The Unveiling of The End Time Apostles
Much has been said on both the positive and the negative side over the last 25 years or so about the role and validity of Apostles and their place or prominence in this emerging generation.
Some have rejected the belief that Apostles are being restored as a ministry gift to the body of Christ,citing their conviction that the role of the Apostle has passed away.
I have never been able to understand how those who hold to this position can base their belief upon basically a single scripture in Ephesians which state that the Apostles and prophets laid the foundations of the early church.
To say that the Apostles and Prophets laid the foundation of the church and then fulfilled their God given purpose is it seems to me to mistake a part of their purpose for their entire purpose.
The last days' Apostles will not only build upon the heritage of those who laid the foundations of the church but these will also have the honour from God of laying the capstone to shouts of Grace Grace Grace! Zechariah ch 4 vs 6,7
The Honour of this company of end time Apostles will not be greater then the first generation of the Apostles of the Lamb rather it is the weight and measure of the Glory of God that they will minster out of which shall be greater.
The Glory of the latter house will be greater than the glory of the former house.Haggai 2 vs9
There is nothing that marks out this end time generation so much as the manifest Glory of God illuminating the heavens and filling the lives of the people of God upon the earth.
This is what the enemy has known and resisted but those days are now upon us.
Everything that can be shaken will be shaken and the reason for this is very clear that only that which cannot be shaken will remain. Haggai chapter2 V6
God's eternal kingdom is going to be visibly restored upon this earth and we are living in the days preceding the imminent return of the king.
There is possibly no greater example of what this end time Apostolic ministry looks like in the Old Testament than that of Moses.
Moses was sent to his generation as a deliverer to set God's people free and the Lord validated his words with awesome signs and wonders.
This end time company of Apostles will also have a message from God: "Behold the Return of the King" and the Lord will also confirm the word with a demonstration of the powers of the age to come.
In reality this new era of the Kingdom of God coming to this earth is now upon us at the very door.
Just as Moses' preparation in the wilderness was a thorough work,so too the preparation of these end time Apostles will be commensurate to the stature of their high calling.
Just as Moses felt himself to be ill equipped and totally inadequate for the task which God called him to, so too these Apostles will know that their calling is from the Lord of hosts and in weakness fear and much trembling they will stand clothed in the power of the Most high God.
Just as Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness after his calling before his commisioning at the burning bush so too those who will now come forth will have spent many years in the wilderness (the place of intimacy) and in the dungeon(the place of confinement)
There are three basic foundations upon which this ministry is going to be founded.
Firstly unwavering faith; secondly powerful love; and lastly great meekness and humility.
These three elements will be like three distinct yet inseperable strands which woven together will equip these champions to do the greater works.
Historically some have possessed great faith but failed in their walk of love.
Likewise others have excelled at love but not possessed the faith to do the greater works.
And there are those who have had both faith and love but lacked the spirit of the meekness and gentleness of Christ out of which the Apostle Paul made his appeals.
Humility will safeguard against deception as it is out of a heart of true humility that a person will pursue the love of the truth.
The truth that will adorn this company will be that which comes fom the pursuit of the person of Jesus Christ himself and the revelation which comes from an intimate knowledge of him
As Elijah boldly declared to King Ahab "As the Lord lives before whom I stand".
This will bring a time of great deliverance from so many of the dogmas and creeds that have been maintained with a great religious zeal but have held people captives to a mixture of truth and man made ideas.
Isaiah 26 18 " We have,as it were brought forth emptiness;
We have not accomplished any deliverance in the earth."
For all of our love of words and rhetoric our lack of bringing forth deliverance in this earth has been a powerful witness against us.
Paul said "I was with you in weakness and fear and in much trembling
And my speech and my preaching were not with pesuasive words of human wisdom,but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." 2Corinthians 4,5
Our love of mere words alone, albeit the preached word, has been far more costly to us then many realize.
We have as Isaiah says brought forth wind but failed to bring deliverance to this earth.
Therefore unknowingly many have been given a form of the truth but never been properly joined with Chist himself who is the truth.
The truth that is imparted through these Apostles will not only liberate many from strongholds that hinder them in their fellowship with the risen Christ but it will turn their dependency away from being followers of men towards determinately questing after the One who is their Shepherd and The Truth Himself.
The Lord is about to return to his temple and fill this earth with His Glory.
As the Levities of old were commissioned to carry the ark of the Lord so these emerging Apostles will carry the Glory of the Lord which will be the testimony of Jesus to this final generation.
They will keep Jesus Christ high and lifted up and keep faithful in heart to their commission all of their days.
I believe that the Lord is going to unveil many of those whom he has been preparing and many of those whom he has hidden.
Like the Apostle Paul was maligned and misunderstood so too many within the church will fail to reconize these gifts of leadership to the body of Christ.
"But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God; in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, by honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report ; as deceivers and yet true; as unknown and yet well known. "2 Corninthians 6 v4 and 8
Paul the Apostle had to labour through evil reports raised against him; through dishonour, and he faced those who regarded him as a deceiver and an unknown.
At the end of his earthly course he could utter some of the most poignant words
"All those in Asia have forsaken me."2 Tim 1 15
Likewise these Champions who are coming forth will be unconcerned with their reputation in the eyes of men. However they and their works are known to God from of old.
Whether we like it or not the hope of this generation is dependant upon the revealing of these godly ones.
Like the Apostles of old it shall be said of them also "They which have turned the world upside down are come here also."
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Thursday, 27 September 2012
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