Apostolic Teams

This is great article published by the Elijah List written by Bill Johnson.

"Apostolic Teams -a Group of People Who Carry the Family Mission"

by Bill Johnson
Nov 21, 2008

For centuries the people of God have gathered together around specific truths. Denominations and organizations have been formed to unite these groups of Believers. Having common belief systems (see footnote 1 at bottom) has helped to build unity within particular groups and define their purpose. Historically these groups were formed from people who were usually newly saved, or were asked to leave whatever denomination they were previously a part of.

Unity based on common doctrines has a measure of success. But there is an inherent problem with this approach - unity of this nature is based upon uniformity. When God is saying something new (see footnote 2 at bottom), those who are listening are usually asked by their leaders to leave the group they were a part of (see footnote 3 at bottom). Their newfound convictions and beliefs are considered threatening and divisive.

If the whole group doesn't move in step with what God is saying, there will be a break in fellowship. When agreement in nonessential beliefs are considered necessary for fellowship, then division is natural and to be expected. While doctrine is vitally important it is not a strong enough foundation to bear the weight of His glory that is about to be revealed through true unity.

Change is in the Air

There are major changes in the "wind" right now. For the last several years people have started to gather around fathers instead of doctrine. In the natural, it would be easy to imagine a father with two very different children - one politically liberal and the other conservative. While discussions would probably be quite lively at the evening meal, they would not bring an end to the family.

Gathering around fathers gives a stability that enables people to endure differences in opinion without falling under the influence of the spirit of offense. Fathers bring an element of peace that is impossible without them.

Spiritual Fathers

Apostles are first and foremost fathers by nature. True fathers continually make choices for the well-being of their children with little thought to personal sacrifice. They are not jealous when their children succeed, but instead are overjoyed because of those successes. It is normal for a father to desire his children to surpass him in every way. Brothers compete, fathers do not.

In the same way that a father and mother are to bring stability to a home, so the apostles and prophets are the stability of the Church. The Apostle Paul calls them the Church's foundation (see Ephesians 2:20). Good foundations bring stability. The concept of team ministry starts with these two. Stability is the primary fruit of the ministry of the apostolic team.

Team Makeup

Apostolic teams are not necessarily made up of just apostles and prophets. They are a group of people that carry the "family mission" without selfish agendas. They are sent by their leadership, and entrusted with delegated authority to establish God's rule in their realm of experience and expertise. When they go with that heart, they carry an apostolic anointing because they function under the umbrella of the apostle's authority.

We can't be co-missioned until we're in sub-mission to the primary mission. This is true of every Believer before God. But it is especially true of apostolic teams. Setting aside personal agendas is a big part of the success of team ministry. Many teams have failed in their mission because of an individual who wanted his/her gift or opinion to be recognized.

Measure of Rule

A big misunderstanding occurs when apostles think they have the same measure of authority in every geographical location. When Paul went to Jerusalem to participate in the first Apostolic Council (see Acts 15), he submitted his experiences to the other apostles who had also gathered there. It wasn't until James the apostle in Jerusalem spoke that there were any conclusions.

A true apostle carries their apostolic authority wherever they go, but it is foolish for him to not recognize local authority. The same is true with apostolic teams. It is their respect for the local Church and the Biblical authority that helps them to serve effectively.

Authority, like favor, is for the benefit of others. It is not a title to help in building one's own self-esteem, and is never for personal gain. For that reason, the Apostle is at the "bottom of the stack"...the "least of all." The title simply recognizes function. And that function is to make others better and more complete in their walk with the Lord.

The Purpose of the Title

Throughout history, there have been many ordinary individuals who have become desperate for God in unusual ways and have sought God with reckless abandon. The encounters they had with God made them appear extraordinary. Their breakthrough made them household names with remarkable gifts and ministries. But when God gives someone an unusual gift, it is never for the purpose of acquiring admiration and fame, or even drawing big crowds. Those things are normal byproducts, but they are not the purpose.

The place of favor that one gets as a result of God's unusual touch on their lives is a God-given position to equip others. It is God's heart to take those high points of human experience in the man or woman of God and make them the new norm for the Believer. Equipping the saints becomes the focus of true fathers.

The Spirit of Revelation

One of the things that helped to keep the early Church strong and healthy was their continual devotion to the apostles' doctrine (see Acts 2:42). However, you'll notice that there is no mention of a list of beliefs that the Bible declares to be the official record of important doctrines. It is safe to say the "apostles' doctrine" is referring to something other than a specific list.

Peter understood this when he exhorted the Church concerning "present truth" (see 2 Peter 1:12). That phrase is to direct our attention to that which the Lord is emphasizing for this season. That is the apostle's doctrine. The word coming from apostles is to bring clarification of the Father's focus for the Church, and in turn strengthen our resolve to His purposes. Fresh revelation carries fresh fire, which helps us to maintain the much needed fire in our souls.

Apostles carry a blueprint in their hearts concerning the Church and God's purposes on the earth. They are used to bring fresh revelation to the Church. Apostolic teams are sent to represent their spiritual father, and carry the word that has been entrusted to their "tribe." They help bring an understanding and establish an order needed in the particular location they were sent to.

The Need for Others

God never gives the whole picture of His plan for the Church to one father/apostle, or even to one tribe. Scriptures declare that "we" have the mind of Christ (see 1 Corinthians 2:6), not "I." Dependence upon the whole is essential for us to grow up in a way that pleases Christ. As the various "tribes" learn to work together we will see a more complete picture of the Father's intent for planet Earth.

The revelation carried by Apostles and the five-fold ministry will result in a Church coming to a common knowledge of the Son of God (see Ephesians 4). Much division presently exists in this area. He is our common focus. A study of the Scriptures without the Holy Spirit giving understanding creates much religious conflict. Division exists because people are committed to different levels of truth that appear contradictory.

Fathers are necessary to sort these things out. Variety without uniformity is important. These teams carry revelation to help the Church to live out of a common revelation of Jesus - who He is and who we are because of Him. God's aim is to fulfill His word in 1 John 4:17 - "As He is, so are we in this world." We are to become like the Jesus revealed in Revelation, Chapter 1 - resurrected and glorified. We are not headed for the Cross - we live "from" the Cross. Apostolic revelation has that in mind.

The Day of Power

One of the more notable prophets of our day recently told me that he wouldn't be able to come into all that God had created him for until the apostles came forth to their appointed place. The apostles help release the prophets into their destiny, and vice versa. In a sense they complete each other.

Apostolic order without apostolic power is to be questioned. Order based on Biblical principle that is lacking Biblical power is tragic at best and deceptive at worst. Order does not exist unto itself. The wineskin exists for the wine. The wine is the focus. All order exists to house God Himself - not to restrict Him, but to accurately express Him.

Wineskins need to flex in order to be useful, because of the expanding nature of the wine in the fermenting process. The Holy Spirit brings constant change and to house Him means to embrace flexibility as a way of life. The goal is not to create a perfect structure or government. It is to create one that recognizes Him, and flexes with His changes.

Last Days Assignment

All of this serves one purpose - Jesus is returning for a Bride. For this to happen, the harvest must be brought in and must be "cleaned." He's not returning for a Bride that He has to heal up and put together like a puzzle in Heaven. He is returning for a Bride whose body is in equal proportion to her head, and whose parts work together in coordination. It's called a "glorious Church, without spot or wrinkle" (see Ephesians 5:27) in Scripture. Anything less is an illegitimate vision.

The Bride is to make herself ready for that day (see Revelation 19:7). As Larry Randolph puts it, "It is a perversion to think that Jesus will dress the Bride before the wedding." Our assignment is clear, and the gifts are in place. And they are all expressions of Jesus Himself. But they are simple in purpose. Represent Jesus to the world!

The fire of God must rest in the souls of men. Christians without passion are almost as great a mystery as Christians without purpose. Apostolic teams carry fresh fire with divine purpose. They enlist men and women to God's dream, and in the process the Church steps into her destiny.

Bill Johnson
Bill Johnson Ministries

Footnotes:
1. There are three basic levels of Biblical doctrine. 1. There are doctrines that are essential to the Christian faith – for example, Jesus is the eternal Son of God. 2. Then there are doctrines that are important, but not essential – for example, how we use the gifts of the Spirit in a church service. 3. And finally, there are doctrines that are good but not essential – for example, the exact nature and timing of Christ's return.

2. This is never in addition to Scriptures, instead He unveils what is already there.

3. This is far from an absolute rule, as many leaders are in tune to what God is saying. However, some are more concerned with preserving past accomplishments over and above the advancement of the Kingdom. This creates a weakness that tends to miss God's present word.

About Bill and Beni Johnson: Bill and Brenda (Beni) Johnson are the Senior Pastors of Bethel Church. Bill is a fifth generation pastor with a rich heritage in the things of the Spirit. Together they serve a growing number of churches that have partnered for revival. This apostolic network has crossed denominational lines in building relationships that enable church leaders to walk in both purity and power. Beni has a call to intercession that is an integral part of the Bethel Church mission. She is in charge of the Bethel's Prayer House, ministry teams and the intercessors. The Lord has given her a heart for broken people of all ages.

The present move of God has brought Bill into a deeper understanding of the phrase, "on Earth as it is in Heaven." Healing and deliverance must become the common expression of this Gospel of power once again. Bill and the Bethel Church family have taken on this theme for life and ministry. Healings, ranging from cancer to broken bones, to learning disorders and emotional healing, happen with regularity. The church is learning how to take this anointing to the schools, workplace, and neighborhoods with similar results.

Has the church become numb ...

As a physician I use lidocaine all the time to numb the skin prior to any simple surgical procedure. The medication initially dulls and then prevents any nerve pain sensation transmission for a short period of time. Has the present day church become numb? Has rationalism and progressive secularism worldview so infiltrated the hearts and minds of the church that it has produced what I call a lidocaine effect?  It distorts and blurs perception. The true and false are no longer recognizable. Therefore they exist together battling for prominence in expression through our belief system.

The church has become dull of hearing.

We have prayed earnestly for revival or renewal for years  In my local area Pastors and Church Leadership throughout the city have gathered together in prayer meetings and local conferences where prophetic words have been delivered concerning the coming revival. Faith, prayer, and intercession  for the revival is not lacking.  Promises God has made to individual leadership throughout the years are declared and decreed from local pulpits. Anticipation for a revelation of God is the norm. So we sing a little louder. Sermons are delivered with more passion. Worship services occasionally go longer than the allotted 20 minutes infringing on the announcements. Altar services and calls have become in vouge again.

Yet will we recognize revival when it comes?

I am not sure if the majority of God's people will be able to recognize, acknowledge , let alone be willing to participate in revival. We have become dull of hearing. Unbelief in the supernatural has pervasive effects on he faith expression of many Christians limiting their response of acceptance to revival fire. As long as God moves in ways that He has in the past or that has been documented in the revival record of Christian historians, it is acceptable and permitted expression.

My Pastor, Bishop Tommy Reid,  has always been a man who has instilled in me the process to seek and embrace the Presence of God. Throughout my past 30 years as a Christian, I have seen the church go through many conflicts and disagreements as he has led the congregation into following after God's Presence. Recently he made a statement that has echoed through my thoughts. He said, "As the Charismatic Movement transformed the church culture, the next move of God will transform society"

"As the Charismatic Movement transformed the church culture, the next move of God will transform society"

 by Bishop Tommy Reid

God always has a way of showing up in unexpected ways. To Moses it was a burning bush. To Pharaoh it was a smelly shepherd clothed in torn wilderness garments wielding the power of God. To Goliath and Saul, it was a simple unadorned teenage boy with a sling shot. To Eli it was a little boy he was babysitting. To the Jews it was a King baby born in a manger.

God never uses the majority or the familiar and  accepted to birth a reviavl.

God chooses the unexpected, the unfamiliar, the unacceptable, at times the offensive and untrained to speak His voice to a people or a denomination or even a nation. If the next move of God is to transform society, as it develops, the friction between the new, unacceptable and unfamiliar ways eroding into the old mindset and actions will produce conflict. This conflict will naturally produce controversy in the Body of Christ.

Jesus said, Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and daughter against her mother, and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man's enemies will be members of his household. ... Matt. 10:34-

Over 30 years ago, I left the Baptist camp theologically and embraced the baptism of the Holy Spirit in an Assemblies of God church. I was involved in a conservative youth ministry which had a christian bookstore on their premises. Books with a charismatic or pentecostal viewpoint were placed on the Cult bookshelf (Although the Senior Minister at that time had no problem with Pentecostals coming to his weekly evangelistic meeting where he took the offering to meet his daily expenses). I vividly remember the night when the senior minister took me aside to discuss where I was going to church.  I told him-The Tabernacle a local Assemblies of God church where the Charismatic Movement was occurring. He took several minutes to share with me his concern.  In his mind, there was a deception taking place in the Charismatic Movement and it was called the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. There was so much controversy over at that church.  People were speaking in tongues.  His theology dictated that tongues had ceased.  And to participate with any of the events and activities at that church was leading me into error. For the first time I understood what Jesus was talking about in Matthew 10.

 When revival does come to our nation or to our communities it may not be in the form that you are expecting. Could it be that God comes in and unfashionable way to challenge the hearts of his people? The prize of this movement is not to have signs and wonders occur in your church or in your life, the prize is to seek the face of God with passion.  Once passion is ignited in your life, faith is mixed with the Word of God, signs and wonders will follow.

Let's Not Have a Civil War - Christians!!!

What Does God Do With A Christian With Bad Doctrine?

Recently I recieved an email (posted below) from Andrew Strom list - although I do not agree with him most of the time and that we will know our brothers/sisters by their fruits, he had an interesting post. It highlights the problems we as Christians have faced since the Book of Acts - DIVISION. It took Peter years to let go of the customs of Judaism. Was he a Christian with bad doctrine? Yes

Did God love him less than the other Apostle's? Did he lose his call to be an Apostle because his teaching was in error concerning circumcision? Did signs and wonder's cease due to his misconceptions concerning the redemptive action of Christ on the cross? The answer is no!

We as a Christian faith have always remain divided. I remember the charismatic movement's birth. It sure divided the church. The thought said in the corridor of non-charismatic expression churches was - How could this movement be of God since it caused splits, church wounds, along with division in the Body? Yet it imparted a tremendous truth to the Body of Christ - spiritual gifting.

The Lakeland Outpouring is addressing an aspect of the Kingdom of God which needs to be restored in the daily life of the church - the supernatural working of signs and wonders of being in His Presence

Our distinction as Christians should be one of divine love for each other in the Body. There is no doubt in my mind that Todd Bentley is a brother in the Lord. We share and drink from the common cup in communion. Although I may not agree with everything done at Lakeland or the teaching of Andrew Strom, lets learn the art of disagreement without causing a Civil War in the Body.

Lee Grady, Editor of Charisma writes:
"Some leaders say the controversial Lakeland Revival is forcing us
to choose sides. But I don't believe God wants to split our movement.

"It's been more than 10 years since charismatic prophet Rick Joyner
predicted in his popular book The Final Quest that believers would
experience a Civil War in the church. Joyner's book, based on a
series of visions he says God showed him, describes in graphic
detail a turbulent conflict that redefines Christianity as we know it.

"Other charismatic leaders have echoed this theme since Joyner's
book was published in 1996. They have predicted that our move-
ment will be divided between "Blues" (those who constantly live
in the supernatural realm of dreams, visions and miracles) and
"Grays" (those who rely more on their intellect), and that the Blues
will win and usher in true revival as champions of the Holy Spirit's power.

"Even in early 2008, before the Lakeland Revival erupted in Florida
in April, some charismatic prophets were declaring that a great
rift would divide those who believe in "the glory realm" and those
who have a more conservative, left-brained approach to their faith.
When God TV began its nightly broadcasts of evangelist Todd
Bentley's healing meetings in Lakeland, the Civil War prophecies
reappeared overnight on hundreds of blogs and e-mail blasts.

"I'll admit I was not paying too much attention to these Civil War
predictions 10 years ago. But I was jolted into reality in May after
I wrote an online column in which I raised honest questions about
some of Bentley's teachings and techniques. Even though I
celebrated his passion and zeal, and praised God for the healings
that were reported in Lakeland, I was immediately branded a revival
critic and banished to the Gray camp.

"I became the bad guy because, by asking questions, I was
'relying on my intellect.' To those in the Blue camp, my skepticism
made me an enemy of the Holy Spirit and all things supernatural -
even though I believe that all the supernatural gifts of the Holy
Spirit are for today!

"I tried to laugh this off at first. Surely, I imagined, my Christian
brothers and sisters do not really think it is wrong for a Spirit-filled
believer to test the spirits (which we are instructed to do in 1 John
4:1), discern truth (see 2 Pet. 3:17) or evaluate prophecies and
angelic encounters (see 1 Cor. 14:29, Gal. 1:6-8).

"But now I realize that some people really want a war. They want
the charismatic movement to split right down the middle. They
imply that all those who do not embrace 100 percent of the current
movement in Lakeland are "old wineskins" that cannot be used by
God in the coming revival.

"I can't even describe how much this hurts because I love people
on both sides of this conflict. I love the Blues and the Grays, along
with every other color in the body of Christ. I refuse to believe that
God is trying to split us. Division is the devil's work.

"I want to plead with everyone in our movement to reconsider the
whole Civil War scenario. Instead of rattling sabers and stockpiling
gunpowder, maybe we need to take steps in the opposite direction:

1. Let's accept one another...

2. Let's admonish one another....
[B]ecause I embrace Todd Bentley as my brother in Christ, I must
take a higher road even if I don't agree with his prayer methods or
his claims regarding angels. Anything I say, even if it is corrective,
must be said in love (see Eph. 4:15).

3. Let's pray for one another (see James 5:16). Jesus prayed that
we would be one. There is no record of Him praying that we would
split over doctrine. So why in the world would any of us hope for
a Civil War?

"Please pray for Bentley - and for the leaders who are speaking
into his life during this season. And pray that the church will not
only experience genuine spiritual revival but also true unity. Let's
work out our differences, support one another's ministries and
focus all our efforts on one common goal: To tell a lost world about
the love of Jesus."  [~Source: www.fireinmybones.com]

Thoughts after being at the Lakeland Outpouring

My thoughts after being down in Lakeland for the past two nights -

• This present outpouring is a legitimate move of God. As with any move of God in this past century, there will always be extremes demonstrated in its birth. Look at the past revival from Azusa Street and the  acts and questionable life events surrounding Aimee Simple McPherson  William Branam, A.A. Allen and on to Oral Roberts Healing Tent Crusades were all opposed by the secular press and well meaning traditionalist Christians who did not like the new demonstrations of the Holy Spirit.  Lets not hasten to judgement. Just as history looks back at these movements with endorsement of the impartation(s) of the Spirit steering the church to its present position on the timeline of God's destiny, God willing,  this  movement could affect the next leadership generation of the church.
  • The presence of God  is what is attracting people to the Outpouring at Lakeland, FL.
  •  The Leadership at Lakeland has to maintain the pursuit after God and work to maintain that pure stream. It will be easy to let this slide into meetings just for signs and wonders.
  • If this Outpouring is to have any lasting influence in the culture of the church - the movement will mature as it continues to seek after the face of God and not just His hand. It will falter if the leadership is shortsighted. Just as the railroad industry failed because they failed to understand what business they were operating in. In the day of plenty the business execs of the Railroad Industry thought the boom would never end. They didn't mature. They did not recognize that they were in the transportation industry. This movement started seeking after the presence and heart of God in which signs and wonders were incidental not an end in themselves.
  • They will need to survive a leadership crisis. Not sure exactly what all this means, but in my spirit I feel a possible crisis could loom. This forces people to decide who they are folowing - God or man.

Update on Saturday, August 30, 2008 at 11:45PM by M.J. Pelechaty

After being at the revival for several days - I felt that there was going to be crisis in their Leadership. Little did I expect that it would be Todd in the center of the controversy. Yet there were warning signs - if you were observant and listening intently to the messages. The first warning light for me was the fact that Todd's preaching was taking on the tone of anger. In every revival there will always be many critical voices. In my opinion, Andrew Strom was Lakeland loudest critic. If you read any of his writings they were not only to warn the Body of Christ of excess but to tear down and destroy. I honestly believe he is motivated from offense and bitterness. As his writings gained more prominence in the cyberspace world - Todd seemed to be answering the criticism initially with anger and eventually with pride. This was the beginning of the end. The focus of the meetings shifted from the recognition of God's presence to maintaining the the organization Freshfire Ministries had created. Finances must have been overwhelming. By the way, whose idea was to meet 7 days a week? In retrospect, that was a mistake! The meetings became more unorganized and diffuse. It appeared no one knew who was in charge. Unbridled passion without direction produced public confusion. As I sat in the meetings talking with other believers from around the Country, it became painfully obvious these meetings were not going to last unless a strong pastoral team gained control of the organization. It was never clear to me the relationship Todd's ministry had with Steve Strader's church. Cooperative or competitive? Todd must have realized early on that without Pastoral Leadership he was going to flounder. In going forward, Freshfire's relationship with the local church is what concerns me the most. One can live in evangelistic fire and hype for so long until burnout occurs. Todd's personal life may have succumb to the stresses in building an International Ministry, but we are in the ministry of reconciliation. Lets not kill our own wounded. Todd needs to come under the covering of his Apostolic team. There needs to be a time recollection and healing for this young evangelist. He needs to submit himself to the men and women who ordained the meetings. Peter Wagner, Rick Joyner, along with the others who publically witnessed their agreement to the Lakeland Crusade must now privately invest in restoring and speaking the truth in love not only to Todd but to his organization.