Apostolic Configuration

Harvester Reformational Church

10AM Service, July 24, 2016. These are precious notes from pioneering apostle Andre and Prophet Nola Pelser about how God has configured a ministry in the Body of Christ. I felt strongly that the Lord is consolidating the awareness and teaching about this office in the Church right now and we will continue our five fold ministry gifts series over the next few months. The true Apostolic Configuration By Apostle Andre and Prophetess Nola Pelser Revised October 2001. As an apostolic people, we need to understand the inner make-up of a true apostle, knowing that Christ Jesus is our main example as the Apostle and High Priest of our confession of faith. (Heb 3:1) Paul’s defense of his Apostleship provides the spiritual technology for unveiling the inner workings of an apostolic mind-set and behavioral patterns for an apostolic reformation church. II Corinthians 6:4-10: , 8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true; 9As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10 As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. v. 4. We see how much stress the apostle upon all occasions lays on fidelity in our work, because much of our success depends upon that. His eye was single, and his heart upright, in all his ministrations; and his great desire was to be the servant of God, and to approve himself so. Note, Ministers of the gospel should look upon themselves as God’s servants or ministers, and act in every thing suitably to that character. So did the apostle, (1.) By much patience in afflictions. He was a great sufferer, and met with many afflictions, was often in necessities, and wanted the conveniences, if not the necessaries, of life; in distresses, being straitened on every side, hardly knowing what to do; in stripes often (ch. 11:24); in imprisonments; in tumults raised by the Jews and Gentiles against him; in labours, not only in preaching the gospel, but in travelling from place to place for that end, and working with his hands to supply his necessities; in watchings and in fastings, either voluntary or upon a religious account, or involuntary for the sake of religion: but he exercised much patience in all, v. 4, 5. Note, [1.] It is the lot of faithful ministers often to be reduced to great difficulties, and to stand in need of much patience. [2.] Those who would approve themselves to God must approve themselves faithful in trouble as well as in peace, not only in doing the work of God diligently, but also in bearing the will of God patiently. (2.) By acting from good principles. The apostle went by a good principle in all he did, and tells them what his principles were (v. 6, 7); namely, pureness; and there is no piety without purity. A care to keep ourselves unspotted from the world is necessary in order to our acceptance with God. Knowledge was another principle; and zeal without this is but madness. He also acted with long-suffering and kindness, being not easily provoked, but bearing with the hardness of men’s hearts, and hard treatment from their hands, to whom he kindly endeavoured to do good. He acted under the influence of the Holy Ghost, from the noble principle of unfeigned love, according to the rule of the word of truth, under the supports and assistance of the power of God, having on the Armour of righteousness (a consciousness of universal righteousness and holiness), which is the best defence against the temptations of prosperity on the right hand, and of adversity on the left. (3.) By a due temper and behaviour under all the variety of conditions in this world, v. 8–10. We must expect to meet with many alterations of our circumstances and conditions in this world; and it will be a great evidence of our integrity if we preserve a right temper of mind, and duly behave ourselves, under them all. The apostles met with honour and dishonour, good report and evil report: good men in this world must expect to meet with some dishonour and reproaches, to balance their honour and esteem; and we stand in need of the grace of God to arm us against the temptations of honour on the one hand, so as to bear good report without pride, and of dishonour on the other hand, so as to bear reproaches without impatience or recrimination. It should seem that persons differently represented the apostles in their reports; that some represented them as the best, and others as the worst, of men: by some they were counted deceivers, and run down as such; by others as true, preaching the gospel of truth, and men who were true to the trust reposed in them. They were slighted by the men of the world as unknown, men of no figure or account, not worth taking notice of; yet in all the churches of Christ they were well known, and of great account: they were looked upon as dying, being killed all the day long, and their interest was thought to be a dying interest; "and yet behold,’’ says the apostle, "we live, and live comfortably, and bear up cheerfully under all our hardships, and go on conquering and to conquer.’’ They were chastened, and often fell under the lash of the law, yet not killed: and though it was thought that they were sorrowful, a company of mopish and melancholy men, always sighing and mourning, yet they were always rejoicing in God, and had the greatest reason to rejoice always. They were despised as poor, upon the account of their poverty in this world; and yet they made many rich, by preaching the unsearchable riches of Christ. They were thought to have nothing, and silver and gold they had none, houses and lands they had none; yet they possessed all things: they had nothing in this world, but they had a treasure in heaven. Their effects lay in another country, in another world. They had nothing in themselves, but possessed all things in Christ. Such a paradox is a Christian’s life, and through such a variety of conditions and reports lies our way to heaven; and we should be careful in all these things to approve ourselves to God. When Jesus saw the people as sheep without a shepherd, he solved the problem by sending His apostles to them. (Matt 9:36/ Matt 10:1,2) An apostle has a measure of Christ’s grace, which is a gift to the church that receives the apsotle. (Eph 4:7) The words of an apostle, carry a grace which represents a portion of the Christos anointing. The full measure of the anointing which was on Christ Jesus, is split up into five allotments called apostle, prophet, evangelist, teacher and pastor. (Eph 4:11) The following points indicate the true configuration of the Apostolic: 1. Culture and identity that governs the atmosphere in a church The vision of the leaders and their style of operation will determine the protocol of a company of apostolic people. Mark did not fit into the way Paul liked to do things and was dismissed from his company till later. Family members who try to dominate proceedings cause splits in the body. Unity of faith is the key to making an impact on society and the devil will always try to disrupt things. There cannot be democratic decisions as to the purpose and the vision of a church. God calls a man and gives the man a vision. Unless the man of course is simply catering to the tradition of the institution for the sake of keeping his job and pleasing the church board that pays his salary. 2. Pioneering truth in your generation. Pioneers are often out on a limb. The most frustrating aspect of being a pioneer is knowing that you are doing the right thing without proof of initial evidence. It is hard to convince people that you are sure. Columbus had to convince his men over and over again that they would discover the East when no land was in sight. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not yet seen. Support groups for apostolic pioneers are scarce and only God can raise up men and women who are willing to pay the price of being part of an original group of spiritual explorers. 3. Corporate anointing manifesting the true sons of God. There are many orphan spirited believers who only need what the house can offer. They do not think of plowing back into the house once they have reached their goals. They are takers and not givers. They are friendly because they get something out of their spiritual home: status, relationships, a place to belong to, good sermons or perhaps they are parasites who always find a way to get their needs met. But if we are faithful in looking after the spiritual orphans God will give us true sons! A son has a heart for the father and he knows he will finally get the true inheritance. It belongs to him and he does not have to scheme of fight for it. 4. Transferring the grace through impartation. Information is cheap these days. Every bit of knowledge is available at the touch of a button, but in the age of information, impartation will become valuable. Impartation is something that happens in the atmosphere of a church. You cannot teach it or control it. It comes to you, unnoticed, just by being on the right frequency. You download things into your spirit without trying. When you look again you have it! Healing happens during the service without anyone praying or laying hands on someone else. Ideas for provision come without anyone speaking a word. Strength to overcome temptation, direction for life and assurance and hope are all imparted because of the atmosphere of the apostolic and prophetic ministries in the house. It speeds up the process of God in the lives of people. Holiness and purity are also impartational operations rather than efforts of will. Spend time with the holy to be holy. On the other hand if you spend time with the proud and arrogant and greedy ones you will begin to speak and act like them too! Humility and meekness are caught, not taught. You have to learn it from person by taking their yoke upon you. ( Matthew 11:29) 5. Maturing the body of believers to bring Jesus back. Without the perfection of the saints by the five-fold ministry the return of Jesus Christ will be delayed. Where churches are still resisting the reality of the existence of present day apostles they are causing a disruption in the end-time kingdom operation. Once souls are saved they need to be perfected and brought into the unity of faith. This takes discipline and correction. It takes willingness to suffer for the Gospel’s sake. People who think that God has forsaken them when they have to endure a bit of hardship are not mature and not ready to do battle with the forces of darkness. They are chocolate soldiers who melt in the heat of battle an pretty useless to the advance of the kingdom. They have been taught a self-centered Gospel and think God exists for their benefit. They are spoilt brats who never want to help with the cleaning up of the house! They are the ones who have the most to say but hardly ever assist with the building process. They always desire a gift or a ministry but forget that we are called to serve one another! They speak great swelling words conceitedly against authorities and cannot submit to anyone. They are spots in our feasts. Mature believers can take a load of responsibility without seeking recognition and get the job done in a team. They can win ground. They know the first victory is not the last battle. Their strong faith can carry the ones with weak faith. 6. Determination in the face of all opposition and uncertainty. Even if you are not the best at something perseverance will get you to the top eventually! By the time others have given up you are still there doing what you believed you were called to do! While others say it cannot be done, you’re doing it! Just faithful in your part of the vineyard doing what the Master ordered you to do for Him. 7. Fulfilling and finishing the Word of God on earth. Jesus discovered His mission in the volume of the book (Hebrews 5:7-10) and often quoted Scriptures that He knew He had to fulfil in this world. The Word became flesh and dwelt among men. He knew what He was anointed to do. He discovered it in Isaiah. He knew that He had to enter Jerusalem as a king when the children proclaim Him as the one who comes in the Name of the Lord. He fulfilled the Word of God in His time and set us an example to follow. We are His disciples. Each one of us has certain scriptures given to us that we are to bring to pass in the earth. We are finishing the task He began. The Word is becoming flesh. God is initiating His will through human flesh. He is allowing the world to see His Word in action. Not just healing and miracles but Godly lives lived in a manner that brings glory to God in a chaotic world. 8. Different value system to the world and integrity in relationships. There is so much talk about integrity in relationships but it is not easy to live up to each other’s expectations. We have to learn to please God rather than man. When people make cheap covenants they are easily broken. We should not go around making covenants with one another. We all have one covenant: with God through Jesus Christ. Through Holy Communion we remember our covenant and we are members of the same body. Many false teachers who steer people away from the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus make covenants to attach people to themselves and to their doctrines. They make slaves of them instead of setting them free. Legalism and Gnosticism are equally binding. The one binds through laws and the other through human knowledge. We are not called to love and admire each other’s intellect. We are to worship God alone! When we applaud each other it is not good. We are making idols for ourselves, golden calves that represent our own devices. People that deny the Bible as the only source will deceive gullible people not established in the truth. Beware of false apostles who have left the path of truth and fell into Lucifer’s trap to enrich themselves to build their own following. If you cannot see the cross of Jesus or the effect of the cross in a life, be careful not to follow such a one. When your human ego and human intellect is stimulated and the flesh is not crucified you are treading on the same ground as those who become proud and puffed up through knowledge. Charity edifies and builds up. We have not learned about our Master in that manner. Jesus was compassionate and tender, not arrogant and proud. He did not come to only sell his books and tapes but delivering souls from death. There is nothing wrong with selling books and tapes but if every sermon is motivated to become a new series, the purpose of that ministry is susceptible. Our motive is not gain but humble service. God takes care of His own. 9. Joy is the conviction that God will never let you down. The kingdom of God is a kingdom of Joy in the Holy Ghost! The God of Hope will comfort you and give you Joy in believing. True faith brings true joy! When one cannot rejoice in your circumstances you still have much to be thankful for! Your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life! When the sorrows in the world increase you can look up and rejoice because your redemption draws near! 10. Ministering from an open heaven. The Hebrew word ‘boh’ describes the windows of heaven that were opened during the flood in Noah’s time. It is the same word used in Malachi’s promise to faithful tithers: God will open a window of blessing in heaven and pour out a blessing that you would not be able to contain. These windows also refer to opportunities God creates for His faithful workers. Faithfulness has its rewards. It opens heaven’s storehouses! There are many who enrich themselves through worldly schemes and call that prosperity but when it makes them proud it is not from God. The true trademark of apostolic people is genuine humility. If you are not humble during times of lack you will not remain humble when prosperity comes your way. The blessing of God makes us rich and adds no sorrow to it. 11. Miracles as a sign to unbelievers, not to believers. Believers should stop following signs and wonders and let signs and wonders start following them! Jesus promised that signs and wonders would follow those who believe on His Name. Sings and wonders and miracles are to convince the unbelievers that God does exist and that He hears us when we pray. Words of knowledge and wisdom convince them that God knows about them. Miracles make them realize that God has power over nature and tongues and interpretation tells them there are languages in the universe that they will never understand! 12. Willingness to face dangers, hardships and persecution. God does not want chocolate soldiers that melt in the heat of battle. He wants men and women, boys and girls who are willing to suffer for what they believe. Temptation comes to everyone and the only way to overcome it is to use the word of God like a sword and your faith as a shield, just like Jesus did in the wilderness. Your greatest temptation is to doubt that you are a child of God. The devil wants you to behave like a child of the devil. Tests come to see if you really believe what you have been taught. A trial of your faith is an extended test. It lasts longer and if you hold steady you will be rewarded. Trials are given to select people for service. If you pass the test and the trial you will be promoted in the spirit! Troubles come because the troubles of a righteous person are many, but the Lord delivers them out of them all! Andrae Crouch wrote in his song “Through it All”” “If I never had a problem how would I ever know that God could solve them? I would never know what faith in God could do!” Tribulations are part and parcel of the Christian walk. Jesus warned us that we would have much tribulation in this world. Paul said that we have to enter the kingdom through much tribulation. Tribulations come because the god of this world hates you and wants to destroy you. But if you hold firm during tribulation you will receive a reward and an entry point will be created for you into new dimensions of the spirit. Unless we are sure of the enemy’s strategies we will always be confused about our lives. A lot of harm has been done by the teachings of the so-called positive-faith preachers who refuse to talk about suffering. When their church members face tests or tribulations they think God has deserted them. They are living in a false Utopia where they deny the real world around them in order to stay positive. This teaching is a humanistic teaching that is anti-scriptural and should be exposed. Jesus taught self-denial not self-preservation! 13. Understanding the inner technology of being weak. Christ’s strength is revealed in weakness. Humanism prides itself on its strength. Pride parades itself but love does not parade itself. The glory belongs to God. There is none righteous, no not one. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God, but the gift of God is salvation through Jesus Christ. 14. Imitation and not emulation. To imitate someone you have to get to know him well otherwise it is simply copying without any relationship that is known as emulation. Emulation by definition is to copy what someone else is doing without building a relationship with that person and the main reason why you are copying him is for your own selfish benefit. Paul says imitate me as I imitate Christ. Paul says we should be imitators of God who taught us all about forgiveness. He forgave us for Christ’s sake, not because He felt like it or because we deserve it. His Son was willing to die for us and therefore He is willing to forgive us. For that same reason we ought to learn to forgive those who sin against us so that we might receive forgiveness in return. 15. Understanding suffering and experiencing glory. Most people try to avoid suffering like a plague and when suffering comes there way they see it as a gatecrasher to their life’s party! Suffering is part of life whether we would like to know it or not. We do not have to suffer sickness or disease, we do not have to suffer poverty or lack, because God’s desire for us is to prosper and be in health even as our souls prosper. (III John 2) But we do have to drink tea with the apostles now and again: the five apostolic ‘T’s’ are temptation, trouble, tests, trials and tribulations. If we cannot discern which ‘T’ we are facing we are confused and an ignorant Christian’s first reaction is to say that God has left them alone in their troubles. They ask why because they do not understand what is going on. God wants us to live with understanding. Temptation is overcome by using the sword of the Spirit the Word of God. Whenever you conquer temptation like Jesus did in the wilderness you return in the power of the spirit. Your ministry grows after every personal victory until Satan comes and has nothing in you. When you have broken off all the sin handles in your life he can no longer control or manipulate you to do his will. You recover yourself out of the snare of the devil through accepting the gentle teaching of the Word of God and true repentance and godly sorrow. Trouble comes to everyone especially to the righteous, but David said the Lord delivers them out of them all. So encourage your soul to rejoice when you face troubles because God is about to deliver you again! The mistake the devil makes to bring trouble your way is that he does not realize that it will turn into yet another testimony of the greatness and the goodness of God. If he knew that he would no longer bother you. But if he knew that Jesus’ death on the cross would bring victory over sin to the whole world he would not have crucified our Lord! Tests come so that you may find out how much you have learned. If you pass the test you get promoted. A test is not a temptation because God does not tempt any man, but he does allow your faith to be tested. Faith is not faith until it is tested. If you hear a message on healing you will be tested with sickness coming your way. But you will be tested on what you have learned. Jesus would teach about the bread of life and then demonstrate it to the disciples by asking them how would they feed a multitude? He would teach and demonstrate and then put them to the test. This is the only way we can find out what we have actually absorbed in our spirits. Trials are extended tests. This is survival of the fittest! You need to really grit your teeth and go through the fiery trial of your faith. This builds patience and when patience has her perfect work you will be entire wanting nothing! Patience is the power-twin of faith. Without patience your faith will regularly fail. Patience holds your faith steady while you are waiting for the promise of God to materialize. Tribulations are the doors to the kingdom blessings of God! Paul said we enter the kingdom through much tribulations and hardships. Tribulations and persecutions come because the spirit of glory rests upon us. They do not come because you did anything wrong. It is actually proof that you are doing something right! You must rejoice in tribulation because God has confidence in you that you will go through that suffering for his sake and come out with a glorious testimony on the other side. If the tribulation means martyrdom there will be sufficient grace to carry you through. 16. Patient endurance and sincerity. 17. Great clarity concerning the purposes of God. 18. Effective Networking to combine resources. 19. Equipping the saints for the work of the ministry. 20. Always advancing without organizational drift. 21. Offending the natural mind to reach the heart. 22. Breakthrough anointing and finishing mentality. 23. Always erecting new plumb lines and standards. 24. Redefining humanity according to the original design. 25. Acts of the Apostles relying on the dunamis of the Spirit. Key verses to memorize: I Cor 12:28- first apostles – proton – foundation comes first. Eph 4:11- first of the five allotments of Christ’s anointing Acts 20:22- bound in the spirit. (ateo) I Cor 9:26- certainty 2 Cor 12:12- signs of an apostle Acts 1:8- power to be witnesses (martus) I Cor 4:9- displayed us the apostles last (gladiator) I Cor 4:10- we are weak, but you are strong. I Cor 4: 16- I urge you imitate me II Cor 4:8- hard pressed, not crushed II Cor 4:10- death is working in us, but life in you II Cor 1:5-7 we are afflicted and suffer for your consolation II Cor 4:18- look at the things that are not seen Matt 16:18- I will build my church Ps. 127:1- unless the Lord builds the house Acts 19:8- persuading and reasoning concerning the kingdom Acts 19:11- special miracles Acts 19:20- so mightily grew the Word of God and prevailed. Persuading: Greek: “Peito”: ‘To indoctrinate, to induce and to tranquilize in order to bring about a reformation in the thinking. Reasoning: Greek. “Dia Legomai”: ‘Through constructive, systematic and organized dialogue’ like building with lego blocks, building constructive thought patterns to replace old mind-sets. Using the spoken word to build something solid in the spirit; a deliberate act of constructing or building a way of thinking by our words. An accurate church has a great impact in the spirit of a city. It eventually affects the economy of a city. It breaks the evil spirits ruling over a territory and replaces it with apostolic authority. The church in Ephesus is a scriptural example to follow. The true power of the apostolic anointing: 1. Ability to access hidden mysteries Isaiah 45:3 2. Penetrate impenetrable territories Isaiah 45:1 3. Disarm principalities Isaiah 45:1 4. Conquer positions of resistance Isaiah 45:2 5. Exercise authority over areas, cities & nations Isaiah 41:2,3 2 “Who raised up one from the east? Who in righteousness called him to His feet? Who gave the nations before him, And made him rule over kings? Who gave them as the dust to his sword, As driven stubble to his bow? 3 Who pursued them, and passed safely By the way that he had not gone with his feet? The New King James Version Isaiah 45:1-3 “Thus says the Lord to His anointed, 1 To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held— To subdue nations before him And loose the armor of kings, To open before him the double doors, So that the gates will not be shut: 2 ‘I will go before you And make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze And cut the bars of iron. 3 I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden riches of secret places, That you may know that I, the Lord, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel. The New King James Version