Apostle

1.  Church’s Foundation

Ephesians 2:19b, 20  You are members of God’s family.  Together, we are his house built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Jesus Christ himself.

Jesus is the capstone and the foundation is the prophets and the apostles.

Apostles in one sense do not exist anymore.  These are apostles who personally have seen Jesus. Paul calls himself an Apostle who is abnormally born. 1 Corinthians 15:8

BUT

There is the ministry of the apostle for the building up of the church

Two words for Apostle

Hebrew = shaliach or sent one ; Latin = Missionary or Missionary

We want to look at the life of Paul who was an apostle to see how this gift operates.  Now this can be overwhelming because he is on another level, but there are attitudes that come through his life that we can learn from.

2. Go into Darkness

Romans 15:20 My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where that name of Christ has never been heard rather than where a church has already been started by someone else.

We will explore this more in the coming weeks, but there is a passion to start something new.  Change agent or entrepreneur will be this kind of person.

Reason is to bring God’s purposes to this world

New ideas to meet the needs.

EXAMPLE:  Henry Ford – if I asked people what they wanted they would have said faster horses

3.  God doing the miraculous

2 Corinthians 12:12 I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles.

We live in tow realms; The supernatural and the natural.  God only lives in one realm, the natural.  Everything is natural for Him.

EXAMPLE:  manna and clothes, now working in fields, but supernatural results happened as they moved through this world naturally.

Zechariah 1:18-21 Our job to destroy chaos is the craftsman coming with ideas to bring order out of chaos.

We move into a realm where we start to think how we can have an effect on the world around us which goes with being light in darkness.

EXAMPLE: man in line at airport with two women pushing through line

4. Pay the Price

2 Corinthians 11, 12  Paul talks about the battles that happen because they are advancing the kingdom of God.  Not only did these problems happen, the disciples prayed for more problems so they could demonstrate the kingdom of God.

5. Different Cultures.

1 Corinthians 9:20

EXAMPLE: Man moving into the projects to minister to them.

We may be placed where we are to have an effect.

EXAMPLE:  don’t have to be in charge to be an influence.  Joseph and Daniel were not in charge and affected kingdoms.

Curse on people in tumults or agitations great noise or uproar.

Hosea 10:12-14 wars from within destroy a nation. Sow seeds of righteousness so the kingdom of God can rain down upon us.

Risk takers, networkers, “what if” people, kingdom warriors, mobilizers, innovators.

God is calling us to move out of our shells and represent Him and bring the kingdom of God here in the Valley and Buffalo County.