In Ephesians 4:11 -12 Paul writes to the Ephesians Church saying that, Jesus-
11 He gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints, for the work of service, and for the building up of the body of Christ,
These gifts we have come to know and recognise as the ascension gifts and commonly referred to as the Five-Fold Ministry. After the crucifixion and the resurrection, Jesus ascended to heaven to take His place at the right hand of the father.
As the executive ruler of the universe and as the head of the Church, He released gifts to the body divided into five great capacities, when we break these gifts down we will realise that Jesus Himself operated in all these gifts.
I am however looking at “the Apostolic Call” and in my heart I believe that Word Of Life Church has been called as an Apostolic Church to Grove Park.
The word Apostle, from the Greek Word “Apostolos” which means one who is sent or commissioned. As believers we have all been sent by Jesus for a purpose and that purpose is connected to His purpose, the purpose for which He came.
Jesus says in John 17:16-18
16 They are not of the world even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, so I sent them into the world.
Jesus in this prayer makes it clear to us that there is an apostleship of all believers, we have all been called sent out.
In Acts 13:47
47 For thus has the Lord commanded us: ‘I have established you to be a light of the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.”
We can see from scripture that we have been sent as light into this community and not just as a shining light but a light that brings salvation. Jesus tells us in scripture that He is the light of the World. Here in the book of John 12:46 Jesus says
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in Me should remain in darkness.
Over the past few weeks as I have been teaching in the bible school I began to realise that as a Church we have been placed in this community for a bigger purpose, as I began to look at the characteristics of an Apostolic Church.
What are the characteristics of an Apostolic Church?
- They are a breakthrough Church and have influence in their community.
- They are a pioneering Church- They go into communities and start new things.
- They move in the supernatural- It is very evident from the battle we have had to fight since we moved into this community that God is preparing us for something big.
- Apostolic Churches determine the spiritual temperature of a community.
- Apostolic Churches are mission minded, they have world evangelism at the heart of their ministry.
- Apostolic Churches often go through persecution both spiritually and physically.
- They have the tendency to reignite the fire of God that has been put off.
As I have listed above, I then realised that at least 80% of what I have listed above reflects us as a Church.
We have been called out, anointed and appointed for something bigger than ourselves. There is an apostolic call upon us as a Church. We are a Church sent out for great and mighty things in this community.
Our Job is to preach the good news and influence this community, through our testimony and our examples.
There is a call upon our lives as individuals and as a Church. I pray that we will never abandon our spiritual call, which is Apostolic.
Jesus said to His disciples in John 4:34-35
34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’? Listen! I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest.
What Jesus said to His disciples then is applicable to us today. The Harvest is ready. We must keep pushing and not give up.
