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The Apostolic and Prophetic Foundation
Paul’s initial topic in his first epistle to the Corinthians concerns how an unhealthy view of the importance of men had divided the church at Corinth. Some were saying that they were “of Paul,” some “of Apollos,” and so on. Chapters 1 and 2 of the apostle’s letter reveal why there is no basis to elevate men in such a manner.
For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; that no flesh should glory in His presence.
The foundation of a church is not based on the might nor the wisdom of men; it is based on Christ who is both the power and wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24). Whenever a leader expresses godly wisdom, it is easy for others to think that he is very wise. If he is not quick to give all glory to Jesus, the foundation is obscured. Jesus is not seen as the source. People are then attracted to the speaker more than to Him who is the Wisdom of God. This leads to God’s people gathering around men rather than being built upon Christ. Paul made it clear to the Corinthians that it was not his wisdom or power that established them.
I was with you in weakness...my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom...that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
The wisdom seen in Paul was of God. The world simply could not understand it. Such wisdom has not so much to do with the qualities of the man speaking as it does with the One anointing him to speak. If ministries are not faithful to point this out, they will build followings around themselves and the Church will be weakened.
Today, such man-centeredness is a very real problem. In any given locality, we can find sects and groups, each with its own prominent leader(s). The united house of God is not in evidence; instead, divisions abound in the Lord’s Church. It is interesting to note that Paul began his epistle by dealing with this topic instead of the problem of sexual immorality (1 Cor. 5). I wonder how many in our day really understand this priority. It appears that none of the other truths of Paul’s letter to Corinth could be adequately covered until this issue was first addressed.
Today, many Christian leaders are urging the Church to be more involved in social and political issues. Our responsibilities to the society in which we live are emphasized without seeing how our divisions undermine the message of life that society desperately needs to hear. We must come back to this foundational issue.
In city after city, there does not exist a united church. The divisions, sects, and groupings of God’s people do not express the glory of God’s house. It is no wonder the world considers the Church as irrelevant. We misrepresent God when we do not express the oneness of God.
How can our answers concerning social problems (or any other problems) have much impact when we do not function properly as His Church? We have settled for something less than God intended. This is not to minimize our responsibility to speak out concerning sin in society. However, we should first reexamine our foundations and give primary attention to the apostolic vision of the headship and centrality of Christ in the construction of God’s house.
The unity that God is restoring to His people today is not expressed in uniformity but in diversity. He is establishing His character within each of His diverse children so that with all our varied giftings and personalities, we will not divide from each other but reflect the oneness that exists in Him. He is building His house for eternity. Foundational to this is the restoration of apostolic and prophetic ministries (Eph. 2:20 - 21). The unified nature of the Church will become increasingly evident as God again raises up these two “ascension gift ministries” to serve His people. Unity in the Body of Christ may well be the most important objective of apostolic ministry. The Lord will not release the fullness of His authority and power to a divided, disunited Church.
Let us consider the apostolic task. The word “apostle” means one sent forth on a certain mission. Men were consistently sent on specific missions in the early Church: Paul and Barnabas from Antioch (Acts 13:3 - 4), Judas and Silas from Jerusalem (Acts 15:22, 27), and Peter and John from Jerusalem (Acts 8:14).
Clearly though, the most significant apostle was Jesus, who was sent forth from the Father (Heb. 3:1). He is the perfect pattern for revealing the apostolic function. As we consider His ministry we are able to understand what constitutes apostolic servanthood. He was sent with a two-fold task. First, His ministry among men before Calvary:
I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.
(Jn. 17:4)
Secondly, His ministry for men at Calvary. There Jesus declared;
It is finished!
The following two objectives should identify the work of every apostolic servant.
In Jn. 17:4 Jesus said that He accomplished His work. What was this work? It was to accurately represent His Father on the earth. This was His first task. No matter who He was with - the religious system of His day, a sick child, the multitudes, Satan, or His twelve apostles - Jesus always represented God perfectly.
He who has seen Me has seen the Father....
(Jn. 14:9)
...He has explained Him.
(Jn. 1:18 NASB)
Similarly, the first task of apostolic ministries is to accurately represent their Sender! Notice that Paul never referred to himself as an apostle of Antioch; he was an apostle of Jesus Christ. He was not called to represent and duplicate the experience of Antioch everywhere he went; his objective was to reveal Christ as the foundation, builder, and central figure of the house of God.
We are not called primarily to represent a religious system or even a local church; we are ambassadors of Christ. We must represent His interests in the earth and not our own. To the degree personal desires and interests become mixed with our ministry, we cease to be apostolic. Too many men today come into various cities and towns with their own agendas. They want people to submit to their perspective of what God is doing (or what He is going to do now that they are in town!). True apostolic servants will seek to ascertain what Jesus was doing in that area before they arrived. After recognizing this, they will endeavor to align their efforts with His.
Jesus’ second task was to lay down His life as the foundation stone upon which the house of God would be built. In His death He was the stone which the builders rejected. However, through His Father’s predetermined plan He became the chief cornerstone of His house (1 Pet. 2:7). Even though He was rejected by the religious leaders of His day, He was choice and precious in the sight of His Father (1 Pet. 2:4).
God has purposed to build upon Him a house that will reflect the strength and glory of its foundation. Accordingly, the second task of apostles is to lay down their lives in service unto God so as to accurately unveil Christ the foundation. (We will look at this in more depth later.) When they do, what will be built through their ministries will not reflect their opinions, their ideas, their methods, their aspirations or even their interpretation of His instructions to them. It will express Him! He desires to raise up in every place an accurate, unique corporate expression of Himself. For this task, God must raise up men who recognize their total inability to build anything for Him.
Thus says the Lord, “Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest? For My hand made all these things, thus all these things came into being,” declares the Lord. “But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.”
(Isa. 66:1 - 2 NASB)
A truly humble and contrite servant who recognizes the total impossibility of building a house for God will keep his hands off what the Lord is constructing. He will recognize, point to and join in with what God is bringing forth but will refuse to organize what he thinks ought to come forth. Finally he will take no credit for what emerges from the Spirit’s ministry.
Lord, forgive me for when I have constructed in Your Name those things that were more an expression of my heart than of Yours. I lay down at Your feet all my own perspectives of what I believe You are going to do. Cause me to be more in love with Your person than with my opinions concerning You. And help me to discern the difference. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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