There is a vitally important characteristic that is desperately needed among the true church during this hour of history. This attribute that I am referring to is “apostolic.”
The word “apostolic” can have a clouded meaning, and unfortunately, in this church age with so many claiming to be apostles, the meaning of this word becomes even more difficult for some to decipher. However, it is of great importance for us to press into the meaning, and as a result, we must actualize this all-important concept into our everyday lives.
The word “apostle” derives from the Greek word apostolos, which literally means “messenger, envoy, person sent forth.” Therefore, an apostle is one that has come from an experience with the Lord and has therefore been sent forth as a messenger or an ambassador.
In the Old Testament, we see where Moses experiences a supernatural event after spending 40 years in the wilderness. In Exodus 3, he beholds a bush burning that is not consumed while tending to his father-in-law’s animals. The experience becomes an apostolic event in Moses’ life as it prepares him for the mission of leading the children of Israel out of Egyptian slavery.
In the life of Saul of Tarsus, we behold in Acts 9 that he is divinely arrested by the Lord as he is on his way to Damascus with an agenda to find Christians (those in The Way) and bring them back to Jerusalem for persecution. His encounter with the Lord radically changed his life and direction, and as a result, he became an apostle who impacted the known world of his day with the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
As Moses and Paul were sent from an experience with the living God, so must we be sent in power without compromise as the church in this hour. Our mission is altogether apostolic, and we must press forward with earnestness in this hour. The salvaging of the compromised church and the dying world depends on it!
Join me this week on Maintain the Flame on Charisma Podcast Network, where I share some important concepts connected to the word “apostolic.” Be prepared to be challenged and deeply encouraged as I share ancient truths that never die or grow old. {eoa}
Keith Collins is the founder of Generation Impact Ministries and Impact Global Fellowship. He is actively involved in itinerant ministry, teaching and writing. In recent years, Keith served as the president of the Brownsville Revival School of Ministry and as the director of FIRE School of Ministry, which were both born out of the Brownsville Revival in Pensacola, Florida. His recent book, Samuels Arising: Waking Up to God’s Prophetic Call, is now available on Amazon, and his podcast, titled Maintain the Flame, can be heard on iTunes and at cpnshows.com. You can contact Keith via his websites at keith-collins.org or impactgf.org.
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