of opportunity open to him (Ephesians 6:19-20; Colossians 4:2-4) as they did to plant in Macedonia (Acts 16:6-40). Pauls conclusion of the Roman epistle sums up his heart to see all nations saved: “So that all nations may believe and obey him” (Romans 16:26b). The apostle has heaven at heart, anticipating that great and glorious day, when, before the throne will be those “from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God and they will reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9b-10).

Apostles plant churches. Apostles help others plant churches. This is not conference-formed, seminar-based or academic-fashioned church help. The Biblical patterns for apostles, however, are to plant churches and then to have an ongoing relational involvement with these churches. Let‟s pause and try to present it sequentially, remembering that each church plant has its own ingredients.

1 Corinthians 9:2 says, “Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of apostleship in the Lord.” If one looks over the shoulder of an apostle, one should clearly see the fruit of churches he has planted or helped to plant, who are in a healthy state and who have an ongoing relationship with him.

How does an apostle plant and then help churches in an ongoing and meaningful way? This is a complex answer that we have to simplify at the risk of sounding simplistic. Paul refers to himself, the apostle, as a “master builder/expert builder” (1 Corinthians 3:10). His inference is that he has the master blueprint and like the engineer, ensures that all contractors and subcontractors on site build according to the architect‟s (God‟s – Hebrews 11:10) specifications, He keeps the plumber, bricklayer, carpenter, tiler and roofer all focused together to get the task done according to the “pattern”. The apostle is particular when it comes to laying foundations. There are too many unstable churches, not used for the purpose for which they were designed. Jesus Christ must be the foundation and Solid Rock on which to build (1 Corinthians 3:11; Matthew 7:24-29). In practical terms, as building on the foundation, it may include the following three ingredients:

Good strong godly government. Philippians 1:1 introduces us to that picture in local churches of: “saints. …overseers…deacons.” This creates a problem for those who wish to complicate church government with non-Biblical structures, titles and hierarchies. Of course, to “home churches”, these Biblical “musts” seem to be ignored or forgotten. When Paul asks Titus to “straighten (things) out” NIV or “set in order” NKJV (Titus 1:5), he seems to be referring to elementary matters including the matter of church government. Added to this elementary matter is a healthy ongoing “partnership” (Philippians 1:5) with apostolic and prophetic ministry. The apostle helps to recognise, raise up and appoint elders. This demands ongoing involvement, education and finally ordination. A further primary stone is establishing a healthy Biblical ethos/heartbeat/commitment. Apostles, by example (1 Corinthians 11:1) and by message, help fashion and form this ethos. Much can be said on this matter, however Acts 2:42-47 is a wonderful case study of an apostolically fashioned ethos. Acts 2:1 introduces the phrase “they were all together in one place” and the chapter ends with words like “everyone” and “all the believers were together and had everything in common”. This “all-ness” factor of the early church is in part formed by “they devoted themselves to the apostles‟ teaching”. This apostolic people were, in heart,

Ø RADICAL – heard and obeyed immediately

Ø REAL – did not leave room for the artificial or pretence

Ø RELATIONAL – given to and through friendships

Ø RELEVANT – in a Biblical way, to the world that they were called to reach.

The authentic apostle continues to massage the breadth of the Biblical ethos into every local church. When reading the epistles, one is stunned by the continuous adjustment that the apostle makes as churches drift from this heartbeat. In the epistle to the Galatians Paul passionately challenges them about their move away from the truth by one, “…who has bewitched you” (Galatians 3:1). In the epistle to the Ephesians Paul speaks of them “having done all, to stand firm. Stand firm then…” (Ephesians 6:13-14). Of course Paul‟s greatest declaration was “and now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13) The apostle keeps the heartbeat of the local church and broader churches passionate, zealous, enthused and motivated. There were no guest speakers or yearly cheer leading; just apostles (and the other Ephesians 4 offices) coming in to the churches to keep them encouraged, strengthened and focused. Practical foundations required that the apostles keep the churches focused on the purposes of God. While we are aware that each of these points can be drawn out at length, the apostle keeps the church focused on the plan and purpose of God as recorded in His Word. We want to see the Lord return; therefore we forcefully and violently advance His Kingdom (Matthew 11:12). This is done practically:

Ø By Preparing A Bride (the church)

Ø By Discipling All Nations

Ø By Planting New Testament Churches

Ø By Raising Up And Appointing Leaders

Ø By Mobilising The Priesthood

Ø By Seeking And Saving The Lost

Not only do apostles come in to lay foundations with their teams, but they also return regularly to these regions and local churches. On the one hand the large fancy conference has replaced the apostolic teams‟ ongoing involvement in local churches. And on the other hand, pastors have wanted to go to the extreme whereby the team is in their churches so regularly that the team almost begins to pastor the church. Neither of these realities are Biblical.