What do Apostles do?
Hey everyone I’m Gary Hoban and welcome to Refinery Life Australia.
Today we are discussing, What Apostles Do?
Prayer
Father, we come to You today because You made us, You redeemed us, and we acknowledge that every good and perfect gift comes from Your bountiful hands.
Thank You, Father, for the privilege of giving to You for the glory of Your name and cause.
The words of Jesus are so true, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Thank you for this heavenly blessing.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
So the question today is What do Apostles Do?
Firstly Apostles are called by God
1 Corinthians 1:1
Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
Apostles are recognised by the church.
Acts 6:3
Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;
And Apostles are sent out by the church.
Acts 13:3
Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.
Acts 15:22
Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, namely, Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.
Apostles are a servant ministry to the local church and are given an office by the Lord and an anointing to fulfil the role.
If an ‘apostle’ comes without these credentials and attitude of service, reject them.
Test the spirit and fruit of the apostle, there is safety in the body to discern if they sent by the Lord (church) or came by themselves.
Apostles…
1. Establish the government of God.
1 Timothy 1:3 talks of No Other Doctrine.
As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
1 Timothy 1:18 says to Fight the Good Fight
This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,
1 Timothy 2:1 tells us to Pray for All Men
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men,
And 1 Timothy 2:8 tells us what Men and Women in the Church should be doing.
I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting
Ephesians 2:20 tells us how the church should be built, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone
In reading Ephesians 2:20 the foundation of Jesus Christ is laid, The apostles and prophets.
Paul teaches Timothy in the above references how to do this.
- Apostles Carry an Apostolic anointing.
In Joshua 3 we see, The shoulders of the priests carried the Ark of the Covenant into the Jordan.
It parted so that the people could cross over on dry ground to the promised land.
The shoulders of the priests here symbolise authority.
The two shoulders of the New Testament priest are the apostle and the prophet working together.
When we the carry the anointing into ‘closed’ areas there is a breakthrough.
Effectively doors of ministry open for the body to follow and establish the church in a new area.
- Apostles Are Fathers who serve.
Ephesians 4:4
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling.
1 Timothy 1:1-2.
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the commandment of God our Savior and the Lord Jesus Christ, our hope,
To Timothy, a true son in the faith:
Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
- Apostles Start by laying the foundation of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:9-11
For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Romans 9:33.
As it is written:
“Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offence,
And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”
True Apostles have an ability to break up the foundation of incorrect teaching and lay the foundation of truth.
Acts 16:26.
Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.
- Apostles Finish by completing the work.
Hebrews 12:2
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Acts 14:26
From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed
John 19:30
So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
2 Timothy 4:7.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Apostles have a passion to see the work completed.
Nehemiah would not be put off from completing the building of the wall in Jerusalem. When opposed and tempted to quit he said “I am doing a great work and cannot come down.”
Nehemiah 6:3
So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?”
And look at what happened when Stephen was stoned to death.
Acts 81-2
And Saul approved of their killing him.
On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.
- Apostles Bring balance to the 5 fold ministry.
Ephesians 4:11.
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers
The apostle forms teams and has the grace to cause the 5 fold to work together.
The prophet feels accepted and accountable with the apostle around.
We read about the example of Antioch in Acts 11:26-27.
And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. So it was that for a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people. And the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.
- Apostles go out to establish new work.
Luke 4:43.
but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.”
Unlike pastors who are primarily concerned with the wellbeing of the flock the apostle has a passion for new fields.
- Apostles create space for others.
John 14:2.
In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Apostles are builders, but not for themselves only.
They open up new areas of ministry for the other gifts to occupy.
- Apostles build according to plan.
John 6:38
For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
Acts 26:19.
“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.
- Apostles pull down the works of darkness.
Acts 16:26
Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.
Paul and Silas sang worship songs in prison.
The apostolic anointing was not bound, but free to destroy demonic strongholds.
Everyone’s chains were loosed.
- Apostles release others.
- Apostles establish teams.
- Apostles hear the prophetic word to gain the Lord’s strategy.
Together the apostle and prophet can penetrate and breakthrough.
Evangelists are free to go and win souls.
Pastors and teachers are free to grow the church.
In Acts 11:27-28 we see that prophets came and joined the apostolic team at Antioch.
And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch.
Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.
The apostles waited to hear the word of God before acting on a plan.
Without clear prophetic direction apostles will build their own kingdom!
- Apostles can touch the other 4 offices.
Apostles are the thumb on the hand.
It is the only one that can touch the other 4 fingers.
Apostles in training often find themselves able to function as a prophet or pastor or evangelist or teacher but feel uncomfortable spending a long time in each.
When one of the other fingers tries to be like the thumb it looks very awkward.
Try touching all the other fingers with your little one.
That is why a teacher should never try to be an apostle.
The result will be a mess!
- Apostles are visionaries and dreamers.
Acts 26:19.
“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,
- Apostles don’t give up.
Nehemiah 6:3
So I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease while I leave it and go down to you?”
Acts 14:19.
Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there; and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.
- Apostles perform unusual miracles.
Acts 19:11-12.
Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them.
We read in Acts 15:22-41 how Paul (an apostle), Silas and Judas (both prophets) worked together in Antioch.
It is clear, even though there were some personality clashes, that the church today needs Apostolic teams to bring the body together with intentional focus upon the Lord and His word.
These teams have power to break down barriers and mindsets inside and outside the church.
Great grace comes upon the body when the 5 fold ministry works together as a servant team to build the church and spread the gospel.
Every gift and ministry will be empowered and released to function when the apostolic team is accepted and respected.
I believe that just as the church was launched by the Holy Spirit working through apostles and prophets that the work of the gospel will be completed in the same way.
Until next time
Stay in the Blessings
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Theres nothing thats too hard for Him, and He can make you whole, spirit, soul and body!
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