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The Importance of the Local Church being Connected to an Apostolic Team. THE BASIC PURPOSE OF THE LOCAL CHURCH. Evangelism To reach every available person at every available time by every available means with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Discipleship
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The Importance of the Local Church being Connected to an Apostolic Team
THE BASIC PURPOSE OF THELOCAL CHURCH Evangelism • To reach every available person at every available time by every available means with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Discipleship • To establish them in the local church, teaching and training them to become like Christ. Mobilization • To mobilize the army of God, to help each person to find his or her place and function in the Body of Christ.
THE BASIC PURPOSE OF ANAPOSTOLIC TEAM • To help the local church raise up and release 5-fold ministry giftings into Holy Spirit directed service. • To plant (church planting) churches to work together for the purpose of reproducing leaders and churches. • To give apostolic oversight that strengthens and supports the local church.
THE BASIC VISION OF ANAPOSTOLIC TEAM • To plant (church planting) organizations in as many nations in the world as is possible. • To raise up apostolic teams with a key leader in each nation. • To release developed 5-fold ministry giftings into Holy Spirit directed service to the nations. • To work together as united nations with common purpose to reach the world with the Gospel of Jesus.
THE ULTIMATE PUPOSE OF THIS CONNECTION • To create an infrastructure where all of the Ephesians 4:11 gifts can operate under a governmental structure, so that the church at whole can be mobilized in power, then “the gates of hell cannot prevail against it”.
Becauseit is on the precipice of what God is doing again in our day and time! Because it is divine! It was not thought up by man, nor based on men’s traditions, but rather given by God for the first apostolic church. It was HIS only endorsed form of church government. You can see it at work throughout the New Testament.
The New Testament church planters almost always worked in teams. • These team members were not all gifted church planters, many contributed other gifts to the apostolic mission of the team. • In an attempt to do apostolic work alone, we can become vulnerable and suspect.
An individualistic mentality was discouraged, in that apostles were not self-appointed, but chosen by others, who recognized God’s calling on them. • Doctrinal errors and character weaknesses are to easily left uncorrected in a lone ranger ministry. • Because it works… And GOD is at the center of its government and relationships!
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BLESSINGS OF BEING CONNECTED TO AN APOSTOLIC TEAM?
The Blessing of Committed Relationships • To be in life-long peer level relationships with other leaders of like mind and spirit. • To be in fellowship with a family of peers who are “pressing in” for revival and harvest. • Close committed relationships with other ministers and congregations. • Since apostolic teams develop out of relationships, you gain a strong base of prayer and fellowship support.
The Blessing of Covering (accountability) • Admonitions or discipline to ministers and congregations when necessary or called upon. • Apostolic mentoring. • Apostolic Teams offer wisdom from many years of combined ministry, and has the ability to strengthen, advise, as well as offer wise warnings to churches and leaders. • Having apostolic covering gives the pastor someone to talk to, relate to and just sound off to.
The Blessing of Good Counsel • In doctrine, to help deal with doctrinal issues confronting a church or causing division in the church. • In church discipline, this is especially helpful in difficult cases to avoid personal attacks against leadership when a member needs discipline. • Apostolic teams are made up of seasoned leaders who can help restore focus or define the vision for existing churches. They can also help teach you how to articulate that vision to the church.
The Blessing of Protection • Apostolic teams can help provide an atmosphere of safety and security for both the pastor and the congregation. • To protect the people – if a leader falls into error or sin, the congregation knows they have someone to appeal to, helping to avoid a church split. • To protect the pastor – the pastor can ask the apostolic team to help resolve conflicts brought about by false accusations.
The Blessing of Confirmation • If needed or desired, an apostolic team can help in the overseeing of licensing and ordination services. • Apostolic covering can be used to confirm and ordained elders and other fivefold gifts in the church. Having someone else to interview and confirm candidates for ministry can provide and an objective view that is often missing in independent churches.
The Blessing of Strengthening and Encouragement • Equipping • Intercession • Impartation • Consultation • Evaluation • Transition
The Blessing of Opportunity • To be part of something greater than yourself. • Leadership and ministry development training opportunities. • Mission opportunities for both ministers and church members. • Special meetings to augment the spiritual formation of new leaders and to enhance present leaders.
Local, National and International Conferences. These conferences provide an opportunity: • To increase vision • To build relationships • To encourage fellowship • To receive teaching and ministry • To connect with a global vision • To be personally strengthened and refreshed
Continued education through college courses (F.C.M.I.). • These courses are fully accredited • Future use of the Internet and DVD education around the world • You can use these courses to help train your present or future leaders. • The college takes full advantage of all the gifted teachers within the apostolic team to impart their wisdom and knowledge to the people within your church. • It helps to free up the pastor while still knowing that his people are getting good, Spirit filled, Bible based teaching.
The Blessing of Synergy • What is synergy? Simply defined it means the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. • One can chase a 1,ooo and two can put 10,000 flight. • Apostolic teams offer networking with other ministers and churches. • The availability of an apostolic team consisting of all five ascension gifts (operating in the Ephesians 4:11 order) moving in spiritual authority, anointing and gifting.
BOTTOM LINE –What is The Importance of the Local Church being Connected to an Apostolic Team?
Because it is divine! It was not thought up by man, nor based on men’s traditions, but rather given by God for the first apostolic church. It was HIS only endorsed form of church government. You can see it at work throughout the New Testament and it still works today!!!
Because it is the devil’s worse nightmare! Without looking at the Church of the New Testament with rose colored spectacles, it is very apparent that in that first century great damage was done to the kingdom of darkness. Nations and cities ruled and dominated by evil spirits, false philosophies, pagan deities and heathen temples were penetrated by the Apostolic Church in a way that changed history. In spite of everything that Hell was throwing against it, the church was advancing. This is exactly what we need today!
Like the Apostles of the First Apostolic Church, it is time for us to start being accused of “turning the world upside down”, and this GOD ordained connection is the key!!!