APOSTOLIC MENTALITY
In understanding the nature of the global kingdom community {church, local and universal} from the apostolic dimension, there is given a vision for the whole body of Christ at large, an open and expanded heavens as oppose to having only a local vision just for doing local things in a restricted way.
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the entire world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. Matthew 24:14
Now by having a view of the kingdom, one is immediately challenged to see things the way the King does. Here, you no longer focus on the introversion and internalizing of some local assemblies at the exclusion of the greater glory. Such are generally geared up in becoming a seeker-friendly assembly;
but you now have a bigger picture of things all around you, even a revelation and open heavens of what your corporate purpose is in the particular geographic region you are strategically appointed to, and, to what your strategic positioning is in the earth itself. Corporate in anointing, relationship, demonstration, and destination!
To begin with, Apostolic mentality is having the perception of what the true nature of the body of Christ really is, and how we are to advance the kingdom of God through it.
The local and global kingdom community in the New Testament is birthed and built out of an apostolic – kingdom mentality, 1st things 1st.. {1 Corinthians 12:28}…God has set in the church FIRST {Greek: Proton – "order, time, importance, and place} Note below…
And he gave some, apostles...Ephesians 4:11 – or, He keeps on giving, He continues to give…
And God has set some in the church, first apostles...1 Corinthians 12:28
With the growing restoration wave over the last 50 or more years, we have found the evangelist restored in present truth from the 50's and the pastor-shepherd of the 60's. Then the teacher of the 70's, the prophet in the 80's, and the apostle in the 90's. Although the first is said to be last, and the last is said to be the first, apostles could have possibly been recognized for restoration first in present day ministry had the assemblies then embraced the revelation, recognition, and restoration of the apostles in the late 40's and early 50's.
Though God is sovereign and can use any thing to accomplish his intended purpose in the earth, there is a sense that this last 50 plus year's pattern is out of order from the original biblical and divine pattern of ministry. Present truth apostles and prophets of the Spirit are convinced that, had the church of the Azusa and Latter Rain Outpourings embraced the apostles and prophets of the Spirit there would now be a whole new era of reformation and release in the earth unlike the world has ever seen. How? In part by revelation and apprehending it for their present time. By Recognition and embrace, celebrating and not tolerating them. Thus, restoration and reformation would have came sooner…
There would be a new order {which now is} and unprecedented movement of the Spirit through the apostle and prophet first {Proton}, had the local, regional, and international assemblage of the saints caught the vision and revelation of them in earlier times. {1st Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11}
I know, I know, I know, that God does things in his timing, but just think, if the kingdom community of the saints {local and universal} had readily received and embraced the apostle first with the prophet, then perhaps there would not have been a Pensacola or Toronto revival. Perhaps the revivals today we so often cherish as the divine moving of God based on gold teeth, donkey sounds, gold dust, visions of Jesus, angelic singing, holy laughter, etc., would possess a completely new characterization upon them altogether. For the emphasis would be more on reformation {transformation} and realignment, not alone mere revivals for believers.
If the early assemblies of America had come into divine order with what God was doing as a whole, Pensacola and Toronto would never had been world news, or, at all. Rather, with the stability of the kingdom to take the corporate SON {Christ the Body} from visitation to habitation, and the revelation of the assemblies purpose and destiny in the earth and the regions, these same localities would have been a drop in the bucket compared to the fullness of God's eternal purposes manifested in the earth. For perhaps the greatest outpour of all will be the manifestation of the sons of God, setting creation free from bondage, captivity, futility, and corruption. Romans 8:19...
Continuing on...Apostolic mentality is a way of perceiving and demonstrating the present truth that apostles had the anointing, authority, and agenda to help steer and navigate the global community through the headship of Christ through establishing a strong foundation, and releasing destiny to the nations....
Apostolic mentality keeps the stagnation out of assemblies, and leads it into more ways of expression and advancement then introverted meetings geared exclusively for Sunday and Mid-week.
Apostolic mentality develops technologies and methodologies of forwarding and heralding the saints into its given purpose in the earth and the geographical regions thereof.
Apostolic mentality seeks for fresh new ways to pierce, penetrate, and to pioneer the work of the ministry beyond the four walls of sanctuaries, into the ongoing rhythm of what the assemblies are originally given for in the earth and in their given region.
With progressive spiritual momentum, and the preaching and the {launching} planting {pioneering} of the gospel of the kingdom as appointed apostolic teams and assemblages of the Spirit, apostolic mentality sees the ever-increasing kingdom of God filling the whole earth, and the church or kingdom community filling it up…
The Charismatic movement could only take us to the brink of Jordan, but the prophetic takes us over and far across. And, when crossing over Jordan, the apostolic dimension establishes us therein.
{From Visitation to Habitation, from David's Tabernacle to Solomon's Temple}…Therefore, apostolic mentality sees far reaching and far ahead through prophetic perception, the destiny of the saints, and the need to prepare for its corporate influence in the earth. It takes the apostolic in becoming prophetic in vision and perception. It is more than having emotional roller coaster rides for corporate gathering, and much more than building bigger buildings for the mere sake of simply building. Apostolic mentality with prophetic vision keeps our focus and functionality on the King and his kingdom, and his will being done in earth as it is in heaven...Matthew 6:10
Below, you will find the classical Greek definition of an apostle, and how the church is to be characterized thereby. For in another sense, an apostle is not only defined here, but described as well.
{Definition through description}
1- A naval expedition, a cargo, a fleet of ships sent out {apostello} with a specific objective and mission...
2- The Admiral or commander of a naval expedition or fleet of ships, one to lead the way into new frontiers...
3- The colony which was founded by the admiral, a group of colonists sent overseas {The Antioch Pattern: Acts 13}...
4- A personal envoy, emissary, delegate, or ambassador...
{In apostolic mentality, all of the above is considered an apostle, the whole process}
Now, the Greek word "apostolos, is derived from apostello, which is defined as "a delegate, an ambassador of the gospel, a commissioner of Christ, a messenger, a sent one."
And, if the corporate assemblies are apostolic in mission, message, and ministry, then ask yourself the question, "What exactly is the mission, message, and ministry of the local and corporate assemblies today?
Well, one interesting response without necessarily responding comprehensively to the question is...It's all the same! The mission, message, and ministry; a uniting principle. You are to do what you ARE. You are born to be, then born to do. Doing comes out of being. In the revelation of Ezekiel's Wheel, there are different spokes but one wheel, various aspects of the revelation of the kingdom, but ONE King and Kingdom. Or, in present truth prophetic terminologies and articulations, "You preach what you Sing, Sing what you Pray, Pray what you Intercede, Intercede what you Prophecy, Prophecy what you teach, Teach what {Whom} you Worship {Worth-ship}, Worship whom you Praise, Praise what you Proclaim, Proclaim what you Do, Do what you Are, for We are WHO HE IS in the earth..."
However, I shall list some things that reveal in part, the mission, message, and ministry of present truth ministries.
Such is characterized with vision, direction, clarity, and purpose for corporate destiny. Corporate destiny refers to the fulfillment of the Lord's given purpose in the earth as a corporate body, which leaves no room for the popularized notes of Scofield, Darby, Larkin, etc. We are not here to fit, but to change to our world through Dominion, the 1st Great Commission {versus Great Commotion} in Genesis 1:26, 28…
1 - Apostolic Mentality is planting {Plantation, or "Be Fruitful and Multiply"} the gospel or the pioneering, launching, and establishing of New
Kingdom communities and assemblies through the city-regional corporate church principle: one {regional} assembly in many locations, Multipli-CITY, the regional summonings and Kahal Jehovah, the calling of His regional assembly. Apostolic mentality sees a given locality as one church with one progressive purpose, and not as a divided entity exclusive with its own agenda. Apostolic mentality can go into any given region or locality and sense the encouraging need to pioneer and launch the gospel therein. Whether it is in the most remote island of the world, the darkest streets of the USA, or in the highest hills of another country, apostolic mentality is one, which is not moved by the word can't, but can! Apostolic mentality is destiny-oriented and defines clearly regional given purposes with a passion of a warrior engaged for battle as oppose to a mere soldier of fortune..
And you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8
2 - Apostolic Mentality is a sending and receiving ministry, which finds its pattern in the ANTIOCH PRINCIPLE. Here, it is recognizing, raising, and releasing you into your purpose, place, and potential.
Many traditional and past paradigm shepherds tend to cater to the immediate needs of the flock, again that is importantly needed, where needed. But an apostle's motivation speaks to the destiny of the saints and the vision of advancing the kingdom beyond the four walls. Many shepherds without apostolic mentality however are too preserving, and can develop at times a slight insecurity in releasing people into their next divine assignment, but not apostles! Many shepherds ask you how many sheep you have in your fold and some equate their strength and success to particular numbers, but apostles are moved with where you are headed. Also, apostolic mentality ordain {not license} elders in the assemblies {Acts 14:23} and the cities {Titus 1}.
And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people...Acts 11:26 {also, read Galatians 2:9}
And when they had ordained them elders in every church {every church needs elders, a plurality of elders, not a lone star leader}, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord...Acts 14:23 {read also Acts 13:1-3
3 - Apostolic Mentality is destiny dimensioned.
Its perception of ministry will lovingly challenge even the most complacent mind sets of leaders whom lack vision and direction for their own work in their given region. Sometimes leaers come to us and ask for our input, to help set things straight within their assemblies. But sometimes, the matter of divisional concerns, and lack of divine drive and output stems from the leadership of the flock. Leaders would come to us and ask that we set the record straight, but they themselves are not walking a straight and narrow in their focus and HIS vision for those appointed local assemblages. It is one thing for someone to cry out that their assembly is not on the same page as they, but it is another thing when the elders of the assembly are not on the same page as the Lord for their given purpose and region.
Whether mission, submission, transmission, or commission, the root of the word is "mission."
Apostolic mentality quickens the assembly to realize their purpose in their given region and locality and moves the saints forwardly from encouragement to equipping, from schooling to re-tooling, from individualism to corporate life, from visitation to habitation, and from impartation to activation. Unlike traditional pastoral ministries alone focusing on present and past, apostles focuses much on where we are headed into the future {transcendence, posterity, destiny} as well.
A - Acts 13:4-52; 14:1-28 {Paul's First Apostolic Journey}
B - Acts 15:36-41; 16:17 through 18:1-23 {Paul's Second Apostolic Journey}
C - Acts 18:23-28; 19:20; 21:1-14 {Paul's Third Apostolic Journey}
4 - Apostolic Mentality witnesses the establishing of covenant, right, and divine relationships as this forms the foundation and basis of the book of Acts, a relational or relationship ministry, servant-leadership.
It is networking and knitting together reciprocally, covenant love, loyalty, and mutual respect one for another. It is synergy, synthesizing, and synchronizing {"syn," not sin - smile} through kingdom alignment appointed of the Lord...Amos 3:3.
And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches…Acts 15:40-41
And he {Apollos} began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom, when Aquilla and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which he had believed through grace. Acts 18:26-27 {Nothing quite like being appointed together through the Lord – Amos 3:3}
5 - Apostolic Mentality is seen as a T.E.A.M.
{Together, Everyone Accomplishes {or Achieves} More - or Maturity {or Miracles}
Team ministry is total ministry {ATM Machine - Apostolic Team Ministry}
{One plants, One waters, God gives the Increase: 1 Corinthians 3:6-9}
Now when the apostles, which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Acts 8:14
And as they went through the cities, they delivered them decrees for to keep, that was ordained of the apostles and elders, which were at Jerusalem. And so were the assemblies established in the faith, and increased in number daily. Acts 16:4-5…apostles and elders worked close together, apostleship, eldership, discipleship producing sonship.
Note the opposite of team ministry - 3 John 9-10; Isaiah 14:12; Daniel 5:19. Here, we find competing one with another and not completing one of another. We are to move from competition to proper recognition.
6 - Apostolic Mentality is having the Father's heart for unbelievers.
One of the most important features, earmarks, and ministry emphasis with apostles is always a burden for the un-reached, the unbeliever, those who simply don't have a personal relationship in the Lord. In apostolic mentality, there will be an open heart towards God for the salvation of all in any given region. For it seems though, that some apostles today have become more comfortable with the distorted idea that they are God's authority for the body, and have no interest or time to share intimately the gospel of the kingdom to unbelievers. True, apostles vary in grace, depth, and anointing but remember, God so loved that he gave, meaning, love gives and shares in a special way.
When I meet brethren across the nations who esteem the apostolic and have no compassion for the bruised, scorned, maimed, blind, halted, withered, feeble, unlovable, and un-reached, it brings to mind the following principle. That a man's character is judged by how he treats those that he believes to be unto him as a liability or an asset. In America, it appears that so many apostles have not had a burden for the un-reached for quite some time. Now I understand that the grace of the Lord and the presence of God for each apostle and kingdom endeavor varies to a greater or lesser degree, and it is not to be compared one with another {2 Corinthians 10:12-18}. But you are not going to hit first base as an apostle either by avoiding the negative and harsh reality that there are people in worse case scenarios than we, real hurting people in the throes and woes of life… This is not to dredge up a false humility or to play on ones emotions to feel guilty, extremely sympathetic and remorseful for not leading the way in compassion for all people.
But notice the scripture below…
For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity {Greek – "feebleness – of
body and mind, malady {morally – frailty}, disease, sickness, weakness"}…Hebrews 5:1-2
With that in mind, it is necessarily important to always be open to minister to whomsoever He wills, as ministry is not a bucket of fried chicken where we indulgently pick our part or piece only. If we randomly pick our part, we may pick apart the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:10-13; 2:1-5; 3:1-4; 12:18-28; Galatians 6:1
Phillip of Acts 8th chapter had the compassion of Christ to minister to large crowds in the first half of the chapter, and continued with compassion to minister to just one person without prideful comparisons in the last half of chapter 8 of Acts {Book of Activation, Action, Active Rhythm of the Spirit}. Nowhere in the script do you find Phillip more anxious to get to the crowd as crowd pleasers and less appealing to minister to one person. Beloved, if there is going to be a real release of the kingdom throughout the earth, there must also be a change of nature towards the kingdom and the work of the ministry. Apostolic character will evoke apostolic purity, and apostolic purity will reflect apostolic maturity.
For the promise is unto you, and your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he {Peter} testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. Acts 2:39-41
7 - Apostolic Mentality is simply the advancing of the kingdom {The Authority and Agenda of the Spirit for Planet Earth - the Vision of the Lord, His Plan, and Eternal Purpose, the Destiny and transformation of the nations through the reformation and transformation of the Church from Church to Kingdom} beyond the four walls of physical and monumental structures.
In all truth, the assembly is never a human made building at all, but an assembly of people. When ministers ask you where your church is, they are concluding that the church is a building. However, there is one scripture in Acts 19:37 which speaks of robbers of churches, yet that Greek word for churches there is the same for the word "temple," and is not translated "Ekklesia." For again, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is not a physical building, but a people, and assembly, a kingdom community of purposes and destinies in divinely appointed covenant assemblage. In Romans 16:5…"Greet the church that is in their house."
In apostolic mentality, we preach the gospel of the kingdom, not a Jesus only message. Jesus never preached Jesus, he preached the kingdom. And when we preach the kingdom, signs surely follow…
I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent
{apostello - set apart, sent out on a mission}. Luke 4:43 {Jesus}
Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ...Acts 28:31 {Paul}
Dr. Timothy Early
Website:www.apostolicparadigms.com
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the entire world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. Matthew 24:14
Now by having a view of the kingdom, one is immediately challenged to see things the way the King does. Here, you no longer focus on the introversion and internalizing of some local assemblies at the exclusion of the greater glory. Such are generally geared up in becoming a seeker-friendly assembly;
but you now have a bigger picture of things all around you, even a revelation and open heavens of what your corporate purpose is in the particular geographic region you are strategically appointed to, and, to what your strategic positioning is in the earth itself. Corporate in anointing, relationship, demonstration, and destination!
To begin with, Apostolic mentality is having the perception of what the true nature of the body of Christ really is, and how we are to advance the kingdom of God through it.
The local and global kingdom community in the New Testament is birthed and built out of an apostolic – kingdom mentality, 1st things 1st.. {1 Corinthians 12:28}…God has set in the church FIRST {Greek: Proton – "order, time, importance, and place} Note below…
And he gave some, apostles...Ephesians 4:11 – or, He keeps on giving, He continues to give…
And God has set some in the church, first apostles...1 Corinthians 12:28
With the growing restoration wave over the last 50 or more years, we have found the evangelist restored in present truth from the 50's and the pastor-shepherd of the 60's. Then the teacher of the 70's, the prophet in the 80's, and the apostle in the 90's. Although the first is said to be last, and the last is said to be the first, apostles could have possibly been recognized for restoration first in present day ministry had the assemblies then embraced the revelation, recognition, and restoration of the apostles in the late 40's and early 50's.
Though God is sovereign and can use any thing to accomplish his intended purpose in the earth, there is a sense that this last 50 plus year's pattern is out of order from the original biblical and divine pattern of ministry. Present truth apostles and prophets of the Spirit are convinced that, had the church of the Azusa and Latter Rain Outpourings embraced the apostles and prophets of the Spirit there would now be a whole new era of reformation and release in the earth unlike the world has ever seen. How? In part by revelation and apprehending it for their present time. By Recognition and embrace, celebrating and not tolerating them. Thus, restoration and reformation would have came sooner…
There would be a new order {which now is} and unprecedented movement of the Spirit through the apostle and prophet first {Proton}, had the local, regional, and international assemblage of the saints caught the vision and revelation of them in earlier times. {1st Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11}
I know, I know, I know, that God does things in his timing, but just think, if the kingdom community of the saints {local and universal} had readily received and embraced the apostle first with the prophet, then perhaps there would not have been a Pensacola or Toronto revival. Perhaps the revivals today we so often cherish as the divine moving of God based on gold teeth, donkey sounds, gold dust, visions of Jesus, angelic singing, holy laughter, etc., would possess a completely new characterization upon them altogether. For the emphasis would be more on reformation {transformation} and realignment, not alone mere revivals for believers.
If the early assemblies of America had come into divine order with what God was doing as a whole, Pensacola and Toronto would never had been world news, or, at all. Rather, with the stability of the kingdom to take the corporate SON {Christ the Body} from visitation to habitation, and the revelation of the assemblies purpose and destiny in the earth and the regions, these same localities would have been a drop in the bucket compared to the fullness of God's eternal purposes manifested in the earth. For perhaps the greatest outpour of all will be the manifestation of the sons of God, setting creation free from bondage, captivity, futility, and corruption. Romans 8:19...
Continuing on...Apostolic mentality is a way of perceiving and demonstrating the present truth that apostles had the anointing, authority, and agenda to help steer and navigate the global community through the headship of Christ through establishing a strong foundation, and releasing destiny to the nations....
Apostolic mentality keeps the stagnation out of assemblies, and leads it into more ways of expression and advancement then introverted meetings geared exclusively for Sunday and Mid-week.
Apostolic mentality develops technologies and methodologies of forwarding and heralding the saints into its given purpose in the earth and the geographical regions thereof.
Apostolic mentality seeks for fresh new ways to pierce, penetrate, and to pioneer the work of the ministry beyond the four walls of sanctuaries, into the ongoing rhythm of what the assemblies are originally given for in the earth and in their given region.
With progressive spiritual momentum, and the preaching and the {launching} planting {pioneering} of the gospel of the kingdom as appointed apostolic teams and assemblages of the Spirit, apostolic mentality sees the ever-increasing kingdom of God filling the whole earth, and the church or kingdom community filling it up…
The Charismatic movement could only take us to the brink of Jordan, but the prophetic takes us over and far across. And, when crossing over Jordan, the apostolic dimension establishes us therein.
{From Visitation to Habitation, from David's Tabernacle to Solomon's Temple}…Therefore, apostolic mentality sees far reaching and far ahead through prophetic perception, the destiny of the saints, and the need to prepare for its corporate influence in the earth. It takes the apostolic in becoming prophetic in vision and perception. It is more than having emotional roller coaster rides for corporate gathering, and much more than building bigger buildings for the mere sake of simply building. Apostolic mentality with prophetic vision keeps our focus and functionality on the King and his kingdom, and his will being done in earth as it is in heaven...Matthew 6:10
Below, you will find the classical Greek definition of an apostle, and how the church is to be characterized thereby. For in another sense, an apostle is not only defined here, but described as well.
{Definition through description}
1- A naval expedition, a cargo, a fleet of ships sent out {apostello} with a specific objective and mission...
2- The Admiral or commander of a naval expedition or fleet of ships, one to lead the way into new frontiers...
3- The colony which was founded by the admiral, a group of colonists sent overseas {The Antioch Pattern: Acts 13}...
4- A personal envoy, emissary, delegate, or ambassador...
{In apostolic mentality, all of the above is considered an apostle, the whole process}
Now, the Greek word "apostolos, is derived from apostello, which is defined as "a delegate, an ambassador of the gospel, a commissioner of Christ, a messenger, a sent one."
And, if the corporate assemblies are apostolic in mission, message, and ministry, then ask yourself the question, "What exactly is the mission, message, and ministry of the local and corporate assemblies today?
Well, one interesting response without necessarily responding comprehensively to the question is...It's all the same! The mission, message, and ministry; a uniting principle. You are to do what you ARE. You are born to be, then born to do. Doing comes out of being. In the revelation of Ezekiel's Wheel, there are different spokes but one wheel, various aspects of the revelation of the kingdom, but ONE King and Kingdom. Or, in present truth prophetic terminologies and articulations, "You preach what you Sing, Sing what you Pray, Pray what you Intercede, Intercede what you Prophecy, Prophecy what you teach, Teach what {Whom} you Worship {Worth-ship}, Worship whom you Praise, Praise what you Proclaim, Proclaim what you Do, Do what you Are, for We are WHO HE IS in the earth..."
However, I shall list some things that reveal in part, the mission, message, and ministry of present truth ministries.
Such is characterized with vision, direction, clarity, and purpose for corporate destiny. Corporate destiny refers to the fulfillment of the Lord's given purpose in the earth as a corporate body, which leaves no room for the popularized notes of Scofield, Darby, Larkin, etc. We are not here to fit, but to change to our world through Dominion, the 1st Great Commission {versus Great Commotion} in Genesis 1:26, 28…
1 - Apostolic Mentality is planting {Plantation, or "Be Fruitful and Multiply"} the gospel or the pioneering, launching, and establishing of New
Kingdom communities and assemblies through the city-regional corporate church principle: one {regional} assembly in many locations, Multipli-CITY, the regional summonings and Kahal Jehovah, the calling of His regional assembly. Apostolic mentality sees a given locality as one church with one progressive purpose, and not as a divided entity exclusive with its own agenda. Apostolic mentality can go into any given region or locality and sense the encouraging need to pioneer and launch the gospel therein. Whether it is in the most remote island of the world, the darkest streets of the USA, or in the highest hills of another country, apostolic mentality is one, which is not moved by the word can't, but can! Apostolic mentality is destiny-oriented and defines clearly regional given purposes with a passion of a warrior engaged for battle as oppose to a mere soldier of fortune..
And you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8
2 - Apostolic Mentality is a sending and receiving ministry, which finds its pattern in the ANTIOCH PRINCIPLE. Here, it is recognizing, raising, and releasing you into your purpose, place, and potential.
Many traditional and past paradigm shepherds tend to cater to the immediate needs of the flock, again that is importantly needed, where needed. But an apostle's motivation speaks to the destiny of the saints and the vision of advancing the kingdom beyond the four walls. Many shepherds without apostolic mentality however are too preserving, and can develop at times a slight insecurity in releasing people into their next divine assignment, but not apostles! Many shepherds ask you how many sheep you have in your fold and some equate their strength and success to particular numbers, but apostles are moved with where you are headed. Also, apostolic mentality ordain {not license} elders in the assemblies {Acts 14:23} and the cities {Titus 1}.
And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people...Acts 11:26 {also, read Galatians 2:9}
And when they had ordained them elders in every church {every church needs elders, a plurality of elders, not a lone star leader}, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord...Acts 14:23 {read also Acts 13:1-3
3 - Apostolic Mentality is destiny dimensioned.
Its perception of ministry will lovingly challenge even the most complacent mind sets of leaders whom lack vision and direction for their own work in their given region. Sometimes leaers come to us and ask for our input, to help set things straight within their assemblies. But sometimes, the matter of divisional concerns, and lack of divine drive and output stems from the leadership of the flock. Leaders would come to us and ask that we set the record straight, but they themselves are not walking a straight and narrow in their focus and HIS vision for those appointed local assemblages. It is one thing for someone to cry out that their assembly is not on the same page as they, but it is another thing when the elders of the assembly are not on the same page as the Lord for their given purpose and region.
Whether mission, submission, transmission, or commission, the root of the word is "mission."
Apostolic mentality quickens the assembly to realize their purpose in their given region and locality and moves the saints forwardly from encouragement to equipping, from schooling to re-tooling, from individualism to corporate life, from visitation to habitation, and from impartation to activation. Unlike traditional pastoral ministries alone focusing on present and past, apostles focuses much on where we are headed into the future {transcendence, posterity, destiny} as well.
A - Acts 13:4-52; 14:1-28 {Paul's First Apostolic Journey}
B - Acts 15:36-41; 16:17 through 18:1-23 {Paul's Second Apostolic Journey}
C - Acts 18:23-28; 19:20; 21:1-14 {Paul's Third Apostolic Journey}
4 - Apostolic Mentality witnesses the establishing of covenant, right, and divine relationships as this forms the foundation and basis of the book of Acts, a relational or relationship ministry, servant-leadership.
It is networking and knitting together reciprocally, covenant love, loyalty, and mutual respect one for another. It is synergy, synthesizing, and synchronizing {"syn," not sin - smile} through kingdom alignment appointed of the Lord...Amos 3:3.
And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches…Acts 15:40-41
And he {Apollos} began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom, when Aquilla and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which he had believed through grace. Acts 18:26-27 {Nothing quite like being appointed together through the Lord – Amos 3:3}
5 - Apostolic Mentality is seen as a T.E.A.M.
{Together, Everyone Accomplishes {or Achieves} More - or Maturity {or Miracles}
Team ministry is total ministry {ATM Machine - Apostolic Team Ministry}
{One plants, One waters, God gives the Increase: 1 Corinthians 3:6-9}
Now when the apostles, which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Acts 8:14
And as they went through the cities, they delivered them decrees for to keep, that was ordained of the apostles and elders, which were at Jerusalem. And so were the assemblies established in the faith, and increased in number daily. Acts 16:4-5…apostles and elders worked close together, apostleship, eldership, discipleship producing sonship.
Note the opposite of team ministry - 3 John 9-10; Isaiah 14:12; Daniel 5:19. Here, we find competing one with another and not completing one of another. We are to move from competition to proper recognition.
6 - Apostolic Mentality is having the Father's heart for unbelievers.
One of the most important features, earmarks, and ministry emphasis with apostles is always a burden for the un-reached, the unbeliever, those who simply don't have a personal relationship in the Lord. In apostolic mentality, there will be an open heart towards God for the salvation of all in any given region. For it seems though, that some apostles today have become more comfortable with the distorted idea that they are God's authority for the body, and have no interest or time to share intimately the gospel of the kingdom to unbelievers. True, apostles vary in grace, depth, and anointing but remember, God so loved that he gave, meaning, love gives and shares in a special way.
When I meet brethren across the nations who esteem the apostolic and have no compassion for the bruised, scorned, maimed, blind, halted, withered, feeble, unlovable, and un-reached, it brings to mind the following principle. That a man's character is judged by how he treats those that he believes to be unto him as a liability or an asset. In America, it appears that so many apostles have not had a burden for the un-reached for quite some time. Now I understand that the grace of the Lord and the presence of God for each apostle and kingdom endeavor varies to a greater or lesser degree, and it is not to be compared one with another {2 Corinthians 10:12-18}. But you are not going to hit first base as an apostle either by avoiding the negative and harsh reality that there are people in worse case scenarios than we, real hurting people in the throes and woes of life… This is not to dredge up a false humility or to play on ones emotions to feel guilty, extremely sympathetic and remorseful for not leading the way in compassion for all people.
But notice the scripture below…
For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity {Greek – "feebleness – of
body and mind, malady {morally – frailty}, disease, sickness, weakness"}…Hebrews 5:1-2
With that in mind, it is necessarily important to always be open to minister to whomsoever He wills, as ministry is not a bucket of fried chicken where we indulgently pick our part or piece only. If we randomly pick our part, we may pick apart the body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 1:10-13; 2:1-5; 3:1-4; 12:18-28; Galatians 6:1
Phillip of Acts 8th chapter had the compassion of Christ to minister to large crowds in the first half of the chapter, and continued with compassion to minister to just one person without prideful comparisons in the last half of chapter 8 of Acts {Book of Activation, Action, Active Rhythm of the Spirit}. Nowhere in the script do you find Phillip more anxious to get to the crowd as crowd pleasers and less appealing to minister to one person. Beloved, if there is going to be a real release of the kingdom throughout the earth, there must also be a change of nature towards the kingdom and the work of the ministry. Apostolic character will evoke apostolic purity, and apostolic purity will reflect apostolic maturity.
For the promise is unto you, and your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he {Peter} testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. Acts 2:39-41
7 - Apostolic Mentality is simply the advancing of the kingdom {The Authority and Agenda of the Spirit for Planet Earth - the Vision of the Lord, His Plan, and Eternal Purpose, the Destiny and transformation of the nations through the reformation and transformation of the Church from Church to Kingdom} beyond the four walls of physical and monumental structures.
In all truth, the assembly is never a human made building at all, but an assembly of people. When ministers ask you where your church is, they are concluding that the church is a building. However, there is one scripture in Acts 19:37 which speaks of robbers of churches, yet that Greek word for churches there is the same for the word "temple," and is not translated "Ekklesia." For again, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is not a physical building, but a people, and assembly, a kingdom community of purposes and destinies in divinely appointed covenant assemblage. In Romans 16:5…"Greet the church that is in their house."
In apostolic mentality, we preach the gospel of the kingdom, not a Jesus only message. Jesus never preached Jesus, he preached the kingdom. And when we preach the kingdom, signs surely follow…
I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent
{apostello - set apart, sent out on a mission}. Luke 4:43 {Jesus}
Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ...Acts 28:31 {Paul}
Dr. Timothy Early
Website:www.apostolicparadigms.com
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