Modern-Day Apostles

The New Testament should be our model

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Apostles provide vision for Kingdom expansion. Perhaps the most dramatic advantage of apostolic leadership is the vision that they infuse into the church to expand. Apostles live to pioneer new works. As pioneers, they communicate a holy dissatisfaction with current accomplishments and desire to initiate new assignments from the Lord. Paul willingly went into unknown territory to bring the gospel and establish churches. The influence of an apostle brings emphasis on empowering the saints and releasing them into the harvest.

Creating a strong foundation

Apostles are also builders. Because they want to build well, they often focus on creating a strong foundation. They want churches and ministries to last. For this reason, in spite of being so passionate about expansion, apostles lay strong doctrinal foundations. For example, Barnabas and Paul spent their first year at Antioch teaching, laying a spiritual foundation in the believers (Acts 11:25-26). The teaching that took place throughout that year became the foundation which allowed the church in Antioch to become one of the greatest church-planting centers of all time.

The early church had a strong presence of apostolic leadership. It was because of the apostolic influence that the church grew and filled the whole Mediterranean region with churches. The apostolic model was the only model the early church knew. If we start from the premise that the church was led by apostles in the New Testament, it is easier to see the activity of apostles.

What does “apostle” mean?

The word apostle has been a part of the church since the time of Jesus’ ministry. “So Jesus said to them: ‘Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’ And when He said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’” (John 20:21, 22). Jesus compared the sending of the apostles to His being sent by the Father. He then breathed on them that they might receive the Holy Spirit—an apostolic Spirit. The apostles were sent into territories of the earth to convert multitudes of people and incorporate them into the Kingdom of God. They were given power and authority to accomplish the task. They were empowered to teach, train, and instruct new believers and make them productive citizens of the Kingdom.

The Greek word used here for “sent” is apostello. This is a military term. Definitions of the word “apostle” relating to a military context: “of the sending of a fleet” and “of consuls with an army, an expedition.” Jesus and New Testament authors were living under the Roman Empire. Their choice of words reflected the backdrop of their reality. When Paul said Jesus was “the apostle we confess” in Hebrews 3:1, he saw beyond the religious context to draw from the culture of the day. Speaking of being an apostle gives a picture of a whole fleet leaving Rome to conquer foreign lands.

For example, when Alexander the Great sent out a naval task force to accomplish a mission on his behalf, the task force was called an apostolic mission. The commander of that task force was called an apostle. The commission was to conquer and govern in the name of the king.

An apostle by the definition of the term is a “sent one.” We see in Matthew 9:35; 10:2; Luke 9:1; 10:1 for references to apostles in the New Testament church.

Prayer and spiritual warfare

Apostles bring authority and depth in prayer. Paul’s ability to address the spiritual realms is documented in the book of Acts. We see evidence of this in Acts 19:6, Acts 16:25-34, and Acts 14:8-10. In Ephesians, we see Paul training the church of Ephesus in spiritual warfare. Apostolic leadership carries with it a proven ability to take authority in the spiritual realm through the Holy Spirit. This brings a deep impartation to those who are being trained in supernatural living.

Modern-day apostles

There are more apostles in the New Testament than the original twelve apostles who were chosen by Jesus to walk with Him for three years. This is important to recognize because some parts of Christianity hold to the theology that says there are no apostles today. They would believe that only the original twelve are authentic, which allows no room for modern-day apostles. We will see that this is unscriptural.

The New Testament should be our model. First, we see Matthias appointed to replace Judas in Acts 1:23-26. Although we never hear more about him in Scripture, we know from history that he was martyred in Colchis for preaching the gospel. Paul is recognized as an apostle by his actions in the New Testament, confirmed by Acts 14:14 which specifically refers to Barnabas and Paul as apostles. “But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this…” Notably, another apostle is named here: Barnabas.

Silas is named as an apostle in Thessalonians. 1 Thessalonians 1:1 states that the book was written by Paul, Silas, and Timothy. Later we find the phrase “even though as apostles” (1 Thessalonians 2:6), referring to the writers themselves. The Bible here identifies Timothy as an apostle.

James is also named an apostle in Galatians 1:19 when Paul states, “I saw none of the other apostles—only James.” Paul, writing to the Corinthians, mentions himself and Apollos together and then says, “God has put us apostles on display,” referring to both of them. In Romans 16:7 Andronicus and Junia are named as “outstanding” apostles by Paul.

Apostolic networks

The first apostolic network was established in Antioch. It seems that Antioch was the first sending base of its kind. The Holy Spirit chose Antioch to ignite a new phase of apostolic influence in the early church. In the book of Acts, the Holy Spirit intervened in a sovereign way to shift the course of the church forever. It was from Antioch that Paul and Barnabas were sent by the Holy Spirit on an apostolic mission. After Paul and Barnabas completed their work, they returned to their sending base in Antioch and gathered the church together to report on all that God had done through them (Acts 14:27).

Apostles focus on training leaders

One way that I know I have a met an apostle is to find out that they are training leaders. When I talk on the phone monthly with an apostolic leader from Asia, I hear him talking about training leaders. He has started a training school, and the new Christians are encouraged to consider attending two years of schooling and then be sent as missionary church planters to a village in the rural part of the nation. He intrinsically knows that leadership training is the key to growth.

Spiritual children who are raised up by apostles become leaders. Paul fathered Timothy and many other believers who became leaders in the church (1 Timothy 1:2). Apostolic leaders produce new leaders and remain connected to them in missional relationships. One of the great apostolic scenes of the Bible is Paul’s final fatherly meeting with the elders of Ephesus.

Apostolic teams

Whenever someone wants to launch an invasion on a given territory or nation, the first thing they do is gather the team or troops needed for the operation. Depending on the task ahead, this team will vary in composition and size, but there is no hope of success without a team. It has been said if you want to go fast then go alone, but if you want to go far then take a team with you.

In choosing the disciples for training, Jesus wanted to establish both a relational base that would be a prototype for future apostolic ministries and a missional unit capable of carrying out the mandate to establish the Kingdom of God on earth. Mark 3:14-15 indicates that Jesus appointed the twelve that they might “be with him [a relational base] and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons [a missional base].”

Paul very rarely worked by himself and most the time we see him with companions. On his first trip he left with Barnabas. Then on his second trip he started with Silas and soon added Timothy. Acts 16:1-3 indicates that sometime after that Luke joined his team. How do we know this? In verse ten the author of the book suddenly includes himself in the story by using “we.”

Later we see Paul traveling to Ephesus with a team of Priscilla and Aquilla. Neither Priscilla nor Aquila were called apostles in the Bible. He leaves them in Ephesus and they soon add Apollos to their apostolic team. Apollos was called an apostle. We see that forming apostolic teams with a diversity of well-developed leadership gifts was the preferred model as the early church grew.

Apostolic teams, or teams of apostles?

Jesus’ team included more than those whose primary gift was that of apostle. Luke 8:1 indicates the twelve apostles traveled with Jesus from town to town, but the next two verses show us that there were also quite a few women with the team, supporting Jesus out of their own means. For this reason, it is more accurate to talk about an apostolic team surrounding Jesus rather than a team of apostles. Apostles don’t work alone; they usually surround themselves with apostolic teams. This understanding also fits very well for the teams that Paul developed in his ministry.

The composition of the apostolic teams included a variety of gifts. Paul was the main leader, but there were also other apostles like Timothy and Titus. And many others whose roles were not clearly defined. But we see enough variation to conclude an apostolic team is a multi-gifted company of people surrounding the apostle on an apostolic mission.

On his second apostolic trip, Paul spent three whole years in Ephesus. He started training leaders in his church-planting school in the lecture hall of Tyrannous, and the gospel reached all of Asia. An area with an estimated population of two million people was reached in two years. Churches were planted in Ephesus and Asia Minor, including the seven churches mentioned in the beginning of the book of Revelation. He left the church elders to finish the job, giving them his final leadership instructions at Meletus.

Paul’s last trip ended in AD 57, and his letter to Ephesus was written five years later in AD 62. About one-third of the way into the letter, Paul explains that the household of God has its foundations on apostles and prophets with Jesus as the chief cornerstone.

Two-thirds of the way through his letter to Ephesus, Paul introduces the fivefold ministry. Jesus had spoken about apostles. Teachers, prophets, and evangelists are also mentioned previously in the Bible. But the passage in Ephesians 4 is the first and only time Paul ties these gifts together with that of a pastor and declares that the five of them work together in an equipping role. Ephesians 2:20

Apostles raise up the fivefold ministry

Apostles are driven to train leaders and equip believers to advance the Kingdom of God. They see the significant potential in the equipping of others. It makes perfect sense, then, that they want to raise up other apostles, prophets, teachers, evangelists, and pastors (Ephesians 4:11-12). Their passion is to train the saints for ministry. Paul saw the potential that could be released when all the saints are equipped to minister. He was always given to training. He told Timothy to train others who could in turn train others (2 Timothy 2:2). Apostles and prophets will need to work together (along with those with other ministry gifts) to fulfill the Great Commission. Apostles and prophets have a unique ability to penetrate. They carry an authority and power in the Spirit to break through.

Apostles are pioneers with fresh strategies

We have all benefited from pioneers. Apostles are pioneers with fresh strategies. They do not mind taking risks and possible failure if there is the reward of seeing God’s Kingdom grow. This is in contrast to the general church population, who is more interested in not taking risks. Generally, they (we) value security and safety. But apostles will always push for expansion.

Apostles have faith for money

Because apostles are pioneers, they have a high tolerance for risk, and many times this means taking on financial risks. New Kingdom initiatives need to be funded, and apostles seem to have a parallel faith for the money needed to finance the vision.  

The ministry of apostles is marked by the following.

• They have spiritual sons and release them.
• They walk in the supernatural with great perseverance and humility. (1 Cor. 12:12)
• They teach and establish with authority.
• Apostles will preach aggressively a new truth instead of an old legalism.
• They have grace to plant and oversee churches.
• New people are brought into the kingdom as a result of their ministry.
• People, especially leaders, voluntarily follow them.
• They have the ability to impart and stir spiritual gifts in others.
• New leaders are trained, equipped, and released because of their ministry.
• They have the ability to inspire people and articulate vision.
• They are pioneers who continually look for creative ways to expand the Kingdom.
• They establish biblical order in the church with teaching and authority.
• They have the push to bring things to completion.
• They bring a stabilizing factor to the churches with their authority.
• Apostolic authority helps to prevent church splits.
• They bring churches together in unity to displace foes and strongholds of the enemy.
• They lead the church into aggressive spiritual warfare to penetrate the devil’s domain.
• They establish new beachheads for God.
• They have a heart for discipling the nations according to the command of Jesus.
• They usually do not waste time with doctrinal disagreements.
• They can bring realistic assessment and confrontation when needed.
• They understand the need for both maintainers and extenders in the kingdom of God.
• They identify and develop the fivefold ministries in others.
• They are recognized as having the authority to set doctrine.
• They are reformers, calling the church to the standard of God.
• They bring correction when people get off track.

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