The Elements of Apostleship
Embracing the Apostolic Reformation - Part II
by Dr. John Tetsola

Last month we established that an apostle is a Christian leader gifted, taught, commissioned, and sent by God with the authority to establish the foundational government of the church within an assigned sphere of ministry. He sets things in order accordingly for the growth and maturity of the church. Following the progressive cloud of God’s presence, let’s observe some of the elements of the apostolic dimension today.

But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.
2 Corinthians 10:13

One of the many elements of apostleship is that apostles are sent to put things in order for God, to capture or recapture influence or control, and to organize or restructure God’s institutions. Apostles have different spheres and measures of rule, and in the above Scripture Paul spoke of staying within the confines of the measure and rule of his apostleship given to him by God. Apostles restructure God’s institutions. At times a church may be an “apostolic anointing” away from realizing the full manifestation of God’s intended purpose for them, yet resist the very apostolic anointing needed to catapult them into greater dimensions of vision and destiny due to lack of knowledge. As a result, some ministries may never capture their optimum purpose and destiny. Some pastors are too often intimidated by any hint of exposure and they don’t necessarily like to have anyone stirring up areas of complacency or inadequacies in their ministries. On top of this, they fear their congregation learning of the shortfalls or errors they may have, and the potential for public embarrassment can make them shun any minister claiming or demonstrating an apostolic mantle.

He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth Me; and he that receiveth Me receiveth Him that sent Me.
John 13:20b

The apostle is a gift to the body of Christ and the benefits of this ministry far outweigh any pre-conceived notions of shame or embarrassment. Apostles are not to demean pastors in the eyes of their congregants—that is to teach rebellion against the Lord. They are not to seek to draw a following for themselves—that is to function as a wolf in sheep’s clothing. The apostle is to build up and not tear down. He is to be a shoulder for the shepherd to cry on, if necessary, and an answer to the prayer for helping hands. His wisdom, insight, and discernment are to profit the body with sound instruction and counsel to guide it. The apostle comes alongside the struggling or pummeled ministry to shore up its exposed areas torn by warfare. He is to fortify the congregation, comfort and console the shepherd and his leaders, and leave behind what God Himself would leave if He had come in place of the apostle.

Another element of apostleship is that apostles impart spiritual gifts. In Romans 1:11, Paul said, “For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established.” The apostolic anointing is permitted the privilege of imparting some of its inherent power to others. This discretionary privilege should be used carefully and wisely according to Paul’s warning to Timothy. He told him not to lay hands on anyone suddenly, meaning not to anoint anyone rashly. Remember, impartation is effective only when it is given to one innately fitted and oriented to the position for which the impartation is bestowed, such as in the case of the apostle Paul to his spiritual son Timothy. Boundaries are fixed and limits are set by the natural construction and design of the persons receiving the flow. Attempts to impart one type of anointing to one ordained to something else is useless. The danger then of misapplied anointing is with the recipient and not the anointing. Victims of thoughtless impartation efforts fall prey to delusions. Rather than being strengthened and established, they walk away believing they have something that is not there, and try feats they are not assigned to or empowered for. Some of these can be spiritually and even physically hazardous.

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
1 Corinthians 12:28

A third element of apostleship is that the apostolic ministry enacts and institutes church appointments, ordinations, and installations. According to 1 Corinthians 12:28, the Lord Jesus left us offices, positions, and functions to staff His church and facilitate the execution of its mission. Being the founders and grounders, apostles are charged with overseeing and managing the appointments, installations, and assignments that fill these positions. This calls for identifying and equipping those qualified for leadership over the multiple works which apostolic men are sent to establish.

The Equipping of an Apostolic Man

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
Ephesians 2:20

Reflective of Moses’ knowledge and experience, and prior to taking on his assignment, Acts 7:22 records that “Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians and was mighty in words and deed.” That is knowledge and experience. God never releases apostles to build work without their being reasonably suited to the demands of the assignment and experienced enough to build it. Furthermore, the apostle requires continued training to season him for service and to enable his work to progress according to the plan of God. With Moses this was so. After he had successfully delivered Israel from Egypt, the task of organizing the nations began. Immediate counsel was given from Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, and later advice was received from those under Moses’ ministry – for example, the seventy elders.

Every man that God uses will have to be properly equipped to accomplish his assigned task. The apostle Paul was no exception to this principle. Paul had to be equipped with very important knowledge and principles in order for him to carry out the assignment of God for his life. The principle is this: God first makes the man before making the ministry of the man. The making of the man must be in direct proportion to the making of the ministry. God has to establish strong foundations in an apostle to carry out His purpose. God used each of Paul’s missionary journeys to develop and strengthen the apostolic authority and power in him. Paul’s journeys became the very school of his development. The problem with the church and with most leaders today is that the man was not made. And because the man was not made, the ministry could not withstand the demonic attacks against its existence.

by Dr. John A. Tetsola