Apostolic Authority: Part 5 (The Go of the Gospel)

HISTORICAL MEANING

To a lesser or greater degree, the word (apostolos) [652, Strong's], had other meanings in historical secular Greek. All the meanings related to a cargo ship; ship of lading; or a vessel commissioned, or authorized by the king, to travel from one port to another, for a specific task. There was a very general meaning of "a bill of lading", giving authorization for certain cargo to be transported in the vessel, or ship, to a specific destination. The word was also used, generally, as a "passport", for an individual, or group of people, to have the right to be transported, by the sea faring vessel to the end port of call, or destination. Then, there was the use, of the whole ship, with all it contained, people and cargo, as being an (apostolos), on a military mission, to colonize another territory; or it also referred to the captain, or individual in charge of the ship, as (apostolos), carrying out the orders of the king, that had commissioned him, to colonize, with all those under his care and protection.

AUTHORIZATION

The vital point of each and every definition or meaning, is that there was authority, or authorization, from someone, who had the power, to enforce their wishes, and granted authority, by the power that they possessed, to another, to travel, to a distant land, for a specific purpose, of transport of goods [bill of lading]; transport of people [passport]; transport of a military company, [to colonize]. It is interesting, that one of the historical meanings of (apostolos), is a passport, especially when we commonly think of "missionaries", as functioning in the apostolic, who are generally defined, as those that acquire a "passport", to travel to distant lands, to "colonize", or convert people, through the announcement of the good news, of salvation, through Jesus Christ.

LEGAL RIGHT

Being an apostle, in and of itself, is the "passport", or legal right from God, the one who has commissioned; to travel, without borders, to wherever the Lord dictates, to announce the good news. The story is told of some Christians announcing the good news, in a neighboring country, that was adjacent to theirs, but the borders were closed to travel. A traveling minister from the United States, asked the local national worker, how these Christian disciples were having such success in the neighboring country, that was officially closed to the good news. He wanted to know, so he asked:

Q: "Do they have passports?"

A: "No"

Q: "Do they have work visas"

A: "No"

Q: "What do they have that gets them into the country?"

A: "They have feet"

These apostolic ministers simply walked across the borders, and were announcing the good news of Jesus Christ, to neighboring villages, with the only authorization they needed, the "go into all the world" already given them by the Lord Jesus Christ.

GO of the GOSPEL

Every believer has "the go of the gospel", but apostles have the specific giftings and abilities for ground breaking ministry deemed impossible, or beyond comprehension, by other believers, who have neither the faith nor vision, to see how such a monumental task could be accomplished, such as entering into a foreign country; not speaking the language; being thousands of miles from home; and establishing a successful, growing gospel ministry, of people receiving Christ, and being discipled to train others; who in turn train others; to do the same.

APOSTOLIC CALLING

More than any other gifting or calling, the apostolic can seemingly take, what seems like nothing, and build and grow it into something, that is not only a wonder, but also enlists the support and giftings of other ministry callings, to continue to produce success. Thank God for the apostolic calling, and thank God for those who have given their lives to fulfill this most amazing and vital of ministries.

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