Apostolic Authority: Part 3 (Manifestation with Proclamation) (2 Corinthians 12:12; 1 Corinthians 9:2; Acts 2:43; 4:33; 5:12; Luke 4:18ff; Mark 6:1-6; Matthew 13:53-58)

EQUIPPED

1) The apostle [ (apostolos), 652, Strongs ] is equipped to do the task; job that the Lord has assigned him/her. The sign of an apostle is the results that they produce, with steadfast endurance, and can be accompanied with signs; miracles; and works of power (2 Cor.12:12).

SIGNS

"The marks of a true apostle were there, in the work that I did among you, which called for such constant fortitude, and was attended by signs; marvels; and miracles" (2 Cor. 12:12, NEB).

PRIMARY SIGN

The primary sign of an apostle is the evidence of planting and growing ministries, and those results are the seal, or evidence of an apostolic calling. ["...for you, yourselves are the seal; the living proof, which confirms and authenticates my apostleship" (1Cor.9:2)]. However, every office has gifts that the calling is equipped with, and God doesn't change His mind about what He has given you; they are irrevocable, whether you are functioning in the totality of them or not (Rm.11:29).

"...many signs and wonders were done by the apostles..." (Acts 2:43)

"...with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus..." (Acts 4:33)

"...by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people..." (Acts 5:12)

EQUIPPED

The point is that the apostolic office is equipped with supernatural giftings, and whether those functioning in that office are developed in them or not, they are still there, and should be expected, by the apostle themselves, to be manifested. You will never see the manifestation if you don't begin to believe in what already belongs to you.

GOD'S IDEA

The apostolic calling is by God the Father, through the Lord Jesus Christ. Like every other calling and gifting, it is God's idea, and He equips accordingly. It is not something we decided to be. The whole initiating and equipping for service came directly from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, the head of the Church.

"...and He Himself appointed some to be apostles, some to be prophets,..." (Eph.4:11)

"...God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets..." (1Cor.12:28)

Paul repeatedly asserts the fact, that being an apostle wasn't his idea, but rather, his commission and authority came by God's command (Rm.1:1; 1Cor.1:1; 2Cor.1:1; Gal.1:1; Eph.1:1; Col.1:1; 1Tim.1:1; 2Tim.1:1; Tit.1:1).

AUTHORITY

In the overwhelming majority of the letters of Paul, he tells everybody, right up front, I am called; anointed; and appointed by God, with the authority to write these instructions to you, and it is not me, but the one that I represent that you are either receiving or rejecting, in listening to this instruction.

WHO YOU ARE

This is exactly the same thing that Jesus did, everywhere He went. There are 3 recorded events of Jesus returning to His home town region; not once, but 3 times, He came back to His home town region, and each time, He told them who He was, and the manifestations to expect; if they received Him, and His words.

HOME TOWN BOY

In Nazareth, He said, "...the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to announce 'good news' to the poor [i.e., you are not poor anymore]; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted; to announce to prisoners, 'You are free'; and to the blind, 'You can see'; to free those whom tyranny has crushed; to announce 'this is the year of the Lord's Welcome and Acceptance to you!'..." (Lk.4:18) [paraphrased].

FIRST TIME

He announced His calling and anointing, to those He was speaking to, as a present tense reality. In the first instance, in Nazareth, they tried to kill Him (Lk.4:29,30).

SECOND TIME

Prior to sending out the 12, (Mk.6:7ff), He returned and came into His own country (Mk.6:1-6), and announced that He was anointed, by the Spirit of God, and told them that mighty works, or power, flowed through His hands (Mk.6:2). He told them, "When I lay my hands on you, power will flow into your body and you will be healed of whatever disease you have". But it says HE COULDN'T DO ANY mighty work there, "...except He laid His hands on a few sickly people and healed them" (Mk.6:5). This time, they didn't try to kill Him, and a few sickly people, with not much wrong with them, were cured.

THIRD TIME

The third time He returned into His own country (Matt.13:53), He had already sent out the 12 (Matt.10:1ff), but unlike the account in Mark, where He couldn't do any mighty works (Mk.6:5), this time, "...He performed but few mighty deeds there..." (Matt.13:58, Weymouth). The FIRST time they tried to kill Him; the SECOND time, He couldn't do any works of power; and the THIRD time, He performed a few mighty works of power. The point is, He announced the same thing every time, and each time, the results improved!

ANNOUNCE the WORD

Paul declared his apostolic authority in the overwhelming majority of his letters, so that the readers would accept and receive the anointing, and the effects of the teaching, that was read, out loud to the hearers, would be manifested in the lives of the listeners. Whether through the written word now, or the spoken word, whatever the calling, but specifically, in this instance, the apostolic office, needs to be announced, so that the hearers can receive, and the accompanying giftings will be in manifestation.

DECLARE BOLDLY

Those that are apostles, need to realize the giftings that go with their office, and declare boldly, each time they announce the good news, that by their hands, many signs and wonders will accompany the announcing of the good news (Acts.5:12), even as God gave special demonstrations of works of power, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that Paul had handled, were brought to the sick, and their diseases left them and evil spirits were driven out of them (Acts19:11,12).

Like Jesus, the bolder you are to announce the calling and giftings that you have, the greater the demonstration of works of power that will be in manifestation.

KENNETH HAGIN

Kenneth Hagin, a prophet of God, had Jesus appear to Him several times, and Jesus told him to "...tell the people I appeared to you; tell the people I have anointed you; tell the people the healing anointing is in your hands; tell the people I told you to tell them; tell the people that if they will believe that you are anointed, and receive that anointing, then the healing power will flow out of your hands, into their bodies, and heal them, or effect a cure; and the bolder you are to tell them, the more results you will see"...and he did; and God did!

Boldly declare what God has given you, and you will get bold results!

You are God's Best and God's Best is Yours