Post by Zac Loh on Mar 12, 2009 11:07:38 GMT -5
• Revelation 5:14 & 7:11 – the numbers four and twenty-four – the four living creatures are together with the elders, again here symbolic that the four fold ministry are the universal elders of the church
THE MINISTRY OF APOSTLE-PROPHET
1. Promotes And Establishes A Certain Truth
In the original Greek, the word `apostle’ is defined as `a delegate, messenger, one sent forth with orders.’
Picture an ambassador sent by the king with a message. The ambassador will guard and protect the scroll, the message with his life. Imagine the message was altered or changed on the way. Two countries might go to war over a wrong message sent.
The apostle-prophet is sent by God to implant, impart and establish a certain truth within the body of Christ.
The Foundational Apostles-Prophets: Jesus Christ And The Early Apostles-Prophets
having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, (Ephesians 2:20)
What was the message, what was the truth that the foundational apostles-prophets carried? The gospel! The evangelists were traveling preachers of the gospel. But the apostles-prophets built the truth of the gospel.
Jesus spoke about Himself: Who He is, what He came to do and what He will do for us. It is the gospel, the gospel of the kingdom. Jesus spoke of the kingdom. The most important part of the kingdom; is the king, Jesus Christ Himself.
What was the revelation that Peter had? You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!
In Romans 1:1-6, we read that Paul called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God. In Galatians 1:8-9, we read about such authority that Paul had, protecting the integrity of the truth of the gospel. In Ephesians 3:2-12, Paul talked about his revelation of the gospel. In Philippians 1:7, we read that Paul defends and confirms the gospel. In Philippians 1:17, Paul said that he was appointed to defend the gospel.
If you are acquainted with Paul’s letters, you will understand that he was advancing and defending the gospel a lot!
Now, the foundation, the gospel, has been laid by Jesus Christ, the chief cornerstone and the foundational apostles-prophets.
The subsequent apostles-prophets built on it, with other specific truths to construct the rest of the building. They carry a strong anointing in these specific areas. They have a special ability to impart, motivate and mobilize others to enter and take the promise land of the specific truths that they carry.
The late Martin Luther – Justification
The late Smith Wigglesworth – Faith
The late David DuPleissis - Pentecost
The late John Wimber - Power
The late D G S Dhinakaran – Compassion
Oral Roberts – Giving
Charles & Frances Hunter - Healing
Bill Hamon - Prophecy
Morris Cerullo – Warfare
Rick Joyner – Wisdom
Mike Bickle - Intimacy
The difference between a pastor-teacher who specializes in a certain truth, and an apostle-prophet, is that the apostle-prophet is moved and driven by that certain truth. He carries a great intensity of that truth with such passion and conviction. There will be a powerful anointing in that specific area of truth that MOTIVATES and MOBILIZES. This is different from a pastor-teacher who is more into an anointing that touches, comforts and assures.
We need to discern this spiritually. Like I said before, we cannot ascertain a ministry by mere academic observation/research/study. There are things that I discern, but intellectually can’t put a finger on it.
For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:13-14)
There are some things I just can’t explain. But you have to put into practice what you learned, and start discerning, until your discernment grows.
2. The Prophetic Dimension
The basic meaning of a prophet is to foretell the future. The apostles-prophets’ are prophetic not because they give prophecies, but their CALL AND MINISTRY reveals what God is going to do. It is a prophetic MOVEMENT. The apostle-prophetic is a cutting edge leader of a new movement that God is doing.
Example, Martin Luther began the Reformation, the Protestant movement, with his message of Justification.
Smith Wigglesworth was a pioneer of the Faith movement.
David DuPleissis was a catalyst in the Charismatic movement.
Oral Roberts influence the body of Christ. He led the people of God into great Giving movement. And today the message of giving is like second nature because of what Oral Roberts started which is symbolized by the Oral Roberts University.
Before the message of spiritual warfare was popular, God commanded Morris Cerullo to build Him an army. That was the year, 1962.
The Succession Of The Prophetic Israel
• Abraham was called a prophet even though we do not read about him prophesying or this aspect (prophesying) was not prominent enough to be written about (Genesis 20:7-9).
• Moses was called a prophet when he hardly made a prophesy (Deuteronomy 34:10).
God made a major prophecy to Abraham, who carried the call in him. Moses was instrumental in that call by leading the Jews out of Egypt into the promised land.
The ministry and call of an apostle-prophet itself foretells a major thing that God is going to do in the body of Christ. The apostle-prophet will bring God’s people into that promise land of that specific truth, that specific revelation. And the apostle-prophet’s job is also to establish the people of God in that specific truth.