Apostle
The Hebrew language (sheleach) Apostolos root meaning one who is sent, as
symbolized by the unique ministry of the apostle as portrayed in the Renew
Testament. I have done a complete study and research on the Apostle in the following
areas: etymologically - to determine proper word usage. Theologically - to
evaluate the thinking of other theologians. Exegetically - to derive the original
Hebrew meaning; Topically - to be sure the interpretation given is in agreement
with the teaching of the whole Word of YAHVEH. The conclusion is that the basic
root meaning is "one sent as representative of another," with the
power and authority of the representative coming from the one who sent him.
They are like ambassadors who represent a country. The continuing ministry of
an apostle/ambassador is based on how well he conveys the heart and message of
the King.[1]
An Apostle is one chosen and sent with a special
commission. They are referred to as wise master builders or spiritual
architects. They are for maintaining spiritual and physical order and direction
of the church. Those
with an apostolic office are gifted to speak with greater authority than anyone
else, for they have a measure of all of the others ministries combined. I
Corinthians 3:10 - CJB - Using
the grace Yahushua gave me, I laid a foundation, like a skilled master-builder;
and another man is building on it. But let each one be careful how he builds.
The 12
Apostles chosen by Yahushua were witnesses of the resurrection (Acts 1:15; 4:33);
but there were many other true apostles (Acts 14:3-4; Romans 16:7; I
Corinthians 15:5-7; Galatians 1:1; 19) as well as false ones (II Corinthians
11:13-15; Revelation 2: 2 –
CJB - I
know what you have been doing, how hard you have worked, how you have persevered,
and how you can't stand wicked people; so you tested those who call themselves
emissaries but aren't and you found them to be liars.
KJV I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience,
and how thou canst not bear them, which are evil: and thou hast tried them
which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:)[2]
Apostles
are one of the Five-Fold ministries of Ephesians 4:11, The Apostle is a
foundation laying ministry. Ephesians 2:20 that we see in the renewed Covenant
establishing new churches, correcting error by establishing proper order and
structure, and acting as an oversight ministry that fathers other ministries.
The New Testament Apostle has a revelatory anointing, Ephesians 3:5. Some major
characteristics are great patience and manifestations of signs, wonders and
miracles. [3]
Paul said that the Apostle is last.
In the natural they are the servants. They are often ridiculed, rejected,
whipped, and sometime killed for the sake of the Gospel of the kingdom of Heaven
I do believe that in order to be an Apostle,
one needs to experience some form of the other four ministries. The thumb is
the only finger that can form a complete circle when it touches any of the
other four fingers. This implies that an Apostle himself forms a complete
ministry team. Since the Apostle has the experience of all the other four
ministries inclusive, He is consider the senior state ministry. He is the one who
has walked in all of what our High Priest has called him to do. It is only
fitting that he should be the head ministry.
The Apostle is under the
authority of our High Priest Yahushua the Messiyah. Yahushua the Messiyah, who
is currently in the Holy of Holies interceding for us. The Apostle is
responsible to carry the vision: (1) that there is only one church and that all
believers are to be in unity with all other believers everywhere, under the
unity of the Spirit and the unity of the faith. (2) He is to work to bring the
church into the knowledge of the Son of YAHVEH, to the status of the fullness
of The Messiyah (maturity). (3) The Apostle must go where the Good News of the
kingdom has not been clearly heard and so he carries the burden of taking the
Gospel to every nation.[4]
The Apostle may go out with, or
is sent out with a team of his mentors to take the Gospel to places where there
are no established churches. This does not necessarily mean to a foreign
land. It could be to any region or
subculture that is un-reached by the church at that particular time, even to a
local area. The Apostle should govern the church so that all the gifts work
together in harmony with each other until the members become mature in The Messiyah
and able to be self sufficient in all spiritual matters. The Apostle should
work so that the church is strong and healthy and be able to fulfill the Great
Commission of Yahushua the Messiyah.
The prime directive
of the Apostle is to equip the other four ministry to govern the saints who
themselves well develop their own ministries, gifts and calling. The Apostle is
one who has walked in the experience of the other four ministries, therefore
qualifying them for leadership. These gifts are also important in fulfilling YAH’S
vision, for it helps the brethren to walk in the fullness of YAH’S purpose for
them at home, at work, at school, or in the churches. Anywhere where the gift
of Apostle is in operation there is a continuing communication of the purpose
and vision of YAHVEH.
When YAH’S purpose
and vision are not continually being communicated to the church, the brethren
become lost. Without a vision the people perish, without a continuous
revelation, without an open heaven the people will perish spiritually. They
will start wandering around to other churches, looking for something more. The
terminology having an affaire is a prophetic illustration, when the needs at
home are not being meet, it is human instinct to go looking for that needs to
be fulfilled elsewhere.
As we study the apostle's
definition, it is apparent that we must rise above our intellectual and
spiritual fog if we are to come into crystal-clear understanding. Few
ministries today have posed the difficulty in being defined and accepted today
as that of the Apostle. Not many comprehend or esteem this role in the Church.
As Vinson Synan wrote "Most people in church history who have claimed to
be New Testament apostles have been branded as heretics and excommunicated from
the church." Do YAH’S people avoid understanding the Apostle's ministry as
though this information was somehow forbidden?
As an
example of our tendency to evade the subject, consider our approach to the word
Apostle itself. Many in the church today would shudder to hear someone refer to
a leader as an Apostle, though we have no such problem with other ministry
titles such as Pastor or Evangelist.[5]
Wayne
Gruden, a theologian, suggests. "If any in
modern times want to take the title of Apostle to themselves, they immediately
raise the suspicion that they may be motivated by inappropriate pride and
desires for self-exaltation, along with excessive ambition and a desire for
much more authority in the Church than any one person should rightfully have."
To avoid the discomfort of the actual term Apostle, have we not arbitrarily
retired it and replaced it with the more sanitary title of missionary a term
not found in Scripture.[6]
Jeremiah 2:13 “for my people have committed two
evils: they have abandoned me, the fountain of living water, and dug themselves
broken cisterns that can hold no water.”
It is not hard to understand why
the church is so inconsistent. If we understand and accept the role of Pastor
and Teacher within the Body of The Messiyah, and we cannot imagine how the
Church could function without them, how much more critical is the office of the
Apostle. This state of affairs in the church has occurred for several reasons.
Certainly YAHVEH cannot be responsible for any confusion relative to this
subject, for I Corinthians 14: 33 states: "YAHVEH is not the author of confusion but of peace." In natural terms, the
individual and the corporate church, out of a sense of false humility, tends to
avoid considering the subject because the office is perceived as exalted, or
perhaps because the idea that apostles are for today has been traditionally
rejected, we have not seen the need for intensively evaluating this ministerial
gift.
Cessationist theologians have
long asserted that the office of Apostle died at the close of the first
century, and have persuaded the Body of The Messiyah to scrap this ministry and
its practice for today. Equally to blame may be the scant demonstration of this
ministry through church history, even among those who profess faith in its
existence.[7]
From
a spiritual perspective, the Church has fallen prey to demonic influence by
being disobedient; Moses was warned in the wilderness to build the Tabernacle YAH’S
way. The Five ministerial gifts is YAH’S way; any change to this YAHVEH given
way is mans way. It must be all of YAHVEH or nothing. Several truths are
essential in understanding the role of the apostle. We need to consider these
as foundational to clarify and to build our knowledge of them.
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