|
Developing An Apostolic Mind |
|
|
|
Introduction
It is important to understand that the only message the church has been given is the message of the Kingdom of God. It was John the Baptist's message as it was the message that Jesus brought. He commissioned His disciples to carry the message to the utter most parts of the earth. All that the Father has done in Christ is contained in the message of the Kingdom. Whatever ones individual burden and responsibility might be as a servant of the Lord, the Kingdom Message is the core message. The message of the Kingdom is the message that units us under one banner.
THE KINGDOM MESSAGE
The Kingdom Message is the message of the His cross, His burial and His Resurrection. It is the message of the ascended Lord who reigns from the right hand of the Father until all His enemies are made His footstool (1 Corinthians 15). The risen Lord has made us to be partakers together of His one "Holy Spirit" who is the power of God that is bringing forth a "new creation" in the earth that will bring all the nations under His reign. Jesus taught us to pray "thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven...".
THE CHURCH
The vehicle in which the Lord has chosen to deliver that message is His Apostolic Community known as "the church". A people who have been washed in His blood, born of His Spirit and anointed to preach this "Good News" and through preaching pull down principalities and powers that have established themselves in the minds of people through-out the world (2 Corinthians 10:1-5; Romans 10:14-15).
The Kings primary way of moving is in geographical locales. The picture is clearly developed in the formation and growth of the First Century church and its impact upon cities, cultures and ultimately the Roman Empire itself. Today as a result of centuries of division within the church, there are many fellowships, networks and denominations. To the outsider all this can look pretty confusing.
Every denomination, network and fellowship has its place of importance in the larger scheme. But these are secondary to the primary plan and purpose the Lord has for discipling the nations which is "The Church of the Locality or Regional church". Our witness is most powerful when we are united in a territory such as a community or city.
THE ENEMIES STRATEGY - "divide and conquer" His troops known as principalities and powers (Ephesians 6:12) have been deployed over territories - IE cities and regions. (Daniel 10:13, 20-21).
Disunity has caused His church to be ineffective in accomplishing the Lord's Highest Quest. Individual churches may win some battles mostly at the expense of others and today we see this through what is known as "transfer growth". We loose the war for the mind and heart of cities and nations because of our divided condition. The contemporary church has produced a people that our consumer minded rather than apostolic minded. The consumer says "give me more to meet my need". The apostolic mind says "what can I do to satisfy the Lord's desire and purpose"?
GOD'S STRATEGY
John 15 gives to us the Lord's view of His church. It is called "The Vine and branches".
It starts with a seed planted - Christ and His cross ("unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies...")
The seed goes downward - buried (first descended (Ephesians 4:9)
Then upward - resurrection (Ephesians 4:10)
Then outward - Pentecost and the church (relational) (Acts 2:1)
Then fruitful - new life (multiplication) includes removing dead branches and pruning fruitful branches (John 15:2b)
The works of the Spirit take place through living stones, which I call organic life, that are built together as a body in a local or regional "church" setting. Here we find different Callings, Appointings and Anointings to accomplish the Lord's purposes in that region. It will take the whole body to change the territory for the King. Each pastor has a sphere of people, but must be joined with other Shepard's in a locality and related to apostolic company.
HISTORICALLY (Why the Mess)?
In the first century when the enemy could not destroy the church through persecution, he joined it to change her purpose. Both Paul and Peter warned of those that would be wolves in sheep's clothing to devour the flock. Paul told the Ephesian Elders that they would come from among the flock to draw disciples unto themselves (Acts 20:29-30).
Eventually the church ceased being an organic body in the locality and became a pastor (bishop) driven church and territorial. From there the church became imperialistic and oppressive rather than a charismatic community that brought freedom and new life to the region.
APOSTOLIC MOVEMENT
Today it is said that we live in a "post denominational time". The focus has moved from denominational movements to an apostolic movement. There is both value and dangers is the contemporary movements of our day.
Dangers:
Any movement has limited understanding of the whole. Historically all movements have crystallized after serving their purpose. The danger I see in the modern apostolic movement is two fold:
1. 1. it becomes centered in an individual leader or theology rather than Christ
2. 2. a franchise mentality of how many people or churches relate to "my apostolic network"
Three Core Values of an apostolic leader:
1. 1. does not promote oneself, but is recognized by others
2. 2. possesses a team mentality
3. 3. lays the foundation for the building what Christ wants built, namely His Church, not ours
Paul said of himself that he was a "master builder". He recognized that he worked with others "I planted, Apollo's watered, but God gave the increase" (1 Corinthians 3:6).
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW
The Apostolic is appointed to call forth and not attack. Through-out history we can see how this functioned:
Paul with the Jews
Luther with the Roman Church
All of the Reformers in their respective areas of vision and calling
Modern day Pentecost Movement
Latter Reign Movement
Charismatic Movement
Discipleship movement
Vineyard Movement
Prophetic Movement
Apostolic Movement
The danger in any movement is that it crystallizes and does not join the next move of God's Spirit. We see in part and we know in part. It is important that we maintain an offensive posture rather than a defensive one.
FROM THEOLOGY TO ECCLESIOLOGY
We have been in the battle for a proper apostolic Theology for centuries. This battle continues today, but is shifting toward a proper Ecclesiology. Unless our Theology moves us toward a proper view of the church, it is vain. Both our Theology and our ecclesiology must move us to the streets of our cities and take nations for the King of Glory.
|
Apostolic Mind Development
