Apostolic definition comes from Apostle Paul's teachings in Ephesians 4:11 with some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors, and teachers. These five fold gifts are all called to equip the saints for the work of ministry and for the edifying of the body of Christ. This is part of the apostolic definition. Let's review steps to effective apostolic ministry.
Five-fold ministry includes apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. This is His apostolic team given to equip the body of Christ. Just as Christ was sent, so was the Holy Spirit. To be sent is apostolic. As a sent one, the Holy Spirit is the official representative of the Kingdom of God sent from the commanding heights.
New apostolic transition is happening. Apostolic leaders don’t build their ministries around the Sunday morning hour of power. They know there is more. Christ gave some apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers for the perfecting of the saints for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:12).
Spiritual authority and vacant seats. Lester Sumrall, Kenneth Hagin Sr., Derek Prince, Bill Bright, John Osteen, Steve Hill, G. E. Patterson, Myles Munroe, Samuel Lamb, Paul Crouch, Church Colson, and others have died. Who will take their place?
Five-fold apostolic ministry is key to victory. The revelation about five-fold apostolic ministry came to me around 1996. Others may have received insight earlier, but that’s about the time the Holy Spirit began dealing with me. Over the last twenty years, many have taught various things about apostolic ministry, apostolic definition, and sadly, some promoted it like any other passing fad.
If we are going to see the glorious church revealed, then we need to change the way we reach our cities with the Gospel (Ephesians 5:27). That's why we need to understand the apostolic definition. Apostolic churches are modeling a different pattern for ministry. Instead of doing everything possible to attract people to a church building they are training various harvest teams to invade their communities. This type of ministry requires organizing apostolic teams and companies. Forming apostolic teams and companies is one part of the new apostolic church revolution. Let’s learn how the Apostle Paul built an apostolic team.
Five-fold ministry consists of some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors, and some teachers. Let's answer the question, "What is an apostle?"
Apostle Peter declared that you are part of a royal priesthood of disciples. In other words, you are part of a priesthood of kings. “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).
Should you have a spiritual father in your life? Apostolic ministries have apostolic fathers. I came from a generation of preachers who grew up in ministry without the benefit of spiritual fathers. Like thousands of others, we had to get whatever we could through books, audios, videos, seminars, conferences and brief meetings with men of God hurried off platforms and away from the people.