Effective Ministries and Believers

Transitioning out of an ineffective "pastoral-only" model of ministry. As we enter the apostolic revolution there will be a rise of spiritual master builders and reformers that will restore the forgotten structure of apostolic ministry.

The Kingdom of God has a government under the leadership of Christ. Jesus is the King of the Kingdom and the Founder and Apostle of the Church. The Church is the seat of His governing authority on the earth and scripture confirms of “the increase of His government there shall be no end” (Isaiah 9:6-7). Jesus is not going to return to this earth to rapture a defeated Church just before being overrun by demon powers. As the apostolic revolution picks up steam we will witness His governing Church and kingdom believers engage the culture around them and take their place as victorious ambassadors of Christ. To govern means to administer policy. Apostolic revolutionary believers understand where the seat of governing authority resides.

Let me ask you some questions. What is the most powerful seat of authority on the earth? Is it the United States Federal Government, the Supreme Court or a United Europe? Is it found in education, banking, Wall Street or within the ranks of the Media? The answer is, “None of the above.” The most powerful seat of governing authority on the earth today is found in the Church of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 12:18-29).

A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE OF MINISTRY

Apostolic ministry gifts have a different perspective of the Church. They see it as the epicenter of God’s spiritual power, authority and might. Because of apathy and lukewarmness the Church has lost influence during our life time. This lethargy among the saints has resulted in the Church being overlooked, persecuted, harassed, mocked and ignored, yet the Church still remains the only seat of authority divinely authorized to advance God’s principles, moral laws and His Word throughout the earth (Isaiah 9:6-7). Part of the problem has to do with a weak pastoral model of ministry that is currently in transition into a more effective model of ministry we call the apostolic Church.

Throughout history kingdoms have risen to great levels of influence only to find themselves disappearing into the yellowed pages of history books. What happened to the Aztec Empire, the Akkadian Empire, or the Roman Empire for example? Once great kingdoms they lost their seats of authority. The Church of Jesus Christ, however, presses on having survived every empire in history. Not only has the Church of Christ survived, it has increased from generation to generation. Jesus prophesied, “I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail” (Matthew 16:18). Notice his use of the words “my Church.” The building of His Church is not found in a defensive posturing from the world but in an aggression conflict against illegitimate demonic governments. Yes, demonic government has tried to defeat Christ’ Church but history confirms that the gates of hell have always collapsed in defeat. The Church is destined for total conquest.

I don’t believe that Jesus is returning to rescue (rapture) a defeated people. The gates of hell will not prevail against Christ’ Church. The Bible teaches us that Jesus will return for a Church one day having no spot or wrinkle, a glorious Church. scripture confirms that saying, “That he might present it (the Church) to himself a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:27).

WHERE IS THE GLORIOUS CHURCH?

Sadly, we see little evidence of this glorious, victorious Church that Jesus prophesied. What we see mostly is a religious Church that is full of dead religious programs and vain traditions of men. Though we may not see the glorious Church in her fullness there is no doubt that there does remain a fully dedicated remnant that is standing ready for the Master’s use. That remnant, dear friend, is the new apostolic revolutionary Church. So where is the glorious Church? To find her we must take a journey together and look for a Church within a Church. Let's take a deeper look at the restoration of an apostolic ministry model that will help make a way for the manifestation of His glorious Church.

The restoration of apostolic ministry heralds the rise of spiritual master builders and reformers who will rebuild the tabernacle of David and put in place the forgotten apostolic ministry model that is necessary to equip believers that can impact the world for Christ and restore the glorious Church. scripture declares, “After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up” (Acts 15:16).

Presently a paradigm shift is moving us away from the traditional understanding of the function and structure of the Church, a “pastoral, nurture, bless-me-only” model of ministry into a “gathering and equipping to send” model of ministry. Unlike former nurturing-only models of ministry, the success of apostolic ministry will not be determined by how many people fill seats in an auditorium but rather how many have been equipped and sent out into the world with a dominion agenda. The apostolic model of ministry is not about a denomination or how somebody is baptized. Nor is it a new denomination but is a “model of ministry” found in the writings of the New Testament. The apostolic ministry is a different structure of ministry that equips every believer to do what God has called them to do.

THE MASTER BUILDERS

The Word says that the Church is, “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20). We have already discussed that holy prophets since the beginning of time prophesied of the restoration of all things and continue to do so today (Acts 3:19), but what about the apostles? What of their ministries?

It’s very important to understand that when a building is built the foundation of that structure must rest upon a solid foundation that is able to withstand the weight of the building. In other words, the foundation that supports the building must be put solidly in place before the building goes up. If not, the weight of the building will crush the foundation and the building will collapse. The Church of Christ is the same. That solid structure is the ministry of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ as the Founder and Chief Corner Stone. A corner stone is that part of the wall that the entire building is aligned to.

This brings us to the importance of the apostle’s ministry, the formation of the apostolic model of God’s government, the Church and the seat of governing authority. The ministry gift of apostles are divinely set in the Church as governmental in calling and spiritual authority. They are first in rank and like all apostles deal with order, structure and design (1 Corinthians 12:28). First is the Greek word proton which means that apostles are involved in the pioneering and foundational efforts of the causes of Christ. They also are responsible to administer policy throughout the kingdom and are the master builders of the Church of Jesus Christ. Apostles have a great spiritual capacity and are the very ascension gifts that the Holy Spirit will use to lay the foundation for the new apostolic revolution and the preparation of the glorious Church in these last days.

We refer to those ascension gifts that God uses to lay a spiritual foundation as the restored apostolic master builders. These master builders will:

1. Be filled with the revelation of divine strategies to fulfill the Great Commission of reaching the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Gospel of the Kingdom.
2. Be generals and commanders of an army of believers who have matured from childhood to sonship and have entered the apostolic dimension because they have been equipped and sent into the harvest fields of this world.
3. Teach the Christian Church the value of being interrelated and unified together in the great causes of Christ.
4. Possess a willingness to lead believers into being more proactive in their Christian walks thus being salt and light in a dark world.
5. Be the apostolic fathers to a fatherless generation thereby turning the hearts of the children to the fathers.
6. Lead the Christian Church as front-line, cutting-edge, battlefield soldiers and pioneers for Christ preparing the Church for a glorious future.
7. Be apostolic reformers who will oppose false doctrines, false religious structures, apathy, lukewarmness, demonic spiritual governments and false religious voices with a passionate spirit not seen since the days of The Great Reformation.

Get ready for the rise of the apostolic glorious Christian Church -- the governing Church.

(c) Jonas Clark
www.jonasclark.com