AN APOSTOLIC CHURCH PV

I wanted to finish up with EARMARKS OF AN APOSTOLIC CHURCH.

1. PRESBYTERIES
"Apostolic churches form presbyteries made up of apostles, prophets, and teachers. Many times we see scriptures where apostles and elders are assembled together (Acts 15:2, 4, 6, 22, 23; 16:4; 21:18.) Timothy himself was confirmed into ministry by an apostolic presbytery. As the scripture reads, "Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery" (1 Timothy 4:14.) There will be much more truth in regards to the establishing of apostolic presbyteries revealed to us in the days ahead.

2. STRATEGIST
"And he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal. And his name spread far abroad; for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong (2 Chr 26:15). This scripture is a prophetic example of apostolic strategy. The 21st Century apostolic church will be a ministry of divine strategy to wage war on the enemies' strongholds. We have had two thousand years to get the gospel into the world and our job is not yet done. We need and will see divinely inspired apostolic strategies given by the Holy Spirit to enable us to reach the world with the gospel. Uzziah shows us that God gave him strategies that helped him win in his generation. 'He was marvelously helped,' and we will be too.

3. SUFFER
"I wish that I did not have to include suffering as an apostolic church earmark. However, it is evident that apostolic people suffer, grieve, travail, and even lament because of sin around them, lukewarmness, lack of reverence and commitment toward God and, of course, the opposition against their pioneering call. However, in spite of their suffering, they never give up and quit but keep their eyes on Jesus who is the author and finisher of their faith."

4. PUT A DEMAND ON YOU
"Yes, apostolic churches will put a demand on you to commit and dedicate yourself to grow. Apostolic churches are not the kind where you can come in sit and hide for too long. Neither are they the kind of churches where you can grow at your own 'turtle speed.' Remember the apostolic spirit sets the pace, so you will probably feel compelled to grow and mature more than ever before. Why? Because apostolic churches reproduce sons and heirs, instead of dependent children. You see, need only based ministry can only produce need only centered or an unhealthy dependent people. So apostolic leaders will demand that you grow. For example, when you first meet them they will pray for you, then they will pray with you, then they will require you to get to the level of praying for yourself, and not to stop there, but to pray for others. Notice how you are always involved in the process.

5. RELATIONAL
"To be in one accord refers to the relationship that one believer has with another. Apostolic people love being with each other. Relationships are one of the fabrics of an apostolic church. For people to be relational they must be connected. Within the apostolic church persists a heart felt need to be united with their brothers and sisters in Christ through the development of a personal relationship that transcends a casual meeting during a church service. Apostolic people carry a burden for another. They are concerned about the welfare of their fellow co-laborers. When one suffers, all suffer. Why? Because the wall of self-centeredness and 'bless me only' Christianity has fallen down. They truly love one another."

I will post the last part next week and see you on Sunday.

"BRINGING GRACE TO A LOST WORLD"