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I've been reading several threads that deal with apostolic authority and an apostolic/prophetic movement.
By several of the posts, I have seen that there is an "understanding" (or rather, a misunderstanding) that if one claims to be apostolic, then they are claiming "apostleship" or to be an apostle.
Let me submit this here for discussion...
You can be apostolic without being an apostle.
You can be prophetic without being a prophet.
You can be pastoral without being a pastor.
You can be evangelistic without being an evangelist.
You can operate in teaching gifts without being a teacher.
There is a difference between the perspective of giftings versus the office that oftentimes is associated with or is a part of that office.
I am prophetic. I prophesy and have words of knowledge for people. But do I stand in the office of a "prophet"? No, I don't consider myself to be so.
There are Sunday School teachers and church bus drivers and ushers at churches all across the world today who are probably "pastoral" but do not stand in the office of a "pastor". They are loving and nurturing. They long to tend God's precious flock. They want to help them in anyway they can.
I know an evangelist who is terribly gifted in words of knowledge and healing and miracles. Yet, he does not claim Apostleship. He will tell you straight up, "I'm an Evangelist."
So, when we talk about the apostolic anointing or gifting, we are surely not declaring that we are "apostles" as such that we stand in the office of an "apostle".
Personally, I don't think there is a set of definitions that describe just what an "apostle" is.
The apostolic movement is based upon what the Holy Spirit is releasing into the earth through His people. There may be some that are called "apostles" who are sent directly with a mandate to release what God is doing on earth as it is in heaven.
I have seen that some people call themselves apostles and use their "apostleship" to usurp authority in the churches that they are associated with. This can lead to a lot of pain and bondage in the lives of believers in those congregations. They have seen the abuse of these apostles as they declare their authority over this church or that church - like warlords in the 16th century, declaring that they have captured this piece of and as their spoil...
When we speak of the apostolic movement, we are not speaking of these extremes.
We can see these same extremes in the history of the church through pastors. Through the Shepherding movement, pastors who followed this ideology in the church were given an EXTREME amount of authority and control and power over people's lives. TO the point that the control was cultish.
Do we lump all pastors into this category because of the extremes of some? I pray that we would not, though we are witnesses to that accusation even now.
TO be an apostle or to be apostolic, either one, does not mean an unhealthy power and control over other peoples' lives. It does not automatically mean that a certain group of people have this special mandate to ABUSE God's people.
But it does mean that they are to bring the church into the depths of God. To find the Scarlet Thread that holds us together as one body. The apostolic giftings are enacted anywhere that the Lord is releasing and defining the church into more of Himself.
Jesus is Apostolic and our Apostle.
G652
ἀπόστολος
apostolos
ap-os'-tol-os
From G649; a delegate; specifically an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ (apostle), (with miraculous powers): - apostle, messenger, he that is sent.
IN the Strong's definition, we see two things here.
1) the definition, and
2) defining characteristics of one deemed Apostle.
The definition being "apostle, messenger, he that is sent" with characteristics that include "ambassador, commissioner, miraculous powers".
Where does our Apostle and High Priest live?
He lives in His Kingdom.
And His Kingdom is where?
On the inside of the believer.
________________________________________________________
Universal apostolic giftings
So, as the Apostle Jesus Christ lives on the inside of us, as we identify with Him, we can also be enfolded into His ministry of the apostolic upon the earth.
Just as we "tap into" the Kingdom realm in order to prophesy and declare Truths of God, we "tap into" the Kingdom and walk (partake) of Him Who is the Apostle.
We can be a part of Christ's Apostolic ministry in the earth today by Grace.
There are giftings that take place in the apostolic that effect the changes of the Kingdom of God into the earthly, natural realm.
It has nothing to do with authority over man but with treading over serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy.
TO believe that the apostolic is about man's authority over man is pride and self-righteousness.
IOW, do we think that we're so important that someone is coming in and trying to take authority over our lives and we are offended at this???
Why the offense? Because we feel that it encroahces on our sovereign self?
(I'm not making excuses for abuse of authority. I am attempting to point out, however, the absurdity of self-righteousness that we exhibit in our responses to it. If we reveal ourselves to be self-righteous, then we are no better than the so-called "apostle" that declares authority over our lives.)
That is awfully "me" focused.
We should all be walking in the apostolic.
We should all be exhibiting the Authority of the Risen Son of God in our lives over all the power of the enemy.
Jesus walked the earth in apostolic authority.
He stilled the storm and caused the lame the walk. He healed the leper and caused the blind to see. He prophesied and released the Kingdom of God in the earth.
Oh, that we would all walk in the apostolic authority of Christ!!!
____________________________________________________
We are called to unity in the body...
This is almost an unheard of thing.
And there will be people who agree with this - "Amen, unity, brother. UNity."
Yet, what we sometimes really mean is that we are called to unity in the body with those that believe JUST LIKE WE DO.
God is bigger than that.
And before this is all said and done, there will be unity in the Body of Christ. There may not be unity in the church, but the Body of Christ will know it's One True King and will walk with Him and talk with Him and will serve Him in Love and Unity.
When we declare the apostolic, try to distinguish between the gift of the Kingdom and the office of the apostle.
And simply know that there is a difference between the two.
Know that there will be those who claim to be apostles, and they are not.
But also know that we can partake of Jesus' ministry in the Apostolic in the earth today without being apostles...
By several of the posts, I have seen that there is an "understanding" (or rather, a misunderstanding) that if one claims to be apostolic, then they are claiming "apostleship" or to be an apostle.
Let me submit this here for discussion...
You can be apostolic without being an apostle.
You can be prophetic without being a prophet.
You can be pastoral without being a pastor.
You can be evangelistic without being an evangelist.
You can operate in teaching gifts without being a teacher.
There is a difference between the perspective of giftings versus the office that oftentimes is associated with or is a part of that office.
I am prophetic. I prophesy and have words of knowledge for people. But do I stand in the office of a "prophet"? No, I don't consider myself to be so.
There are Sunday School teachers and church bus drivers and ushers at churches all across the world today who are probably "pastoral" but do not stand in the office of a "pastor". They are loving and nurturing. They long to tend God's precious flock. They want to help them in anyway they can.
I know an evangelist who is terribly gifted in words of knowledge and healing and miracles. Yet, he does not claim Apostleship. He will tell you straight up, "I'm an Evangelist."
So, when we talk about the apostolic anointing or gifting, we are surely not declaring that we are "apostles" as such that we stand in the office of an "apostle".
Personally, I don't think there is a set of definitions that describe just what an "apostle" is.
The apostolic movement is based upon what the Holy Spirit is releasing into the earth through His people. There may be some that are called "apostles" who are sent directly with a mandate to release what God is doing on earth as it is in heaven.
I have seen that some people call themselves apostles and use their "apostleship" to usurp authority in the churches that they are associated with. This can lead to a lot of pain and bondage in the lives of believers in those congregations. They have seen the abuse of these apostles as they declare their authority over this church or that church - like warlords in the 16th century, declaring that they have captured this piece of and as their spoil...
When we speak of the apostolic movement, we are not speaking of these extremes.
We can see these same extremes in the history of the church through pastors. Through the Shepherding movement, pastors who followed this ideology in the church were given an EXTREME amount of authority and control and power over people's lives. TO the point that the control was cultish.
Do we lump all pastors into this category because of the extremes of some? I pray that we would not, though we are witnesses to that accusation even now.
TO be an apostle or to be apostolic, either one, does not mean an unhealthy power and control over other peoples' lives. It does not automatically mean that a certain group of people have this special mandate to ABUSE God's people.
But it does mean that they are to bring the church into the depths of God. To find the Scarlet Thread that holds us together as one body. The apostolic giftings are enacted anywhere that the Lord is releasing and defining the church into more of Himself.
Jesus is Apostolic and our Apostle.
Hebrews 3:1-2 - Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.
G652
ἀπόστολος
apostolos
ap-os'-tol-os
From G649; a delegate; specifically an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ (apostle), (with miraculous powers): - apostle, messenger, he that is sent.
IN the Strong's definition, we see two things here.
1) the definition, and
2) defining characteristics of one deemed Apostle.
The definition being "apostle, messenger, he that is sent" with characteristics that include "ambassador, commissioner, miraculous powers".
Where does our Apostle and High Priest live?
He lives in His Kingdom.
And His Kingdom is where?
On the inside of the believer.
________________________________________________________
Universal apostolic giftings
So, as the Apostle Jesus Christ lives on the inside of us, as we identify with Him, we can also be enfolded into His ministry of the apostolic upon the earth.
Just as we "tap into" the Kingdom realm in order to prophesy and declare Truths of God, we "tap into" the Kingdom and walk (partake) of Him Who is the Apostle.
We can be a part of Christ's Apostolic ministry in the earth today by Grace.
There are giftings that take place in the apostolic that effect the changes of the Kingdom of God into the earthly, natural realm.
It has nothing to do with authority over man but with treading over serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy.
TO believe that the apostolic is about man's authority over man is pride and self-righteousness.
IOW, do we think that we're so important that someone is coming in and trying to take authority over our lives and we are offended at this???
Why the offense? Because we feel that it encroahces on our sovereign self?
(I'm not making excuses for abuse of authority. I am attempting to point out, however, the absurdity of self-righteousness that we exhibit in our responses to it. If we reveal ourselves to be self-righteous, then we are no better than the so-called "apostle" that declares authority over our lives.)
That is awfully "me" focused.
We should all be walking in the apostolic.
We should all be exhibiting the Authority of the Risen Son of God in our lives over all the power of the enemy.
Jesus walked the earth in apostolic authority.
He stilled the storm and caused the lame the walk. He healed the leper and caused the blind to see. He prophesied and released the Kingdom of God in the earth.
Oh, that we would all walk in the apostolic authority of Christ!!!
____________________________________________________
We are called to unity in the body...
This is almost an unheard of thing.
And there will be people who agree with this - "Amen, unity, brother. UNity."
Yet, what we sometimes really mean is that we are called to unity in the body with those that believe JUST LIKE WE DO.
God is bigger than that.
And before this is all said and done, there will be unity in the Body of Christ. There may not be unity in the church, but the Body of Christ will know it's One True King and will walk with Him and talk with Him and will serve Him in Love and Unity.
When we declare the apostolic, try to distinguish between the gift of the Kingdom and the office of the apostle.
And simply know that there is a difference between the two.
Know that there will be those who claim to be apostles, and they are not.
But also know that we can partake of Jesus' ministry in the Apostolic in the earth today without being apostles...
, (with miraculous powers): - apostle, messenger, he that is sent.
