2. RECAP:
In our previous lesson, “RAISING UP A
SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY OF
PROPHETS”, WE SHOWED THAT
PROPHETS WERE ABSOLUTELY NEEDED
AND DEPLOYED BY GOD FROM THE
OLD TESTAMENT TO THE NEW
TESTAMENT TO THE END-TIMES.
3. OBJECTIVES OF THIS STUDY:
1. We want to understand HOW THE LORD SET UP
THE STRUCTURE AND FLOW OF HIS CHURCH (AND
HOW THE CHURCHES TODAY HAVE MADE A
CRUCIAL DEPARTURE FROM IT)
2. WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THE
ROLES OF APOSTLES AND PROPHETS in the
prophetic community (in effect we will answer the
popular view that there are no more apostles and
prophets today)
3. WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND PROPHETIC STREAMS
4. WHY ARE DOING THIS? WHY DO
WANT TO UNDERSTAND THESE
THINGS?
1. THE LORD SAID THROUGH THE PROPHET
JOEL (JOEL 2:28 FF) THAT “AFTERWARD, I
WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT ON ALL FLESH,
AND MY SONS AND DAUGHTERS WILL
PROPHESY…”
2. 1 CORINTHIANS 14:26 TO 33 DESCRIBES THE
FUNCTIONING OR OPERATIONS OF A
PROPHETIC COMMUNITY
5. JOEL 2:28-32
“And it shall come to pass afterward
That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your old men shall dream dreams,
Your young men shall see visions.
29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
30 “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth:
Blood and fire and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.
32 And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the LORD
6. I CORINTHIANS 14
26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come
together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a
revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done
so that the church may be built up.27 If anyone speaks in a tongue,
two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and
someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker
should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.
29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh
carefully what is said. 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who
is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all
prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and
encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of
prophets. 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace— as in
ALL THE CONGREGATIONS OF THE LORD’S PEOPLE.
7. So the STRUCTURE…
1. PROVIDES ORDER, STRENGTH, AND
FUNCTIONALITY IN THE HOUSE OF GOD
- leadership, authority
- discipline
- management and administration
- nurture, training, etc.
- FACILITATION OF THE WORKS OF THE
LORD
2. ENSURES THE SMOOTH FLOW OF THE
PROPHETIC STREAM/S (no bottlenecks)
9. GOD’S DESIGN FOR ORDER AND
STRUCTURE: (I CORINTHIANS 12)
THE GIFTS
12 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want
you to be uninformed…
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes
them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are
different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same
God at work.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the
common good.8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of
wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same
Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by
that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to
another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different
kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of
tongues.[b] 11 ALL THESE ARE THE WORK OF ONE AND THE SAME
SPIRIT, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
10. I CORINTHIANS 12
THE STRUCTURE
27 ”Now you are the body of Christ, and
each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God
has placed in the church first of all
apostles, second prophets, third teachers,
then miracles, then gifts of healing, of
helping, of guidance, and of different
kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all
prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all
have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues[d]? Do all
interpret?”
11. EPHESIANS 4
THE SPIRITUAL MATERIALS OF THE STRUCTURE:
4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live
a LIFE WORTHY OF THE CALLING you have
received. 2 Be COMPLETELY HUMBLE AND GENTLE;
be PATIENT, BEARING WITH ONE ANOTHER IN
LOVE. 3 Make every effort to keep the UNITY OF THE
SPIRIT THROUGH THE BOND OF PEACE. 4 There is
one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to
one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one
faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who
is over all and through all and in all.
12. EPHESIANS 4 continues with
THE “ASCENSION GIFTS”
7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned
it. 8 This is why it[a] says:
“WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH,
HE TOOK MANY CAPTIVES
AND GAVE GIFTS TO HIS PEOPLE.”[b]
9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the
lower, earthly regions[c]? 10 He who descended is the very one who
ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole
universe.) 11 SO CHRIST HIMSELF GAVE the apostles, the
prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and
teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body
of Christ may be built up13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the
knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, ATTAINING TO
THE WHOLE MEASURE OF THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST.
13. The goal: “WHOLE MEASURE
OF FULLNESS IN CHRIST”!
WHAT CHRIST WAS:
(BEING)
A FAITHFUL SON
FULLY COMMITTED AND
SURRENDERED TO THE FATHER
HUMBLE
MEEK
LOVING
COMPASSIONATE
KIND
GRACIOUS…
WHAT CHRIST DID
(DOING)
APOSTLE
PROPHET
TEACHER
PASTOR (SHEPHERD)
EVANGELIST
ADMINSTRATOR
HEALER
MIRACLE WORKER
ETC. – “HE HAD THE SPIRIT OF
GOD WITHOUT LIMIT” (JOHN
3:34)
14. IF WE ARE A STRUCTURE
(TEMPLE), WHAT ARE OUR
FOUNDATIONS?
15. EPHESIANS 2
19 Consequently, you are no longer
foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens
with God’s people and also members of his
household, 20 BUILT ON THE FOUNDATION
OF THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS, WITH
CHRIST JESUS HIMSELF AS THE CHIEF
CORNERSTONE. 21 In him the whole building is
joined together and rises to become a holy
temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being
built together to become a dwelling in which God
lives by his Spirit.
16. A huge cornerstone at the corner of the
Western Wall and the Southern Wall of
the Jewish Temple
19. THIS SUPER MASSIVE CORNERSTONE IS CHRIST!!
EVERYTHING ELSE IS BUILT ON IT
BUT ON THIS CORNERSTONE FOUNDATION IS BUILT SECONDARY
LAYERS OF FOUNDATION OF THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS
20. Now question?
WHO ARE THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS
MENTIONED IN EPHESIANS 2:19-22??
(“you are no longer foreigners and
strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s
people and also members of his
household, 20 built on the foundation of the
apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus
himself as the chief cornerstone”)
TRADITIONAL ANSWER: THE 12 APOSTLES
AND THE BIBLICAL PROPHETS
21. That is PARTLY CORRECT.
HOWEVER, PLEASE NOTICE
SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING:
Ephesians 4
“7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned
it. 8 This is why it[a] says:
“WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH,
he took many captives
and gave gifts to his people.”[b]
9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the
lower, earthly regions[c]? 10 He who descended is the very one who
ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole
universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the
apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the
pastors and teachers, …”
22. WHAT IS THE POINT OF “WHEN HE
ASCENDED ON HIGH”?
The twelve apostles and the other prophets appointed by
Jesus were and commissioned by God were ALL BEFORE
JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED AND ASCENDED ON HIGH.
MEANING, THE LORD ALSO APPOINTED OTHER
APOSTLES AND PROPHETS, AND CONTINUES TO RAISE
UP APOSTLES AND PROPHETS AND GIVE GIFTS TO MEN,
WHEN or AFTER HE ASCENDED ON HIGH,!!
MEANING, UP TO TODAY, APOSTLES AND PROPHETS,
ALONG WITH EVANGELISTS, PASTORS AND TEACHERS
ARE CONTINUING GIFTS OF THE LORD AND THE HOLY
SPIRIT TO THE CHURCH!!!
23. SCRIPTURAL EVIDENCE OF OTHER
APOSTLES (OTHER THAN THE 12)
AND PROPHETS:
- The ORIGNAL 12 APOSTLES are called “THE APOSTLES OF THE
LAMB” (REVELATION 21:14)
- 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great
and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming
down out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of
God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel,
like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall with
twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the
gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of
Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east, three on the
north, three on the south and three on the west. 14 The wall of
the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names
of the TWELVE APOSTLES OF THE LAMB.
24. SCRIPTURAL EVIDENCE OF OTHER
APOSTLES (OTHER THAN THE 12) AND
PROPHETS:
ACTS 14
At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish
synagogue.There they spoke so effectively that a great number of
Jews and Greeks believed.
12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul they called Hermes because
he was the chief speaker.13 The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just
outside the city, brought bulls and wreaths to the city gates because
he and the crowd wanted to offer sacrifices to them.
14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore
their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: 15 “Friends,
why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you.”
BARNABAS IS NOT AN “APOSTLE OF THE LAMB” BUT HE WAS AN
“ASCENSION APOSTLE” – AN APOSTLE RAISED UP AFTER THE
ASCENSION
25. SCRIPTURAL EVIDENCE OF OTHER
APOSTLES (OTHER THAN THE 12):
ROMANS 16
“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon[a][b] of the church in
Cenchreae. 2 I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his
peopleand to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been
the benefactor of many people, including me.
3 Greet Priscilla[c] and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. 4 They risked their lives for
me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.
5 Greet also the church that meets at their house.
Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of
Asia.
6 Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.
7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison
with me. They are outstanding among[d] the apostles,
and they were in Christ before I was.”
ANDRONICUS AND JUNIA WERE ASCENSION APOSTLES.
26. I THESSALONIANS 2:1-6
You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without
results.2 We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in
Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell
you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. 3 For the appeal we
make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying
to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to
be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but
God, who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did
we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6 We were
not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even
though as APOSTLES OF CHRIST we could have asserted our
authority. 7 Instead, we were like young children[a] among you.”
WHO WAS PAUL REFERRING TO? HIMSELF,
SILAS AND TIMOTHY
27. Based on the revelation of “ascension
gifts”, there is a belief that there is a
HIERARCHY OF APOSTLES:
1. PRIMARY APOSTLES – EXAMPLE: THE
LAMB’S APOSTLES (THE ORIGINAL 12),
AND PAUL
2. SENIOR AND SUBORDINATE APOSTLES –
Silas, Barnabas, Timothy, Apollos, Junia
and Andronicus
3. APOSTOLIC COUNCILS - JERUSALEM
28. Now what is an APOSTLE?
APOSTOLOS – SENT OUT ONE,
COMMISSIONER, ENVOY,
REGENT, AMBASSADOR,
REPRESENTATIVE, OR
AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
29. JESUS IS THE APOSTLE OF THE
FATHER
Hebrew 3:1
Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in
the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on JESUS,
WHOM WE ACKNOWLEDGE AS OUR APOSTLE AND
HIGH PRIEST.2 He was faithful to the one who
appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s
house. 3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater
honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has
greater honor than the house itself.
30. GALATIANS 4:4-5
4 But when the set time had fully
come, God sent his Son, born of a
woman, born under the law, 5 to
redeem those under the law, that we
might receive adoption to sonship.
31. I JOHN 4
13 This is how we know that
we live in him and he in us:
He has given us of his
Spirit. 14 And we have seen
and testify that the Father has
sent his Son to be the Savior
of the world.
32. OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
(John 1)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the
beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him
nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life,and
that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the
darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.
6 THERE WAS A MAN SENT FROM GOD whose
name was John. 7 He came as a witness to
testify concerning that light, so that through him
all might believe.8 He himself was not the light; he
came only as a witness to the light.
33. THE COMMISSIONING OF THE 12
MARK 3:14-15 – 13
Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those
he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed
twelve[a] that they might be with him and that he might
send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive
out demons. 16 These are the twelve he appointed: Simon
(to whom he gave the name Peter), 17 James son of
Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name
Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), 18 Andrew,
Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of
Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot 19 and Judas
Iscariot, who betrayed him
34. THE EVOLUTION OF THE TASKS
OF THE APOSTLES:
1. TO BE A FATHER!!!
(I COR. 4:14-16)
14 I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as
my dear children.15 Even if you had ten thousand
guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in
Christ Jesus I became your
father through the gospel.16 Therefore I urge you to
imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent to you
Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the
Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ
Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in
every church.
36. I THESSALONIANS 2:6-12
6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone
else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our
authority. 7 Instead, we were like young children[a] among you.
Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, 8 so we cared for you.
Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not
only the gospel of God but our lives as well. 9 Surely you remember,
brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in
order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God
to you. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and
blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that
we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his
own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging
you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his
kingdom and glory.”
THE DEALING OF AN APOSTOLIC OFFICE WITH
BELIEVERS IS AS A FATHER TO HIS CHILDREN
37. Luke 1:17 – SPEAKING OF John
the Baptist
“AND HE WILL GO BEFORE THE LORD
(speaks of the apostolic nature of his calling),
IN THE SPIRIT AND POWER OF ELIJAH
(speaks of his prophetic office), and HE WILL
TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS TO
THEIR CHILDREN AND THE DISOBEDIENT
TO THE WISDOM OF THE RIGHTEOUS – TO
MAKE READY A PEOPLE PREPARED FOR THE
LORD”
38. THE OBJECIVE OF THE APOSTOLIC
PROPHETIC WORK:
“MAKE READY A PEOPLE PREPARED
FOR THE LORD”
BEING:
Father’s love
Supernatural
glory
DOING:
Favorable supernatural
climate (GAC, 24 HHP)
TAKE DOMINION OVER
OUR SPIRITUAL AREA OF
RESPONSIBILITY (SEERS)
MISSIONARY SENDING
NATION
PROPHETIC
39. THE TASKS OF AN APOSTLE
2. TO LAY THE FOUNDATION (I COR.
3:10)
-- Acts 2:42 -- “…they devoted
themselves to the apostles’ teaching
(DOCTRINAL FOUNDATION), fellowship
and breaking of bread (RELATIONAL
FOUNDATION), and to PRAYER
(SPIRITUAL FOUNDATION)…”
40. How do apostles lay the
foundation?
THEIR APOSTLES’ TEACHING… (ACTS 2;42)
COLOSSIANS 1;24-29
24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh
what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his
body, which is the church. 25 I have become its servant by the
commission God gave me to present to you the word of
God in its fullness— 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden
for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s
people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles
the glorious riches of this mystery, which is CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE
OF GLORY.
28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with
all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29 To
this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully
works in me.
41. The tasks of an apostle
3. EXERCISE AUTHORITY COMING FROM SELF-
DENIAL (I COR. 4:9-13, GAL. 2:20)
1 Corinthians 4
1 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and
as those entrusted with the secret things of God.
2 Now it is required that those who have been given a
trust must prove faithful.
3 I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human
court; indeed, I do not even judge myself.
4 My conscience is clear, but that does not make me
innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.
42. I CORINTHIANS 4
6 Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and
Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the
meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is
written." Then you will not take pride in one man over
against another.
9 For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display
at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in
the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole
universe, to angels as well as to men.
14 I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as
my dear children.
15 Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ,
you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became
your father through the gospel.
43. I Corinthians 4
18 Some of you have become arrogant, as if I
were not coming to you.
19 But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord
is willing, and then I will find out not only how
these arrogant people are talking, but what
power they have.
20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter
of talk but of power.
21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you
with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?
44. Tasks of an apostle:
4. BUILDS UP THE KINGDOM, THE BODY OF CHRIST
“Soon afterwards, He began going around from one
city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching
the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him” (LUKE
8:1)
5. CARRIES OUT DISCIPLINE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST
(Heb. 12:5-13, Rev. 3:19, 2 Tim. 4:2, 2 Cor. 13:10, Titus
2:15, I Cor. 4:18-21, I Cor. 5:1-5)
This authority is carried out by REMOVAL OF
COVERING, AND BY SURRENDER (IN THE SPIRIT
REALM, THROUGH PRAYER) OF A RECALCITRANT
BROTHER, as in the case of I Corinthians 5
45. I CORINTHIANS 5 – A CASE OF
REMOVING THE APOSTOLIC
COVERING
5 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you,
and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping
with his father’s wife.2 And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather
have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the
man who has been doing this? 3 For my part, even though I am not
physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with
you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our
Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. 4 So when you are
assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord
Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of
the flesh,[a][b] so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.
46. The characteristics of an
apostle
1. IMITATES CHRIST OR IS LIKE CHRIST, ESPECIALLY HIS
GENTLENESS (Matt. 11:29, 2 Tim. 2:25, 2 Cor. 10:1, I
Thess. 2:6-12)
2. DEAD TO SELF (Gal. 2:20)
3. GRACE – “WE RECEIVED GRACE AND APOSTLESHIP”
(ROM. 1:5)
4. ENDURANCE AND TENACITY (2 COR. 6:3-10, 2 COR.
1;8-10)
5. HUNGERS TO KNOW CHRIST, THE FELLOWSHIP OF
HIS SUFFERINGS, BECOMING LIKE HIM IN HIS DEATH
(PHILIPPIANS 3:10)
47. Characteristics of an apostle:
6. IMMERSES IN THE STUDY OF THE WORD, AND IN
PRAYER
Acts 6:
“And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied,
there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because
their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and
said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve
tables.
3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest
report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over
this business.
4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the
word.”
48. 7. THEY PREPARE THE WAY OF THE LORD;
MALACHI 3:1 – AN APOSTLE IS SENT FIRST THEN
THE LORD FOLLOWS
3 “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before
me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple;
the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says
the LORD Almighty.
2 But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he
appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. 3 He
will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and
refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will
bring offerings in righteousness,4 and the offerings of Judah and
Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in
former years.
5 “So I will come to put you on trial. I will be quick to testify against
sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those who defraud
laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows and the fatherless,
and deprive the foreigners among you of justice, but do not fear me,”
says the LORD Almighty.
49. 8. They have been given grace to
call people - ROMANS 1:5
“We received grace and
apostleship TO CALL
PEOPLE from among all
Gentiles to the obedience
that comes from faith.”
50. 9. God gives them authority so that when they
speak, believers accept their instruction as from
God – 1 THESS. 2:13
13 ”And we also thank God
continually because, when you
received the word of God, which you
heard from us, you accepted it not as a
human word, but as it actually is, the
word of God, which is indeed at work
in you who believe.”
51. But also always remember the BEREAN PRINCIPLE:
ALWAYS CHECK IF WHAT ANY ONE SAYS IS TRUE
ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURES OR NOT:
ACTS 17:
10As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul
and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went
to the Jewish synagogue.
11Now the Berean Jews were of more noble
character than those in Thessalonica, for they
received the message with great eagerness and
examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul
said was true.
12As a result, many of them believed, as did also a
number of prominent Greek women and many
Greek men.
52. 10. APOSTLES APPOINT ELDERS AND
COMMISSION OTHERS – TITUS 1
1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the
faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to
godliness— 2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not
lie, promised before the beginning of time, 3 and which now at his
appointed season he has brought to light through the preaching
entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior,
4 To Titus, my true son in our common faith:
Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might
put in order what was left unfinished and
appoint[a] elders in every town, as I directed you.
53. DIFFERENT APOSTLESHIPS:
1. PETER TO THE JEWS; PAUL TO THE GENTILES
Galatians 2:
1 Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took
Titus along also.
2 I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among
the Gentiles.
6 As for those who seemed to be important--whatever they were makes no difference
to me; God does not judge by external appearance--those men added nothing to my
message.
7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the
gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews.
8 For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at
work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles.
9 James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right
hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we
should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews.
10 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I
was eager to do.
54. SO, THERE MIGHT BE
APOSTLES for or to the:
1. Youth
2.Tribes
3.Businessmen
4.Artists and musicians
5.Professionals
6.etc
55. It takes great faith AND HUMILITY to
be in submission to authority (Matthew
8)
5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him,
asking for help. 6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home
paralyzed, suffering terribly.”
7 Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”
8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come
under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be
healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under
me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he
comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following
him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great
faith.”
56. Areas where apostles were recorded as
NOT HAVING AUTHORITY:
1. THE FINANCES OR OFFERINGS OF THE CHURCH – THEY CAN ONLY
APPEAL FOR HELP FOR OTHERS IN DISTRESS;
I CORINTHIANS 6:1Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I
directed the churches of Galatia, so do you also. 2 On the first day of
every week each one of you is to put aside and save, as he may prosper,
so that no collections be made when I come. 3When I arrive, whomever
you may approve, I will send them with letters to carry your gift to
Jerusalem;…
2. THE PROPERTY OF THE CHURCH
3. THE PROPERTY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH
4. DID NOT INTERFERE WITH THE NITTY GRITTY OF THE
ADMINSITRATION OF THE CHURCH
APOSTLES SPEND THEIR TIME ON THE WORD AND PRAYER (ACTS 6)
57. SPECIFIC AUTHORITIES OF THE
APOSTLES:
1. DOCTRINE (ACTS 2:42-43)
2. APPOINTMENT OF ELDERS (ACTS 14:23, TITUS 1:5-6)
3. CHURCH LIFE, ORDER, AND SPIRITUALITY (2 COR. 10:8)
4. CHURCH DISCIPLINE (2 COR. 13;0)
5. MAY GIVE AN OPINION OR ADVICE (I COR. 7:6-7. 10, 25)
6. ISSUE STRONG INSTRUCTIONS (2 THESS. 3:6-7, 3:11-12), I
TIM. 6:17-19
7. PROTECT THE CHURCH (I COR. 5:1-7) 2 COR. 13:2-4, TITUS
1;10-13)
8. MAKE APPEALS (PHILEMON 8-9)
58. Specific authorities of an
apostle:
9. authority to impart gifts (ROMANS 1;11-12)
10. AUTHORITY TO IMPART AUTHORITY - NUMBER
11:16-17, 24-25
11. Authority over principalities (DANIEL 9)
12. SHEPHERD God’s people PSALM 78:70-72, 89:20
13. ANNOINTING TO REDEEM BROKEN LIVES (I SAM.
22:2)
14. command of the heavenly forces (2 kings 2;12, 6:17)
-- SOURCE OF LIST (“APOSTOLIC REVELATION: BY John
Kingsley Alley)
59. Are there WOMEN APOSTLES?
THERE WAS NO WOMAN APOSTLE IN THE “APOSTLES
OF THE LAMB” (ORIGINAL 12), HOWEVER, THERE WERE
WOMEN PROPHETS, SOME OF WHO EXERCISED
APOSTOLIC FUNCTIONS:
1. DEBORAH (JUDGES 4)
2. MIRIAM (EXODUS 15:20)
3. HULDAH (2 KINGS 22:14)
4. ANNA (LUKE 2:36) - PROPHETESS
5. PHILIP’S DAUGHTERS (PROPHETS) – ACTS 21:9
6. JUNIA is believed to be a woman apostle
Romans 16:7: Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen,
and my fellow prisoners, who are OUTSTANDING among
the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
60. THE IDEA OF COVERING:
Isaiah 4:2-6
2 In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and
the fruitof the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in
Israel. 3 Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be
called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem. 4 The
Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the
bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit[a] of judgment and a spirit[b] of
fire.
5 Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who
assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by
night; OVER EVERYTHING THE GLORY[C] WILL BE A
CANOPY. 6 IT WILL BE A SHELTER AND SHADE FROM THE
HEAT OF THE DAY, AND A REFUGE AND HIDING PLACE
FROM THE STORM AND RAIN.
61. COVERING
Psalm 5:11-12
11 But let all who take refuge in you be
glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
SPREAD YOUR PROTECTION OVER THEM,
that those who love your name may
rejoice in you.
12 Surely, LORD, you bless the righteous;
you surround them with your favor as
with a shield.
62. MAIN IDEA OF APOSTOLIC
COVERING
THE COVERING FOLLOWS THOSE WHO ARE
BEING SENT OUT BY GOD:
1. ABRAHAM – GO, LEAVE – I WILL BLESS THOSE WHO BLESS YOU’
(Genesis 12)
INTERCEDED FOR SODOM AND GOMORRAH
2. MOSES – GO, I AM WILL BE WITH YOU (Exodus 3)
“BAPTIZED INTO MOSES” – I COR. 10:2
EXODUS 32;9-14
EXODUS 17:12
3. PAUL - I CORINTHIANS 5:1-5 – COVERING REMOVED
63. Covering issues:
1.Is your covering pastoral only?
2.Denominational only (not
Kingdom, not Body of Christ)?
THEN THE FOUNDATIONS ARE NOT
SOLIDLY LAID, AND THERE IS A
LIMIT, OR WORSE, A HINDRANCE TO
THE FLOW OF PROPHETIC STREAMS
64. WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS IF A CHRISTIAN
COMMUNITY (CHURCH) DOES NOT HAVE THE
FOUNDATIONS OF THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS??
It will affect what the community can or will carry. It cannot OR WILL NOT BE ABLE
TO CARRY:
1. End-times teaching
2. Prophets and prophesying, moves of the Holy Spirits
3. Cannot carry harps and bowls
4. Have difficulty operating in the supernatural
5. Struggle handling dreams and visions
6. Shun from spiritual warfare
7. Have difficulty seeing the role of Israel in the last days
8. Have difficulty shifting to kingdom mind-set
These are all prophetic streams…
EVANGELISTIC AND PASTORAL ANNOINTING GO ONLY SO FAR AS SOUL-WINNING,
CHURCH PLANTING, DISCIPLESHIP, BUT OFTEN ARE LIMITED IN SCOPE TO THE
FOUR LITTLE CORNERS OF THE DENOMINATION OR CHURCH (THE “SHEEP PEN”
PRINCIPLE, VERSUS THE KINGDOM PRINCIPLE AND THE NATION.)
65. FOR EXAMPLE: You cannot have swimming pool on the upper
deck if your foundation and structural design and make is weak or
inadequate.
The same is true in the spirit realm; a community cannot support
prophetic moves if it is not founded on apostles and prophets with
Christ as chief cornerstone
67. CONCEPT: ISAIAH 55
1 “Come, all you who are thirsty,
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
2 Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare.
68. ISAIAH 55
Give ear and come to me;
listen, that you may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
my faithful love promised to David.
4 See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
a ruler and commander of the peoples.
5 Surely you will summon nations you know not,
and nations you do not know will come running
to you,
because of the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel,
for he has endowed you with splendor.”
69. ISAIAH 55
Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake their ways
and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have
mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 AS THE RAIN AND THE SNOW
COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread
for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
70. Revelation 22
1 Then the angel showed me the
river of the water of life, as clear as
crystal, flowing from the throne of
God and of the Lamb
2 down the middle of the great
street of the city. On each side of
the river stood the tree of life,
bearing twelve crops of fruit,
yielding its fruit every month. And
the leaves of the tree are for the
healing of the nations.
71. PROPHETIC STREAM
IS SIMPLY “THE FLOW” OF GOD’S
REVELATION AND POWER THROUGH
THE STRUCTURE OR CHANNELS HE HAS
ORDAINED, BY THE EXERCISE OF HIS
GIFTS, WORKS, AND ANOINTINGS, FOR
THE REVELATION OF HIS WILL, THE
RELEASE OF A SPECIFIC (RHEMA) WORD,
AND THE DEMONSTRATION OF HIS
POWER
72. IT MAY ALSO BE ILLUSTRATED BY A
LIGHT OR WAVE STREAM “FLOWING”
FROM A SOURCE TO A RECEIVER:
73. Remember GENESIS 1:1-3
In the beginning God made the heavens and the earth
And the earth was without form, and void, and darkness covered the surface
of the deep
AND GOD HOVERED OVER THE WATERS,
And GOD SAID, “LET THERE BE LIGHT””
AND THERE WAS LIGHT…
GOD “PROPHESIED” THE UNIVERSE INTO EXISTENCE…
AND THE FIRST THING THAT HE CREATED WAS LIGHT
THAT STREAMED INTO THE SECOND AND THIRD DAYS
UNTIL THE SUN AND MOON WERE CREATED ON THE
FOURTH DAY
74. Tracking the PROPHETIC
STREAM: I CORINTHIANS 12
12 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not
want you to be uninformed…
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes
them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There
are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is
the same God at work.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for
the common good.8 To one there is given through the Spirit a
message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of
the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts
of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to
another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to
another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another
the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one
and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as
he determines.
75. Three streams are mentioned here:
GIFT (V. 4)– CHARISMA (Greek) a special enablement given by the
Holy Spirit to empower a Christian to do a certain task
EXAMPLE: WISDOM OR KNOWLEDGE (I COR. 12:8)
SERVICE (V. 5) (ADMINISTRATIONS) – DIAKONIA – the particular
service or ministry where one exercises the gift regularly
EXAMPLE: TEACHING OR COUNSELLING
WORKINGS (V. 6) (operations) – ENERGEMA – “the thing wrought”,
”effect operation” or simply “operations”
EXAMPLE: THE CLARITY, THE UNDERSTANDING THAT COMES
TO THE RECIPIENT OR THE BENIFICIARY
ALL OF THESE ARE A MANIFESTATION OF THE SPIRIT (I COR. 12:7) –
phanerosis – to show, to exhibit, to express (exhibition, expression,
display); IN OTHER WORDS, THESE ARE THE PROPHETIC STREAMS –
the FLOW OF THE SPIRIT’S WORD AND POWER: the gifts, the service,
the workings
76. Other examples:
GIFT: SERVICE: WORKING:
Healing - praying over people - people get:
healed
Word of knowledge - prophesying - guidance
Interpretation - interpret dreams - understanding
Distinguishing spirits – share your insights – guidance
Song/music - praise and worship - people are
edified
Hospitality - host, serve people - people are
refreshed
77. ACTIVATING PROPHETIC
STREAMS - 2 KINGS 3
10 “What!” exclaimed the king of Israel. “Has the LORD called us three
kings together only to deliver us into the hands of Moab?”
11 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no prophet of the LORD here,
through whom we may inquire of the LORD?”
An officer of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat is
here. He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.[b]”
12 Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the LORD is with him.” So the king
of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.
13 Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Why do you want to involve me?
Go to the prophets of your father and the prophets of your
mother.”
78. 2 KINGS 3
“No,” the king of Israel answered, “because it was
the LORD who called us three kings together to deliver us into
the hands of Moab.”
14 Elisha said, “As surely as the LORD Almighty lives, whom I
serve, if I did not have respect for the presence of Jehoshaphat
king of Judah, I would not pay any attention to you. 15 But now
bring me a harpist.”
WHILE THE HARPIST WAS PLAYING, THE HAND OF
THE LORD CAME ON ELISHA 16 and he said, “This is what
the LORD says: I will fill this valley with pools of water. 17 For this
is what the LORD says: You will see neither wind nor rain, yet
this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and
your other animals will drink.18 This is an easy thing in the eyes
of the LORD; he will also deliver Moab into your hands. …
79. Remember 1 CHRONICLES 25
25 David, together with the commanders of the army, set apart some of the sons of
Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun for the ministry of prophesying, accompanied by harps,
lyres and cymbals. Here is the list of the men who performed this service:
2 From the sons of Asaph:
Zakkur, Joseph, Nethaniah and Asarelah. The sons of Asaph were under the
supervision of Asaph, who prophesied under the king’s supervision.
3 As for Jeduthun, from his sons:
Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei,[a] Hashabiah and Mattithiah, six in all, under the
supervision of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied, using the harp in thanking and
praising the LORD.
4 As for Heman, from his sons:
Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael and Jerimoth; Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti
and Romamti-Ezer; Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir and Mahazioth. 5 (All these were
sons of Heman the king’s seer. They were given him through the promises of God to
exalt him. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.)
6 All these men were under the supervision of their father for the music of the temple of
the LORD, with cymbals, lyres and harps, for the ministry at the house of God.
80. REMEMBER THE DYNAMICS OF
PROPHESYING:
RECEPTION -- what did you receive from the Lord?
RESPONSE -- what is your response to what you
received from the Lord?
RELAY OR COMMUNICATION – how will you
communicate what you have received from the Lord?
ALL THESE THREE ARE FACILITATED BY THE GIFT,
SERVICE, AND WORKING OF MUSIC
THESE ARE A PROPHETIC STREAM.
81. Luke 5 -- another prophetic
stream:
17 ”One day Jesus was teaching, and
Pharisees and teachers of the law were
sitting there. They had come from every
village of Galilee and from Judea and
Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord
was with Jesus to heal the sick.”
A PROPHETIC STREAM FOR HEALING
WAS OPENED UP BY THE GIFT AND
SERVICE OF TEACHING
82. Other examples of OPENING UP
THE PROPHETIC STREAM:
1. OBEDIENCE TO AN INSTRUCTION OF THE LORD –
the case of MOSES (EXODUS 3)
2. AN INTENTION OF AN AUTHORITY FIGURE TO
BLESS AND PRAY FOR HIS CHILDREN (ESPECIALLY
IN ANTICIPATION OF A MOMENTOUS EVENT)
Genesis 49 – Jacob knew he was about to die (v.
29)- he called for his children and blessed and
prophesied over them (v. 1-27)
Deuteronomy 33 – Moses blesses the twelve
tribes before his death
Genesis 27 – when Isaac blessed Jacob (and Esau)
83. Opening up the prophetic
stream:
3. WHEN ONE HAS “SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE” – DREAM,
VISION, TAKEN IN THE SPIRIT, ETC.
Ezekiel – chapter 37 (vision of dry bones, Ezekiel
told to prophesy, v. 9)
Jeremiah 1 – v. 11-14 What do you see Jeremiah?”
“I see a boiling pot… an almond tree…”
v. 17 “Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to
them whatever I command you…”
84. Opening up the prophetic stream…
4. WHEN ONE IS INTENSELY IN PRAYER SEEKING THE MIND AND
HEART OF GOD
Habakkuk, chapter 1
The prophecy that Habakkuk the prophet received. [ Habakkuk’s Complaint ]
How long, LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you,
“Violence!” but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why
do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is
strife, and conflict abound
2 I will stand at my watch
and station myself on the ramparts;
I will look to see what he will say to me,
and what answer I am to give to this complaint.[a
Chapter 2 Then the LORD replied:
“Write down the revelation
and make it plain on tablets
so that a herald[b] may run with it.
3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
it speaks of the end
and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
it[c] will certainly come
and will not delay.
85. Opening up the prophetic
streams…
5. FASTING, PRAYING, SEARCH OF THE WORD
DANIEL 9
In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes[a] (a Mede by
descent), who was made ruler over the
Babylonian[b] kingdom— 2 in the first year of his reign, I,
Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the
word of the LORD given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the
desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. 3 So I
turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and
petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.
4 I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed:….
86. Opening up the prophetic
streams…
6. By IMPARTATION
NUMBERS 11
16 The LORD said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s
elders who are known to you as leaders and officials
among the people. Have them come to the tent of
meeting, that they may stand there with you. 17 I will
come down and speak with you there, and I will take
some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it
on them. They will share the burden of the people with
you so that you will not have to carry it alone.
87. Numbers 11
24 So Moses went out and told the people what the LORD had said. He
brought together seventy of their elders and had them stand around
the tent. 25 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke with
him, and he took some of the power of the Spirit that was on him and
put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they
prophesied—but did not do so again.
26 However, two men, whose names were Eldad and Medad, had
remained in the camp. They were listed among the elders, but did not
go out to the tent. Yet the Spirit also rested on them, and they
prophesied in the camp. 27 A young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad
and Medad are prophesying in the camp.”
28 Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses’ aide since youth, spoke
up and said, “Moses, my lord, stop them!”
29 But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all
the LORD’s people were prophets and that the LORD would put his
Spirit on them!”
88. I Timothy 4 – impartation by
laying on of hands
11Command and teach these things. 12Don’t let anyone
look down on you because you are young, but set an
example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in
faith and in purity. 13Until I come, devote yourself to the
public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14
DO NOT NEGLECT YOUR GIFT, WHICH WAS GIVEN YOU
THROUGH PROPHECY WHEN THE BODY OF ELDERS LAID
THEIR HANDS ON YOU.
15Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them,
so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life
and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do,
you will save both yourself and your hearers.
89. IN SUMMARY, PROPHETIC
STREAMS ARE OPENED WHEN
1. God’s people obey God’s instructions
2. When apostles and prophets are recognized and are given room to do
their job
3. When the Word is preached and taught
4. When musicians and singers play and sing to the Lord
5. When there is an intention to bless and prophecy on momentous
occasions
6. When God’s people fast and pray
7. When one is taken up in a spiritual experience (dreams, visions,
teleportations)
8. When there is impartation, with or without laying on of hands
9. When God’s people desperately seek the Lord in fasting and praying and
study of God’s Word
10. When gifts are exercised, services are performed
11. When the Spirit moves
12. When the presence of the Lord is there
90. EFFECTS OF AN APOSTOLIC
PROPHETIC COMMUNITY (structure
and streams):
Act 2:42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the
fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were
being done through the apostles.
44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common.
45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and
distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.
46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in
their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added
to their number day by day those who were being saved.
91. Effect of an apostolic prophetic
community
Act 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered
together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued
to speak the word of God with boldness.
32 Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and
no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they
had everything in common.
33 And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the
resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
34 There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of
lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold
35 and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had
need.
36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means
son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus,
37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the
apostles' feet.
92. THE FLOW AUTHORITY, POWER,
GIFTINGS, ANOINTINGS AND THEIR
EFFECT:
1, INDIVIDUAL - FROM JESUS TO THE
INDIVIDUAL APOSTLES
2. OIKOS (CELL) – TO THE GROUP OF APOSTLES
3. KOINONIA (FELLOWSHP/”CHURCH”) – THE
COMMUNITY RAISED UP BY THE APOSTLES, to
the
4. POLIS (COMMUNITY) – JERUSALEM AND
OTHER CITES, to the
5. ETHNOS (NATION, CULTURE) – ASIA, EUROPE
93. HINDRANCES OR LIMITATIONS TO
THE PROPHETIC STREAMS
1. Rejection of the office, role and work of apostles and prophets
2. Quenching and putting limits on what the Holy Spirit can do
(MARK 6:4 Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor
except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his
own household." 5And He could do no miracle there except that He
laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6And He
wondered at their unbelief. And He was going around the villages
teaching.”)
3. Putting too much “control” on services or meetings and not
allowing the Holy Spirit to move (but everything must be done
decently and in order) – I COR. 14:26 FF
4. A mind frame that rejects the supernatural
5. Insensitivity to the moves of the Holy Spirit (“quenching the
Spirit”)
94. HINDRANCES OR LIMITATIONS TO
THE PROPHETIC STREAMS
6. PERSONAL IRRITATIONS OR DISTRACTIONS
2 KINGS 3
14 Elisha said, “As surely as the LORD Almighty lives,
whom I serve, if I did not have respect for the presence
of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not pay any
attention to you. 15 But now bring me a harpist.”
WHILE THE HARPIST WAS PLAYING, THE HAND OF
THE LORD CAME ON ELISHA 16 and he said, “This is
what the LORD says:
95. HINDRANCES OR LIMITATIONS TO
THE PROPHETIC STREAMS
7. SIN AND DISOBEDIENCE
2 TIMOTHY 2:16 -- But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to
further ungodliness,
PROVERBS 21:16 A man who wanders from the way of understanding
Will rest in the assembly of the dead.
Matthew 18:15-20
"But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and
those defile the man. "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders,
adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. "These are the things
which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the
man.“
THE LORD WILL NOT SPEAK IN AN UNGODLY, DEAD, AND DEFILED
ENVIRONMENT, EXCEPT PERHAPS TO EITHER SPEAK REPENTANCE OR
JUDGMENT.
96. CONCLUSION:
1. WE HAVE TO DECIDE WHETHER WE WILL BELIEVE THAT APOSTLES OR
PROPHETS ARE NO MORE, OR WHETHER THEY ARE STILL
CONTINUING GIFTS AND OFFICES TODAY
2. IF WE DECIDE THAT THEY STILL ARE NEEDED, THEN WE MUST SEEK
APOSTOLIC AND PROPHETIC COVERING (NOT JUST PASTORAL
COVERING); we must structure our community on the 5-fold gifts
3. WE MUST DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER BY THE GRACE OF GOD
TO FACILITATE THE CONTINOUS AND FREE FLOW OF THE PROPHETIC
STREAMS
- Atmosphere of faith and expectancy
- Acceptance of the gifts, workings and operations of the Holy Spirit
- Purity of heart, speech and hand
97. CLOSING VERSES:
EPHESIANS 2:19-22
“You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow
citizens with God’s people and also members of his
household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and
prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief
cornerstone”
EPHESIANS 4:11-13
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the
evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people
for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built
up13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the
knowledge of the Son of God and become
mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of
Christ.
98. THE COMMUNITY THAT JESUS KEPT WAS AN
APOSTOLIC AND PROPHETIC, A 5-FOLD GIFT,
COMMUNITY. May ours be one.