Message of the Month April 2023
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THE MINISTRY OF APOSTLES
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For those with eyes to see, God began to do something amazing in the Church at the beginning of the twentieth century.
With the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Azusa Street in 1906 which resulted in the establishment of the Pentecostal churches, this was the beginning of a worldwide REVIVAL.
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This was followed by another move of the Spirit from 1960 which was the start of the Charismatic Movement in denominational churches around the world. This was regarded as a RENEWAL of the Church.
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Then in the 1970’s and 80’s the RESTORATION Movement began involving people like Bryn Jones (Harvestime) continuing with people like Terry Virgo (New Frontiers) and John Wimber (Vineyard).
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This seemed to many people to be a logical progression whereby the Church was being restored to the way that God originally intended it to be – and specifically with the restoration and recognition of the seemingly “lost” ministries of apostles and prophets to the church.
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The need for these ministries is obvious when we really look at it properly, but actually had those ministries ceased to exist somewhere in the 2000 years of church history?
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When I was 10 years old, I went to a Church of England school and one of our lessons was on St Patrick. As part of that project, we did a play about him which if I remember rightly, I wrote. I also acted the title role of Patrick but I did not realise his full significance at that age. However, he is not the patron saint of Ireland for no reason!
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Patrick who lived in the 5th century is recognised as the “Apostle to Ireland” who transformed the nation from paganism to Christianity. On his own admission multitudes who had worshipped “idols and unclean things” had become “the people of God.” Among the miracles which followed his ministry he reportedly raised some 33 people from the dead.
About one hundred years later in 563, Columba arrived on the island of Iona with twelve brothers and founded an abbey there which became a missionary base to spread the gospel among the Picts in Scotland and then a training centre that sent missionaries into the continent of Europe. All of which changed history!
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These Celtic preachers were clearly apostolic and later on there are others like John Wesley and William Carey in the 18th century, and missionaries like Hudson Taylor in 19th century who would never have claimed to be apostles but were, because of the fruit of their ministries.
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I always get nervous when people claim either themselves or others to be apostles because even in the early Church there were those who were doing this and were actually false apostles. Therefore, it is important to understand the authentic ministry of apostles so I respectfully submit the following Bible study for your consideration:
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APOSTOLIC MINISTRY
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Definition - The word apostle means “sent one.” The Analytical Greek Lexicon says: “Apostolos: is one sent as a messenger or agent, the bearer of a commission.”
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• Jesus is the Apostle of God – sent by the Father (Hebrews 3:1, Acts 20:21)
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• The Twelve are the apostles of the Lamb – sent by the Son (Luke 6:12-13, Rev 21:14)
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• Paul, Barnabas and all others (Romans 16:7) are apostles of Jesus Christ – sent by the Spirit (Acts 13:2)
Apostles cannot be self-appointed they must have a specific call from God through the Spirit.
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New Testament PRINCIPLES
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The task of apostles
The calling is very specific - they are sent into the WORLD to bring in the Kingdom of God - Jesus was doing this from first until last (Matthew 4:17, Acts 1:3) and so did the early apostles: (Acts 19:8, 28:31).
In the New Testament we see this involves:
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Evangelism
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Planting churches
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Discipleship
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Teaching (Acts 2:42)
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Having a father heart (1 Corinthians 4:15)
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Follow up - Once Paul had established a local church, he:
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Revisited if possible (Acts 14:22)
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Kept in touch, sent assistants (1 Tim 1:3, Titus 1:5)
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Prayed (2 Corinthians 11:28-29)
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Wrote letters
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The ministry of apostles is to the WORLD
– and by that, I mean to PEOPLE
north, south, east and west.
Their FIRST function is to minister outside of the church - in the WORLD
and only inside the church when they have established new congregations.
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Signs of an Apostle
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Signs and wonders and healings: “The things that mark an apostle” (2 Corinthians 12:12)
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People coming to Christ
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Local churches established
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Selflessness
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Tremendous hard work (2 Corinthians 11:23,27)
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Hardships – Paul gives a very strong description of the hardships of true apostles “It seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die… we are in rags, we are brutally treated… we have become the scum of the earth.” (1 Corinthians 4:9)
False Apostles
2 Corinthians 11:12-15 Paul talks about “false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ.”
This starts with the false idea that apostles are the most Important people in the Church.
1 Corinthians 12:28 says “God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers.”
This is not referring to PRESIGE or importance but to FUNCTION.
(Apostles are first because they first establish and nurture local churches)
Jesus speaking to His apostles told them that the first would be last and they must be servants of all.
(Mark 9:35)
Paul says the same thing
(1 Corinthians 4:1)
“You have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.”
Tests for false Apostles:
Here are the tests – if anyone who claims to be an apostle, fails them they are not apostles!
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• A person of prayer, humility, anointing and love?
• Are there signs and wonders (healings, deliverance from demons) – souls being saved?
• Have true Christ-centred local churches been established with new converts?
• Is that person seeking fame and money? “Not greedy for money.” (1 Peter 5:2)
• Controlling people? “Not lording it over those entrusted to you.” (1 Peter 5:3)
“You shall know them by their fruits”
(Matthew 7:16)
“Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. (John 7:18)
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True apostles are needed in every nation of the world today!
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The world still needs more apostolic people who are called and gifted to reach ALL the NATIONS in:
Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe, and Oceania.
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“The harvest is plenteous but the labourers are few.
Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest to send labourers into the harvest.”
(Matthew 9:37-38)
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“Oh Lord raise up true 21st century apostles to reach the nations
(and especially the young people of the world)
in new and innovative, relevant ways before Jesus comes again!
Amen”
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