Foundational Truths Of The Current Move Of God

INTRODUCTION

APOSTLES

Apostles are the spearheads activating the current move of God. Since the book of Acts and more recently in this century, different moves have reinstated each five-fold ministry gift. It started with Pastors, Evangelists, Teachers, Prophets and now: Apostles.

The word "apostle” comes from the Greek word "apostollos” which means messenger, ambassador or representative. Such an ambassador represents the one who sent him, having the same likeness and authority as the sender. An apostle is often referred to as a "sent one”. Christ was sent from the Father to be an exact representation of the Father. In the same way, apostles walk as representatives of the Heavenly Father and are sent there by spiritual fathers.

1 Corinthians 11:1 [AMP] Pattern Yourselves after me [follow my example], as I imitate and follow Christ (the Messiah).

Colossians 1:15, 19 (NKJV) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation… For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell.

APOSTOLIC STRATEGY

APOSTOLIC GRACE

The apostle is the person set apart by God and sent with a grace to release to the congregation he oversees. This grace is imparted on the basis of genuine relationship and spiritual affection between the apostle and the people. The depth of this relationship is echoed in Paul's words as he begins his letter to the church in Rome:

Romans 1:11-12 (NKJV) For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established—that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

APOSTOLIC VISION

Apostolic leaders impart an apostolic vision to their people: enabling people to perceive the "big picture” of God's work within the earth. Whilst they operate from a local base and within a local area, they have a mentality that goes beyond immediate boundaries. Apostles think and see globally. Apostles carry in their hearts a vision of the knowledge of the glory of God filling the earth, opening the way for the advancement of the Kingdom of God in every sector of society: politically, governmentally, business, education, recreation, family and social spheres.

APOSTOLIC MANDATE

The mandate of Apostles is to establish locally based ministries which become a prototype base out of which people are trained and sent with a mentality to affect the nations. Such ministries are focused on nothing else except for building and raising people to be conformed to the stature and nature of Christ.

APOSTOLIC RELATIONSHIP

Relationship is at the core of apostolic ministry. The "sent-one” must maintain an authentic relationship and connection with the "sender”. At all times, the sender remains the source of the flow of grace. The sent-one's operation is always governed by the sender so that he expresses and executes the sender's purpose only. The sent-one is the exact representation of the sender in purpose, power, authority and nature so that an encounter with the sent-one is an encounter with the sender.

John 14:7, 9 (NKJV) "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him… he who has seen Me has seen the Father".

Jesus was submitted to His Father. Apostles operate according to this same pattern in that they are submitted to their spiritual Fathers.

John 5:19 (NKJV) Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner”.

APOSTOLIC PARADIGM

A paradigm is an underlying mentality or way of thinking that conditions all our responses and behaviour patterns in everyday life. A paradigm shift is a deep, inner structural overhaul of a person's mentality, understanding, behaviour, position, attitude and perception. The current move of God is breaking the traditional boundaries and formerly set paradigms in the body of Christ.

When believers encounter apostolic ministry it brings about a shift in their spiritual position and redefines their understanding of God, the church, Kingdom and God's purposes on the earth. This repositioning works to completely alter a believer's perception, vision, faith, function in the body.

THE CHURCH

Jesus and Peter have an exchange in Matthew 16 where Peter confesses who Jesus is.

Matthew 16:18 (NKJV) " …on this rock I will build My church… ”.

Jesus admonishes Peter for his revelation, saying that flesh or blood did not reveal it to him but the Holy Spirit. The word "rock” means revelation; the word "build” means to be a builder or edifier; and the word "church” is the Greek word "ekklēsia” which means "ones called out for a purpose”. A modern day example is cabinet of ministers, who are called to represent something greater than them.

God's original intent for the church was:

• To be a house made of many parts that embody Christ;
• For each part having their own revelation of Christ not reliant on a pastor's revelation;
• To be a governing force on the earth; and
• To represent heaven on earth.

OLD ORDER MINDSETS

Connections to old-order mindsets limit the revelation of what God is doing now. In Acts 18:24-28 we are introduced to Apollos as a disciple of John the Baptist. Apollos was still ministering out of John's teachings. Then Priscilla and Aquilla brought revelation of more accurate truth to Apollos. This revelation brought an inward shift in Apollos that established him in his apostolic ministry.

In this current move of God, a connection must be made to apostolic ministry without gravitating back to ‘how things were'. For example, Jonathan gravitated back to Saul but should have stayed aligned with David. He saw the new thing that God was doing but for reasons such as familiarity, security and other benefits he stayed within his comfort zone. This decision limited Jonathan's life to only a shadow of what was possible for him.

MOVING INTO THE NEW

In Matthew 9:17, Jesus spoke of the foolishness of pouring new wine into old wineskins. New wineskins are required to effectively hold new wine. We must enter a new state of life if we are to become a vessel that accurately administers the new move of God. Revelation is the key to moving into the new season of God.

As the Bereans in the first century, we must receive the word of God and study it to find truth. As we receive the word we give the word access to work in our lives, renewing us in the attitude of our minds (Ephesians 4:23). Receiving revelation causes us to move in Godly power, anointing and authority.

KINGDOM MESSAGE AND MINISTRY

The Kingdom of God was the message Jesus came to teach and demonstrate. The message of the Kingdom of God is the key to unlocking and liberating the earth. The Kingdom of God is within - it affects change from within a person rather than from the outside: It is an internal kingdom, the evidence of which is expressed outwardly.

1 Peter 2:5-7 (NKJV) you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHIEF CORNERSTONE, ELECT, PRECIOUS, AND HE WHO BELIEVES ON HIM WILL BY NO MEANS BE PUT TO SHAME." Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, "THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED HAS BECOME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE"

1 Peter 2:5-7 talks about Christ being the chief cornerstone upon which we, as living stones, are being built into the spiritual house that represents God's kingdom. The cornerstone is a plumb line that every other part of the building is measured against. The outworking of the Kingdom of God is about the outworking of Christ in every aspect of our lives. It is about Christ setting the standard as the chief cornerstone. Those who embrace the Kingdom message and build their lives in accordance with the principles of the Kingdom of God will reveal the standard of Christ to the earth.

The formation of an individual and their lifestyle – so that they become the message – is foundational to the Kingdom message. Character and godly nature is of far greater importance than the gifts operating in an individual's life. A disciplined life is the best platform for the demonstration and expression of divinely given gifts. In this way, the building of people who are strong and able to withstand the assaults of darkness is one of the primary purposes of the message and ministry of the Apostle. Through many hardships we enter the Kingdom. God rests His glory on the ones who have overcome.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

The word Kingdom is made up of two words: "King” and "dom.” "King” means royalty and is talking about Jesus the King of kings. "Dom” means domain; dominion; authority; reign and rule. The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven mean the same thing, Jesus used these terms interchangeably, for example Luke 6:20 and Matthew 5:3. They mean a place or realm where God rules; a place where God's will is done.

We can see evidence of the Kingdom of God in the life of a believer who has submitted their life to the truth of the gospel of the Kingdom in such a way that the principles are outworked and become that believer's reality. We can see that their life is submitted to Jesus Christ and their life becomes a place where God rules.

When God truly rules in the lives of many believers, earth begins to look like heaven. This is the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. The Kingdom is the place where God rules and His nature are manifested. His power and dominion are evidenced on earth through Kingdom-orientated believers and the earth is brought under the kingship and lordship of Jesus Christ.

Through God's design, man has legal authority on earth (Genesis 1:26). The Kingdom of God is established on earth as believers live a kingdom lifestyle. It is through believers that the life flow and expression of God is to be released on earth. In this way a realm is established that impacts and redeems lives in a holistic manner, influencing every sphere of life. There is an integration of the spiritual and the natural under the rule and dominion of the Kingdom of God.

KINGDOM MANIFESTATION

The plan and purpose of God was to manifest in and through a body. The Kingdom of God is primarily an internal kingdom – God's Kingdom must first be established within people's lives in order for it to have any external manifestation. As it manifests externally we will see the reinstitution of the original position of man, the original and eternal intent of God for mankind.

Genesis 1:26-28 (NKJV) Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth".

SONS

God wants to make His home, His dwelling place, in sons. The Father's house is a son (John 14:2). A son holds weight and stature in the house; he is a shareholder and as such chooses to help bear the burden of the house. By God's design, the earth can only be restored through sons and for this reason all of creation eagerly awaits the revealing of the sons of God.

Romans 8:19 (NKJV) For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.

ORPHANS

Orphans are believers who have never entered into sonship. This orphan nature works to keep believers independent of heart, vision and purpose. Those with an orphan nature are often cynical, insecure, proud and unteachable. They have an overwhelming sense of not belonging, not being loved, not approved but rather rejected and overlooked. As such they find it difficult to maintain relationships with authority, especially where intimacy and transparency are required. When confronted they take offense. Such ones are unable to receive their inheritance.

Thank God for the Apostolic grace which works to shift people from orphans into sonship, from the old order to apostolic Christianity and affecting change in every area of our lives.

GOVERNMENTAL PRAYER

The approach to prayer and intercession in the body of Christ is changing. It is changing from a "bless me, help me” approach to a "Your kingdom come” approach. It is changing from an "orphan” approach to a "mature son” approach. Mature sons are accurately aligned to apostolic and kingdom order and pray from a deeper position of authority. Orphans pray from the position that the King and His kingdom is outside of them and something to be reached for. Mature sons pray from the position that the kingdom is within them and is released through them.

Matthew 6:10 (NKJV) Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

A Mature son's prayer and intercession governs the spiritual atmosphere. As they align to the Apostolic and fathering oversight as well as learn how to operate in a governmental and kingly authority they are able to shift things in the spiritual realm according to God's order and design, which subsequently affects the natural realm.

Governmental prayer is focused on engaging the kingdom of heaven and transferring it to earth. Heaven invades earth through the decree of sons as they release Kingdom truth, causing shifts in the natural realm and aligning it with the Kingdom of God.

THE KINGDOM PERSPECTIVE ON THE PROPHETIC

The prophetic gift must come behind and accompany the apostolic, proton grace. The proton grace is the God-given ability to ground, process and execute the Word of the God in the lives of believers. Historically the prophetic move has focussed on the declaration and not on the execution process of God's spoken word. The church must move away from believers "doing warfare” and prophesying the word, to instead accomplishing internal adjustments: the forming and repositioning of character and the genuine submission to spiritual authority.

A prophetic believer must operate with accurate alignment to spiritual authority and be in right relationships in order for the word to come to its ultimate fulfilment and destination. To produce fruit, the word and the messenger must be sent by God.

The Kingdom perspective of the prophetic is more about the messenger than the message. The plan and purpose of God are in the heavens (eternity) and are destined to be grounded: they must find a body to manifest in and through. Jesus was the ultimate example. Jesus was the word and the word became flesh. Jesus in human bodily form represented the message of the Kingdom of God on earth.

The plans and word of God must be discerned and administered through mature sons who are in right relationship with the sender. The release of a prophetic word through a mature son releases God's government over nations. His words spoken are governmental decrees in both the natural atmosphere and in the spiritual realm.

The apostolic has changed "warfare” from screaming saints into mature sons who bring order to their given realm and jurisdiction (metron). It has shifted well-meaning saints from spending nights warring and battling devils to instead be at home with their family, resting and knowing the peace and all-encompassing power of God.

SPIRITUAL STRONGHOLDS

The church's view on spiritual warfare has become inaccurate where in the past we have focussed on locating the enemy in the land and calling such places "strongholds”. The bible clearly describes strongholds as mindsets as opposed to physical places where the enemy dwells.

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NKJV) For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ…

A spiritual stronghold is quite simply a mindset or thought that is against the will of God. It is effectively disobedience to the Lordship of Christ.

WORSHIP IN THE CURRENT MOVE

Worship is moving toward a new expression to open up the heavens for His habitation as opposed to reaching for the heavens. It is centred on songs ministering to the Lord instead of being about the Lord or "bless me, touch me Lord”.

Worship in the Kingdom of God revolves around aligning the spiritual dimensions of heavenly truth here on earth. Worship follows the mandate in Matthew 6:10 "heaven on earth”. It is a governmental declaration of God's majesty; truth; power; and life in the earth. It comes powerfully from a son who is in a position of completeness in Christ.

Leading worship with a sonship mentality shuts the door to lovely, well-meaning songs of "trying to reach God”, "trying to pull heaven down” or "trying to please God” - rather coming from the position of knowing "I am His son”. Out of this comes a confidence to break open the Kingdom that is within and permeate the atmosphere with the expression of His authority.

RIGHT PERSPECTIVE OF THE DEVIL IN THE CHURCH

We need to view the devil from the right perspective. He is the Lord's tool to develop us.

Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not eat of every tree of the garden'?"

Isaiah 45:7 I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the LORD, do all these [things].'

Isaiah 54:16 "Behold, I have created the blacksmith Who blows the coals in the fire, Who brings forth an instrument for his work; And I have created the spoiler to destroy.

Amos 3:6 If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the LORD have done [it]?

Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

John 9:2-3 And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.

Romans 11:36 For of Him and through Him and to Him [are] all things, to whom [be] glory forever. Amen.

Hebrews 2:10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom [are] all things and by whom [are] all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Previous church movements have led us to believe that the enemy is an amazing prince that controls all things. We have allowed the enemy to be an excuse to our poor attitude and commitment to the ultimate mandate of advancing the Kingdom of God in our lives and our sphere of influence.

The Kingdom is breeding a people who stand firm in Christ regardless of the situation. If the enemy appears to be causing affliction then sons of God arise and thank God that He is using the situation to do a work in them for a greater glory. This ultimately reveals the strength of the Kingdom through that son.

The church has undertaking various activities revolving around the devil such as "spiritual mapping”. Such preoccupations are effectively working in favour of the devil and oppose the Kingdom of God. We are called to focus on advancing the Kingdom in our lives and not distracted by so much effort to figure out what the enemy is doing. God's plan is clear - we are to focus on it. Living in the purposes of God crushes Satan's works.

God is giving the power back to His people. We do not need to rely on deliverance ministries and ministers for deliverance. The Apostolic teaches us how to break-through and overcome as individuals, diminishing the dependence upon ministers and specialist ministries.

ETERNITY

Eternity is more than just time - it is the realm where God lives and where His perfection and design is complete. We have come from eternity and we are part of God's eternal plan and purpose on earth as we outwork His finished work. While we are on this earth, we must see ourselves in the place where we are already finished. See ourselves as finishers who are seated with Christ in His position of completion.

Jesus was eternity expressed on earth and now we are the ones who have the responsibility to express the same. We receive glimpses of eternity when we receive God's word into our hearts and allow it to take hold of how we see: God's Word is a portion of eternity unlocked.

We must fully understand that our origins are from eternity and we are here on this earth at this moment to carry out the purposes of God.

ETERNAL LIFE

Eternal life is not about heaven. It is the quality of relationship we have with the Father through Jesus Christ. Eternal life is a person, not about a place.

John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

Don't be focussed on being or going to heaven but rather see yourself fully expressing the completeness of heaven now. Having eternal life has nothing to do with an insurance policy against hell. Such imaginings are the reason for many losing sight of the purpose of God for us on this earth in the present - here and now.

CONCLUSION

The apostolic season of God is changing perspectives and causing an extensive and comprehensive upgrade to how Christians see themselves and their part and purpose in the eternal plan of God in the earth. It is bringing alignment and adjustment to the body as a whole. All of creation is waiting for God's sons to arise, grasp their true identity and come of age. The heavens are waiting in eager expectation for the finishers to arise and bring to completion what was only seen through prophetic eyes in previous generations. There is no more exciting time to be alive than now! The word for us is to embrace the message and become the message to this generation. Alone, no one can become this message. We must work together with the apostolic grace to father this generation into such true and mature sons.