Right from the beginning of church age,many lay claim to apostolic nomenclature and ministry but mostly in error.
The spiritual landscape continues to be awash with the question of 'Who is an Apostle?'
Did the scripture say anything about APOSTOLIC
MINISTRY?Let's look at a few scriptures :
Acts 1:24-26.
"Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs." Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles."-
Matthias,one of the longstanding disciples was chosen to replace Judas' apostolic office.
CRITERIA FOR APOSTLESHIP- Acts 1:20-22.
"...For," said Peter, "it is written in the book of Psalms,
" 'May his place be deserted;
let there be no one to dwell in it,' and,
" 'May another take his place of leadership.' 21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection."
#1. It is the Lord that chooses people into the Office of an Apostle and not themselves.Acts 1:2.
However, all believers must have the apostolic spirit dimension of Christ functioning in their lives just like the 70 other disciples in Lk 10.
#2. There must be an endorsement by a group of other Apostles for accountability. For it was the other Apostles that midwifed the appointment of Matthias and recognized him as an Apostle.
First they proposed two names.Secondly they prayed for the Will of God. Thirdly,they voted.
Matthias emerged from that process.And Only after then could he rightfully use that office.
#3. An Apostle must not be a new believer but one who has gone through a long period of ministerial followership. (vs 21-22).Little wonder the Appointment Committee insisted he must have "been with us the whole time".
#4. A true Apostle(from the Greek Word 'Apostello' meaning to SEND) has to be SENT. He cannot send himself. Apostle is not a name.It is a FUNCTION.An assignment.
#5. The heart of the Apostle must be right.In this context in Acts 1,the Appointment Committee's prayer was made for the heart of the proposed; showing that using Apostolic Ministry is fundamentally a 'Heart thing'! (Acts 1:24)
Apostle Judas, was called like the other eleven ,performed miracles too and went everywhere with Jesus (Matt.10:2).He was even the Minister of Finance and Admin for Jesus but along the way,his heart failed him.Greed for gain consumed him. A lesson to every Apostle to watch his/her heart.
If your portfolio is Singles Ministry or Pastoral Counseling don't mess with the counseled in sexual sin.
If your portfolio is Fund raising/ Management avoid the temptation of stealing the money.
If your ministry is very visible avoid the temptation of the glitterati or the Klieg light.Humble your heart.
Let there be coalitions of apostles who will submit to one another and hold one another in accountability.
Now as the Lord of the Harvest releases true apostles who will FINISH His work on earth,let all charlatans and apostolic impersonators look for something else to lay claim to...!
Written by Tokunbo Beulah Johnson(Senior Elder,The Capstone Yaba.)
www.beulahtoks.blogspot.com
The spiritual landscape continues to be awash with the question of 'Who is an Apostle?'
Did the scripture say anything about APOSTOLIC
MINISTRY?Let's look at a few scriptures :
Acts 1:24-26.
"Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs." Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles."-
Matthias,one of the longstanding disciples was chosen to replace Judas' apostolic office.
CRITERIA FOR APOSTLESHIP- Acts 1:20-22.
"...For," said Peter, "it is written in the book of Psalms,
" 'May his place be deserted;
let there be no one to dwell in it,' and,
" 'May another take his place of leadership.' 21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection."
#1. It is the Lord that chooses people into the Office of an Apostle and not themselves.Acts 1:2.
However, all believers must have the apostolic spirit dimension of Christ functioning in their lives just like the 70 other disciples in Lk 10.
#2. There must be an endorsement by a group of other Apostles for accountability. For it was the other Apostles that midwifed the appointment of Matthias and recognized him as an Apostle.
First they proposed two names.Secondly they prayed for the Will of God. Thirdly,they voted.
Matthias emerged from that process.And Only after then could he rightfully use that office.
#3. An Apostle must not be a new believer but one who has gone through a long period of ministerial followership. (vs 21-22).Little wonder the Appointment Committee insisted he must have "been with us the whole time".
#4. A true Apostle(from the Greek Word 'Apostello' meaning to SEND) has to be SENT. He cannot send himself. Apostle is not a name.It is a FUNCTION.An assignment.
#5. The heart of the Apostle must be right.In this context in Acts 1,the Appointment Committee's prayer was made for the heart of the proposed; showing that using Apostolic Ministry is fundamentally a 'Heart thing'! (Acts 1:24)
Apostle Judas, was called like the other eleven ,performed miracles too and went everywhere with Jesus (Matt.10:2).He was even the Minister of Finance and Admin for Jesus but along the way,his heart failed him.Greed for gain consumed him. A lesson to every Apostle to watch his/her heart.
If your portfolio is Singles Ministry or Pastoral Counseling don't mess with the counseled in sexual sin.
If your portfolio is Fund raising/ Management avoid the temptation of stealing the money.
If your ministry is very visible avoid the temptation of the glitterati or the Klieg light.Humble your heart.
Let there be coalitions of apostles who will submit to one another and hold one another in accountability.
Now as the Lord of the Harvest releases true apostles who will FINISH His work on earth,let all charlatans and apostolic impersonators look for something else to lay claim to...!
Written by Tokunbo Beulah Johnson(Senior Elder,The Capstone Yaba.)
www.beulahtoks.blogspot.com
