Office of an Apostle

Ministry Structure 405-2

An apostle is a fivefold minister with the vocational calling of taking the world into the Church by preaching the gospel.
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers (Ephesians 4:11 NKJV).
 Apostle, apostolos, means a delegate or an ambassador, used by the Greeks and Romans to describe envoys sent out to expand their empires. Apostles are divinely sent to advance
the move of God worldwide (see Matthew 28:18-20). The Twelve and Paul received their callings directly from Christ (see Luke 6:12-16; Galatians 1:1; Acts 26:16).
 An apostolic calling is confirmed by third party revelations, not self claimed. The apostolic calling of Barnabas and Paul were confirmed by revelations given by the Holy Spirit through
other fivefold ministers (see Acts 13:1-2). When an apostle is ready to function in his calling, God will reveal this to others (see also Acts 9:6, 11-12, 15).
 An apostle has visible evidences of an apostolic ministry. Christians have the right to test the authenticity of an apostle (see Revelation 2:2; 2 Corinthians 11:13). 

1. Begetting apostolic workers

The chief evidence of a true apostle is the apostolic workers he birthed and raised.
Even if others think I am not an apostle, I certainly am to you, for you are living proof that I am the Lords apostle (1 Corinthians 9:2 NLT).
 A false apostle does not have this living proof of having an apostolic people.
But the only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves! Your lives are a letter written in our hearts, and everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. Clearly,
you are a letter from Christ prepared by us. It is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on stone, but on human hearts (2 Corinthians 3:2-3 NLT).
 Apostolic workers reflect the characteristics of the apostolic ministry from which they receive the teachings and the anointing. 
I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you. For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in
Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore I urge you, imitate me. For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will
remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church (1 Corinthians 4:14-17 NKJV).
 Instructors or teachers do not have a lifetime responsibility for their students. An apostle begets or parents spiritual children by pouring his life on them as a spiritual father, a role
model, to warn his spiritual children, speaking solemnly and lovingly into their hearts. Apostolic people imitate or pattern after their spiritual father to inherit his spiritual heritage, able to
teach the same things that he teaches (see also Colossians 1:28-29). 
 The goal of apostolic parenting is to see the lives of the disciples fully reflecting Christ (see Galatians 4:19). 
An apostle carries the grace of having apostolic workers who can lay down their lives for his vision.
Several men were traveling with him. They were Sopater of Berea, the son of Pyrrhus; Aristarchus and Secundus, from Thessalonica; Gaius, from Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and
Trophimus, who were from the province of Asia. They went ahead and waited for us at Troas (Acts 20:4-5 NLT).
 The fellow ministers of an apostle submit willingly under his authority and follow faithfully his leadership, though they may sacrifice much. 
 About fifty persons were mentioned in the Book of Acts and in Pauls epistles who were either his fellow workers or had networked with him. 
 Apostles recruit (see Acts 9:27), mentor (see Acts 11:25-26; 12:25; 16:1-3), and commission (see Acts 13:1-4) fivefold ministers. 

2. Founding and establishing churches

Success in planting and establishing churches is an evidence of an apostle.
 Paul and those with him traveled from town to town and gave the decisions made by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. So the churches became stronger in the
faith and grew larger every day (Acts 16:4-5 NCV).
 The apostolic anointing always produces proper functioning churches that will become stronger in the faith and grow larger every day. 
 Apostles are anointed foundation builders in church plantings (see 1 Corinthians 3:10; Ephesians 2:20). Not all who have pioneered churches have an apostolic calling.
 Apostles lay a doctrinal foundation for the churches they have founded (see Acts 2:42; Ephesians 2:19-20). They teach by the revelations of the Holy Spirit with power and authority (see
Ephesians 3:3, 5; 1 Corinthians 2:4-5; Colossians 2:8), confront errors, defend the truth, and reform an affected church (see Galatians 2:14; Philippians 1:17; Galatians 2:5). 
 As apostles are consolidating the new believers (see Acts 2:41; 15:36, 41) and organizing them to become churches (see Acts 2:42, 46-47), they also appoint spiritual overseers to take
charge of these churches (see Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5).
 Apostles impart spiritual gifts to the believers to establish those gifts to become spiritual ministries (see Romans 1:11; Ephesians 3:2; Philippians 1:7). 
 Apostles train believers to live with the awareness of being sent to advance the Church worldwide and establish them into apostolic churches to accomplish the Great Commission.
 In advancing the Church worldwide, apostles can receive financial support (see 1 Corinthians 9:14) and bless the givers to receive more (see Philippians 4:15-19; Matthew 10:12-15).
Apostles collect and administer finance for other ministries also (see Acts 11:27-30; 2 Corinthians 9:5). 

3. Warring and winning at spiritual frontier

Serious spiritual resistance is also an evidence of an apostolic calling.
 Apostles are given the highest spiritual authority, over all demons and all sickness (see Matthew 10:1; Luke 9:1). The apostolic authority is recognized in the spiritual realm by angels and
demons alike. 
And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure (2
Corinthians 12:7 NKJV).
 Apostles leading the way at the spiritual war front find great opposition from the enemy (see also 2 Corinthians 11:23-29).
 It requires a tremendous amount of power, authority, and patience to conduct the apostolic duties at the warfare frontier (see 2 Corinthians 12:12). 
 The apostolic anointing is a supernatural enabling of God for apostles to labor in any situation. Nothing can stop them as long as they rely on the great amount of grace that God has
given to the office (see 1 Corinthians 15:10). 
 Apostles invade hostile spiritual territories to drive out demons that have ruled the people with mindsets that are contrary to Gods Word (see 2 Corinthians 10:4-5). They can conduct
spiritual mapping for strategic prayer to transform the communities (see 2 Chronicles 7:14). They take authority against demons that destroy unity in churches (see Zechariah 1:18-21),
witchcraft that sways people from Gods Word (see Acts 8:20-22), and witchcraft that squeezes life out of a church (see Romans 8:6, 11). 
 As warfare is fierce at the frontier, apostles may need to administer discipline and restoration in the spirit (see 1 Corinthians 5:3-5; 2 Corinthians 2:10).

4. Operating with signs and wonders

Apostles demonstrate signs and wonders in their ministry.
Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds (2 Corinthians 12:12 NKJV).
 An apostolic calling originates from God, not from a human or religious institution. Signs and wonders authenticate a person has received a heavenly calling to be an apostle.
And through the hands of the apostles, many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomons Porch (Acts 5:12 NKJV).
 After the Pentecost, the original apostles ministered with signs and wonders.
Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles (Acts 2:43 NKJV).
 Signs and wonders of the original apostles brought reverence into the peoples hearts.