"Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundations of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone."—Ephesians 2:19-20
I hear the Spirit of God saying that we are entering into a time of accelerationbuilding anointing that is being released from Heaven, particularly upon apostles, apostolic leaders and prophets (although not limited to just this group of leaders). on a global scale. I also hear Him speaking about a
An apostolic leader is a person who has a distinct apostolic dimension operating in their ministry, evidenced in apostolic functionality such as planting, pioneering, establishing, foundation-laying, building, nurturing and fathering/mothering. The apostolic dimension may also be revealed in the authority of signs, wonder and miracles flowing in a person's ministry (see 2 Corinthians 12:12). Furthermore, it may be shown in the fruit of the lives of those who receive the minister as an apostolic leader. For instance, the Believers in Corinth were regarded by Paul as a "seal" of his apostolic ministry to their hearts and in their lives (see 1 Corinthians 9:2).
Apostolic Building Anointing
Apostolic building must be carried out by revelation given in wisdom and in heavenly "blueprints." Nehemiah was a type of apostolic pioneer builder, who was commissioned by God to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. After prayer, fasting and consultation with the kin, Nehemiah made a reconnaissance trip to Jerusalem and understood through physical sight and by spiritual revelation how to execute the building work. In being thus appointed, Nehemiah was equipped to raise a team of partners who worked alongside of him to realise the vision. Apostolic builders have grace to gather others around heavenly vision and empower ministry partners.
Nehemiah was led to completion despite much enemy harassment and interference. He was able to do this because he had been authorised, anointed and empowered by God for the task. He was equipped to overcome any and all obstacles along the way and was able to develop successful strategies against the enemy's tactics at pivotal points in the building work. The building anointing is a labouring anointing that is relentless in pursuit of achieving the God-given aims and objectives.
Apostle Paul taught the Church in Philippi that they were to live "according to the pattern" they had seen modeled in himself and his team (Philippians 3:17). Pattern makers are visionary leaders who model and exemplify a lifestyle of holiness with Christ, so that others are enabled and equipped to follow suit. Pattern makers are mentors and spiritual mothers and fathers to others. They are often pioneers who are breaking into new territory and doing things that might not have been done before.
If we are to be Kingdom builders, we must embrace the simple truth that holy and righteous lifestyles are an essential aspect of being a fruitful builder in God's house. Godly character will sustain us in times of challenge, and surrender to His will birth ongoing godly transformation in us to the glory of His name.
Acceleration
Acceleration can only happen under the divine impetus of the Holy Spirit. When He mobilises us to a God-given task/assignment, He releases the necessary grace, authority, power and wisdom to us to consolidate and implement vision and follow through to completion. Holy Spirit not only in-dwells us, but rests and remains upon us to become a mighty catalyst to build according to God's will. Mobilisation causes acceleration, and acceleration creates increased momentum to carry vision/building work forward.
This global outpouring of grace is given to engage the worldwide Church in Kingdom endeavours to establish, to advance, and to multiply God's Kingdom on the earth. This level of outpouring will be contested by satan and it is important that the Church prepares for the coming spiritual warfare that will accompany this mighty breakthrough.
Perhaps we might describe this spiritual warfare on three levels: Ground, Occult and Strategic.
Christ's Love
Before looking at a Biblical example of all three levels of spiritual warfare operating in a city, let's first acknowledge that God's love is one of the greatest weapons of our warfare, alongside that of the Blood of Jesus and the victory of the finished work of the power of the Cross. When Believers operate in love and unity and exercise faith and hope in Christ's finished intercession, there is enormous potential for personal and community transformation. We are built up by His love, to enable others to grow in faith and in maturity, to be prepared for works of service and to attain to the fullness of Christ (see Ephesians 4:11-12)
Strategic Breakthrough Prayer
It is by prevailing prayer that spiritual warfare is fought and won, and prayer and faith must operate hand-in-hand. Strategic breakthrough prayer is an absolutely essential part of the deliverance of individuals, communities and nations. Strategic prayer is tactical, planned and deliberate, resulting in blessing and breakthrough i.e. sudden advancement and forward momentum.
It is by prayer that souls are saved, that the demonised are set free and the sick are healed; it is by prayer that principalities are displaced and dethroned and Christ rightfully enthroned as the King of kings and Lord of lords. Church, we must learn to bend our knees and posture our hearts with fervent, prevailing prayer and fasting before Almighty God if we are to walk in the level of glory anointing God desires for us!
THE EXAMPLE OF ACTS 19
Paul arrived in Ephesus to discover a group of disciples who had only received "John's baptism." Paul explained that this was a baptism of repentance and that John pointed to Jesus. "On hearing this they were baptised into the name of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 19:5).
Baptism
Paul placed his hands on them and the Holy Spirit came upon them and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. The Bible records that about twelve men in all received this baptism. Perhaps we could say these men received a type of "spiritual upgrade"! Apostolic ministry always causes increase. Spiritual warfare cannot be entered into without the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit was graciously poured out on this occasion prior to the spiritual battles that would ensue.
Apostolic Preaching
Paul preached the Word of God in the synagogue for three months, bringing the message of the Kingdom of God to the people there. He encountered opposition but preached boldly nonetheless. Apostolic preaching challenges, shifts and transforms the spiritual atmosphere into which it is delivered by the Holy Spirit's anointing upon a surrendered servant of God. Preaching the Kingdom message is an essential part of spiritual warfare on all three levels and is, itself, a part of the apostolic mandate given to the whole Church.
Apostolic preaching alters the spiritual atmosphere so that unbelievers are able to "hear" the Gospel and respond. There is no higher warfare than to win souls and disciple them for Christ's glory, and every single salvation is an ultimate trophy of grace in the realm of spiritual warfare.
We must never underestimate the power of the fire of God in anointed preaching! It literally burns up the spiritual darkness around it, penetrating hearts and minds to bring people to a place of revelatory understanding and acceptance of the mystery and beauty of the Gospel message.
I had the privilege of preaching to a group of women in a prison in California last summer and, as the Word of God went forth, the change in the atmosphere was tangible. I made an appeal in 90-degree heat and asked the women if they would like to receive the Lord. They ran forward and were swept off their feet by the Holy Spirit, and many were instantly baptised and spoke in tongues. It was a most beautiful and blessed moment in the little prison courtyard as the bemused guards looked on and angels celebrated.
Teaching the Word of God/Discipleship Teams
By apostolic teaching, the Kingdom of God is not only established in grace, but also advances in the power of the Holy Spirit's revelation, wisdom and truth. Paul taught the twelve new disciples for two years in the lecture hall of Tyrannus, and we are told that both the Jews and the Greeks throughout the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord (Acts 19:10).
For twenty four long months, the Apostle Paul laboured tirelessly to bring the word of the Lord to his apostolic team in preparation to minister and impact the surrounding community. He trained the young disciples by the Word of God and laid a strong foundation upon which the glory could manifest in signs, wonders and miracles. During this 24-month period of equipping, Paul prepared a team that could co-labour with him in the season of in-gathering for the harvest that was just around the corner.
Anointed and inspired teaching of the Word of God will bring about a Godly transformation in individuals allowing them to mature as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.
A few years ago I was privileged to lead a core group of 18-25 year olds in preparation for a prayer and repentance tour of Scotland. For a year we met every week to pray and worship together. As well as building vision with my leaders, I also invested much time in teaching them some of the values I held. I saw the leadership potential in each of them and sought to not only train them for task, but to also develop them as leaders. After a year they were sent out as team leaders all across Scotland on their ministry assignments and the Lord graciously moved in power everywhere they went.
Preparing your team is an important part of affecting the destiny of your city or community. May God bless you and pour out upon you a Kingdom-building anointing!
Catherine Brown
Founder, Gatekeepers Global Ministries
Email: admin@gatekeepers.org.uk
Website: www.gatekeepers.org.uk
No comments:
Post a Comment