 Welcome back everyone. We are talking about the Apostolic Ministry and we will continue from where we stopped. We said that in the early church, the apostles had a certain function and we talked about each one of those. We listed out teaching, we listed out signs, wonders and miracles, church administration, church government, preaching, leadership authority. They were the targets of persecution. They strengthened the local church and they also expanded into new territories. So this is how these apostles led the early church as we go further. Beyond the apostles of the land, we have other apostles such as Paul. Paul we know is one of the founding apostles later or actually before Paul is Barnabas. Barnabas who is a Levite, a godly man, generous man, encouraging personality. He is also in leadership and he is the one who is actually instrumental in bringing Paul into the picture. So Barnabas is one of the apostles. There are names of others mentioned and they are termed as apostles. That is why we are listing them out here and the scripture references are given in the notes. You have Andronicus, Junior, Silas of Silvanus, Timothy, Titus, James, the Lord's brother are some of the other names of apostles. In case you are wondering, apart from the 12 apostles, who are other apostles? So these are the people who are called as apostles also. Now why are they called? Maybe the features that we enlisted just now. They carry some of those features and that is what, multiple features and because of that it marks them as apostles. So let us continue to discuss these characteristics. We have understood the characteristics from the apostles of the Lamb. Now what are these characteristics? As we look at Paul's life also, we will include Paul's life and the lives of other apostles in the Bible. So what are the features of the apostolic ministry? Now as I started off saying, we cannot have a fixed formula. Because if you look at the life of Paul and if you look at the, let's say the life of Timothy, according to us, we categorize them differently. But when the Bible points out that even Timothy in a couple of places, 1 Thessalonians 1-1 versus 2 Thessalonians 2-6, he is referred to as an apostle. So then you wonder, okay, Timothy did not work the way Paul did, but he still called as an apostle. So there's no formula or a fixed method with which we can look at someone and identify them. We'll have to take it case by case and look at the features and be led by the Spirit of God to actually term them as an apostle. So what are these features? What are some of the traits of this ministry gift of the apostolic? The operation of this gift is such that we see that those who are called as apostles are generally called to a specific work. Or we might even say specific people. When we look at Apostle Paul, we know that he was called to the Gentiles. Primarily that was what was he not preaching to the Jews he was, but ultimately a lot of his work was for the Gentiles. Now, if you consider Peter and Paul states this in what he's saying, he states in one of the scriptures that Peter was for the circumcised or he was saying that Peter's primary ministry was to the Jews. So you notice the apostolic generally a call to a work or a call to a people group. Now, not always is it a people group, but it can be a work, a certain kind of work that God wants us to do. So that's how we would understand it. Now I know that many of us have that understanding apostolic. Oh, I am called to Africa. I'm called to South America. So a region, we go by the region, we go by the people, I'm called to the Indians, I'm called to the Australians, something like that. But in today's understanding, we'll see later, it's not so much just that we could even look at the apostolic as called to the field of media or called to business. Okay, I'll come to that later. And that's what we have to understand. Call to a specific work and could be a specific people also, but not necessarily. So that is one feature as we look at the apostles in the Bible. Now, going forward, they have a distinct work in establishing the local churches. When we see what Paul writes in 1 Corinthians chapter 3, you know, he states that he was the one who actually laid the foundation of that church. But later on, he says he talks about Apollos. Apollos came and he watered. So he did the groundwork. Apollos came and he did the little more building, strengthening the church sort of a work. So even there, there is an understanding of what kind of work usually God gives to an apostle. You might find that an apostle lays the foundation, moves on, lays the next foundation, moves on, lays the next foundation, moves on, moves on, moves on. So it depends on what God is called that person to do. So that might be the nature of their apostolic work. So even the distinct work that God gives to that individual and in this case, Paul's case, it was establishing and building up local churches. The other feature is stepping into open doors. Now we know as we look at the life of Apostle Paul, he was praying, he was seeking God for open doors. So once he and Barnabas were set apart for the ministry to which God called them, the missionary journey started. So how did the missionary journeys actually take place? Paul was waiting on the Lord for guidance. Let's go. This is an open door. This territory is open. And you remember the Macedonian call. He wanted to enter Asia but ultimately he had a vision and a man from Macedonia was calling him. So open doors, they had open doors to the unreached and so he went in those areas. And what did he do? Actually stepping into those open doors caused the opening up of territories for the gospel. So then the gospel went into Macedonia and that entire region, you have all those cities of Philippi, Neapolis. So over there and all he, Apollonia, all those places, he was able to share the gospel. He was able to do the work, the powerful work of God over there that he moved on. So from there he moved on. You have he went to the Akaya region, he went to the Galatia region. So new territories where he actually established the work of God. And similarly even today, we'll come to it later but I'm just giving you a picture. So it need not be physical territories. It could be some, you know, like as I took the example of media, something new in the field of media, new territories to conquer, new things to pioneer. So God can use it. This is how the Apostolic ministry works. Apostolic grace on a person's life will cause these things to happen. Then we already said that the power gifts of God are functioning. So whenever we talk about calling, right, in the supernatural, keys to the supernatural, we studied that the grace of God, the grace and the gift of God, we must recognize that. Because when God calls us for something, he will empower us. There will be grace. There will be gifts that are company. Even the power gifts of God, that is the gifts of the Holy Spirit will accompany. And we know from the lives of these apostles, wonderful miracles were done, mighty miracles were done through their lives. And similarly today, when the Apostolic is moving into new regions, trying to establish the work, we will find some amazing supernatural things take place because of the grace and the gifts of God which have been given and which are part of that calling. Now moving along, revelatory gifts of the Spirit. So under the revelatory gift, what comes there, we can have a deeper understanding of the Word of God and not just that the operation of the gifts of the Spirit and the revelatory gifts there where God releases prophetic words or discerning of what needs to be done and Word of Wisdom, Word of Knowledge, revelation that God provides supernaturally to these people in order for them to do the work. So as I told us, even Macedonian call, now Paul is wondering, where do I go? What do I do? But God is working through revelation, helping him understand. And this equipping of the revelatory gifts is not just for direction, but also regarding the Word of God. I already said that we cannot get back into founding the Scriptures because it's already done. It's been established for us. But can the Scriptures have deeper understanding without changing the integrity of the Word of God? Yes, it's possible. As we go forward with God and in the moves of God, see for example, the baptism in the Holy Spirit, it was always there in the Bible. But something happened in the 1900s that people began to understand the baptism in the Holy Spirit, the gifts of the Holy Spirit at another level. So that's what I'm talking about. Through the apostolic, the revelation of certain truths can just come alive. We term it present truth. It doesn't mean the Bible has changed or the Scriptures have changed. No, we cannot do that. That would be an error. But with the integrity of Scripture, as the Holy Spirit breeds on us, as the move of God is upon us, there is a deeper understanding or an understanding at another level and God generally does that. So apostles are the ones who usually lead the way when it comes to such revelation. So that also is part of the apostolic ministry. So far, what did we see? We're called to specific work, specific people. They have a distinct work of establishing or building. There are open doors and they open up new territories for the Gospel. They're equipped with power gifts. They are the ones who have revelatory gifts. And let's move on. A few more features here. They establish strong leadership. They are equipped with strong leadership and administrative capacities. Why is this? Governments, apostolic has to do with governments. Let's quickly read 1 Corinthians chapter 12 and verse 28. Can somebody please turn to that? 1 Corinthians chapter 12 verse 28. Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church. First are our causes, second are prophets, third are teachers. Then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages. Over here, we see that God has appointed these in the church. First are apostles, second prophets and then it goes on. We'll understand the meaning of it. It's not a gradation of the ministry gifts, but it's more like generally the apostle is the one who makes the way. So that's why we have the apostle listed there first and then the rest of the gifts follow over there. So when we look at this, we recognize that why does God appoint in this way? They kind of come first because they are stepping into the open door. They have the mindset that yes, this can be done or they are pioneers. That word pioneer best describes somebody who's an apostle. They think of new ways of taking the gospel out. So, for example, again, coming to today's terminology, how about doing something in technology for the gospel? Now, ordinarily, we may not think that we will maximize technology, but the apostolic things like that, why not go into new territory? Why not use technology? Why not do this? So they have strong, how do you say, they pioneer, but to actually make it happen in a proper way, they also carry governmental and administrative capabilities. So that's how they're able to steer, they're able to pilot or direct the work of God. So governments is the word Kuber and that means steer and they are able to steer things forward and that's how they are. So generally, when we talk about apostle or you look at any apostle, you might think that strong personality, very determined, very clear, very, you could say, like a possibility thinker, visionary. So that kind of picture comes to our mind because they are capable of heading in a new direction and they carry the ability to lead people, they carry the ability to provide administrative support to the people who are following. Okay, so that is a feature of the apostolic governmental authority over churches. So in the Bible, when we look at the churches that were established, as I already said, Apostle James, he was the one who was heading up the Jerusalem Council when certain decisions were made in Acts chapter 15. But even otherwise, as you read the writings of Paul, he was instructing the churches. He had governmental authority over the churches, he was telling them, hey, this is right, this is wrong, do like this, don't do like that. You know, I'm pleased that you're doing like this, but I'm so sad that you're not honouring the Lord. So what is he doing? He's guiding, right? He's guiding. He's helping them stay aligned to the purpose of God. So appointing leaders, writing letters. Why do they write letters? They have established churches, people are born again. That's wonderful. Let's move on. No, you don't see that in the early church. They established churches, but even when Paul has gone far away, he is, you know, a couple of years ahead. What does he do? He's still thinking, oh, what happened to the church in Philippi? What happened to the church over here? What happened to the church? I heard that there's a church in Rome. He's never even been to the church in Rome, but he writes to them, to tell them, you know, these are the things about grace, these are the things about law, teaching them the truth, guiding them, having that governmental authority to instruct them, right? Because he carries a responsibility of establishing the churches in the right kind of, if you will, blueprint. We've done that in the house of God course, where we understand what the church is supposed to be. And an apostle carries that responsibility to ensure that the churches are aligned to the word of God, aligned to the doctrine. When things go right, wow. When things don't go right, sometimes they can be quite firm in, you know, instructing them and correcting them as well. Of course, in a loving way, which is how Paul actually guides us. So these are all things that they do as far as the government, exercising governmental authority over the church is concerned. Okay, and there are a lot of scriptures here. I would suggest that you go back and read them up. So even here, the scriptures mention appointing local leadership, there are scriptures establishing divine order in the church. You know, how should you take communion? What is the right way of taking communion? He gave them instructions, clear instructions, then bringing correction. He did that even from a distance sometimes. He had to tell them, oh Corinthians, you are so good in the gifts of the spirit, but you're also carnal. Okay, come on. This is how you should be. This is how you should operate in the gifts of the spirit. So he brought correction. He had responsibility to care for the churches as well. So, you know, we see how he wrote in a caring way to the people. There were also collections being taken to take to churches that were afflicted. So a lot is needed to be done as somebody who carries governmental authority and the apostles actually did it. Now, what are some of the other things that they did? So you notice there's so much that they're doing. So when you think of the apostolic, the picture we get is very strong, very decisive, having a direction, then establishing things as per the word of God. Okay, pioneering, they're moving in new territory and then establishing the kingdom, good administrative capacity. So it's a really powerful calling that God calls people into. Now, along with all this, there are those other features of they are able to teach, preach, because when you look at people like Peter, John, James, Paul, they were good teachers. They taught, they instructed, they strengthened the churches. They also, like when you look at Apostle Paul, he prayed for the churches. So these are all other accompanying things they teach, they pray, right? They really care for the church enough to actually pray for the churches. Not that I established the church in Philippi, now let me move on. I have another, you know, I have a list of churches under my name. That's not good enough, but they really, really pray. They want to see those churches having that, that, you know, character of Jesus. So hard work to ensure that the churches are built the right way. That is the apostolic calling. What else do they do? They are interested in imparting and activating spiritual gifts. We see Paul writing to the Roman church and he says, you know, I really look forward that I may come to you that I may impart the gift, right? That I may impart gifts to you. And that is the heart of Paul, where he wants them to go to the next level in the operation of the spiritual gifts. Okay. So they desire to strengthen the church in all these ways. Then they are involved in taking gospel out to the lost people, proclaiming the gospel that we've already seen. So under the apostolic, you would see that sometimes in people who carry this kind of a calling, they make big decisions. How do I reach the nation in a short period of time? Okay, I come up with this. Of course, being led by God, but they are very bold, very radical. Radical is the word that they want to reach, isn't it? They're willing to go the extra mile. They're willing to travel. They're willing to take risks. So this is how it comes across. So the apostolic calling has this image of if you, I don't know how to say it, but then when you have, let's say a forest area, okay? And that forest area has to be cleared up for a building to be built there. Then you know how you have machines, powerful machines which are used to cut down to be tall trees. And they're just breaking into the forest. That's the picture you get of the apostolic ministry, entering new territory. Even if people say you can't do it, the spirit they carry is, yeah, I can do it. God is telling me to do it. I'll go very bold, okay? So that's the picture of the apostolic calling and the apostolic ministry. And of course, this is the ultimate way in which it looks, but we can have expressions of it. You can even have a very mellow and calm person as an apostle as well. It's not about the personality. It's about the grace that they carry to do things for the kingdom of God, the way they can extend the kingdom, establish people of God in the word of God, in the things of God, so on and so forth. But the spiritual sense, it's the picture we should have, we say apostolic is pioneer, okay? Pioneer, taking new territories, establishing kingdom values. So that's the picture that we should have in our minds. So what else do we see? Some of the other features of apostles, they were able to work with other apostles. So notice how Paul always lists out, oh, I want to thank so and so, I want to thank, you know, this apostle or that leader. So in the early church, these apostles were not like the sole leaders. Somewhere we get this picture that everyone was going behind Paul and Paul is the ultimate, there's nobody else. Not true. And we see they were working with others also. There were not just other apostles that Paul was associated with, but there were, you know, elders in the church. So they're all these positions of leadership. So it's more like a teamwork. Yeah, the calling is a strong calling. But how do you think you can establish a work unless you know how to relate with a whole set of people, a whole bunch of people. So that is something that we see in scripture. So today in our times, somewhere we have this understanding, oh, the apostle is a very strong personality. They will lead everything on their own. It won't work. And that's not the example we get in the Bible. So apostles, they related with other apostles. You see, even when that circumcision issue happened, Paul, he took it to the Jerusalem. He took it to Jerusalem apostles. Those apostles also did not decide on their own. They said, okay, let's have a council. So other leaders, elders were also there in that team. So there was a huge team of leaders who sat and discussed. Then as the Holy Spirit, if you read that passage, you see that they made a decision as the Holy, please the Holy Spirit and it pleased everyone. So with consensus, they made decisions. So there was an incredible teamwork, which also happened. Right. So apostles calling is not like a standalone calling. Now, moving on apostles, they were the target of persecution that we have said. And especially for the apostle, there were challenges. Like if you look at the journey of Paul, even in Corinth, there was a time when he only became very afraid because of the kind of opposition that was rising up. And you know, people, the mobs were rising up against him. And at that time you read that God came to him and said, don't be afraid. You know, I have others here. So God only had to encourage him. So being an apostle and you know, pioneering things without always be easy. So there are what we call as the tough things of apostleship where it can get very hard at some points. But what gives the grace, right? But these apostles need to have that ability to depend on God in these difficult times where maybe we're not able to penetrate into a territory or God there. And then there are other challenges or there's persecution. People are rising up against us, whatever it is to be able to bear all that and still keep the work going. There we talk about the sufferings of apostleship. One needs to have that ability to not give up. Yeah. And generally apostles, as we see in the Bible, they became mentors. They became, you can use the term fathers to many others. So when you read about Apostle Paul. You also read about the Timothy and the Titus and all those other names come along. Why? They invested in others. They groomed other leaders, younger leaders. They gained confidence in the work of the ministry and that way, what happened? People could follow their example and continue the work of God. So they left, they instructed those who were rising up well. You see Timothy, Second Timothy, beautifully Paul enlist so many things which are required for Timothy to prepare him. So how is he acting? What is the role that he's taking up as a spiritual father? And he also says, you know, Timothy is like a son to me. So in that manner, in the spiritual sense, the apostles raise up many leaders. Okay, sons and daughters, if you want to call them. So that also is part of the apostolic calling. So just want to pause here. Any clarity coming through where you're able to get a picture? What is this apostolic ministry? How long is it going to take to complete apostolic ministry? I hope it's forming a picture in your mind. Is it okay? Okay, thank you. How about the others? I just feel like they do everything. Yeah, you could say so. Yeah, the apostolic is like that. It's a very pioneering role, pioneering, powerful. Okay, come on, let's go ahead. So now that we have talked about the apostolic and the apostle, you know, it feels like this very grand personality or a person that God is using to extend his kingdom. But like every other calling in the Word of God, nobody arrives, you know, right after they are born into the kingdom. We know that God is a God who takes everyone through preparation. And we've said this, the greater the calling, the greater the preparation. Okay, God takes us all through preparation. But especially when it comes to, let's say, people who are in the offices. God puts them through a lot of preparation because for the anointing of the lot to be poured out, you need, for the new wine to be poured out, you need the new wine skin. And for the forming of the new wine skin, or new wine skin is what it's godly character. It takes a while. It takes, you know, the decisions of that person to align themselves to what God is doing in their lives. So God has to work so much in that person to first prepare the person. And when the person is prepared, then they can carry the calling, they can carry the anointing, they can serve the Lord. Okay, so that's how God usually works. So when it comes to the forming of an apostle or the shaping up of an apostle, it doesn't happen overnight. God puts them, at least from what we learn in the Bible, there is a good training that the individual has to go through. So if you look at the life of Apostle Paul, this again, all of you probably have done it in fulfilling God's purpose for your life book. Paul had a long journey. And this journey can be categorized as far as the apostolic is concerned as the commissioning. So in Acts chapter 9, when he encounters God, at that point came the commissioning. Maybe even he didn't have an idea, and we see how God speaks to Ananias and he says, Oh, this man, I'm going to use him like this. So God gives that revelation to Ananias. And ultimately, you know, Paul understands, he understands the calling, the commissioning. God is calling him to do something. So it starts with the commissioning, but that's not the end of the story. Then the grace of God has to increase on that person's life, that particular calling. So the apostolic grace increased over Paul's life. Now, in that period of the apostolic grace increasing, we will see that all his ministry was not public. A lot of what he did was, you know, in an obscure kind of a setting where people didn't give him much importance. But ultimately, it was Barnabas who went, he brought him and then we see the apostolic ministry begin to emerge right through Paul's life. And so he starts doing things. He starts going to different places and he starts preaching and the supernatural works of God take place. He establishes churches. He instructs churches and keeps moving to new territory and engages in the doctrine, writes the epistles. So much work is done. That's when we are able to recognize, oh, look at what is coming out of his life and his ministry. This person must be an apostle. So that's how the journey of the life of an apostle is. You start with commissioning, but to reach that position or calling or the fullness of that calling to be an apostle, it took years of journey with God and working with that grace of God upon his life to be able to do what God called him to do. So these are the sections. Apostolic commissioning, apostolic grace, apostolic ministry and finally the apostle. Now, I've told you the different sections, but I'm just going to sum up the journey of Paul. We know that he probably encountered the Lord Jesus at the age of 33 or around thereabouts in Damascus and later it took several years of equipping before he came into the apostolic ministry. So what happened right after that? He received this commission. Initially, for about three years, he was in the regions of Damascus and Arabia. He wanted to do ministry. We are quite clear on that when we read about him, but people were not willing to accept him because he was a persecutor turned a proclamer of the gospel. So then people were very suspicious of this individual known as Paul. So for three years, he just spent time in Damascus and Arabia because he was not accepted by the people even though he wanted to talk about Jesus and what Jesus did in his life. And after this, we are told that he visited Jerusalem for 15 days and even there it was not a very friendly environment for him. People wanted to kill him. So then he moves on to Tarsus. That's where he stays for a while and a very long while. 13 years is what is estimated for Paul's time in the region of Tarsus, Syria and Silesia. So notice how he was commissioned but three years in Damascus, Arabia, 13 years in Tarsus, Syria, Silesia, 16 years already. Now Paul may have thought, what is happening? Why am I not an apostle yet? Why am I not able to lead churches? Why are people not accepting me? But there's a preparation which he is going through. Now it's towards the end of these 13 years in that Tarsus, Syria, Silesia region that Barnabas comes and takes him to Antioch, one of thriving churches. And there one year Paul spends teaching the word of God. Then what happens? Then is when you have at the end of 17 years, 17 years where God that acts after 13 happens, when they are ministering to the Lord as a leadership team in the church of Antioch where God says, ok, set apart for me Paul and Barnabas for the ministry to which I have, call them. So that is the beginning of the actual apostolic ministry of Paul. Up until that time, what did Paul do? How many churches did he establish? What did he teach? We actually don't have an idea. We are in the biblical texts. So many theologians, they term the 17 years of Paul's life as the silent years, silent years. So from the time of the calling, ultimately after 17 years is when Paul is taking up the first missionary journey with Barnabas. So it's taking that much time. Now is it going to take that much time for every apostle? No, only God knows individuals. He knows the timelines. He knows the kind of preparation they need to go through because he knows the kind of work that they have to handle. But here's the point. For any calling, God doesn't launch the person the next day. We all have to journey through our own plan of preparation that God has for each one of us, whatever that calling is. And if it is a great calling, if we are called into, let's say, I'm just using the term great calling for our understanding, but every calling is great. But especially in the offices, then there's an incredible amount of preparation that goes in. Then yes, after that 17 years, you find that finally the missionary journeys start taking off and the rest is history. But from Paul's example, as an apostle, we recognize that God is not in a hurry. We may want to jump in right away, but it cannot happen. We have to take God's path in order to fulfill any calling of God. So what I will do is I think I will stop today and let you all think there's so much we have discussed. You may want to revisit all these concepts again, maybe listen to the lectures again. And let's come back next week. We will talk some more. If I'm able to summarize all the key points within next class, hopefully I think we can wrap up our talk on Apostolic ministry. And another thing that I'm attempting to do is I'm attempting to put up your question paper, your final question paper as soon as possible. So by next week, I want that to be out so that you can start working on your second assignment and your first assignment marks also will hopefully come through by next week. So then you have enough time to study your portions well, answer your questions and successfully complete this course and semester. So as we stop right now, any thoughts, questions, clarification, what do you feel about the role of an Apostle? Yes brother. I was eagerly waiting for this pastor. I'm glad to know, but was it helpful? Was it helpful? I think it was and is and I think it will still be helpful. Wonderful. Praise God. Any questions? So Jeffina, are you getting an idea of what an Apostle, who you should call an Apostle? I'm scared to call anyone Apostle here. Okay, so yeah, so Jeffina, I think she would need a little more time and so does everyone. So what we can do is we can go back and study whatever has been discussed so far. It'll give an idea and then also if you have any practical questions, you bring those questions next class, we'll try and answer them. So for now, let's pray and close. Would somebody like to lead in prayer please? Let's pray. But we want to thank you for this time of learning. We thank you that you're teaching us your word in a beautiful level of God. We pray to God that we would understand the significance of each ministry that you are revealed to us, you have revealed to us in the new covenant. We pray to God that we would equip ourselves to the work of the ministry of God, that help our lives to be an example in front of people. In front of you or God, we pray that we would be placing you in all that we do, Lord Jesus. We thank you for this time of learning. Ambulances once again before your presence in Jesus name. Amen. Thank you, John. And feel free in case you needed to leave the class and go on to the next class. I noticed brother success has a question, so I'll just take that question and then I will end this call. Yes. Thank you so much, Ma. You just asked a question under my system was having to shake. The course is okay. It's very good, but I still need the if where there is a way we can also pray together because I still need that fire more. When we meet like this, I feed the fire but I still need more fire. If there is another course, maybe another semester, they can put a prayer prayer section. That would be very, very wonderful. Corporate prayer helps a lot in this particular course and ministry. Thank you so much. Yes, brother success. We understand that and I will take your feedback to our faculty. Let's see what best we can do in the coming semester. Thank you. So thank you everyone. Have a blessed day. God bless. We'll catch up again next Wednesday. Take care. Bye. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.