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The Apostolic and Prophetic Foundation
This book is intended to contribute to the growing body of literature on the theme of apostles and prophets. Whenever God restores truth, it is so the Church will experientially grow into the reality of what He is revealing. We have heard His emphasis concerning the restoration of these ministries and our response has been to verbalize it. This is good. We have also tried to implement it. This is also good but it has had mixed results.
A danger lies in believing we fully possess what we are speaking about. Having correct terminology is not the same as walking in what God intended when He spoke. His intent and our perspective of His intent are often not the same thing. We know “in part” and are participating in an unfolding revelation of His person and purpose. He has much to reveal that we are not yet ready to receive. Today God is restoring these ministries to the Church and apostolic terminology abounds. However, we may not be as far along as we believe.
When Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, his concern was not only what they built but also how they were building.
But let each one take heed how he builds....
Gold, silver and precious stones have to do not only with what is being constructed but more importantly with the way it is being done. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (Jn. 14:6). Many church leaders in our day point to what is occurring in their midst as a sign of God’s approval. People are being saved, numbers are increasing, elders function in team ministry, etc. However, as positive as these ingredients of church life appear, the question before us is whether or not we are learning and walking in God’s ways (Ps. 103:7).
Today we stand at the end of the Charismatic renewal. That particular wave of God’s visitation has swept in from the ocean of His purpose and has now receded back again. Left in its wake are all the structures that have been built in the last twenty to twenty five years. Many of these church forms are important. However, the idea that these structures will be sufficient to contain what He is beginning to do is questionable. This raises the question, Where is our commitment? Is it to that which has been built or is it to Him who led us in the construction process?
It is true that we have come to understand certain aspects of moving in the Spirit. We have tasted an anointing for service, and God has blessed much that we have done. However, many of us have found our identity in our ministry. The words, “elder”, “pastor”, “prophet”, “teacher”, “deacon”, etc. have come to have significance when we think of who and what we are in God’s house. Here is an interesting question: What if He asked us to lay those terms aside? What if we had to function in God’s house without them? What if we only had the grace and anointing of God coupled with the people’s recognition of that anointing?[1]
If we did not have the title of “elder”, “pastor”, etc., as a basis for why people should listen to us, would we still have authority in their sight? This is a crucial question. Are we training believers to respond to the Lord, or simply to men holding a position in the church? If the removal of “titles” changes the way we function, then I submit to you that perhaps our authority has become more positional than functional. Our activity has become more a reflection of what people expect of us rather than the leading of the Holy Spirit. In other words, the structure that formed over time through God’s operative grace in us gradually began to take precedence over the activity of God Himself. As a result, we have become stuck in a mold that seems to express order, but is in fact a restraint upon the initiatives of God. At this point, corporate arthritis has set in. This is a recipe for future shaking.
When the next wave of visitation arrives believers may well be motivated more to accomplish certain tasks within a set structure than to respond to God’s voice. Sadly, many today point to such activity as a mark of successful building; they are “equipping the saints.” No wonder Paul said that we must take heed how we build (1 Cor. 3:10)!
Lord, help us to wholeheartedly give ourselves to hearing and responding to You. By Your grace, continue to structure Your house through the initiatives of Your Holy Spirit in our midst. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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