What is an Apostle?

We have all heard the term. You have heard of people claiming to be apostles. You have probably heard about the Apostolic Ministry and the Apostolic Office. You often read about it in magazines. But, what is it? Is there still such a thing as the apostle? Have they not all died out already? Wasn't Paul maybe the last of the apostles? Is it true that people today that are claiming to be apostles are genuine, or are they deceived?

If there are apostles, how would you recognize one? Just because, a guy stands up and says, "I'm an apostle. God has called me to be an apostle," and they put the word 'apostle' as a title in front of their names under their photograph when they advertise for the conferences and the seminars? And, is there a 'she' apostle, or is this only for guys? These are some of the questions that you may have asked.

My First Exposure to the Apostolic

One of the first exposures I ever had to somebody who claimed to be an apostle was a man who had started a church. He had started it all on his own and had a fairly unique approach. It became like his little denomination, although it were just one church. This man had a zeal for restoration of the fivefold ministry. He wanted to help people identify their ministries. It was a brand new move, a wonderful thing. He was a man who was used mightily by God in signs and wonders, and he set up prophets in his church and designated them as prophets. And he took for himself the title of apostle. You were not allowed to call him reverend or pastor. You had to call him by his title, apostle.

I had never met the man but I met some of the people who went to his church. I had relatives that were in his church, and they were awe-inspired. They hero worshipped him. They quoted everything that he said, almost verbatim. He seemed to be a mighty man of God. But there were signs of something that just did not look right.

On one occasion one of the prophets that he had appointed met him just before the meeting. He looked at him and said, "By the way, I thought I'd just let you know what I'm preaching on tonight, so that when you prophesy you can prophesy in line with my sermon, please."

This man, who was a genuine prophet of God, looked at him in disbelief and said, "I beg your pardon! I prophesy what the Spirit of God lays upon me to prophesy." And he rebuked that man, the so-called apostle. The apostle was quite unmoved and just rebuked him back.

Things began to go wrong in that church, and this so-called apostle had a heart attack and died. He had so built up the people in his church that some of them wanted to go and raise him back from the dead. And yet, the signs were there that there was something genuine, but it had gone wrong. It had gone beyond what God intended.

I am sure many of you have heard stories about so-called apostles, and people who exalted themselves and put themselves on a pedestal, and claimed to be apostles of God; who got into deception and led others astray. As a result of this we are afraid of this term, apostle. We are afraid when somebody has the audacity to stand up and say, "God's called me to be an apostle."

Then we have the opposite extreme

Here every Dick, Tom and Sheila out there is an apostle these days. It seemed to happen like that with the prophetic ministry too, didn't it? Prophets were few and far between, and now suddenly there comes this move where they are springing up everywhere. Prophets are a dime a dozen now. Now apostles seem to be springing up the same way.

What Apostles are Not

One of the churches that John spoke to in Revelation that he wrote to said, "I am pleased with you." I think it was the church at Ephesus. He said, "You have tested those who claim to be apostles and found them to be false." So there is the false as well, and we are going to be looking at all this in due course as we go through thi Apostolic Course. We will be looking at all these aspects so that you will know without a doubt what an apostle is supposed to be, and how you can recognize one.

Not a Super-Spiritual Giant

I want to begin by considering what an apostle is not, before we look at what an apostle is. An apostle is not a super-spiritual giant. The ministry office of apostle is a gift and a calling, not a spiritual attainment. There is certainly a price to pay for it and we will be looking at that. But you see, God calls by His grace and He chooses by His grace, by His sovereignty, and according to His foreknowledge. God chooses, calls and ordains the apostle.

An apostle is not somebody who has superior revelation, particularly when that revelation goes beyond the Word. I remember somebody telling me about this wonderful apostle (I could give you names for all these apostles, but I will not mention them).

There was a lady that I met at Bible School and she had gone overboard on this great apostle. I think he was overseas somewhere. He was a man who spent all day in the presence of the Lord, praying and seeking the Lord. Man, he was so close to God! And he would write to his churches, just like Paul did. He would write his letters, and the people would take his letters and they would read them, and they would build their doctrine on his letters.

He had built himself into a state of spirituality where he claimed to be 'clear' of certain things, which gave him the right to use bad language if he wanted to, and it was not a sin anymore. It gave him the right to indulge in sins of the flesh, and he was clear of that now because of his exalted state of spirituality. Therefore that was not sin to him, but it was maybe sin to others.

You can just smell the cultism there, can't you? You have heard of people like this. You have heard of people, cult leaders that have risen up and led people astray, claiming to be apostles of Christ. They have superior revelation.

"We don't dabble in the milk anymore, brother, we're in the meat!"

When you hear people starting to talk like that and claiming that they have this very special revelation, be careful.

Apostle Does Not Write New Scripture

The original apostles were uniquely gifted and called to complete the Canon of Scripture. As the prophets of the Old Testament wrote and their writings were recorded, they became part of the Canon of Holy Scripture that makes up our Holy Bible today. So we have the gospels, and the letters of Paul, and the letters of Peter and various apostolic men who were gifted and called by God to produce the final revelation in Scripture of what God needed to say to man, until eventually the Canon of Scripture was made complete. God had expressed over a long period of time, through men in the Old Testament and in the New Testament, and He had fully expressed everything that man needs; everything that we need as believers on which to base our spiritual lives.

Apostle is Not a Missionary

An apostle is not a missionary sent out by a Missionary Society to go into a foreign land where the gospel has never been preached before. Yes, that is an apostolic type of function, but to say that every missionary that has been sent forth is an apostle is not true. There have been apostolic ministries amongst them, but the two are not synonymous. So, if you have had this idea in your mind that in order for you to be an apostle you will have to be a missionary and go forth into another land, not necessarily. Missionaries are not sent forth in the way apostles are sent forth. They are sent forth by an organization.

Apostle Is not one who starts a new church

This seems to be a common teaching amongst many folks, that if you go out and start a brand new church from scratch, you can then be called the apostle of that church and claim that title. Because you started a new church, therefore you are an apostle.

What an Apostle Is

So what is an apostle then? That is a big question. It is going to take us quite a while to explain, but I am going to give you a few highlights here.

The Apostle is Sent

Firstly, an apostle is somebody who has been sent. That is what the Greek word 'apostolos' means - one who is sent. It relates to a a person who has been given a commission.

The Apostle is High Up in Ministry

An apostle is somebody who has more than one gift ministry. You cannot do what an apostle is called to do with just being an ordinary little pastor or evangelist. You will find that the apostle is somebody who has risen up through the ranks, and has performed most of the ministry offices of the fivefold ministry, before moving into the Apostolic Office. An apostle is somebody who has a mandate direct from the Lord Jesus Christ. He is sent forth, but he is sent forth uniquely by the Lord Himself. He is commissioned and given a very specific mandate, direct from the Lord.

The Apostle is a Spiritual Entrepreneur

An apostle is somebody who is able to lay a brand new foundation starting from scratch. An apostle is somebody who is able to set things in order. I think the best description, and one that the Lord dropped in my spirit, is that an apostle is a spiritual entrepreneur. What is an entrepreneur?

An entrepreneur is what most of us are not, because we all have to go and work for a boss. We all have to go and work for somebody who has already established a business and has things going, and everything is working already. We go and study and we prepare ourselves and qualify, and we go and offer our services for a fixed income to fit into that person's structure and plan. An entrepreneur is a person who is bubbling with new ideas and plans - a person who has a goal and a vision. He is a person who desires to go out where no man has gone before; a person who wants to go in and start things that nobody did before; to start something unique.

You read concerning the apostle Paul that he says, "I was determined not to build on another man's foundation."

"I'm going to lay my own foundation. I'm not going to fix up somebody else's building that got ruined and mucked up and that was built all wrong."

He had a vision burning in him. He had something strong burning in him. He had a clear goal, a clear mandate. That mandate was given to him as he was struck to the ground, as the light shone around him and the Lord Jesus spoke to him and said, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" We will look more at that as we go on.

Paul had a unique passion burning in him. He was a spiritual entrepreneur. And every man that God is raising up today to take the title and the role and Office of Apostle is somebody that has a cause. He is somebody that has a cause burning in them and somebody that has a goal, a vision, a clear mandate from the Lord to go out and do what perhaps nobody else is doing. He is a spiritual entrepreneur.

General Signs of Apostolic Calling

What are the signs of somebody who is called to be an apostle? I want to look at some general signs, then we will look at some specific signs.

Jesus Calls The Apostle

Firstly, they are called directly by Jesus Christ. In Luke 6:13 we read concerning the early apostles:

Luke 6:13 And when it was day, he called [to him] his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;

Jesus did not give an appeal and say, "I'm recruiting for apostles. Would all applicants please queue up at my house at 6:30 tomorrow morning, and I'll interview you." No, He had thousands who wanted that job. As a matter of fact, He spent the whole night in prayer. The next day He called all the disciples and they must have come running. And He looked at them. He called out twelve specific people, and He appointed them. He chose them, appointed them and called them apostles.

An apostle is always called directly by the Lord Jesus. An apostle is not called by an organization. He is not called by popular vote. An apostle is divinely called by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

Apostle is Separated for the Work

They are set apart specifically for their calling and for their work. Paul speaks about it in Romans 1:1 when he introduces his letter. He says:

Romans 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God.

Paul was separated unto the gospel of God, and he was set apart for one specific purpose in life. It was not his choice. It was chosen for him. He was set apart uniquely for a specific work to do. If God has called you to be an apostle, you have been set apart for a very specific work. You have been taken out, pulled away, taken from the midst of the masses as it were, and brought in for a special and unique purpose that God is going to fulfill in your life.

Apostle is A Servant

An apostle is called to serve. Oh dear, that is a disappointment! And here you thought that being called to be an apostle meant you were going to be the great name. You were going to be splashed on the billboards and people would know about you all over the world.

"The great apostle Les Crause is coming. We've got to get there!"

"Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ," then an apostle. That is how he announced himself. A servant is from the Greek work 'dulos'. It is a slave, not just a servant but a slave; one who belongs to his master. He is not just an ordinary slave, but a love slave, one who has willingly devoted himself for life to be at the disposal of his master, and to do whatever his master pleases.

Now do not get me wrong, the apostle is the highest ministry office. Paul says, "God has set some in the church: First apostles, secondarily Prophets, thirdly Teachers ..." The apostle is the highest ministry office of all and the most revered ministry office of all. The apostle is the one who God places the most trust and confidence in. But there is a price to pay. And as high as God is going to exalt you, so low you will have to be prepared to be and to go in your heart and in your attitude, before God can use you.

I have not even gone into the apostolic preparation yet. Do you think you guys have it bad in the prophetic preparation? That was a walk in the park! But I am not covering that in this chapter. We will deal with that in the Apostolic Course.

Apostle Receives Early Call

Apostles are called from the womb. An apostle is somebody that God has set His hand on from the beginning. Paul said that God separated him from his mother's womb. In Galatians 1:15 he says:

Galatians 1:15 But when it pleased God, who set me apart from my mother's womb, and called [me] by his grace,

16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the gentiles.

Because you have been called from the womb as an apostle, your whole life has been a preparation. As an apostle, your preparation began when the seed met the egg. When the sperm and egg joined together in your mother's womb the calling was there already. God knew you. When Jesus hung on the cross He looked down, He saw you, and He knew you. And He ordained you, and you were set apart unto the gospel of God, unto the call of God. You were chosen, and you were called, and you were given a mandate.

Apostle is Trained in Secret

Galatians 1:15 But when it pleased God, who set me apart from my mother's womb, and called [me] by his grace,

16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the gentiles; I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood:

17 Neither did I go up to Jerusalem to the apostles [that were] above me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

Paul had been called to be an apostle. Jesus had spoken to him. When the Lord spoke to Ananias, he was scared. The Lord told him to go down to the street called Straight to go and minister to this man who had persecuted and killed Christians, who had been blinded and was sitting praying. He said, "Lord, I've heard about this guy. He's a killer. Are you sure? Am I hearing you right? Is this my imagination? Please tell me I'm wrong."

The poor guy. He was just an ordinary little believer, and the Lord told him to go and confront this great big man who has a reputation this long. The Lord spoke to Ananias and said, "Don't worry about it. I've chosen him, and I've told him how much he's going to suffer for me." Oh, what a wonderful call!

"Well, Saul, I've called you to be an apostle, and this is what I'm calling you to do - suffer! Saul, you're going to appear before kings and governors. Saul, you're going to appear before people in the highest places. But, Saul, you're going to suffer for My name's sake. So don't mix these two up. You're going to be big, Saul. Your name's going to be known. You're going to be famous. People are going to be preaching on you way down in 2008, Saul. They're going to be using the stuff you wrote. But Saul, it's going to cost you. It's going to cost you, bro'. I'm warning you before you start this thing. I'm warning you how much you're going to have to suffer for My name's sake."

Apostle has Much Opposition

Do you still want to be an apostle? I have bad news for you if you are called to be an apostle. It was not your choice. God separated you from your mother's womb, and He prepared you and brought you to such a time as this. And if you are reading this chapter of the book, and the Spirit of God is beginning to move on you and you know that I am talking about you; you know that God has placed that call on you; get ready for it. God has got something unique for you. He has something special for you. He is going to lift you up in the sight of the world. But you have already paid the price. You have already paid a lot of it. And you are going to continue to pay the price, because as much blessing as you will receive, you will receive as much opposition. Get ready for it, apostle of God.

The apostles are hated by the enemy, and he will try to destroy them. He will do his best to destroy you. In Acts 14:19 we read concerning how Paul and Barnabus wen

Acts 14:19 And there came there [certain] Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people...

These people, just a couple of days before, were so impressed with Paul and Barnabus when they began to move in the Spirit; when signs and wonders began to take place at their hands. They became so impressed with them that they were convinced that they were gods that had come down from heaven. The Greeks were always worshipping their gods and so they figured Barnabus must be the good-looking one because he was tall. I forget the names that they gave to them, but they said that Barnabus was one god, and Paul was the other.

If you look at the gods that they chose, the god they chose for Barnabus was the tall good-looking guy. And the one they chose for Paul was the little runt who did all the talking. He was the big god's spokesman. That gives you an idea of what Paul looked like. He was an ugly little bald-headed guy with a hook nose, so tradition says (hey, there is hope for me) and he talked a lot!

These same people, who wanted to come and worship and offer sacrifices to these men as gods, just a few days later got stirred up. And it says:

Acts 14:19 ...and, having stoned Paul, drew [him] out of the city, supposing he had been dead.

Now they wanted to kill him. Do you want to be an apostle? You are going to be worshipped, and you are going to be crucified. You are going to be lifted up, and you are going to get kicked in the teeth. You will get them both. It is par for the course. Satan hates you. And every time you begin to rise up and God begins to use you, and people begin to know about you, Satan is going to stir up people against you. Satan will try and destroy you and he will try and kill you.

Specific Signs of Calling

These are some of the general signs of the apostolic calling. There are some specific signs as well. I am going to mention them briefly, and then we are going to end with a very detailed breakdown from the lives of three Bible types of an apostle. Then you will understand all the signs of the apostolic calling...

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