Apostolic Perspective
And God has appointed in the church first apostles... (I Cor. 13:28)
An apostle is one who is a sent forth messenger of truth. Paul identifies himself as Paul, an apostle (not sent from men, nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father. (Gal. 1:1)
We can thank God that He gives the apostolic office, perspective and power to every church for the accomplishing of His great commission purposes among all the people groups of the world. (Matt. 28:18-20) Only when we maintain our apostolic passion, perspective and performance are we able to enjoy the full power of God in our fellowship and lives. Too many churches have lost their God given apostolic perspective and are suffering as a result. The following are some of the characteristics of what compromises an apostolic perspective:
1. An apostolic perspective is not mediated through any man, but comes directly from Jesus Christ. (Gal. 1:1) People who gain their revelation, insights and wisdom from God feel compelled to share it with those who are yet to hear of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. We can then truly say, "We are wholeheartedly serving the Lord and not men." (Col. 3:23,24) We do not have to get weary when we feel that few people appreciate what we are doing because we are no longer interested in pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.
2. An apostolic perspective gives one passion for what burdens the heart of God. Human enthusiasm, statistics or field reports are not adequate to keep the heart stirred for world wide evangelism and church planting. Knowing Jesus Christ, His word and being intiimately in communion with the Holy Spirit are the only ways to gain a passion for winning the lost.
3. An apostolic perspective is enhanced by prayer. Paul wrote, "I have not ceased to pray for you that God would open the eyes of your heart so that you may be enlightened." (Eph. 1:15-18)
Illustration: A young man in Bible school offered to help David Wilkerson years ago when he was ministering on the streets of New York City. Wilkerson asked him how much time he spent in prayer. The young student estimated about 20 minutes a day. Wilkerson told him, "Go back, young man. Go back for a month and pray two hours a day, every day for 30 days. When you’ve done that, come back. Come back and I might consider turning you loose on the streets where there is murder, rape, violence and danger... If I sent you out now on 20 minutes a day, I’d be sending a soldier into battle without any weapons, and you would get killed."
4. An apostolic perspective means abandonment. We must release, relinquish and renounce our rights and completely give ourselves to follow the Lord Jesus Christ and take up our cross daily if we want to gain the apostolic perspective. (Luke 9:23) So many people want the fruits of Paul’s ministry without being willing to pay the price that Paul paid. Paul wrote, "But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ." (Phil. 3:7,8)
Illustration: James Dobson returned to speak at his high school in Texas where he had won the state tennis championship in 1958. Thinking he might glance at his trophy in the trophy case before he entered the auditorium, Dr. Dobson did not find what he was looking for until he went around to the back of the school and there he found his trophy, in a garbage pile. That day he told the students in his commencement address, "All the great trophies of life will soon be nothing but trash. Do not work for the things that perish, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven." Thank God that Dr. James Dobson has laid aside so many earth trophies so he can exhibit an apostolic perspective in helping to reach more families for Jesus Christ around the world.
5. Apostolic focus gives us the ability to prioritize our vision on to what is of primary importance to God. Too many people have activity without a focus on winning, training and multiplying the 8000 lost people groups on the earth. Do you realize that you will never become a mere maintenance fellowship or person if you focus on the harvest. Jesus said, "Ask the Lord of the harvest to send forth workers into His harvest fields." (Matt 9:36-38) God wants every people group on the earth to experience true worship in Spirit and truth and that will happen best through people who are focused on fulfilling the great commission, after they worship and love the Lord with all their heart, soul, strength and mind. (Luke 10:27)
6. An apostolic perspective will make decisions based upon God’s purposes, plans and praise. In other words, all of our decisions will be determined by what will bring greater praise, fulfillment of God’s purpose - HIs glory known and given throughout the whole earth, and His plans that every tribe, tongue and nation come and worship Him for eternity.
Illustration: Floyd McClung, former president of Youth with a Mission, writes, "If you live without a vision of the glory of God filling the whole earth, you are in danger of serving your own dreams of greatness, as you wait to do "the next thing" God tells you. There are too many over-fed, under-motivated Christians hiding behind the excuse that God has not spoken to them. They are waiting to hear voices or see dreams - all the while living to make money, to provide for their future, to dress well and have fun."
7. An apostolic perspective is true to the apostolic tradition and model of the New Testament apostles. Paul wrote, "And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, that I might build upon another man’s foundation; but as it is written, ’They who had no news of Him shall see, and they who have not heard shall understand." (Rom. 15:20,21) This is both an apostolic tradition and a model for all who want to fulfill all of God’s will for their church fellowship. The apostolic perspective helps us continue to lift our eyes to the fields that are ripe for the harvest, even today.
Illustration:
Tradition holds that the Apostles died in the following manner: Matthew suffered martyrdom by being slain with a sword at a distant city of Ethiopia. Mark expired at Alexandria, after being cruelly dragged through the streets of that city. Luke was hanged upon an olive tree in the classic land of Greece. John was put in a caldron of boiling oil, but escaped death in a miraculous manner, and was afterward banished to Patmos. Peter was crucified at Rome with his head downward. James, the Greater, was beheaded at Jerusalem. James, the Less, was thrown from a lofty pinnacle of the temple, and then beaten to death with a fuller’s club. Bartholomew was flayed alive. Andrew was bound to a cross, whence he preached to his persecutors until he died. Thomas was run through the body with a lance at Coromandel in the East Indies. Jude was shot to death with arrows. Matthais was first stoned and then beheaded. Barnabas of the Gentiles was stoned to death at Salonica. Paul, after various tortures and persecutions, was at length beheaded at Rome by the Emperor Nero.
8. An apostolic perspective is willing to fight the good fight of faith. In Acts 21 we learn about Paul’s dogged determination to suffer and die to fulfill His apostolic calling to be a light to the Gentiles. "And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands and said, ’This is what the Holy Spirit says, : In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. And when we heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, ’What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, ’The will of the Lord be done.’" (Acts 21:11-14)
Application: True apostolic perspective will drive us on when all kinds of people, problems and predicaments try to get in our way.
Illustration: Floyd McClung writes about apostolic decision-making problems:
"Apostolic decision-making starts with a passion for God’s glory in the nations and then asks: "Where shall I serve you? Most people do the opposite. They ask the where and when questions without a revelation of His glory in the nations. Is it any wonder they never hear God say, ’Go". They have not cultivated a passion for the passions of God. All kinds of lesser desires can be holding them captive. They might never realize it."
Let us present our lives, resources and decisions as a living sacrifice to God, holy and acceptable to Him as that is just our reasonable service to a God who is worthy to receive all of our praise, submission and everything.
