The Coming
Apostolic Movement
by Paul Keith Davis
Over
the course of several weeks the Holy Spirit has once again given several
prophetic experiences pointing to the coming apostolic movement. Although the
Western Church has several ministries that are functioning in apostolic ways,
we have yet to see the true demonstration of New Testament apostolic ministry
the way it will be revealed before the end comes. It is crucial at this point
in history that we as a generation not settle for anything less than the
fullness of our biblically defined heritage.
Clearly
we are living in what the Bible defined as the "end of the age." Even so, the Word is emphatic that the
gospel of the Kingdom must be preached in all the world before the end can
come. There is a gospel that has been preached throughout the world, but not
the gospel of the Kingdom in its fullness as outlined by Scripture and
demonstrated by the Lord Jesus Himself and His early apostles. Nevertheless,
because time is short, the imminent emergence of this ministry is apparent for
a quick work to facilitate the great harvest.
This
ministry will come forth not only with insightful revelatory messages of divine
truth but also miraculous demonstrations of power through righteous vessels of
honor and valor. There is something coming that has not yet been given birth
that will provide clarity and identity to numerous ministers and ministries to
facilitate their mandate and accomplish their commission. We must hold out for
the best wine!
Several
years ago the Lord gave me a very compelling prophetic experience or vision to
depict the qualities and nature of apostolic ministry according to His
definition. In the experience a heavenly messenger entered a room with the loud
and definitive announcement, "the Apostolic is coming." As he did, a
voice of ultimate authority echoed from Heaven saying, "The Apostolic IS coming."
With
that affirmation, the messenger continued, "we had better get a good
understanding of apostolic ministry under us... for it will be on top of us
before we know it. Samuel is a type of this apostolic leadership. The Lord did
let none of his words fall to the ground nor did he beg his bread from the
people."
The Spirit of Prophecy
In
this experience the Lord indicated valuable attributes through the life and
ministry of Samuel the prophet, depicting qualities He desires to impart to the
apostolic leadership soon to emerge. Careful study in Samuel's life provides
key secrets to help qualify for this mandate and touch the Father's heart in
preparation.
Very
often, prophetic experiences of this nature highlight personalities we know and
recognize as a true prophet to symbolize the Lord's Voice or the Spirit of
Prophecy bringing a timely and relevant message.
When
the messenger announced on the earth that the apostolic is coming, it was
verified with a Heavenly Voice to accentuate its certainty. In Scripture, when
the Holy Spirit descended upon the Lord to take up His residence in Him, a
Heavenly Voice was heard affirming this great reality. (Luke 3:22)
Likewise,
when the disciples witnessed the Lord's transfiguration, they also heard the
confirming Voice declaring Him to be the Son of God Who's words were eternal.
The attesting Voice indicates a truth that is established with certainty to be
readily accepted.
True
apostolic ministry is coming and the more thorough our understanding of it, the
more likely we will be to sustain this awesome ministry without being overcome
by the intensity and power of it. Let us pray that we can faithfully administer
this notable responsibility with character and integrity.
Saying Only What He Says
The
Lord did let none of Samuel's words fall to ground. What a profound indication
of intimacy and fellowship between the Lord and His leadership.
And Samuel grew, and the LORD
was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. -1 Samuel 3:19
Like
Samuel, true Apostles must become so intimate with the Lord that they say
nothing in His name but what they receive by a revelation of Jesus Christ.
(Galatians 1.12) Samuel did not speak in the name of the Lord presumptuously
nor carelessly. Therefore, God's Spirit was able to perfectly support the words
he spoke in the Name of the Lord.
Scripture
describes the Lord, our ultimate example, as being so yielded to the Holy
Spirit that He said nothing but what He heard from the Father and did nothing
but what He saw the Father doing. John 14:10 affirms this saying:
Do you not believe that I am
in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not
speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.
This
apostolic generation can likewise abide in such a place of total surrender to
God's Spirit that He would let none of our words "fall to the ground"
because we would not speak in His name unless we first heard from Him. Romans
8:14 declares, "For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are
sons of God." The Holy Spirit abiding in us will do the same works through
us that He did in the Lord, fulfilling the prophetic promise of John 14.12.
He Did Not Beg His Bread
One
of the most notable attributes in Samuel's life was his determination not to
abuse his position and privileges before God and the people. There was not one
person in all of Israel
who could bear witness against Samuel for pleading for money, possessions or
property. Neither did he allow the spirit of this world to affect his ability
to judge the people in righteousness and equity. The apostolic leadership soon
to emerge should likewise be characterized by humility and genuine love for the
people. 1 Samuel 12:2-4 declares:
I have walked before you from
my youth even to this day. Here I am;
bear witness against me
before the LORD and His anointed. Whose ox
have I taken, or whose donkey
have I taken, or whom have I defrauded?
Whom have I oppressed, or
from whose hand have I taken a bribe to
blind my eyes with it? I will
restore it to you. They said, You have not
defrauded us or oppressed us
or taken anything from any man's hand.
The
apostle Paul admonished the Church
of Corinth, and the
21st-century Church, to stand in righteousness to judge the affairs of men with
wisdom and truth. To do so we must possess the character of Christ reflected in
Samuel to be free from the tendency to abuse the anointing and authority of God
for unrighteous gain.
Certainly,
there is a place for giving and supporting the work of the ministry and sharing
in the fruitful labors of the anointing. This is an issue of the heart and like
Paul we must pray to be trustworthy stewards of the mysteries, power and
provisions of God. The prosperity coming to the Church will be for Kingdom
purposes not personal luxury and extravagance. The Apostolic Church
in the book of Acts shared all things in common and delegated resources
according to need, thus reflecting love and unity.
The Lord's Spokesmen
Like
Samuel, the anointed leadership the Lord desires to bring to His church will
stand before Him as His spokesmen, extracting the precious from the profane. To
them, the Lord will be as a fortified wall of bronze and though the enemy will
contend with them, he will not prevail because the Lord will be present to save
and deliver. This will further the restoration promised through the prophet
Joel as evidence of God's manifest presence. Psalms 99:6-7 speaks of Samuel
saying:
Moses and Aaron were among
His priests, and Samuel was among those who called on His name; they called
upon the LORD and He answered them. He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud;
they kept His testimonies and the statute that He gave them.
Samuel's
ministry was established by the Lord's manifest Presence in the order of Moses
and Aaron. As priests, they were charged with the role of intercession on behalf
of God's people and instruction in the ways of righteousness. Faithfulness in
these areas will begin to lead the church out of Babylonian confusion and
restore her to a place of loyalty and consecration to the Lord. As it has been
said, if the Lord can find a people without mixture...He will send the Spirit
without measure.
These
faithful leaders were transitional men in covenant relationship with the Lord
for transitional times and marked a point of demarcation for God's people. This
perfectly illustrates the nature of the Apostolic leadership the Lord will use
in this day. These three represent the Priest/Prophet/Judge (Kingly) anointing
that will be entrusted to this maturing leadership. To each of these three, God
proved Himself in Mercy and in Judgement
Priest-Prophet-Judge
Anointing
The
coming apostolic ministers will be as pillar of cloud by day with prophetic
anointing that will function as a pillar of fire by night giving illumination.
Each will provide a canopy of protection through the Holy Spirit even as Israel was protected during the judgments of Egypt. The shelter
of Goshen will
become apparent in the coming season.
The Lord will allow nothing
to come upon the earth unless He first reveals His secret counsel to His
servants. (Amos 3:7). Moses, Aaron
and Samuel each represent types of the coming government. The manner in which
the Lord used these men will also portray the coming leadership and God=s
dealings with them. He is going to give divinely granted understanding. God's
word declares that His breath gives understanding and He is going to breathe
upon us to give comprehension of these times and the things we must do to walk
intimately with Him as His habitation.
Commissioning and Release
Even
though Samuel was born through covenant relationship with incredible destiny,
he did not experience the supernatural dealings of God until his prophetic
commissioning.
Now Samuel did not yet know
the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. -1 Samuel 3:7
Many
of God's people have experienced introductions into this realm and tasted the
fruit of this promise. There may be many others who feel as though they do not
qualify for this type leadership because they have not had prophetic or
supernatural experiences in their life. However, Scripture make it plain; the
Word of the Lord had not appeared to Samuel until a very specific commissioning
experience released him into his purpose and calling. Many of today's
"Samuels" are hidden and unfamiliar with the visions and revelations
of the Lord. Nonetheless, great and profound expressions of the Spirit are imminently
awaiting these leaders once the grooming is complete and the timing appropriate
for their full and complete release.