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Ministry Gift of an Apostle

Definition:

Someone who has the ability to build important spiritual foundations in the Church and establish the Body of Christ. This ministry calls both Christians and non-Christians to obedience and assists in equipping the saints with the full authority and power of the Lord. Apostles plant and build churches, lay doctrinal foundations, provide important spiritual guidance ansd direction, stir up spiritual gifts and ministries, and assist in developing local church leadership. They also exhibit great supernatural ability (signs and wonders) and receive strong personal revelation from the Lord regarding their ministry.

Biblical References:

• Ephesians 4:11-12
• 1 Corinthians 12:28
• Romans 1:5 1 Corinthians 9:2
• Galatians 2:8
• Hebrews 13:1
• Ephesians 3:5

Typical Ministry Characteristics:

1. Direct revelation from the Lord. Has directly interacted with the Lord in some unique and powerful manner. Maintain a high degree of confidence and certainty about their calling and ministry as a result of this experience.
2. Strong supernatural gifting. Exhibit all the spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit in their ministry. Show extraordinary abilities in the areas of miracles, healing, and deliverance. Can stir up spiritual gifts in others and confirm their ministries.
3. High impact ministry. Can really make things happen around them. Often cause major changes in both individuals and organizations. Exceptional ability to innovate and develop new works and ministries in the Church.
4. Significant understanding of doctrinal truth. Often feel that God is teaching them directly. Can look at Scripture and find important connections and precepts that are not obvious to others. Able to lay down key doctrinal foundations in the lives of those who hear them.
5. Special leadership ability. Able to exercise significant spiritual authority and leadership in the Church. Exhibit leadership that is anointed by the Lord and others sense this anointing when they are around them.
6. Strong burden for the lost. Actively involved in personal evangelism. Adept at "fitting in" to a number of different settings and circumstances. Has great flexibility in approaching and interacting with various types of people.

General Information

The Greek word for apostle is apostolos. Its literal meaning is a delegate or ambassador. In the Bible, those being called apostles were considered to be special ambassadors of Jesus Christ. Jesus, Himself, is called an Apostle (Heb. 3:1). His ministry demonstrates many of the basic elements of this ministry. He brought about specific revelation regarding the plans and purposes of God (Eph. 3:5,6); He laid key foundations in the church (Matt. 16:18, 1 Cor. 3:10); and He confirmed God's Word with many signs and wonders (2 Cor. 12:12).

The Twelve Apostles

The first apostles picked by Jesus (except for Judas) were men who personally witnessed |^s ministry, tts death on the cross, and tip resurrection. When a replacement for Judas was needed, his disciples looked for someone who had also walked with Jesus throughout His ministry and witnessed-rjis death and resurrection (Acts 1:21-22). This was an important standard to set forth because the apostle's personal testimony was used by the early Church as proof to new converts that Jesus had actually said and done all these things, and had indeed risen from the grave. These individuals had seen it with their own eyes (John 1:14).

The Apostle Paul

Paul's apostolic calling did not meet the same standard being applied to the first twelve apostles, He had never walked with Jesus through His ministry and could not personally testify to all the things Jesus had said and done. However, he was witness to a resurrected Christ. And this was his defense to those who compared him to the apostles in Jerusalem (ICor. 15:3-10). Jesus had appeared to him personally after His resurrection and had given Paul special revelation regarding this new gospel.

Other New Testament Apostles

There a number of people called apostles in the New Testament besides the twelve in Jerusalem and Paul. They include Barnabas (Acts 14:14), James (1 Cor. 15:7), Andronicus and Junia (Rom 16:7), Silas and Timothy (1 Thess. 1:1 & 2:6). There is no record of these individuals witnessing Jesus' ministry or seeing a resurrected Christ like Paul did. But the authenticity of their ministry seems to have been widely accepted by the early Church (Acts 15:35 & 1 Cor. 16:10-11).

Apostles In The Church Today

Do apostles still exist in the church today? Absolutely! First of all, there is no place in Scripture indicating that the apostolic ministry has stopped. In fact, in Ephesians 4:11 Paul states "He gives some to be apostles". Paul uses the present tense verb "to be" in describing this ministry. He also includes it with other ministries that are considered valid in the church today (i.e. Pastors and Evangelists). Why would Paul mention apostles with these other ministries if they do not continue on in the church? Additionally, in the next two verses Paul states that apostles are essential for developing the Church so we all reach unity in the faith, mature in our walk, and attain to the fullness in Christ. These objectives did not cease with the early Church.

Where Are They?

Where would an apostle be in the church today? This question is difficult to answer for several reasons. First, most denominations and churches are not organized to absorb sucn a ministry. Their structure for leadership and authority is not generated by personal revelation but comes from organizational government (i.e. Constitutions, ByLaws, Charters)