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Keep in touch with Jonas
as he discusses topics of interest to the hungry believer including the
Apostolic Church revolution, defeating
the Jezebel spirit, advanced prophetic ministry, spiritual warfare, deliverance and Kingdom living.
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Occupying Spiritual Jurisdictions
by Jonas Clark
The apostolic dimension activates and empowers every believer.
Apostles understand how critical is the way we perceive our cities
in this hour. Apostles understand that churches are not placed in a
city by chance; they are strategically positioned by the wisdom of
God. Apostles also understand that the authority and grace to occupy
a territory comes from God. As such, one role of the apostle is to
reveal to believers a deeper perspective of the local church as a
place of spiritual jurisdiction.
When an apostle builds a local church it becomes a place of
spiritual jurisdiction and influence with the power and authority of
God to rule and reign in the territory. Apostolic believers
understand the responsibility to reach that territory and possess a
different orientation of ministry because they fully discern the
overall scope of the local church.
Assigned places of spiritual jurisdiction are called “metrons,” a
Greek word for measure. The understanding of metrons is vital to
every believer because it is the believers who are “sent” out (from
the Greek words apo and stello) from the local church to occupy
these territories. The apostolic dimension of a local governing
church activates and empowers every believer as a sent-one to invade
and occupy God-given metrons. Let’s examine an important Scripture
and some key Greek words to study this out:
“For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves
with some that commend themselves: but they measuring (judging)
themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves,
are not wise. But we will not boast of things without our measure,
but according to the measure (metron) of the rule (kanon) which God
hath distributed to us, a measure (metron) to reach even unto you”
(2 Corinthians 10:12-13).
This is a revealing scripture. The Greek word “metron” means a
portioned-off measure, determined extent, measure, or limit. The
Greek word “kanon” means a rule or line, a fixed space within limits
where one’s power of influence is confined, an assigned province,
one’s sphere of activity, or limit of authority or jurisdiction. A
metron is clearly defined as a measured-out boundary. It can be
likened to a fenced in area (kanon) of authority or an assigned
territory. This same area (metron) would also be known as a place of
spiritual jurisdiction and influence assigned to a local church,
person, ministry, apostolic team, etc., by the Holy Spirit.
So a metron is a target area, a place where one has an assigned
scope of ministry and spiritual influence, a marked-off territory, a
place of focused spiritual and natural activity, a place with
marked-off boundaries, a territory with specific limits of
assignment and responsibilities known as kanon, or place of
spiritual jurisdiction. Simply stated, your metron is your place of
ministry assignment and responsibility. You will be the most
effective in ministry when you are planted in your assigned sphere,
or metron.
Learn more about Apostles in the...
Apostolic Equipping Kit
Not only does the Holy Spirit assign a metron (ministry
assignments) within specific territories for churches and
apostolic believers (sent-ones) to occupy, He also gives ample
grace to back up those assignments. Grace is the power to
advance beyond our own abilities. Remember, “unto every one of
us is given grace according to the measure (metron) of the gift
of Christ” (Ephesians 4:7). Again, this is a very important
verse because we see that God gives us grace amply sufficient
for our territory, or place of our assignment. Grace, favor, and
everything we need to be successful in ministry is given to us
to accomplish our task when we are within our metron. So when
things are hard in ministry, remember that when God assigns you
a ministry task or a ministry territory, He also provides
everything necessary to be successful in accomplishing your
mission in your assigned metron.
The harder the territory, the more grace given. It doesn’t make
any difference how hard the area or the task at hand is. You
will find grace sufficient when you draw near to God. Much
difficulty, much grace. Much hardship, much grace. Much sin,
much grace. So how do we obtain this grace? The answer is
through faith and prayer. Scripture declares, “Let us therefore
come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy,
and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
With the apostolic reformation, there will be at least four
specific paradigm changes taking place within local churches. A
paradigm is a model or pattern in which we function. Perhaps one
of the most profound changes is a breaking free from the
one-man-only paradigm. This paradigm requires the church to use
all its marketing efforts and resources to draw people to a
building where they are taught by only one ascension gift. The
apostolic model will bring a sending dimension to the local
church. The second change has a powerful impact on the goal of
evangelism, taking it from just getting a decision for Christ to
raising disciples of Christ. Third, there will be a major shift
in the Church from an inward-focus only to an outward-focus of
ministry. Not only will the local church be a place where people
gather together to worship and find refreshing, it will also be
the place where God reveals apostolic strategies and goals; a
place where believers are commissioned and released into
ministry. Finally, various apostolic teams will be built,
activated and sent out into the surrounding city and into the
nations of the world.
A true apostolic paradigm is one that gathers, teaches, equips,
assigns, targets, builds, shapes, raises disciples, and deploys
teams. Today, thousands of churches have no apostolic structure
in place to move people beyond a teaching- or pastoring-only
structure into one that sends believers into the harvest fields.
This is changing now in the 21st century apostolic reformation.
Emerging apostolic leaders are embracing these mighty truths as
they equip the believers to fulfill the Great Commission.
© by Jonas Clark
For dynamic teaching materials go to
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prophetic resources.
p.s.
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