Apostolic Strategy01

A Context For Change / 1
An
Apostolic
Strategy
A Biblical Pattern For

Discipling The Nations
Compiled and edited by: Gordon Hunkin

2 / A Context For Change
An Apostolic Strategy
A Biblical Pattern For Discipling The Nations
Copyright © 2006 New Covenant Ministries International
ISBN: 0-620-371-79-X
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the
HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright ©
1973,1978,1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of
Zondervan Publishing House.
All rights reserved. The reproduction of any portion of this

publication in any form without prior permission of the publisher
is prohibited. However, permission is hereby granted to reproduce
portions from this publication for use in preaching and training,
provided those portions are used in the context in which they are
presented in this publication, and full acknowledgement is made
of this publication.
Published by Every Tribe Resources (www.everytribe.net) for New

Covenant Ministries International (www.ncmi.net).
P. O. Box 67209, Bryanston, 2021, South Africa.

Email: etr@ncmi.net
Other Books in This Series

● Choosing Your Battles – 1999
● A Servant’s Heart And Skilful Hands – 2000
● Building On Apostolic Foundations – 2001
● Building An Apostolic Culture – The Restoration of David’s
Tabernacle – 2003
● Biblical Leadership – An Apostolic/Prophetic Model – 2004
● Mentoring/Fathering – 2004
Acknowledgements
Thanks to all who have given of their time

and energy to help publish this book. Your
willingness to help is not taken for granted
and is much appreciated.
A special thanks to Malcolm Black and Jenny

Png for helping edit the manuscript, and to
Donna McKellar for the cover design
This book is based on the module offered through the

International Theological Correspondence College called
“An Introduction To Apostolic Christianity.” More detail on
this module can be obtained from the ITCC website: www.
itcconline.net
Besides the material that was written specifically for the

ITCC course manual, the source material for this course
(and this book) has come, by and large, from previously
published material. This includes material that was published
in some of Dudley Daniel’s books as part of the Equipping
For Apostolic Christianity Series, namely, A Servant’s Heart
And Skilful Hands, Building On Apostolic Foundations, and
Building An Apostolic Culture. Other publications written by
Dudley Daniel that were used include: the series of training
manuals written by Dudley on Leading The Church, an
in-house trans-local team training manual called, How To
Conduct Yourself In The House Of God, and an article on Base
Churches published in the Let’s Talk Magazine #42. Let’s Talk
is a New Covenant Ministries International publication.
Extracts were also taken from the book, Now We Really Live,
written by Ian McKellar, and Authentic Apostolicity, a booklet
written by Chris Wienand. Finally, material was also used
from an article written by Rob Rufus entitled: The Ministry
Of An Apostle.
The shorter articles and booklets used will be offered as

free downloads on the Every Tribe Resources website –
www.everytribe.net. Dudley’s and Ian’s books and manuals,
except for the in-house manual, are available for purchase on
the website.
Equipping For Apostolic Christianity
At the heart of Apostolic Christianity is a passion to

be a Church that is determined to fulfil the commission
given by Jesus to "make disciples of all nations." We do
this by planting New Testament churches, training and
releasing large-capacity leaders, and bringing the whole
priesthood to a place of liberty and effectiveness.
Apostolic Christianity finds its expression through a

Church that embraces the prophetic purposes of God in
every age, a Church that has the ability to see the future
as God sees it and prepares to become the future.
Apostolic Christianity has a God-inspired zeal to

go and not to gather, to send and not to stay. This is a
people who will give everything, without compromise, to
be what God calls them to be and to do what God calls
them to do.
Table Of Contents
Foreword Tyrone Daniel Page 9
Section One
Introducing The Apostolic/Prophetic Pattern
Chapter 1 A Context For Change Page 13

Chapter 2 Components Of The Church Page 17
Chapter 3 The Cry Of A Sending God Page 25
Chapter 4 Laying Foundations Page 34
Section Two
The New Testament Church
Chapter 5 Mandate And Mission Page 47

Chapter 6 The Model Of The Church Page 55
Chapter 7 Apostolic Strategy Page 64
Chapter 8 Building Teams Page 73
Section Three
The Apostolic And Prophetic Ministries At Work
Chapter 9 The Apostolic Ministry – Part 1 Page 89

Chapter 10 The Apostolic Ministry – Part 2 Page 103
Chapter 11 An Apostolic Blueprint Page 117
Chapter 12 Prophetic Promises, Presence And
Purpose Page 134
Chapter 13 Being Prophetic Page 145
Appendices
Appendix 1 A Prophetic Word – Dudley

Daniel Page 159
Appendix 2 Characteristics Of A Healthy
Church – Dudley Daniel Page 161
Appendix 3 The Church Universal Page 186
FOREWORD
These are incredible days to be alive and we are privileged

just to be a part of this great journey!!
However, the Church today is facing many challenges –

the wants and needs and the demands and distractions
that wish to control the church, it’s future and ultimately
it’s destiny!! There is no question that we, the Church,
are busy, but wisdom says that we need to be sure we are
busy with the right things!
“Apostolic Strategy” has been compiled with the future

in mind!
There is nothing haphazard about God’s plan to reach

the world! The Bible is clear, the pattern is clear and the
message needs to be clear. What we read in the scriptures
needs to be what we see in the Church!
Our hope is that this book will help all of us to take stock
and give our attention to what is really important to God.
Let us “keep the main thing the main thing” as we prepare
today, the Church for tomorrow! It has been said, “the
Bible has no suggestions, only commands” - may we then,
not read it ‘suggestively’!
Be blessed in your journey!
Tyrone Daniel
Section One
Introducing The
Apostolic/Prophetic
Pattern
Chapter 1
A Context For Change
The authority of the Bible is a non-negotiable element of

apostolic Christianity. It is the full and final authority for the whole
of our lives, both personally and corporately. This must be true for
every issue we discuss. If we find something in the Word of God
that does not fit with what we have thought or believed in the past,
we have to lay aside our preconceptions, our pride and prejudice
and take a stand: no matter who thinks what, we will do things the
Biblical way.
We are living in a time that some have referred to as one in
which we will see the ‘restoration of all things’. By implication,
every one of us has to change, preacher and hearer alike. The Word
of God should direct that change. We believe that one of the key
passages that should guide us is the one in Acts 15, which tells us
that God is restoring the fallen tabernacle of David. Some have
taken this to mean a restoration in the area of praise and worship,
but the restoration that God has ordained for His Church is much
more comprehensive than that.
We believe there is a Davidic wineskin that God is restoring to
the Church. David had a heart to do things God’s way. He diligently
applied the Word of God in both his private and his public life.
Even when he failed God, he turned back to God and did not hold
on to his pride or his own way. It is significant that it was under
David’s rule that Israel won its greatest victories and captured the
most territory. This will be characteristic of the Church as we seek
to embrace the restoration that God brings to us. The application
of a Davidic wineskin, we believe, will include the Church being
built, without compromise, according to the Word of God and

according to the ways of God.
As we said earlier, this implies that we will all need to embrace
change in order to align ourselves and the Church with God’s Word.
If that Word threatens our present modus operandi, preferences or
theologies, then let change come. Our attitude and response needs
to be grounded in the kind of understanding we get from Acts 17:30:
“In times of ignorance God overlooked things… but now He commands
all people everywhere to repent.” While this relates specifically to
our initial repentance in response to the Gospel, we believe that it
also has an implication that requires us to be constantly repenting
of wrong understanding, or modus operandi, in response to the
revelation of God.
What we will be focusing on in this publication is the revelation
of God’s pattern for His Church. He has always had a pattern for
His people to follow in building His house. In Exodus 25:8 God
commanded that a sanctuary be built for Him to dwell in and that
it be built exactly according to the specific pattern that He gave to
them then. Even under the old covenant He gave incredible detail
in the revelation of that pattern.
In 1 Chronicles 15:13 we read again that there was a definite
pattern, a prescribed way that God had for the ark to be carried.
They made the mistake of not finding out what this was and “God
broke out against them.” Later on though, when they had found out
what the prescribed way was and moved the ark the way God had
ordained, it was great blessing that broke out.
Time and time again in the Old Testament God gave detailed
plans and patterns for His house and for the way He wanted things
done. Read Exodus 25-27, 1 Chronicles 29, 2 Chronicles 2:1-16
and Ezekiel 43-45 and it is clear how important this is to God.
If He had such a definite pattern for the tabernacle of the Old
Testament, then surely He has no less than that for the Church in
our day. He has always had prescribed ways.
We know that the tabernacle itself pointed to Christ as His
presence could never be contained in a physical structure made by
human hands, but there was also a different ‘tabernacle’ that was
to come in which He would dwell. In the Church He has revealed
this dwelling place – a living, organic tabernacle, built with living
stones. If this is the expression of His dwelling place in this age
that was foreshadowed in the Old Testament, then surely He has
as much of a prescribed way for this tabernacle as He had for the
previous ones. We believe that this pattern is to be found in the
whole Bible and that details of how to work this out are revealed in
the New Testament.
These are accessible to us as we have God’s Word. He wants
us to know, especially as leaders, that we can hear from Him and
understand the intricate detail of how He wants us to build. He has
a blueprint. We believe it is based on Old Testament revelation, but
it is found in much more detail and clarity in the New Testament
– particularly in Acts. We find there the way that we should be
building the Church, both locally and trans-locally.
Much of the challenge in working this out will lie in applying
God’s Word as a Word that has absolute authority. This will be
contested and there are also the dangers of applying His Word in
a manner that He does not intend. There is a ‘Bible’ way to apply
the Word.
For example, there will be principles in the Word that we may be
passionate about and which the Holy Spirit has applied to our lives.
We cannot, however, apply all of those principles to others in exactly
the same way that God has applied them in our lives. That could
bring bondage to them. It is therefore important to find the way of
God in the application of truth. He knows best how to apply these
principles to each person’s life or to each local church. We do not
mean to say that the truth does not apply to everyone, it does, but
some truths will be applied differently in different circumstances
and in different people’s lives.
Consider this: there is only one instance where Jesus told anyone
that, in order to follow Him, he would have to sell all that he had
and give it to the poor. There is a principle here that applies to
everyone, which is that if we want the ‘pearl of great price’ we must
be willing to give all that we have in order to obtain it. The fact of
the matter is, however, that Jesus did not tell any other person who
followed Him to sell all their possessions. The application of that
same principle is different for different people.
When it comes to applying the Apostolic/Prophetic model that
we are going to examine, there is a Biblical way to do this. Although
it is rooted in the Word of God and thus rests on the authority
of that Word, we are not dealing with a model that is static; it
is alive and dynamic. There is also a continual adjustment to our
understanding of that model as we are transformed in response to
the increasing revelation of God’s picture of the Church in His
Word. For that reason we have to constantly ask God Himself to
show us how to apply this model.
This is a model that should always throb with the life of God and
should never be bogged down by rules and regulations that are of
our own making. It requires the life of God to thrive as it is a model
that cannot be sustained by human passion alone. It is a model that
brings and maintains a genuine liberty in the Church - a liberty
that enables God’s people to live passionately for Him.
It is thus vital that as we apply the functions of the apostolic and
prophetic ministries we must bear in mind that these ministries
should never have authority to lord it over any believer or any local
church. Even though they do have a significant role in building the
Church, they are never to control it. The highest human authority
in a local church is always its own eldership or pastoral team, and
that must not be lost or undermined in any way.
At the same time, as we will see, each church must be linked to
the bigger picture, the wider ramifications of the Gospel and the
discipling of the nations. This is where the role of the apostolic and
prophetic ministries comes in. What we will discuss is how trans-
local, (Apostolic/Prophetic) teams are valid Biblical structures for
facilitating this linking of local churches into the bigger picture.
There is, however, a particular way that the partnership between the
local and the trans-local is to be worked out, a way that is based on
relationship, not on hierarchy or institutionalised structures.
In the Scripture, particularly in Acts, we see that local churches

were established with the help of trans-local, Apostolic/Prophetic
gifting so that, from the start, the right foundations were laid into
the church. Likewise today, trans-local ministries are administered
through teams of men and women working together to build
the Church. Through relationship with trans-local teams, local
churches are linked to the whole of what God wants to do through
the Church. Let us be clear about this at the outset, if this is so
then this relationship is not an ‘optional extra’ for local churches.
It is the only legitimate (and thus the most effective) model for the
Church.
It is always to be a model that brings a mutual and voluntary
accountability to local churches and to trans-local teams. It is also a
model that releases the full potential of the ministries and gifts that
God has given to the Church. It does so within a God-given context
that is intended to prevent any person, local church or ministry to
operate independently or to build a platform other than one that
facilitates the work of the Kingdom. Jesus is at the head, and not
any person or ministry. All work together to serve Him and the
bigger picture, without any part receiving a profile or position that
is solely for its own benefit.
18 / Components Of The Church
Chapter 2
Components Of The Church
Let us begin our examination of God’s pattern for the Church

with what we believe are the three major components of the
Church:
► The wine
► The wineskin
► The worshippers/workers
The imagery of the wine and wineskin is taken from Jesus’

teaching in three of the Gospels (Matthew 9:4-17; Mark 2:18-22;
Luke 5:33-39) and is applied to the Church as a flexible, living
container for the wine. The worshippers, who are also the workers,
are the people of God who, together, form the corporate expression
that is, in the context of this image, the wineskin that exists to get
the wine to those who are thirsty.
The wine speaks of His life, power, creativity and activity in

the Church. There can be no argument that all that God does is
accomplished through the work of the Holy Spirit in the Church
today. This interpretation of what the wine is strengthened by the
passage in Acts 2 where we read that those who had been baptised
with the Holy Spirit were not drunk with wine but with the Spirit
of God Who had come down. Another text that is applicable here is
Ephesians 5:18: “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.
Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”
The wine is the Holy Spirit and the manifestations of His
presence and activity are evidence of that wine, but more accurately
Components Of The Church / 19
it is Jesus, by His Spirit, coming to the Church. We would like to

say then that the wine is Jesus coming, dwelling and working by
His Spirit. Through the wineskin (the Church) that same wine is
brought to the lips and the lives of those who are thirsty. So while
we believe that it is correct to say that wine is a type of the Holy
Spirit, we believe that the wine is to be more fully understood as
being Jesus – by His Spirit.
When we are saved it is Jesus who comes into our lives by His
Spirit. Paul writes to the Romans in chapter 8:8-9
“So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed
the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not
have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.”
It is Jesus that we want to see come to those who are thirsty. He

is the focus of every manifestation of the Holy Spirit. While the
manifestations of the Spirit are often the most tangible aspect of
the wine for us, we must remember that, as powerful and as vital as
those manifestations are, Jesus is the focus.
Having said that, it is important to note that as this wine is
poured into the wineskin and finds its expression in and through
our lives, there will be both intangible and tangible evidence of this.
There will thus be manifestations of the Holy Spirit when the wine
is present. The manifestations of the Holy Spirit through the ages
are multifaceted and varied and it would be absolutely impossible
to record every one of them. He is the Holy Spirit, who is the
Creator. He was active in Genesis 1:1 and 2: “In the beginning God
created the heavens and the earth,” and, “The Spirit of God hovered,
over the face of the deep.”
While we understand that God the Father, in His role within
the Trinity, spoke the word of creation, the Holy Spirit was active
in that process. The Holy Spirit was active in the creation of every
daisy, every lily, every different colour, leaf, shape, and bird.
What I am trying to say is that the work and manifestation of

the Holy Spirit is so diverse and so big that we would never be
able to record everything that the Holy Spirit can possibly do in
one book, not even in the Bible. We will thus find that there are
manifestations of the Spirit that are not specifically recorded in the
Bible. What we do find though, is that among all those that are
recorded, some of these manifestations are emphasised in the Bible
and others are not. A good guideline in applying the Word of God
is thus to emphasise those manifestations of the Holy Spirit (Jesus
coming to His Church) that the Bible does. This is one way in
which we can keep the focus on Jesus.
There are other things that the Holy Spirit does that are not
emphasised or recorded that we can enjoy, but when we emphasise
what the Bible does not emphasise, we get into trouble. When we
make something the focus that the Holy Spirit, who authored the
Bible, does not, we get out of step with Him. In the same vein, we
have to be careful when we say that something that is happening in
the Church cannot possibly be God at all. There are many things that
are possible within God’s creativity and which are manifestations of
the Spirit, but they are simply not to be an emphasis.
The wine is His presence with us in person. While we can
experience the person, He is not merely an experience. It is important
that we remember that the Holy Spirit is a person and not an ‘it’.
He is a person who acts in ways that impact and transform lives.
The wonderful reality of the person of the Holy Spirit is a precious
truth that has been restored to the Church in our time and there is
still more that we will see made manifest.
We believe that God’s plan for us is a fuller expression of the
Holy Spirit. The fullness of the ‘new wine’ includes the culture
of the Kingdom breaking into the present, either for a sustained
manifestation, or for a brief period – which is what a miracle is.
When the fullness of the Spirit is made manifest, signs and wonders,
healings, joy, deliverance of body, soul and spirit are all a part of the
‘natural’ lifestyle of the Kingdom.
We come now to the wineskin. We believe that the wineskin

of the Church is the structure of the Church. In other words, it is
here where the Pattern that God has for His Church will need to be
applied. There are at least four aspects to the wineskin:
► Vision – is rooted in God’s vision for the Church universal and

is given specific form by what God wants each local church to
be. It goes further than simply seeing people saved, and includes
the specific plan of God for each local church.
► Values – are about how we fulfil God’s vision without cutting
across Scripture or violating our conscience.
► Authority structure – is the actual structure of Church
government, paying special attention to who is released into
leadership and how they exercise it. The kind of leaders released
will determine the effectiveness of each church within the context
of God’s work, and for how long the work will be effective.
► Biblical working model – must be based on Scripture and
must be producing fruit.
The wine is God Himself and there is never any fault with Him.
The wineskin is the corporate structure (made up of believers
in fellowship with each other) that God intends to contain and
dispense the wine, but Jesus made it clear that there can be fault
with the wineskin. We can build a corporate structure that is not
built according to God’s pattern.
As we consider the Apostolic/Prophetic model of the Church
then, the challenge will be to learn to ensure that we, as a wineskin,
are Biblical, flexible and are expanding or enlarging. As He restores
a Davidic wineskin to the Church God not only wants to change
the shape of the wineskin, but He also wants to change the size
of it. God in heaven has an abundance of wine to pour into the
Church and there is still so much of the Holy Spirit that needs to
break in on us. For that to happen, God requires a wineskin that
can, at the very least, cope with more than we have seen so far.
Most of us have already experienced some wonderful things, but

there has to be more than that. It has to be larger than that, more
sustained than that. This is the desire of God’s heart, to take us into
the ‘more’. That is why He is intent on transforming the wineskin.
Always remember though that the wineskin is not an end in
itself. The sole purpose of the wineskin is to get the wine to the
people. When you are thirsty and someone has water, you do not
want them to hold up the container and begin to expound on its
benefits and qualities. You would not be interested in the container
at that moment; you want the ‘stuff’ that is inside, the water. In spite
of that, we see people travelling the world to look at the wineskins.
Many even try to ‘import’ the wineskin into their own context,
often without even having the wine.
The wineskin is crucial to what God is doing in the world today.
God has a plan, a very specific agenda, for this world. The highpoint
of this plan was the coming of Christ and the final fulfilment of
God’s plan will be seen when Jesus comes again. In between is the
age in which we live, and in that age the most important issue for
the Church is what God wants to do in the world through His
Church.
Prior to Jesus, God worked out His plan for humankind through
His chosen people, the nation of Israel. Since Jesus came, died and
rose again, God has focused His activity in the world through the
Church. Israel still has a role to play in God’s plan but He has only
one Holy Nation, which is now made up of both Jew and Gentile.
The Church was created to be the primary vehicle for God’s work
in the earth.
It has, however, often been the case that the wineskin, or
structure, of the Church has not been able to sustain the flow of the
new wine, or life in the Spirit, to the thirsty. Throughout Church
history there have been various moves of holiness and the fear of
God, but none of them have been sustained. The same is true for
various moves of power and healing.
There are many that pray for revival, for a restoration of reverence
for God in the Church. Some focus on holiness and holy living and
others wait only for signs and wonders. Many Christians believe
that today is the ‘harvest time’. Others will emphasise the truth
that God is restoring the apostles and prophets back to the Church.
These and other moves of God are all part of His agenda, but many
have failed to find a sustained expression in the Church.
This is not only true of moves that took place in the last seven
or eight centuries, but it is also true of some of the most powerful
moves of God that took place at the inception of the Church. This
is the case in modern day Turkey, which includes ancient Asia and
Galatia, where there are almost no believers left today. What has
happened to the Church?
We believe that the reason for this is that the pattern of God for
the Church was lost and, as a result, it was unable to sustain the
ways, the work or the moves of God. Revivals, holiness and gifts
of the Spirit are all important and vital to the development of the
Church, but they cannot be sustained unless there is a wineskin
that can properly contain and administer them. This being the case,
God’s highest priority is to prepare a wineskin that can contain
and sustain everything that He wants to restore to the Church, a
wineskin that is suitable for the administration of the Kingdom
of God. The wineskin is the Church’s strategic structure.
God is building a wineskin that is true to His Word and He
is building it to last for eternity. Therefore, the duty of believers
in the Church is to give ourselves to the building of a Church in
accordance with God’s Word and His ways.
Everything in a local church – the structure, programmes, and
even the leadership – should be fashioned in such a manner that
they facilitate the administration and sustaining of the flow of the
new wine that God is pouring out. We need to remember that the
things of the Spirit are organic and will not suffer being limited by
organisational models. What we need is God’s model. We cannot
simply apply any model that we see working in the world. The
constant challenge for the Church is to be adjusting everything that

is done to facilitate the in-flow and outworking of the new wine.
This adjustment must be made in response to what we see in God’s
Word.
There are many things that constitute a wineskin that is suitable
for the Kingdom of God. We will examine some of these as we
investigate the Apostolic/Prophetic model that God has given for
building His Church.
The wineskin is the corporate expression of the Church, which

is made up of individual believers. These are worshippers who do
the work of the Kingdom. The work of the worshippers should
always be motivated by a wholehearted, loving worship for God.
The Biblical perspective of work and worship is that they are
interlinked activities of the people of God.
As the wine and wineskin come together in an accurate Biblical
pattern the result will be an expression of true worship. Ultimately
God is not even looking for wine, let alone the wineskin, as vitally
important as these are to fulfil His plan. He is seeking worshippers,
people who are touched by the presence of God. Before church
members are anything else, they must be worshippers. There is no
value in us having a perfect wineskin if we are not worshippers.
All service for God is to be worship. We do not do the work
of the Kingdom with a heart of fear or because of any pressure.
It is a sheer delight. Nothing stops us working for God, because
it is a thrill to do so. If, however, we are only workers without
being worshippers, we will eventually run out of steam. If we are
worshippers first (such as God seeks) we simply do not run out of
resources.
The Cry Of A Sending God / 25
Chapter 3
The Cry Of A Sending God
“How, then, can they call on the One they have not believed
in? And how can they believe in the One of Whom they
have not heard? And how can they hear without someone
preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they
are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of
those who bring good news!’”
Romans 10:14
Having discussed a Biblical context for change and outlined

what we believe are the three essential elements of the Church, we
are ready to lay a more detailed theological foundation for what we
call the Apostolic/Prophetic model of the Church.
From the beginning the Gospel (good news) has been a ‘going/
sending’ – apostolic – message. It has always been in God’s heart to
bless all nations. We see this in the life of Abraham. He was called
to go and be a blessing to all nations, which would have an impact
for all future generations.
The Abrahamic covenant of Genesis 12:1-4 is called the “gospel
in advance” in Galatians 3:6-9.
“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your

people and your father’s household and go to the land I
will show you. I will make you into a great nation and
I will bless you; I will make your name great and you
will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and
whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.’”
26 / The Cry Of A Sending God
“...the Scripture foresaw that God would justify the

Gentiles by faith and announced the gospel in advance
to Abraham.”
Abraham, who is the father of the faith, thus had a call that was
apostolic; i.e. he was sent out. This apostolic heart is at the heart of
all Scripture.
“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would

later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even
though he did not know where he was going. By faith he
made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a
foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob,
who were heirs with him of the same promise.”
Hebrews 11:8,9
There was also a prophetic element to Abraham’s going. Not

only was the gospel proclaimed to him in advance, thus making
his life a prophetic proclamation of what was to come, he also lived
prophetically in that he went, not knowing, but trusting that God
would open up and reveal the way to him.
“For he was looking forward to the city with foundations,

whose architect and builder is God.”
Hebrews 11:10
Abraham’s life and call provided the foundation for the nation of
Israel and as a nation they were also called by God to be a blessing
to the nations. God always drew their attention to this and made it
an integral part of the temple – His dwelling place on earth.
“These I will bring to my holy mountain and give them

joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and
sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will

be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
Isaiah 56:7
In this sense they were undeniably ‘sent’ and they were, as a

nation, to foreshadow this plan of God to bless all nations. The
Old Testament is the account of God’s faithfulness to fulfil this
plan in spite of the wavering faith of His people. It is an Apostolic/
Prophetic message.
Whenever His people wandered from this call in Old Testament
times, God ‘sends’ His prophets. They understood that God wanted
them to ‘go’ in response to the cry of God. Isaiah 6:8 and 9 is a
powerful illustration of this. God calls out, “Whom shall I send? And
who will go for us?” Isaiah answers, “Here am I, send me!” The Lord’s
response was, “GO and tell this people…”
When we come to the New Testament we find that the word
translated as ‘sent’ (from which we get our word for apostle,
apostolic, etc.) is used approximately 30 times. The word ‘apostle’
means ‘sent one’. The first highpoint of this in the New Testament
is the coming of Jesus, the Great Apostle, who was ‘sent’ by His
Father.
“But when the fullness of time had come God sent forth
His Son.”
Galatians 4:4
“I must do the will of Him who sent me …”

John 4:34
“He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the

prisoners…”
Luke 4:18
“…but he who rejects Me rejects Him Who sent Me…”

Luke 10:16
“I stand with the Father, Who sent Me”

John 8:16
“…we must do the work of Him Who sent Me”

John 9:4
“Now I am going to Him Who sent Me…”

John 16:5
Jesus, in equipping the disciples, would often ‘send’ them out.

He sent ‘The Twelve’ in Luke 9:1-6 and Mark 3:13-15, and the
seventy in Luke 10:1-17.
“So they set out and went from village to village, preaching
the gospel…”
Luke 9:6
“When the apostles returned…”

Luke 9:10
Jesus, in turn, has commissioned His Church to go into all the

world (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18) and, in John 17:18;
20:21, He sends all of us, forever: “As You sent Me into the world, I
also have sent them into the world … Peace to you. As the Father has
sent Me, I also send you.” He has sent us.
As the Church age unfolds this pattern is followed by the Apostles
and the early Church. Philip went to Samaria from a great revival
(Acts 8:5-8). Peter is sent to Cornelius’ home (Acts 10:20, 23). Paul
sent Timothy (Philippians 2:19, 23), Epaphroditus (Philippians
2:25) and Artimus or Tychicus (Titus 3:12). The only time we are
told to stay is to receive power and direction (Acts 1:4-8; Acts 13:1-
3), but the result of that ‘staying’ was a ‘going out’ in great power.
David Bosch says (Witness to the World. p.184), “It is not true
that there is mission because there is church; rather, there is church
because there is mission.” This is also true for the Old Testament.
Israel existed as a nation because God had a mission for them that
was to impact the whole world.
There has thus always been a mission; it is not only a New
Testament idea. From the beginning God’s ‘mission’ has been to
reach the lost through His chosen instruments, the called-out ones,
His chosen people – the ekklesia. First Israel was “a light to the
Gentiles,” then the full revelation of God’s plan came through the
life and ministry of Jesus and is now worked out in and through
the Church.
Just as the cry of a sending God is at the heart of the Scripture,
being ‘sent’ should be at the heart of our Christian faith. The
Church has, however, erred by turning the gospel into a “coming”
or “staying” message. There has been a proliferation of ‘preaching
centres’ (‘come’ churches) that God wants to make into ‘sending’
centres (‘go’ churches).
Mission is still on the heart of God today. This will not change
with time! The Great Commission is still, “Go!” not “Come.” ‘Going’
means physically going and, for some, that means to permanently
move to another place. For others it may mean going on outreaches
or short–term missions.
Starting at “Jerusalem” – where we live – we must all go. Mission
is not only worked out in the foreign mission field but it is also
worked out in our own backyard. Going is an attitude, not only a
physical going. Some may go but actually ‘stay’ in their hearts. They
are always hankering to be back in their local situation. We need to
have a pioneering and giving spirit to return to the whole Church.
In the old way of ‘doing mission’ there were (and still are) some
who base themselves permanently or semi-permanently in what we
call “the mission field”. They are normally supported by a wide and
often unrelated group of people and they do not generally plant
churches. This is changing. Those who go out are now maintaining
their links with (being sent out and supported by) their local
church! Some go in, plant churches and then hand them over to
the local believers. Still others go in to “strengthen the hands” of

those already there, i.e. weekend excursions, etc.
God’s way of ‘doing mission’ has actually always been for the
local churches to be the sending bases for those who go. All must go
and all must give. Some feel they cannot ever go but they will give.
Others feel that because they go they do not have to give, but both
are needed. All should support prayerfully.
Introversion, the attitude of ‘staying’ and ‘keeping’ instead of
‘going’ and ‘giving’ leads to ‘bless me’ clubs and navel-gazing, which
in turn leads to strife and division (like the polarisation around Paul
and Apollos – 1 Corinthians 1), then decay and eventually death.
Jesus said to His disciples in Matthew 16:24-26: “If anyone would
come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow
Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it but whoever loses his
life for Me will find it …”
A ‘save myself ’ mentality leads to ‘poverty’. In Proverbs 11:24-16
it says, “One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds
unduly but comes to poverty” 2 Corinthians 9:6, 7 says, “Remember
this; whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows
generously will also reap generously …”
Christianity should be apostolic and apostolic Christianity is
always ‘going’ and ‘sending’. Consider the following extracts from
the Gospel of Luke that illustrate how Jesus modelled this in His
lifestyle:
4:31 “Then He went down to Capernaum …”
4:43 “… I must preach the good news … to other towns

also, because that is why I was sent.”
5:1 “… Jesus stood by the lake of Gennesaret …”
5:12 “While Jesus was in one of the towns …”

6:1 “One Sabbath, Jesus was going through the grain

fields …”
7:1 “He entered Capernaum …”
7:11 “Soon afterwards, Jesus went to a town called Nain

…”
8:1 “After this, Jesus travelled from one town and village
to another …”
8:22 “… Jesus said, ‘Let’s go over to the other side of the

lake …’”
8:40 “Now when Jesus returned …”
9:51 “Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem …”
10:38 “He came to a village …”
God is so committed to this pattern that the early believers

were scattered abroad when they settled down. Persecution was
the ‘catalyst’ that launched a second wave of going in the book of
Acts. “On that day, a great persecution broke out against the church at
Jerusalem and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea
and Samaria …” (Acts 8:1-4). Hopefully it will not take that again
in our times to bring the Church back to living apostolically.
Changing A ‘Staying’ Attitude
► Make a decision and mean it.
There is power in making a decision or choice. The children of

Israel were called to make a choice before entering the Promised
Land. “… I have set before you life and death, blessings and
curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live”
(Deuteronomy 30:19). Joshua also gave the Israelites a choice as
to whom they would serve (Joshua 24:15).
► Look up to God for help.
“…for it is God Who works in you to will and to act

according to His good purpose”
Philippians 2:12, 13
► Receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
“…wait for the gift my Father promised …” (Acts 1:4).

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes
on you …”
Acts 1:8
► Look out at the fields.
“…lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are
already white for harvest!”
John 4:35
► Pray for the Lord of the harvest to thrust forth labourers.
“The harvest truly is great but the labourers are few;

therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers
into His harvest. Go! I am sending you…”
Luke 10:2, 3
► Start giving - today!
“Give and it shall be given to you…”

Luke 6:38
Whatever you need, start giving it!
“…You will be made rich in every way so that you can be
generous on every occasion…”
2 Corinthians 9:6, 7; 10-15
► Start going – by equipping yourself to be a witness.
We need “seed to sow” – a plan of salvation (2 Corinthians

9:10). Equip yourself for a particular area you feel called to;
for example, linguistically or culturally. Make yourself available,
firstly to God and secondly to the leaders of your church. Tell
them you sense the call of God on your life. Let them begin to
“equip” you (Ephesians 4:11-16).
People will only “come” to Jesus (Matthew 11:28) if we will

“go into all the world.”
34 / Laying Foundations
Chapter 4
Laying Foundations
Christian leaders are called to help God’s people discover,

develop, demonstrate and delight in a whole Bible, Kingdom of
God, Word of God, Apostolic/Prophetic culture. There is a liberty
and a reality to this culture. It has authenticity.
While this is a supernatural culture, it is not unnatural. Sometimes
the two are confused and what is supernatural is actually regarded
as ‘eerie’, or may have an unnatural spirituality that is not properly
rooted in the whole of God’s Word. God’s model, however, is one
that is real, liveable, and enjoyable. It works.
We believe that this model incorporates all that the New
Testament Church ever was and all that it was meant to be. An
Apostolic/Prophetic model therefore includes the restoration of
what was lost, what was stolen and also what is most needed. This
is a model for the whole of Church life, one that is applicable to
every church and to every believer.
The foundation of every local church and believer should include
the following:
► Jesus Christ as the Chief Cornerstone – Ephesians 2:20, Matthew

21:42; Acts 4:11, 1 Peter 2:6, 1 Corinthians 3:10, 11.
► The Word of God – Matthew 7:24-27.
► The foundations of the Church being laid by apostles and
prophets – Ephesians 2:20.
Laying Foundations / 35
We forget that God only blesses truth and are likely to build bad
foundations when we do not remain Word-based. The following are
some of the areas that this is vital:
► Church government – we govern through committees and

constitutions – this is unbiblical. The Bible teaches that elders,
in plurality, govern the church (see 1 Timothy 5:17).
► The nature of the Church – the Church is comprised of born-
again Christians and not those who have signed a membership
form.
► Our preaching – needs to be Word-based and Christ-centred.
► The priesthood – the New Testament does not make a distinction
between clergy and laity.
Some of these will be examined in more detail later.
When one man tries to be the entire Ephesians 4 ministries

expression in a church it will also result in bad foundations. Normally
an evangelist or preacher tries to be a pastor, evangelist, prophet,
apostle and teacher. ‘Cracks’ eventually appear in his ‘foundation’
and ‘building’ and it runs the risk of collapsing.
The early foundations of a church are crucial. Consider the

following:
► There are both wise and foolish builders – Matthew 7:24-

27.
● Many build for a moment of recognition and glory. It all

looks good but when the storms come, and they surely will,
it falls apart. The foundations were weak, built by a “foolish
man” (v 26).
● Thank God, many build for eternity, and that demands
strong foundations (v 24).
► The Lord builds the church.
● Psalm 127:1: “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders
labour in vain.”
● Matthew 16:18: “... I will build My church...”
● Zechariah 4:6: “’Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit’,
says the Lord Almighty.”
► We build the church – 1 Corinthians 3:10-15.
● We are ‘co-labourers’ with Him (1 Corinthians 3:9).

● Paul saw himself as a ‘master builder’.
● He laid a foundation as an ‘expert builder’ (v 10).
► We must be careful how we build – 1 Corinthians 3:10-15.

What will last is that which is built:
● Out of love for Jesus.

● In dependence upon the Holy Spirit birthed in the place of
prayer and revelation.
● In accordance with His Word!
► We will not have good, lasting fruit if we do not have a good

‘root system’ (foundation).
● John 15:16
● Psalm 1:3
● Matthew 13:23-26
● Matthew 3:10
● Romans 11:16
● 2 Kings 19:30
● Proverbs 12:12
Clearly the chief foundation that is laid is Jesus Christ Himself

and this is the only valid foundation for the Church. It is a non-
negotiable. However, all three of the elements mentioned above,
including the need for apostles and prophets to lay the foundations,
are required for this foundation to be properly laid in the Church.
For a long time there was little or no acknowledgment of apostles
and prophets being valid and necessary in the post-New Testament
era. Thankfully that is changing, but we do not only want these
ministries to return as another set of titles that some can apply
to themselves. We need genuine apostolic and prophetic ministries
that build into churches in the way that God designed them to
function. Their role is to help the Church establish Jesus as the
primary foundation (1 Corinthians 3:11) and align all forms of
structure to Him, the Chief Cornerstone, and to build according to
the pattern that God has revealed in His Word.
The apostolic and the prophetic gifts are designed to work
together in establishing churches. The apostolic is designed to work
together with the prophetic, and the prophetic is designed to work
together with the apostolic. This does not reduce the importance
of the other gifts; each ought to be working together in a team
to equip the saints. In the context of establishing the Church on
a correct Biblical model however, the apostolic and the prophetic
gifts have a specific, God-ordained role to play.
Apostolic authority is given to ensure that the Church is correctly
joined to the Head of the Church (Jesus) and to the rest of the
body. It is also given to establish the various aspects of a whole-
Bible theology of Church in local churches.
There is no disputing that the foundation of the Church
universal has already been laid. This is an established fact and no
other foundation can be laid “other than the one already laid, which
is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11).
The same is in fact true for everything that Jesus has established.
These cannot be established again and do not need to be established
again. Let us take for example the cross of Christ.
The cross with all its power and merits has happened. It took
place in time and history. Yet its power can only be effective today
for those who embrace it in repentance and faith. I have to embrace
what happened nearly 2000 years ago as truth and appropriate
it by faith and obedience before that reality is appropriated and
established in my life. Without that response, the cross is merely an
event in history or a theological concept. Its power and significance
is lost to me.
In the same way, the early apostles and prophets have already
laid the foundation of the Church, with Christ as the cornerstone.
This is an important truth that should be appropriated by the
Church today in faith and obedience. Therefore, even though it
is true that the foundation was laid for the Church universal by
the early apostles and prophets, the present Church must apply
the implications of those foundations today. In this respect there is
a need for the present day apostles and prophets to see that those
same foundations are the ones that every new local church plant
is built on. Just how that is done has to be thought through and
properly defined.
If we limit the laying of foundations required by a local church to
the original foundations laid, one could conclude that the ministry
of the present day apostles and prophets is really not that necessary.
The reality often encountered by present apostolic teams, however,
are churches that have been started or planted that have little or no
foundations. These require a reconstruction process by apostles and
prophets whereby they re-lay good foundations.
Some situations we have encountered even required that the
existing church be closed down because of the lack of foundations,
or faulty foundations, and a new one started in its place with
Biblical foundations.
There are other situations where churches have inadequate
foundations resulting in a variety of problems. In such cases the
ministry of apostles and prophets are given by God to come in and

correct that situation, re-laying some foundations and strengthening
others.
It is for these reasons that the work of the apostolic and prophetic
ministries in laying these foundations in each church is still of utmost
importance today. These ministries play a vital and necessary role in
building into the foundation of local churches a full expression of
the Apostolic/Prophetic model that we see in the Bible.
Later on we will look at the work of these ministries in more
detail. The theological ground we stand on takes the view that all
the ministry gifts mentioned in Ephesians 4 are valid and operative
in the Church today.
Paul says in Ephesians 4:12 and 13 that they are necessary:
“… for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry,

for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to
the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of
God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the
fullness of Christ.”
Until this Scripture is fulfilled we have need of all of these

ministries. This is the context in which we will examine the function
of the apostolic and prophetic ministries.
In summarising what we have said so far then: God has a specific

agenda with His Church and the heart of that is not merely the
restoration of ministries and the manifestations of the Holy Spirit
(new wine). His primary agenda with the Church is to restore a
wineskin that is suitable for the administration of the Kingdom of
God and will contain, sustain and dispense that which God pours
into it to those who have need of it.
Herein lies the motive behind the agenda: God’s apostolic heart
and plan for all nations to be blessed by the message of the gospel.
This is a central theme that runs throughout the whole of the Bible.
It is the reason Jesus was sent and it is the reason the Church is in
the world. This being the case, we conclude that the very nature of
each church and all of its activities should have this apostolic thrust
as a primary motivation: to “go into all the world.”
In order to establish the Church according to His Word God
has specifically given the ministries of the apostle and the prophet.
As they fulfil their task they will build the Church according to an
Apostolic/Prophetic pattern. Each local church should make sure
that its wineskin (vision, values, leadership structure, model) and
its mandate and mission are Apostolic/Prophetic in nature.
We believe that this is the pattern that is found throughout the
Bible and it is the only pattern that will ensure that we are able to
express what is truly a whole-Bible model for the Church. Some
of the other models that we find in the Church today have either
been drawn from non-biblical models (like business) or they have
only emphasised certain aspects of the Scripture. As the Apostolic/
Prophetic pattern is applied though, the Church will be able to
effectively work out the whole of Scripture and have the impact on
the nations of the world that God intends us to.
At the heart of apostolic Christianity is a passion to be a Church
that is determined to fulfil the commission given by Jesus to “make
disciples of all nations.” We do this by planting New Testament
churches, training and releasing large-capacity leaders, and bringing
the whole priesthood to a place of liberty and effectiveness.
Apostolic Christianity finds its expression through a Church that
embraces the prophetic purposes of God in every age, a Church
that has the ability to see the future as God sees it and prepares to
become the future.
Apostolic Christianity has a God-inspired zeal to go and not
to gather, to send and not to stay. This is a people who will give
everything, without compromise, to be what God calls them to be
and to do what God calls them to do.
Notes Laying Foundations / 41
42 / Laying Foundations Notes
Notes Laying Foundations / 43
44 / Mandate And Mission
Mandate And Mission / 45
Section Two
The New
Testament Church
Chapter 5
Mandate And Mission
Mandate For The Church
The mandate of the Church is to go into the entire world – not

only to the cities, the suburbs or the streets of one’s own country,
but to the entire world. This is an attitude that should be part of
all that we do as the Church. All believers should have a “going”
outlook, even if it is only to the neighbour’s house to begin with.
In our hearts we should carry the understanding that every believer
and every church has the mandate to be witnesses in “Jerusalem, and
in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
Very often local churches are focused only on their own
communities and, while this is a valid ‘mission field’, no church
should be focused solely on its immediate community. The entire
Church, that means every local expression of the Church, should
have a heart for the nations.
We have seen that this is not only a New Testament concept.
This is the essence of what is read in Genesis 12:1-3; the “Gospel
in advance.” The Lord told Abraham to leave his country and go
to a land that God would reveal to Him with the promise that all
peoples will be blessed through Abraham and his seed.
The Church is also part of the seed of Abraham and thus
participates in the blessing and the mandate first given to
Abraham (Galatians 3:7-9).
God was so intent on accomplishing this that Christ left heaven
and came into the world to win nations for the Father (John 20:21).
Now He is sending the Church into the world. This is at the primary
thrust of our vision for what we do in the world.
It is only an apostolic Church that is able to properly fulfil the

mandate of the Church. The apostolic continuously calls us to
remember that:
► The mandate is not a staying mandate; it is a sending mandate.

► The mandate is not a gathering mandate; it is a going
mandate.
► The mandate is not a getting mandate; it is a giving mandate.
All of this must take place through the legitimate channels that
we see in Scripture.
The Mission Of The Church
The mission of the Church is to make disciples of all nations.

There are five keys to discipling the nations that we try to live out.
► Radical converts
► Trained, equipped and appointed key leaders
► Planting churches
► Established bases from which to operate
► Spiritual warfare
Let us look at each of these in turn.

Radical Converts
The answer to discipling the nations does not lie in strategies or

formulae. It is to be found in every believer living a radical lifestyle.
A radical lifestyle begins with a radical convert – a radical salvation
whereby every area of our lives is touched and transformed by the
power and the Word of God from the outset.
We are to become a people who measure everything against the
Word of God. Radical believers have settled in their heart that their
life is going to be lived solely by the Word of God: the Word of
God plus nothing, the Word of God minus nothing. There can be
no room for compromise.
As the power and the Word of God transforms our lives we will
be radical believers who are:
► Truly born again by the Spirit of God.

► Whole with respect to their understanding of who God is (His
Fatherhood, etc.) and are able to relate properly to Him.
► Emotionally whole.
► Relationally whole and are able to relate properly to others.
► Transformed in our way of thinking.
► Whole with regard to our origins and social status.
► Morally whole – delivered, have no baggage, able to resist
temptation and will not compromise His truth.
► Financially whole.
Trained, Equipped and Appointed Key Leaders
Effective leadership is one of the key elements required for

ensuring that we fulfil our purpose as the Church. Biblical leaders
are first and foremost servants of God who shepherd God’s flock
and leadership should never be exercised without servanthood and

a shepherd’s heart.
David is a classic example of the kind of leader that God is
looking for; radical, new breed leaders who have an uncompromising
integrity and know how to lead skilfully – Psalm 78:70-72.
Leadership is also not an end in itself but part of a bigger plan.
We must remember that the role of skilful leadership is to bring the
people of God into the greater purposes of God.
Here are a few essential characteristics that skilful leaders have
embraced:
► They have an ability to discern between what God has called

them to be involved with and what He has not called them to
be involved with.
► They have a good theology, one that is able to cope with life’s
realities.
► They know that even when God is with them things can ‘go
wrong’ and they are able to handle this – as Joseph did when he
was falsely accused and imprisoned.
► They have an intimacy with God and pay the price to maintain
this.
► They are able to handle both success and failure well.
► They are able to handle life’s disappointments.
► They are able to deal with the unanswered questions of life.
► They are faithful.
► They are able to seize opportunities for and with God.
► They are able to see the hand of God in every circumstance.
► They know the importance of building away from themselves.
► They are able to release people effectively.
► They are God pleasers and not people pleasers.
► They do not use their position to gain favour or privilege for
themselves.
► They are able to see the long-term ramifications of their

decisions.
► They continually develop their people, preaching, perception,
pastoral and praying skills.
► They are team players and are properly accountable.
► They are able to cope with change.
One of the most important attitudes of the heart is that we are

always building away from ourselves. By this we mean that we seek
neither to own nor to control the people we lead, but are dedicated
to creating real ‘priesthood opportunities’ for them and to build
them towards God and His Kingdom. Leadership should draw the
priesthood into serving God and the collective vision.
In order to see God’s people come into their fullness as the
priesthood (1 Peter 2:9), we need to learn the skill of being leaders
who are releasing in their whole leadership style. Skilful leaders
prepare people for ministry and give opportunity for the body of
Christ to fully express itself in all walks of life. Skilful leadership
is devoted to seeing this become a reality for every believer. It
continually labours to bring the people of God to a place of maturity
in life and in ministry.
If we are sometimes too slow to release others then perhaps we
can gain some inspiration from John Wesley who had three simple
criteria for ordaining Methodist ministers:
► Is Jesus his Saviour and Lord?

► Is he using his spiritual and natural gifts for God’s glory?
► Is his ministry fruitful?
Church Planting
Church (ekklesia – see Appendix 2) literally means “a chosen or

called-out assembly.” Thus the use of the word as a technical term for
an assembly or group of believers in Christ is quite natural. It is not
viewed as an external organisation, denomination, or hierarchical
system. The New Testament church therefore is a local autonomous
congregation or assembly of believers, which is a ‘church’ in and
of itself. The first occurrence of the word “church” in the New
Testament is in Matthew 16:18.
Since the commission in Matthew 10 sent the apostles only to
the ‘house of Israel’, and no further commission was given until
chapter 28, there was no worldwide task for the disciples until the
physical manifestation of the Church on the Day of Pentecost.
Since then the mandate has implied that the Church find local
expressions in every nation.
We believe that the only way to fulfil the great commission is to
plant New Testament churches in every village, every town, every
city and every country that God gives an opportunity to work in.
In order for churches to be planted we have to go.
New Testament churches are churches that have embraced the
whole Bible and are intent on fulfilling the Great Commission to
make disciples of the nations.
In planting these churches there should always be radical new
believers (who become radical disciples) who are part of the people
that the church is planted with. Making disciples involves training,
equipping and releasing. It means that we bring people to the point
where they are theologically equipped. Church-planters, pastors,
and leaders all need to be trained within each local church and this
should begin from the very first day a church is planted.
Establishing Bases From Which to Operate
Bases must be built from which we can operate into the world.
From its inception there should be a desire for each church to
become a base from which we can send people all over the world.
If a church has one hundred people, it is almost always true that
it has enough people to finance others going to the nations on a
permanent basis.
When we begin to see our church as a base, then we will also
handle finances properly and not be self-absorbed in how we
allocate them. We will use what we have to play an active role in
the mandate and the mission – going into the whole world and
making disciples.
We need to build this into the foundations of our churches so
that we do not hold on to our leaders when God wants them to go.
When we have a ‘going’ attitude we will always be willing to release
leaders (and others) in order to begin new churches and establish
more bases.
Spiritual Warfare
Spiritual warfare is about declaring the Lordship of Jesus in

and over every arena in which we find ourselves. All authority
belongs to Jesus and all authority in heaven and on earth has been
given to Him (Matthew 28:18). Every sphere and every kingdom
is ultimately going to be brought into subjection to His sovereign
will. Everything and everyone will be faced with the claim of God
and His Kingdom.
Spiritual warfare changes the spiritual atmosphere in a given
place or situation or set of circumstances. If there is no change,
then no spiritual warfare is taking place. Light replaces darkness,
truth dethrones lies, life overcomes death, and love overcomes hate,
selfishness, division and the like. The change is real and evident
when spiritual warfare is exercised.
Spiritual warfare is breaking strongholds wherever they may

exist – in our own lives, in our church or over our country.
Wherever they exist they will come into conflict with the Lordship
of Jesus. Very often even the will of the church is in conflict with
the will of God, and that brings bondage. When this happens we
sometimes think that it is the devil getting the upper hand and yet
it is only our will coming into conflict with the will of God. These
are strongholds that must be broken.
Ultimately spiritual warfare is waged in order that the Kingdom

of God and the lordship of Christ may come to an individual or
situation. For that reason, in spiritual warfare we should focus more
on Jesus than on the enemy.
The Model Of The Church / 55
Chapter 6
The Model Of The Church
The model of the Church must be rooted in the Bible and not
in the ways of the world. There are many successful models around,
especially in the business arena, but success does not indicate that
something is founded on truth. The model of the Church includes
the following elements:
► It is Apostolic/Prophetic just as the pattern for every other

aspect of the Church is Apostolic/Prophetic.
► It includes both a local and a trans-local expression.
► It is a model that is organic and not organisational.
The Model is Apostolic and Prophetic
As we have already clearly established, an apostolic perspective is

a ‘going’ perspective. It produces a culture that is intent on sending
and not on staying, on giving and not on getting. Many pastors are
only gathering people because it looks good when there are many
people who come to listen to them teach.
Prophetic authority is given to establish a passion for Jesus and
an uncompromising heart to do things God’s way. It continuously
points the people of God to the picture, or pattern, that God has
for the Church. The prophetic thrust is for the Church to become
all that God has designed it to be. We said before that a prophetic
people are those who have the ability to see the future as God sees
it, to prepare for the future and to become the future. What do we
mean by this?
56 / The Model Of The Church
God’s intent has always been for His people to be prophetic

by nature. In other words, to have the ability to hear God and
understand His plans and purposes so that they can then, by faith,
move into them.
In the Old Testament God revealed his plans through his servants
the prophets:
“Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without

revealing His plan to His servants the prophets”
Amos 3:7
In the New Testament we see the prophetic gifting and anointing

finding its fullest expression in Jesus. Jesus in turn passed this
prophetic anointing on to the Church and, although that is done
specifically through the office of prophet, there is now a sense in
which all of His people are prophetic because we all have access to
Him and to the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus is the Head of the Church. If the Church is operating out
of relationship with Him and is appropriating the gifting that He
has passed on to the Church in the power of the Holy Spirit, it
follows that the Church can enjoy the same prophetic nature as the
Lord of the Church. For this reason, the Church is by nature and
gifting prophetic.
The prophetic only exists because God reveals ‘His secrets’. He
has always done this and has preserved all of that which is relevant
for this age in Scripture. Only that which aligns with Scripture is
truly prophetic. Anything outside of this is not valid. We are still
dependent, however, on the work of the Holy Spirit to help us to
correctly interpret and understand what is recorded in Scripture,
to see the plans that God has for His people, and to know how to
apply that to our lives.
When we say that a prophetic people see the future, we mean
that they see what God sees for His Church and reveals through
Scripture and the work of the Holy Spirit. We will examine this in
more detail in chapters 12 and 13 of this book.
A healthy dependence on God acknowledges our need for this

ongoing work of the Holy Spirit and it is in the nature and ways of
God to give us this ‘revelation’. He has always done this and He will
not stop doing it until this age has passed. Without it we cannot
know His plan and purpose for our lives.
In other words, through the current work of the Holy Spirit we
have the ability to hear God’s plans and purposes for the future and
can, by faith, make the necessary adjustments in our lives and walk
into the future, or become the future. This is simply saying that we
become all that God intends us to be and do all that He intends us
to do.
The Local and Trans-local
We believe that the Church is expressed locally but that the

work is trans-local.
Each local church retains full autonomy to govern its own affairs
and own its own assets through relationship with an Apostolic/
Prophetic team but they are able to become meaningfully involved
with the trans-local work. More will be said about this in the
next section. It is, however, out of relationship and shared values
with that team the churches make resources (people, finance, etc.)
available to the trans-local work.
It is vital that there is never any hierarchy in that relationship.
Anything – committees, church boards, superintendents and the
like – that brings hierarchy into the Church, either locally or trans-
locally, is unbiblical and will have to be removed in order to ensure
that the model of the Church is truly Biblical.
The executive mindset of ownership and hierarchy that is
enforced by a person or entity outside of the local church is not an
Apostolic/Prophetic one. It is not a mindset that has come from
Scripture. It is far more of a business mindset that will try to use a
business model (organisational structures, flow charts, etc.) to run
the church. We must do away with this mindset and the titles that
go with it.
Any church that seeks to apply an Apostolic/Prophetic model will
have to remove any other model that exists. It is the responsibility
of the leaders within the church to do that. This is of course not
done without love, and one does not change this kind of thing
overnight. There is a proper way for this to be done that does not
dishonour the people who have held ‘positions’ in the past, or the
people they lead.
If, however, they are not fully removed then they may be
resurrected in the future. When a church goes through a crisis it
tends to slip back into what is familiar, or what is perceived to
be the ‘safe way’, and often it is those things that have not been
properly put to death that resurface. God actually wants us in the
place where, when we face a crisis, we will go back to the Word and
nothing else.
Once we have started to do away with mindsets that are
unscriptural, we can begin to build an Apostolic/Prophetic culture
into the Church. This would include embracing the mandate and
the mission previously mentioned, and a development of a culture
that is in its essence a going, not a gathering, culture. This culture is
set on sending, not on staying; on giving, not getting, and it seeks
to do this through the legitimate channels of Church government
and Church structure.
This is important because some church members have the idea
that they can go or give where they want to, when they want to
and how they want to, and this often causes chaos. Some give their
offerings without taking into account the Apostolic/Prophetic
model or the bigger picture to which their church is linked. This
may cause severe problems.
When we do not use the legitimate channels that God has given
us in His blueprint, we can easily end up giving in the wrong place
and to untried, untested and unaccountable ministries. No matter
how popular or how famous some people appear to be, there is
something wrong if they appeal for finance outside of the legitimate

channels of Church government and structure.
There is a Biblical way for this to happen that we find in 1
Corinthians 16:1 - 4 and 2 Corinthians 8:1 - 9:5. When Paul wanted
the Corinthian church to help the church in Jerusalem, he gave
instructions to this effect: “You gather up the offering and we will
then send someone down to you. Then, together with whomever
you want to send, we will take it to the church in Jerusalem.” Here
we see the legitimate Bible way of doing it; the local and trans-local
in authentic relationship with each other and working effectively
together. There is a tried and tested apostolic involvement that is
clearly focused on building the Church and not any one person’s
ministry.
Every one of us needs to learn to work through the legitimate
channels of Church government and structure and not to decide
for ourselves what we want done with what we give. The working
together of the trans-local and the local provides safe and legitimate
channels for the whole of our Church model, including our
giving.
Gifted, trans-local team ministry can work into existing churches
and help plant new ones, always keeping the wider implications of
our call in perspective. Each local church is to make sure that from
the outset the local and trans-local are working together at every
level, not only into the church, but also out of the church. This is
done by actively joining with the work that the trans-local team
does.
The Organic Life Of The Spirit
An important aspect of Apostolic/Prophetic model is that it

is organic. God sees His Church as a living, growing organism
and not as an organisation. Yet, when you look at the Church
today, we see that much of Church life is organised and very little
is organic. We must make sure that we are able to recognise the
difference between organic and organisational life and know how

to apply this as the Church is built.
Our churches will not grow if they do not have life. We must
be in the ‘life-stream’ of God. The life we are talking about is both
spontaneous and divine in its origin. It cannot be initiated or
implemented through the arm of the flesh. Since it is organic it
cannot be brought about through organisational methods and
models. If something is not alive, all the organising and planning in
the world will not make it live. So many churches try to introduce
and implement things that others are doing, hoping the church will
‘come alive’, but it continually just ‘fizzles out’. God alone is the
Author of life! In order to stay alive we must remain ‘plugged in’ to
the Source.
It is the Holy Spirit who breathes life into the Church. Much
of the symbolism used of the Holy Spirit in Scripture conveys the
idea of organic life. Wind is organic and so is rain – we do not
organise or engineer these. The wind blows where it pleases and the
rain simply falls.
Another symbol used is fire. Fire cleanses and it also warms and
comforts. Then there is the symbolism of wine (and wineskins).
Again this is an organic symbol, as is the new birth spoken of in
John 3:3.
In building the Church, the release of the Father, Son and Holy
Spirit must be active (John 20:21-22; Revelation 22:17).
Another symbol that is often used is oil. Oil refuels, lubricates
and keeps things operating smoothly. When there is a lack of oil
things begin to get rough and grind down slowly – they become
burdensome and heavy. This can be true in the church corporately,
and in our own lives as individuals.
Water is another example of this organic symbolism. John 4:14
compares salvation to a well breaking forth within us. In John 7:38
Jesus says that rivers of living water will flow out of our innermost
being. Ezekiel 47 and Revelation 20 and 21 speak of a river with
trees on both banks and leaves that are for the healing of the nations.
Wherever this river goes, it brings life – organic life.
A church is organic when the life of God is given first place (top
priority) in our lives, no matter what comes with it. Be it delight or
difficulty, pleasure or pain, promotion or temporary demotion, all
are completely embraced and never avoided.
A church is organic when it recognises that God is the source
and sustainer of all God-life (which is true spiritual life) and that
He is good. Organic life is “grace spreading through the many” – 2
Corinthians 4:15.
Let us look at a few of the characteristics of organic life:
► Organic life is both spontaneous and divine in its origin

(John 3:6). It cannot be imitated, initiated or implemented by
the arm of the flesh. Organic life recognises that God gives the
increase.
► It recognises that some things are only for a season and not
forever (2 Corinthians 3:17-18). We often make the mistake of
holding on to things that we enjoy, or that are working, and fail
to realise that God only intended them for a season. If this is
how we operate, He will eventually move on and we will be left
behind. When we are able to see the moves of God and the life
of the Church as organic, we are able to move when He moves
and bear the right fruit in the right season.
► It catches the spirit (not the letter) of the Word of God, and
the changes taking place (2 Corinthians 3:6). When we live
organically, we do not try to organise the Scriptures at every
level and interpret and capture them in a legal document.
Organisational life, on the other hand, tries to write down
everything that is allowed to happen or not allowed to happen
and put it into a constitution, or some similar document. If
something is only for a season, you cannot bring it into your
constitution. What will you do when that season is over and it
takes ages to change one article of the constitution? Organic life
goes to the Word of God to see what must be done, and then
does it. We cannot organise according to constitutions. We

must live according to the Word and what God is continually
revealing to us.
► Organic life also recognises that God’s way is team (1

Corinthians 3:6-7). We should always work together on what
He is doing. Some sow, some water and some reap, but only
God gives the increase.
► As a result of recognising team, organic life also recognises

that there is therefore no competition between those who
have different roles. Anyone who is competing with another
and is trying to promote himself or herself, has not understood
organic life. They may talk and teach ‘Church’ with their
mouths, but they are not living it until they see that the Church
is organic and not an organisation. Once we understand organic
life, there will be room for every person to play their part because
the whole team is needed in order to do the work.
► Organic life recognises that promotion only comes from God

(Psalm 75:6). As long as people try to promote themselves they
will remain where they are, only God can do the promotion.
Where there is organic life there is no one striving to be on top
or to be noticed.
► Organic life also recognises that every subculture that man

has developed in the Church must be both repented of and
broken. There are many of these and they are often expressed
in the way we speak, the tone of voice we use when we pray or
the words we use.
► Organic life does not give in to prejudices or fears, which

are often only the comfort zones of the people (2 Corinthians
3:17; Galatians 5:25). There are actually very few leaders who
do not give in to these. Too many tend to move out of the flow
of organic life and follow the preferences of the people.
► Organic life is flexible and it embraces the God-inspired,

Spirit-directed ebbs and flows (Ephesians 5:18-20). It seeks
for and accommodates the momentum of the Holy Spirit.
When we minister, we want to know what the Holy Spirit is
doing and move with that. I cannot do that if I give in to the
preferences of the people.
It is wonderful when it is not only the leaders, but the whole
group that is also picking up this flow of the Spirit, when
everyone is committed to the organic life of God and listening
to the Spirit to see where He will take us next. Everyone in the
worship team should be asking this question when they lead.
We should be ready, when we see what God is doing, to embrace
that, even if it is not what we had originally planned to do.
When the model is organic, everything is given to

accommodate this flow and everyone is willing to be stretched.
The Apostolic/Prophetic heart yearns for the whole of God’s
Word to be applied in the Church. It therefore embraces a model
that makes room for this; one that never gets bogged down in
tradition but is anchored in and dependent on the very life of God
Himself.
It is this model that enables us to fully embrace a whole-Bible
theology of Church and to work that out at every level. Nothing
in the Bible and no genuine move of God is overlooked, because
we want everything that God has for His Church. An Apostolic/
Prophetic model makes way for us to live passionately for God, and
to be people who are radical in their expression of His Word and
His life.
Please refer to the article on “Characteristics of a Healthy
Church” in Appendix 1. Although this is a fairly lengthy
article, we have included it as an appendix as we feel it will be
of value for all who seek to build a New Testament Church.
64 / Apostolic Strategy
Chapter 7
Apostolic Strategy
By studying the book of Acts along with the letters that Paul
wrote, one is able to see the Apostolic/Prophetic heart and pattern
in the way that Paul worked. To see this pattern one must look at
the big picture, but this apostolic strategy of Paul and trans-local
teams is abundantly clear when we look at the New Testament as
a whole book. The pattern for the book of Acts is summarised in
Acts 1:8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on
you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The whole of Acts is laid out
according to this pattern. This is also Paul’s strategic pattern for
ministry.
Initially Barnabas and Paul worked together with a team and they
set up a base in Antioch, which was a multicultural community
(Acts 13:1-2). The church there was a community that was full of
grace where people were being saved (Acts 11:22-27) and leaders
were being trained and released (Acts 15:35).
From this base in Antioch they reached out and preached, taught
and appointed elders in the surrounding provinces (Acts 14:23).
They were involved in planting new churches – Philippi (Acts 16),
Thessalonica (Acts 17), Berea (Acts 17), and Corinth (Acts 18)
– and in returning to existing churches to encourage the believers
(Acts 14:21-26; Acts 18:23). One of Paul’s teams stayed in Philippi
(Acts 16:40). Paul continued to work from this base in Antioch for
a season after he and Barnabas had parted ways.
Once Paul reached Corinth, which was situated on the outer
limits of Antioch’s sphere of influence, he wanted to plant a new
base. He thus stayed in Corinth for 18 months and “some time” (Acts
Apostolic Strategy / 65
18:11, 18). The church in Corinth never became a base though, in

spite of the fact that it was in a wealthy city and was not lacking in
spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 1:7). It seems that this church had the
‘wine’, but not the ‘wineskin’, in other words the gifts of the Spirit,
but not the right structure: the Apostolic/Prophetic pattern. We
read of some of the problems with division and doctrine that this
church had in First and Second Corinthians.
Paul then moved his base to Ephesus, where the local church
became both the ‘Bible college’ and the ‘mission station’, in other
words, the ‘training centre’ and the ‘sending centre’ (Acts 19:9-10;
11:26 and 13:1-3).
These accounts illustrate how Paul used key cities with geographic,
economic and political influence to establish key bases (base
churches) that could influence the surrounding area by planting
churches and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom.
As each new church matured it would then in turn become a base
to encourage believers, train leaders and plant new churches in
its own sphere of influence. Paul drew faithful men to make up his
trans-local teams from each area (Acts 20:4). He also used both
Jews and Greeks in his team. Paul used people from all walks of
life to help plant churches. These included people in business (Acts
16:14; 18:2-3; Romans 16:3-5), civic leaders (Acts 19:22; Romans
16:23) and religious leaders (Acts 18:8 and 1 Corinthians 1:1).
As he applied this Apostolic/Prophetic pattern, Paul based
himself in a local church; but his ministry was always trans-local.
He was continually training others so that he could hand over
ministry responsibility to them (Titus 1:5; 1 Timothy 1:3). Paul
worked with a team and trained faithful men to train faithful men
(2 Timothy 2:2). He always aimed at moving on from where he had
preached to where the Gospel had not yet been preached. (Romans
15:20; 19, 23)
This Apostolic/Prophetic model is still as relevant for the Church
today as it was then. Each local church has a sphere of influence
that it can impact and change. Each local church can extend this
sphere of influence by sending out both short-term teams and by

training and sending out church planters.
God’s plan with this Apostolic/Prophetic model is not only
for local churches to be autonomous (governed by the shepherds
who know the sheep), but to work in partnership with Apostolic/
Prophetic trans-local teams so that the church can be strengthened
in faith and grow in numbers (Acts 16:5). Local leaders need to
release trans-local ministries as God calls (Acts 13:1-4). Apostolic
ministries in turn set local elders in place (Acts 14:23).
When we build according to this New Testament pattern, we will
see New Testament results, in other words, not only local church
growth, but also church planting in areas not yet reached.
Paul was not a missionary – he was an apostle. He had three
major bases: Antioch, Ephesus and Rome (See the map at the end
of this chapter). The blueprint for his ministry was Jesus. Paul
obviously knew the Gospel of Matthew (where this blueprint is
clearly portrayed) by heart, as he would always seek to plant a church
and then preach, teach and heal the sick. His plan was to model to
multiply. He would train leaders and then send out church-planters
from his base.
In the same way, the 21st Century local church needs to become
both the Bible training centre and the sending centre. Leaders
need to be trained and sent to plant churches. Churches need to be
networked together by trans-local Apostolic/Prophetic teams.
It is vitally important to understand that this is not a new type
of hierarchy of super-apostles becoming the leaders of new super-
denominations. Paul was against denominational divisions, because
Christ is not divided (1 Corinthians 1:12-13). The Lord is, however,
calling us to servant leadership, to give more than we receive (Acts
20:35) and to be ‘co-labourers’ together with Him to build the
Church (1 Corinthians 3:5-9). A base church is therefore not a
headquarters; it is a resource church that serves other churches.
There are at least 18 key strategies of the Apostolic/Prophetic
pattern that are found in a study of Acts. All are necessary in order
for the church to be healthy and to multiply. These key strategies

are:
1. Preparation – Acts 1:14 - 2:4 (cf. Luke 24:49-53): Praying

for and seeking the outpouring of the Holy Spirit for the new
task.
2. Priesthood of all Believers – Acts 2:42-47: Releasing the
priesthood of all believers.
3. Partnership – Acts 6:1-7: ‘Deacons’ released to help lead and
care for the believers. They are released to serve and to do the
work of the ministry.
4. Power Evangelism – Acts 8:5-14: Signs and wonders to
accompany the saving of many.
5. Purity – Acts 8:20-23: Purity of motive and deed. Not self-
righteousness or legalism, but a passionate love of the Lord.
6. Prophetic Direction – Acts 16:1-2 (cf. 1 Timothy 1:18; 4:14;
2 Timothy 1:6): Prophetic inspiration and impartation.
7. Poverty/Prosperity – Acts 11:29: Generosity is encouraged.
God loves a cheerful giver and is able to release grace to those
who sow generously. 2 Corinthians 9:7-8; Philippians 4:18-
19; Galatians 2:10; 2 Corinthians 6:10.
8. Prayer – Acts 13:1-3: Finding the heart of God.
9. Pastors Released – Acts 14:21-28: Apostolic teams release
elders to lead local churches.
10. Pattern for Trans-local Ministry – Acts 14:21-28: Apostolic
teams move out from their base and minister from city to
city.
11. Participation – Acts 15:40 - 16:5: Team ministry and
discipleship.
12. Potential Doors – Acts 16:9-10: Great doors opening for

effectual work (even though there may be opposition). Breaking
into areas where the Gospel has not been preached.
13. Praise – Acts 16:25-26: Opens the heart and the way for God
to move.
14. Planting – Acts 17,18 and 19: Apostolic/Prophetic teams
helping to train new leaders and plant new churches.
15. Provision – Acts 18:5 (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:9 and Philippians
4:15-18): Financial release to support the work.
16. Preaching – Acts 19:8-10: Proclaiming God’s truth to a
confused and dying society.
17. Pattern for Building a Base – Acts 19:10; 21-22: Trans-
local teams involved with local churches. Building a model
to multiply, i.e. base churches. Apostolic/Prophetic teams
involved in training, sending (see also Acts 11; 13:1-3) and
planting churches (1 Corinthians 16:19).
18. Pastoral Leadership – Acts 20:28-35: Servant leadership, in
other words, a shepherd heart.
Many of these keys or qualities are, of course, represented in the

Church of today. However, we believe it is important that all are
present and active for the Church to build effectively on Apostolic/
Prophetic foundations.
The thrust of the ‘New Reformation’ we are experiencing
as God is restoring His pattern to the Church must be to bring
autonomous, eldership-governed local churches into relationship
with trans-local Apostolic/Prophetic teams. In this way, churches
will be strengthened in the faith and grow in numbers (Acts 16:5).
What was so obvious to Paul and his team needs to be put into
practice in our day.
The 21st century church must adopt the New Testament pattern
and turn our world right side up. In order to prepare the planet for
the coming of the King the Church needs to become an army armed
with the sharp two-edged sword of the Word, working together with
a common strategy led by God’s key men, the apostles and prophets.
We need to redeem souls, occupy cities and plant churches in order
to model New Testament living.
The local church needs to train up leaders and become the base
for sending out church planters. All of God’s people need to hear
God’s call. Local elders, and in particular church planters, need to
be networking and working together with ‘Ephesians 4’ trans-local
teams (Apostolic/Prophetic teams). We need to be praying for the
Lord of the harvest to release workers so that New Testament based
churches can be planted in unreached nations, and we can make
disciples of all nations. Then the King will come again.
Paul’s apostolic heart and vision sets the trend for his apostolic
strategy in the book of Acts. Paul had a Kingdom vision, in other
words, an apostolic vision. Not only a vision for himself or for his
local church or for his nation, but a vision for the whole body of
Christ and for the nations of the world. It is a vision for the Church
to be the flag of the Kingdom and for people to change the way
they live so that the Kingdom can come; so that God’s will can be
done right here on earth as it is in heaven.
It is not done through a hierarchy or simply through Christians
being in power in society and forcing change. It happens as people
are born again and submit to Christ the King. Without being born
again we cannot even see the Kingdom (John 3:3).
We now begin to understand much about Paul and his team and
how they operated. We understand that apostles appointed elders
in the local church (Acts 14:23; 1 Timothy 1:3; Titus 1:5). We
also see that local elders, together with the invitation of apostles,
released saints to serve on apostolic teams (Acts 16:1-3; 1 Timothy
4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6). We see local leaders (teachers and prophets)
sending out apostles from the local church to proclaim the Gospel
(Acts 13:1-3).
Moses was told to build according to God’s pattern. David was
told to build according to God’s pattern. We too must build New
Testament churches according to God’s pattern. God’s pattern rests
on the foundation that New Testament churches are built upon

– the cornerstone of Jesus Christ – in accordance with the Word
of God, as it is obeyed in faith. We believe this foundation is also
made up of the grace and revelation given to apostles and prophets.
We are convinced that it is this Apostolic/Prophetic ministry that is
needed in the church today. We believe the hour in which we live
demands that we recognise, release and support Apostolic/Prophetic
ministries and trans-local teams.
Base Churches
We have seen that included in this pattern is what we have called

base churches. We also saw that there are a number of clear models
of a base church in the Scriptures. Jerusalem, Antioch, Thessalonica,
Ephesus and Philippi are a few of these. We will give brief attention
to the first two, namely Jerusalem and Antioch, both of which
affected large parts of the Middle East, Asia Minor and Africa, far
beyond what they could ever have hoped for or imagined.
The same can be true for all of us who will open our hearts to
God’s bigger picture and make available all that God has put at our
disposal for the discipling of the nations.
The one church, Jerusalem, seemed to lose some of its potency
and effectiveness by becoming too centralised and settling down.
Acts chapter 8 gives us a good example of what we mean by that.
When persecution arose the apostles, who should have gone out,
stayed at home. After all, the word ‘apostle’ means ‘sent one’; one
who goes! This was a symptom of settling down – something we
must be wary of today.
The other church, Antioch, stayed flexible and did not lose its
pioneering spirit. It was always forging forward and breaking new
frontiers in the power of the Holy Spirit. This was always done in
relationship with a trans-local team.
Simply put, a base church is a base from which to launch into
a given, specific geographical area, be it a city, state or country. It
is a church that has caught the wider vision; that has a desire, and
the capacity, to give a high priority to the corporate (trans-local)
endeavour and not only to its own local work.
It is a resource centre, pouring concerted, sustained prayer,
finances, equipment and personnel into the ‘togetherness’ of a local
church in partnership with a trans-local team.
A base church reflects an Apostolic/Prophetic understanding of
New Testament Christian lifestyle. With respect to its vision and
values, it shares these with an Apostolic/Prophetic team with which
it has a primary relationship. A base church thus builds according to
a model that results in all of the shared values and vision ‘filtering’
into every aspect and ‘department’ of the local church. Some of
those values would include covenantal relationship, liberty, stability,
team ministry, generosity, the supernatural, equipping God’s people
to ‘explore’ and ‘experiment’ with their calling, relationship and not
only function, etc.
A base church does not merely accommodate but cooperates
with the team it relates to. It backs the team, supporting its vision
both financially and sacrificially as it participates in the areas to
which they are called to penetrate and plant. It exists primarily for
others and not only for itself.
We need thousands of base churches around the world to link
arms with authentic trans-local teams; to forge closer and deeper
relational ties, become more generous, and encourage their people
to become involved in the ‘bigger picture’. In doing that, they need
to stay flexible, be full of faith, and be open to any relocation to any
country, city, town or village God may lay upon our hearts.
God has said that He has given us “every place upon which our
feet shall tread.” He has also said, “Go in and possess the land...”
In this spirit we are able to establish beachheads from which we
can plant dozens, if not thousands, of effective evangelists, church
planters and pastors. In this way we will model and flesh out what
we believe, no matter what the cost. God calls. God commands.
We do it!
It is harvest time. Revival is in the air! There has never been a
greater open door of opportunity. Let’s seize it! We can!
Strategic Bases for Paul and His Teams 72 / Apostolic Strategy
Building Teams / 73
Chapter 8
Building Teams
Church Teams
Team has always been high on God’s agenda. In the Garden of

Eden God established team. From the beginning He demonstrated
the necessity for us to work together and not alone as we seek to
fulfil His mandate. We even find team in the Godhead Himself
– a Triune God who is One. The Trinity is a perfect ‘team’ – like-
minded in every way, in complete harmony and cooperating in
everything.
This pattern of team is emphasised again and again throughout
Scripture. Moses, the lawgiver, had Aaron, Miriam and Hur. Later
on he had the elders that God anointed. When spies were sent to
the Promised Land, a team of 12 was sent out – they were not
sent out alone. David had a number of leadership teams and he
constantly conferred with them. Jesus had teams – the 3, the 12,
the 72 and the 120. He also sent His disciples out two-by-two.
Later, as the Gospel is spread, the apostles discovered and applied
the same principles, travelling and working in teams to build the
church. For example, Paul worked with Barnabas, Silas, Timothy
and others.
Clearly, team is an important aspect of God’s pattern for how we
get the work of the Kingdom done; it has always been on His heart.
There is no room for loners in the call of God. To be alone (and
therefore to work alone) is not good. It is not God’s way. Team is an
important aspect of skilful church leadership that, along with other
elements of His pattern, God has been restoring to the church.
74 / Building Teams
One of the clearest examples of team, from which we should

learn, is the New Testament model of local church government. The
Bible presents a model where local church government is carried by
a plurality of elders. In other words, the primary leadership of a
local church should ideally be carried by an eldership team and not
by an individual. We do not see the Bible portraying this as a group
chosen by and representing the will of the people, and neither do
we understand it to mean a committee that is merely appointed to
fulfil a task.
For many years now, there has been a work of the Holy Spirit in
the Church to restore a more accurate model of church leadership.
Increasingly, governmental authority in local churches is being
carried by non-hierarchical eldership teams, and not by any
hierarchical structures. There is no Biblical precedent for any form
of hierarchical leadership in the Church.
As the Biblical model of eldership has been restored there has also
been a strong move away from the model where the congregation
is in charge of the church and votes on every decision. This was
actually a bottom-up hierarchy. There is a dismantling of both this
and highly defined top-down hierarchical structures taking place.
God has ordained that those who are raised up as elders for each
local church should carry governmental authority in that church,
as a team. They are not elected to this position and neither are they
chosen according to the preferences of any one person or group of
individuals. God has provided us with guidelines for recognising
them (these we find in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1), but He is the
One who will release the anointing and grace in them to lead His
people.
As we embrace this, our understanding must grow around the
fact that ‘elders’, ‘pastors’ and ‘bishops’ are all terms that describe
different aspects of the same governmental office in the Church.
There are three Greek words that the New Testament uses to
refer to this governmental leadership. The first is ‘presbuteros’
(Gk. ) – the word from which we derive the English
word ‘presbytery’ and which is most often translated as ‘elder’ in
Building Teams / 75
the Scriptures. The second word is ‘episcopos’ (Gk. ) –

usually translated as ‘overseer’ or ‘bishop’. Thirdly, there is ‘poimain’
(Gk. ) – which, for the most part, is translated as ‘shepherd’
but is sometimes translated as ‘pastor’.
These three words are used interchangeably. They are all aspects
of the same leadership function within the local church. The elders
(who govern) are shepherds (or pastors) of the sheep for whom they
have oversight (as bishops).
This is what we find in Acts 20:17-28, 1 Peter 5:1-2, Titus 1:5-
7 and also in 1 Peter 2:25. In these passages, and in others in the
New Testament, the terms for governmental leadership are used
interchangeably and refer to the same person or office of leadership,
often in the plural form. This plurality, or team, is also altogether
different from a hierarchy that would include these (bishops,
elders and pastors) as three of the tiers of authority in or over the
church.
The Biblical pattern for an eldership team is of an eldership that
is a team of equals who perform different tasks at different times.
Leading this team is one of those tasks and, although this may be
the responsibility of one particular individual, that person is still an
equal member of the team.
The fact that a team is made up of equals who each bring their
strengths and abilities to that team is one of the outstanding benefits
of team. It provides an environment for people to co-operate freely
and effectively when working together on a task, and to accomplish
more than what only the sum of their individual talents and skills
would.
In fact, this principle applies to the whole church. Every church
should function as a team of equals who do different things at
different times. Deuteronomy 32:30 tells us that in God’s economy
one can put a thousand to flight, while two can put ten thousand to
flight. As a team we share the burden of responsibility, just as Moses
shared the load with his leaders and gave them 10s, 50s, 100s and
1000s to care for. Paul also shared the responsibility and authority
he carried with those who worked with him.
76 / Building Teams
As we commit to working in team according to God’s pattern,

we enlarge the sphere of our influence and our inheritance. Each
person can only be in one place at a time; even Jesus was subject to
this limitation while on earth. As a team though, we can be in many
places at the same time. This is the kind of benefit we can expect
from team. We can each bring the little we have and find that it is
multiplied in the context of team.
Deacons, the other office of leadership that we find in the New
Testament, help shepherd the flock, together with the elders. The
‘deacons’ of Acts 6 (if we take this to be the first time that in the New
Testament that deacons were appointed) were required to attend to
the responsibility of frayed relationships and necessary ministry so
that the elders could attend to the ministry of the Word and prayer.
Deacons are servants or ministers who help train the saints for the
work of the ministry by reaching out to the lost (e.g. Philip), caring
for the saints (e.g. Phoebe) and wrestling in prayer for the church
to come into the fullness of Christ (e.g. Epaphras).
The ministry team of the church is made up of elders, deacons,
saints and trans-local ministries. All are the ‘A-Team’. There is no
‘B-Team’ or ‘C-Team’. The New Testament teaches the priesthood
of all believers (1 Peter 2; Revelation 1).
Apostolic/Prophetic Teams
The New Testament shows us a number of trans-local teams (Acts

13:13; Acts 20:3-6, 34) that are involved in preaching the Gospel of
the Kingdom. Some teams have wider effectiveness than others, but
all worked to expand the Gospel. We read of this happening from
Jerusalem to Rome as men and women went out in teams planting
churches, establishing bases, training leaders and proclaiming the
Kingdom of God.
Paul’s motivation is this strategy was to build a fighting force to
bring the Kingdom of God to the nations of the world. This is the
real key to understanding Paul’s pattern and strategy. We begin to
Building Teams / 77
understand Paul’s heart; his motivation for the Kingdom; the way
he built the Church with team ministry; the way he encouraged
leaders to be shepherds and not to lord it over God’s people; the way
he encouraged church followers to follow, to submit, to honour and
obey their leaders so that it would be of value for them. Paul was
not building a hierarchy. Neither was he building a democracy.
Paul worked with great men on his team. The Church needs to
do the same. There should be no hierarchies or democracies. There
must be effective strategising that is able to challenge principalities
and powers, not wrestling against flesh and blood, but against
those principalities in heavenly places (i.e. those mindsets, ideas
and arguments that come up against Jesus). Reasoning and vain
imagination that exalts itself above God must be brought down.
The Church must pull them down with the preaching of the Gospel
and with the living out of the Apostolic/Prophetic pattern, so that
there is great victory in Jesus’ name.
Reformation must follow revival and society must be changed so
that something of God’s Kingdom can come in our day, “Thy will
be done, Thy Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.”
Apostolic/Prophetic teams are a vital part of enabling the Church
to participate with God in this great work.
What is an Apostolic/Prophetic Team?
Some people say that an Apostolic/Prophetic team should have

one apostle, plus one prophet, plus one evangelist, plus one teacher,
plus one pastor. There is no evidence in Scripture to support that
idea.
The travelling team is not a fixed formula – it is something
dynamic, not static. Paul did not always go himself, but sometimes
sent a ‘Timothy’ or a ‘Titus’ as an apostolic delegate in his place. The
team is not some hierarchy of people who have ‘made it’. Neither is
it another form of denominationalism where the team replaces the
committees and head office structures of that model.
78 / Building Teams
The Bible teaches that the eldership of a local church is the

highest governing authority and no apostolic team should supersede
them. There is, however, a Biblical precedent that these elders have
a primary relationship with an Apostolic/Prophetic team. This
team then works into their churches with them and they (and
their flock) work out of their churches, with the team, into the
nations.
Paul almost always travelled as part of a team. There is only one
occasion where he is seen alone, at Athens (Acts 17), but he was
waiting there for the rest of the team to catch up.
Sometimes Paul travelled with people of varying levels of
responsibility in the relating churches – people who were not part
of the five-fold ministries or who were not necessarily elders or even
deacons; they were simply believers in local churches who wanted
to contribute their encouragement and support.
The account in Romans 16:1-15 suggests that some of these
people must have travelled at some stage with Paul. In Romans 16
he writes, “Greet so-and-so, greet so-and-so...” He obviously knew
these people intimately, as friends. See also Philippians 4:2 & 3
for an example of Paul’s obvious relationship with believers across
the region he had worked into. It is likely that he travelled with
many of them – not because they were going to plant churches,
but because they went along to support and encourage him in the
journey. Then, when those people returned to their churches they
were inspired; they had been exposed to a whole lot of things that
they would never have seen otherwise.
Each member of a trans-local team must have a home base where
they are held accountable – either a Jerusalem or Antioch type.
Team members may come from various local churches, but they
should never be ‘independent operators’ who are not accountable
to anyone. Each should always be accountable to their own local
eldership.
The book of Acts gives us a picture of trans-local teams
advancing into territory after territory. Strong passionate teaching,
Building Teams / 79
accompanied at times by signs and wonders, gathered people to

Christ.
Some of the indigenous people in these new localities of faith
were recognised and raised up to be elders in order to sustain what
had been established, and to release the apostles to continue the
whole dynamic process. The trans-local company would circle
back from time to time to strengthen and encourage the churches,
to appoint more elders, or to meet with the existing elders. They
would also take various groups of people with them to participate
in the advancement of the Gospel.
They faced formidable challenges in an often hostile world.
Although they made their mistakes and had their problems, they
advanced the Kingdom of God with awesome effectiveness.
How did it all work? These teams had no headquarters – only base
churches, such as Antioch. They had no constitution, no hierarchy
or centralised control, no voting for a position, no committee or
board, and nobody signed anything when they joined! Yet year after
year they went faster and more effectively than many of us today.
How did they do it? One little word – trust. Not only did they
trust the Holy Spirit for the agenda, but they built what they were
doing on relational trust with each other.
A Primary Relationship
The Apostolic/Prophetic passion is to build with leaders and

local churches where they can shape and fashion the foundations
of those churches for years to come. That is why a trans-local team
expects to have a primary relationship, founded in trust, with those
local churches, but not an exclusive relationship.
The elders of the local church will expect to have a primary
relationship with their congregation, but they should not demand
an exclusive relationship. In other words, if the local church is
holding a scheduled meeting, they would expect their people to
attend that meeting, even if a reputable person like Billy Graham
80 / Building Teams
were speaking down the road. But if their church had no meeting
scheduled, the people would be free to go and hear Billy Graham. If
they are not free to do so, then that church has become a cult.
In the same way, an apostolic team expects to have a primary
relationship with the local churches that have chosen to relate to
them, but they should not demand an exclusive relationship. The
local church is free to have other teams and speakers minister into
those churches; and the people are free to attend conferences run
by others.
You can see this happening in the New Testament. Paul’s team
would be working into certain churches at a primary level, but Peter
and other apostles were criss-crossing and coming in there as well.
We are not to be exclusive.
New Covenant Ministries International (NCMI) serves as a case
study of how such a team can function today. Consider the following
statements that NCMI make about themselves as a team:
► New Covenant Ministries International is not an organisation;

it is simply a group of men and women who have agreed to
work together as part of an Apostolic/Prophetic team.
► We are not the apostolic team, we are merely one team among
the many others functioning in the world today. We have
learned many valuable lessons from other teams and recognise
that, in some areas, they have advanced further in truth and
practice than we have.
► New Covenant Ministries International is not a denomination.
► There is no such thing as a New Covenant Ministries International
church.
► A number of local churches have chosen to relate to the New
Covenant Ministries International team, through their elders, on
the basis of friendship and trust, not on a basis of constitution,
contract or institutional loyalties.
► These leaders and churches do not sign anything in order to
relate to the NCMI team. At any point, if for any reason they
Building Teams / 81
want to walk away from the NCMI team, they can do so without
any legal implications.
► NCMI can never take ownership of the property of any
local church. Such property can only be owned by the local
congregation.
► We believe that the Bible teaches that the eldership of the local
church is the highest governing authority and no apostolic team
should rule or govern over them.
The Nature of the Team
Individual members of a team must act as a unit and cooperate

with each other, something that clearly requires like-mindedness.
This does not mean that teams should be made up of ‘yes’ men who
have no opinions of their own. There should be a godly liberty in
a team that allows for freedom of expression. However, one cannot
build an effective team with individuals who are following their own
vision, or are working out a set of values that differs significantly
from the rest of the team. Like-mindedness will promote agreement,
and agreement is essential if a team is going to work together as one
unit.
Leadership teams are, by definition, made up of leaders, but each
leader has an obligation as a team member to put his or her own
agenda aside for the sake of the task that the team is assigned to. In
unity we are far more effective than on our own. In other words,
there is more advantage to putting aside those things that do not
promote the task of the team than to insist on the fulfilment of our
own dreams and desires.
Each of us must also develop our ability to work well with
others, to relate properly to them, to be sensitive to them and their
concerns, and to listen properly to what they have to say. In our
actions, attitudes and decisions we are to be considerate toward
others. Our assessments of them and attitudes toward them should
be fair and loving. We are called to work together with others, not
82 / Building Teams
on our own, and we must therefore do everything that we can to

learn the skills that will enable us to do this well. This does not
mean that we are not to be strong in what we stand for. On the
contrary, we believe that we should have strong convictions, but
they should never cause us to be rude, abrasive, inconsiderate,
unloving or independent in the context of the team.
Some Definitions
TEAM
A company of workers, or a side of players in a game,

who have a common goal, and who all contribute to
the achieving of that goal.
TEAMWORK
An unselfish cooperation by the group who act as a

unit – as one.
TEAM SPIRIT
The attitude of the individual that subordinates

individual desire for the sake of what the team is
called to do.
Building Teams / 83
Biblical Church Government Summarised

► Apostolic/Prophetic teams help plant churches (Acts 8:4-8, 14-
17, 25):
● Philip evangelises Samaria (Acts 8:4-8).
● Apostles help lay foundations (Acts 8:14-17).
● They then return home, or move on (Acts 8:25).
► Apostolic/Prophetic teams help establish churches:

● Discipling – imparting their gift and anointing foundationally
(Ephesians 2:20).
● Bringing to maturity (Ephesians 4:11).
● Appointing elders (Acts 14:23).
► They do not control those churches, but hand over the “fruit of
their labour” (1 Timothy 1:3).
► Elders rule local churches (1 Timothy 5:17).
► Elders and deacons make up the local church leadership team

(Philippians 1:1).
► Local leaders send out apostolic (trans-local) ministries that

emerge in their midst (Acts 13:1-3).
► Eldership teams nurture a primary relationship with a trans-

local team. See Paul’s ‘apostolic’ letters.
► Apostolic/Prophetic teams facilitate the effective participation

by the church in the larger vision of discipling all nations (2
Corinthians 10:13-17).
84 / Building Teams Notes
Notes Building Teams / 85
86 / The Apostolic Ministry – Part 1
The Apostolic Ministry – Part 1 / 87
Section
Three
The Apostolic And

Prophetic Ministries
At Work
Chapter 9
The Apostolic Ministry – Part 1
Before examining the apostolic and prophetic ministries in more

detail over the remaining chapters, let us first examine them in the
context of Ephesians 4:9-16:
“... It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be

prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and
teachers to prepare God’s people for works of service...”
1 Corinthians 12:28 is also relevant in this respect.
In the first 16 verses of Ephesians 4, three important aspects of

the ministry gifts emerge:
► The Persons (vs 8-11)

► The Purpose (vs 12-15)
► The Plan (vs 16)
Larry Tomczak said the following about the persons: “All of these
gift ministries are expressions of Jesus Himself. Our Lord – the great
Apostle, great Prophet, great Evangelist, great Pastor and great Teacher
– has distributed the ministry that He alone embodies to the Church
He so loves.
► The apostle is needed to GOVERN.

► The prophet is needed to GUIDE.
► The evangelist is needed to GATHER.
► The pastor is needed to GUARD.

► The teacher is needed to GROUND.
The apostle is an architect (wise builder) and strategist. The prophet

is … a submitted and anointed seer who brings necessary revelation
and insight to keep the house of God pure and on the right track... The
evangelist, contrary to his stereotyped image, does more than herald
the good news to the unconverted. He equips and motivates the church
to become evangelistic in lifestyle while also training other gifted
evangelists into their high calling.
The pastor and teacher, at the grass-roots level, labour with other
leaders in providing personal care for the flock, instructing the people by
teaching and example in the Word of God, and in serving the apostolic-
prophetic ministries by implementing their strategy and vision...
It is a group of Ephesians 4:11 men, each based in a local church,
who labour together in establishing new churches and oversee the
rebuilding and ongoing development of existing churches... This team of
envisioned men seeks to establish New Testament churches where God’s
redeemed people, under the loving oversight of a plurality of leaders, are
‘built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit’ (Ephesians 2:22).”
These five offices are called the ascension gift ministries, the
five-fold ministries or the Ephesians 4 ministries. While they
are gifts (Ephesians 4:8), they are not gifts of the Spirit but are an
expression of Jesus Himself which He has distributed amongst the
body.
This grouping in Ephesians 4 is different to what we would
normally interpret some of these offices to be. Ephesians 4:11-12 is
a trans-local, travelling or apostolic team. Pastors here are not what
we consider local church pastors to be, although some local church
pastors would also be Ephesians 4 pastors.
The purpose of these Ephesians 4 gifts is to:
► Equip (v12) – “to prepare God’s

people
► Edify (v12) – “build up”
► Enlist (v12) – “for the work of the
ministry”
► Enlarge (v15) – “causes growth”
► Unify (v13)
► Bring to maturity (v13)
► Bring stability (v14)
► Bring honesty and (v15) – “the truth in love
integrity
► Strengthen (v15) – “grow up”
► Bring to availability (v16) – priesthood of all
How long will we have all five? “Until we all come to the unity of
the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the
measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).
The plan can be said to involve:
► Growing up (v 15) “... speaking the truth in love, may grow up in

all things into Him who is the head, that is Christ.”
► Involvement (v 16) “From Him the whole body, joined and held
together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in
love, as each part does its work.”
The declaration of Ephesians 4 is that the ultimate work of the

Church is to be done by ‘God’s people’ – the believers – not the
‘paid professionals’.
These ascension gift ministries cannot be limited to one locality

and are therefore considered to be roving or itinerant (trans-local).
They only stay in that locality until they have fulfilled the task God
requires them to do; to deposit their gifting into the life of the
church.
They work in teams, the apostle being the leader of the team. Not
all apostles will, however, lead a team and most teams will include
several apostles. See Acts 14:14 Barnabas and Paul; 1 Thessalonians
1:1; 2:7 Silas and Timothy.
The Apostolic Ministry

We will ask, and attempt to answer, five questions about apostles
that we trust will help you to understand what God is restoring in
and to the Church in our day.
► What is an apostle?
► Who are apostles?
► What do they do?
► Are there apostles today?
► What are the signs of an apostle?
In answering these questions our intention is to discover what

the Bible has to say about apostles.
What is an Apostle?
“Apostles are men given as gifts by the ascended Christ for the ongoing
building of His church. They are men of proven ministry sent from a
local church for trans-local work.” (Larry Tomczak)
► The word ‘apostle’ (Gk. ) means ‘the sent one’

(John 13:16).
● This means that the ‘sent one’ is not self-appointed, but

sent.
Jesus often said that He was sent by His Father. Galatians

4:4,6; 1 John 4:9; John 13:17, 34 “... the One who sent
Me.”
► He does not ‘stay’ but is ‘sent’ and therefore ‘goes’.
● All the fruit of the apostles’ labours is to be handed over to

elders.
● New converts are primarily cared for by elders – not apostles
(Acts 14:23).
● Apostles minister in all the churches, but govern none, unless
he is part of the eldership team of the church to which he
belongs.
● We read of ‘the elders of Ephesus’ but not of ‘the apostles of
Ephesus’.
● Apostles and elders are often associated together in local
leaderships (Acts 15:2, 4, 6, 22, and 23).
● One man can be both an apostle and elder. Peter and John
are examples of this:
● Both were apostles (Luke 6:12, 13).

● Both were elders (1 Peter 5:1, 2 John 1, 3 John 1).
● When travelling they function as apostles.
● When home they function as elders.
● An apostle cannot be ‘higher’ than an elder (otherwise you

develop a ‘papacy’) in a local situation.
Who are Apostles?
► Jesus is ‘the Apostle’. Hebrews 3:1
● He was ‘the’ sent One (John 13:16, John 3:17, etc).
► The Twelve Apostles
● They were also ‘sent ones’.

● They were “witnesses of Christ’s resurrection” (Acts 1:22, 26).
● This number was fixed (Revelation 21:14; Matthew 10:2;
John 6:70, 71).
● When Judas committed suicide, God led the other eleven to
replace him (Acts 1:21-26).
● God accepted Matthias according to Acts 2:14.
● Paul was never intended by God to be one of ‘the twelve’.
He did not meet the necessary requirements to become one
of the twelve. (The original apostles were chosen by Jesus
and worked with Him. Paul only became a Christian three
years later.) He thus distinguishes himself from the twelve
in 1 Corinthians 15:5-8.
► Other Apostles in the New Testament
● The Father ‘sends’ the twelve – while here on earth.

● The Spirit ‘sends’ others – now that Christ has returned to

heaven.
● There are more apostles named in the New Testament than
any other Ephesians 4 ministry: four prophets named, one
evangelist, one teacher, no pastors!
● There are nine other apostles mentioned by name:
● Barnabas - Acts 14:14 & 4

● Paul - Acts 14:14 & 4
● Andronicus - Romans 16:7
● Junias - Romans 16:7
● Silas (Silvanus) - 1 Thessalonians 2:7 & 1:1
● Timothy - 1 Thessalonians 2:7 & 1:1
● James - Galatians 1:19. Jesus’ natural
brother and not one of the
Twelve
● Apollos - 1 Corinthians 4:6 & 9
● Epaphroditus - Philippians 2:25
● If the number was fixed at twelve and that was all there
would ever be, then there would not have been a possibility
of others posing as apostles and deceiving the believers –
Revelation 2:2. There are, however, references to counterfeit
or false apostles – 2 Corinthians 11:13. This was some 50
years after Pentecost!
There is far more said about the ministry of apostles in the

New Testament than all other ministries combined!
What Do Apostles Do? (The scope of their ministry)
The scope of their ministry, both spiritually and geographically,

is vast.
► They are primarily involved in a six-fold ministry:
● Foundation
● Planting – new churches. Paul was always looking for

virgin territory to build new churches.
● Parenting – ‘orphan’ churches – sorting out
foundations.
In both these categories, planting and parenting, they

have a gifting, foundationally, that no others can
impart.
● They can teach the same parts of the Bible as others but
impart something others cannot.
● They cannot add to, or take away from, the Bible.
● Nevertheless, God lays ‘foundations’ in our lives and
churches, through their insight and teaching of the
Word.
● Revelation
● They bring visionary revelation and understanding to

God’s people.
● They show them how to proceed as they discover
‘restored’ truth about church life.
● Formation (setting in order) - Titus 1:6
● Of lives
● Of church life – structures, etc.
● Of decisions regarding government and doctrine
● Emancipation (liberty and freedom) to keep the churches

free from
● Wrong emphasis.
● Doctrinal off-centeredness.
● Spiritual coldness.
● Incorrect practice.
● Legalism - many believers still live in condemnation.
He is thus:
● A safeguard to the churches.

● He is able to bring objective appraisal of local church’s
conditions as he is not ‘living’ there but travelling.
“Apostolic doctrine handled with apostolic authority and

insight is desperately needed” (Terry Virgo). He brings
grace to set us free.
● Edification
● He can “supply what is lacking in your faith” (1

Thessalonians 3:10).
● He brings unity to the work of God at large.
● Paul brought a sense of unity that resulted in material

help being passed from church to church. The church in
Jerusalem was helped by other churches he visited.
Apostles envision churches with a wider implication of

the body of Christ.
“Through their relationship with the thrust of an apostle

they (other churches) were caught up in an international
fellowship and the spreading of the Gospel worldwide.
Individuals in local churches who lack this large vision are
often tempted to become inward-looking and negative, but
when there is a world vision and the stimulus of news from
other growing churches, there is a strong motivation and
desire for expansion.”
(Terry Virgo)
● Ordination of Elders (Acts 14:23)
● Apostles ordain elders. We do not find other elders

ordaining elders in Scripture.
● Sometimes apostles will send a representative (Titus
1:5), but their apostolic authority is behind him.
► Movements
● Apostles itinerate – they do not settle down. Once

commissioned, they cannot be confined to one location.
● It is the Holy Spirit who directs apostles where to go, not
any individual or local church.
● Answerable to the Holy Spirit and team members with
respect to trans-local ministry.
● Once apostles have established a church, they move on, they

do not keep shepherding each local church.
● Apostles ordain elders to look after the work.
► Primary and Secondary Relationships
● Apostles have a ‘primary’ relationship with the churches

they serve, but not an ‘exclusive’ one.
● Other ministries can enhance the ‘building’ but never
directionally.
Are There Apostles Today?
► The answer is an emphatic YES. They are ‘indispensable’.
● Ephesians 4:7-13 mentions the exalted position (post-

ascension) of Jesus in His giving ‘gifts’.
● The original twelve were pre-ascension apostles.
● Today there are post-ascension apostles.
► For how long will we have apostles?
● God has always intended that these ministries be present in

the Church in every generation.
● Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of
the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole
measure of the fullness of Christ.
What Are The Signs Of An Apostle – The Evidence of

Apostleship?
► Does an Apostle Have to Have Written Part of the New

Testament?
● Only five of the more than 12 apostles mentioned in the Bible

are credited with writing parts of the New Testament:
● Matthew
● John
● Paul
● Peter
● James
● The remaining apostles are not named as authoring a word

of Scripture.
● Some who wrote Scripture were not apostles, e.g. Mark and
Luke.
► ‘Signs’ of an Apostle
● Seal – they make disciples, not merely converts, 1

Corinthians 9:1,2. Paul wanted to see people changed,
becoming spiritual.
● Steadfastness – 2 Corinthians 12:11-12 “... with great
perseverance...” A miraculous power that is enough to change
physical situations, no matter what the opposition.
● Signs and wonders – 2 Corinthians 12:12
● Signs and wonders without perseverance disproves an

apostolic claim.
● Not all who can work wonders are apostles, e.g. Philip
the evangelist (Acts 8).
● Must be miraculous plus the spiritual power of
steadfastness.
● Revelation and grace – Ephesians 3.
The Sending Forth of Apostles
► Call – Acts 13:1,2
● The Holy Spirit called those who were already in ministry,

bearing responsibility where they were.
● He calls them in that situation and from it into the work.
● It must be a divine call, “... the work whereunto I have called
them.”
► Confirmation
● The Holy Spirit called them, but He also spoke to the other
prophets and teachers.
● Directly to the apostles, indirectly through others.
● Both are essential.
● He spoke through the prophets and teachers, not the church,
although they could represent the church.
► Commission
● The call must be followed by the commission – Acts 13:3

“... laid hands on them, they sent them away.”
● This is God’s protection against ‘free-lancers’
● Prophets and teachers (the leadership of the church)
commission apostles, not the church.
Chapter 10
The Apostolic Ministry – Part 2
As an Apostle, Paul’s Desires Were:
► To do God’s will
“You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything

that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly
and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews
and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and
have faith in our Lord Jesus...”
Acts 20:17-36; Acts 21:7-14
► To see the churches blessed
“God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching

the Gospel of His Son, is my witness how constantly I
remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that
now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me
to come to you...”
Romans 1:9-11
► To impart spiritual blessings to them
“I long to see you so that I may impart to you some

spiritual gift to make you strong”
Romans 1:11
► To make up what was lacking in their faith
“Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see

you again and supply what is lacking in your faith”
1 Thessalonians 3:10
► To impart the Gospel of God
“We loved you so much that we were delighted to share

with you not only the Gospel...”
1 Thessalonians 2:8
► To impart their own lives
“... To share with you not only the Gospel of God but our
own lives as well...”
1 Thessalonians 2:8
► To establish and encourage them
“We sent Timothy... to strengthen and encourage you in

your faith...”
1 Thessalonians 3:2b
► To see Christ formed in them
“My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of

childbirth until Christ is formed in you...”
Galatians 4:19
► To bring them to maturity
“... For the equipping of the saints for the work of the
ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all
come to the unity of the faith... to a perfect man...”
Ephesians 4:11-16
► To present the Word of God in its fullness
“... The mystery which has been kept hidden for ages...
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory...”
Colossians 1:25-29
► To enlarge his (and therefore, their) sphere of influence
“Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our

area of activity among you will greatly expand so that we
can preach the Gospel in the regions beyond you...”
2 Corinthians 10:13-17
Practical Outworking Of The Apostolic Ministry
► The Apostle as an Expert Builder
“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert
builder, and someone else is building on it…” – 1 Corinthians
3:10. We believe that is what apostles do – they are expert
builders; they know how the building should be put together.
The apostle unrolls the ‘blueprint’ for the Church and we should
respond accordingly.
Apostolic passion is preoccupied with bringing reverence
and a proper fear of the Lord back into the Church, thereby
freeing the Church from pragmatic methodology. Today we
see leaders in the Church tolerating boards, committees and

methods that have no Biblical basis or validation, but which
are accepted because they seem to be a practical way to run the
Church. They may look successful for a while, but may lead to
spiritual decline and death.
There are pastoral types in the Church, who are pacifying the
people. They are keeping the peace instead of making the peace,
and therefore they are not confronting and dealing with relevant
issues. When an apostle exposes long-standing problems, he is
usually blamed for creating them. It is like going up into an
attic, turning on the light, then saying, “Look at all the dust
this light has caused!” The dust was there all along – the light
simply exposed it.
As expert builders, apostles can well see where a church is
going and encourage and affirm the leaders and congregation.
They may also see structural problems and weaknesses. This can
be the reason why they are sometimes unpopular.
► Parenting Churches
We believe apostles either plant new churches or ‘parent’

existing churches. To ‘plant’ means you start from scratch. But
sometimes there are a handful of churches that have been going
nowhere for ten years – ‘orphan churches’ – and an apostle can
come in and help establish them. This we call ‘parenting’.
► Apostles work in a home base training those that they can

send (Acts 19:9-10).
They themselves are also sent out (Acts 13:1-3). A practical

account of what they do when they go out is found in Acts
14:21-28.
► “They Preached The Good News” (Acts 14:21).
This may appear simplistic and obvious at the outset but,

upon scrutiny, is quite profound. The authentic apostle is not
tossed around by every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14), nor
is he swayed by every new emphasis currently focused upon
by the Christian world. Rather, he is firmly grounded in the
orthodoxy of his faith. He is radical in its full proclamation and
is not easily wooed away to a disproportionate emphasis of a
few truths. Paul said of himself in Acts 20:20: “You know that
I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful…”
and verse 27: “For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the
whole will of God” (or full counsel of God).
Said in another way: “Do not add to what I command you and
do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your
God that I give you” (Deuteronomy 4:22). Revelation 22: 18-19
says: “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this
book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the
plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away
from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share
in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this
book.”
The Apostle Will Preach Both:
power Philippians 3:10-17 and pattern

wine Luke 5: 37-39 and wineskin
message 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7 and model
mystery Ephesians 3:2-9 and administration
river Revelation 22:1-4 and its banks
Each of the above should be of equal importance and priority

to the apostle. Many, of course, place emphasis on one or the
other. Yet Scripture clearly places equal weight on the need for
both. The Church so clearly needs the wine of God that releases
‘fullness of joy’. It is the power that releases the full measure of
God’s Kingdom presence in the gifts with signs and wonders,
flowing into ever-increasing depths of God’s healing, restoring,
anointing presence.
Yet, as a river without banks becomes a marsh, so the Church
dearly needs God’s pattern. It is interesting that the fruit of the
river of Revelation 22 is on the banks: “On either side of the river
stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit
every month and the leaves of the tree are of for the healing of the
nations” (Revelation 22:2).
The authentic apostle is not so desirous and preoccupied
by the life, power, presence and wine of God that he neglects
the weighted matter of what God has ordained – to bring the
most out of these things. Matters of Church form, government,
authority, holiness and modus operandi, purpose, etc. are given
equal passionate focus and emphasis.
Furthermore, the fruit of their preaching is freedom. The
epistle to the Galatians, as does Acts 15, leaves no doubt that
this good news is precisely that – good news. It is seen that
where the apostle goes liberty will follow, both in churches as
well as in individual lives (Galatians 5:1: “It is for freedom that
Christ has set us free”).
In other words, the authentic apostle:
► Prioritises orthodox Biblical doctrine.

► Proclaims continuously all truth whatever the cost or
consequences.
► Presents doctrines that set and keep people free.
► Large Number of Disciples Won
By definition apostles go, travel, and get to people. In

Romans 15:19-20 Paul says: “I have fully proclaimed the gospel
of Christ. It was always my ambition to preach the gospel where
Christ was not known…”
From Genesis 1:1 through to Revelation 22:21 the
Father’s apostolic heart has been made clear. Punctuated
and commissioned by Matthew 28:18-20 and continued by
Acts 13:1-2, the true apostle’s lifestyle is ‘to go’. This may be
interrupted briefly by planting a church, as Paul did in Ephesus
(Acts 19), or by returning to his base church, but apostles do
not first lead large churches and expect all to come to them. The
apostle’s heart is to search out the lost from neighbourhoods to
nations. Such is their passion that no cost is too great and no
sacrifice is too daunting (1 Corinthians 9:15–27).
It is not merely a case of saving souls or getting converts.
These apostles make disciples (followers of Christ) more than
‘decisions for Christ’. More than settling the question of heaven,
apostles want to equip the saints for the work of the ministry
so that believers have a clear sense of their priestly duties, a
fulfilment of their individual calling and an assurance that they
know their part and how the various parts are joined together.
Acts 8:1-40 is a great case study to model this dynamic.
Philip, the deacon of Acts 6, is a powerful Ephesians 4
evangelist. His impact is profound in Samaria. A city in this
region is stunned and then elated by the proclamation and
supernatural outworking of the message. Philip does not stay
here and build a super-church for himself, nor does he simply
move on with his pictures, slides and videos of the crusade.
Rather, the apostles come down from Jerusalem, establish and
ground these believers in all of the Word so that the impact of
the Gospel remains and a church is planted. Philip meanwhile
meets the Ethiopian eunuch, preaches to and baptises him.
Church history tells us that this man brought the Gospel and
revival to yet another country in Africa.
Paul’s heart for the lost is clearly seen throughout his writings.
Paul dearly wanted his beloved Israel to be saved (Romans 10:1),
and his call to go to the Gentiles is continuously acknowledged
(Acts 9:15 and 13:47; Romans 1:13; Galatians 1:16). In Romans
15, he speaks of wanting to go: “to preach the gospel where Christ
was not known” (verse 20). His desire to get to Spain (Romans
15:24 and 28) indicated his heart to push open new frontiers.
He continues to request that churches pray that new doors of
opportunity open to him (Ephesians 6:19-20; Colossians 4:2-
4) as they did to plant in Macedonia (Acts 16:6-40).
Paul’s conclusion of the Roman epistle sums up his heart to
see all nations saved: “So that all nations may believe and obey him”
(Romans 16:26b). The apostle has heaven at heart, anticipating
that great and glorious day when, before the throne, will be
those “from every tribe and language and people and nation. You
have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God and
they will reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9b-10).
► “Then They Returned To…” (Acts 14:21)
Apostles plant churches. Apostles help others plant churches.

This is, however, not conference-formed, seminar-based or
academic-fashioned church help. The Biblical pattern for
apostles is to plant churches and then have an ongoing relational
involvement with these churches. A fragile church needs an
apostle who knows and loves the Word of God, not one who
has read a few manuals and attends a few courses, or even one
who has a successful church.
Let’s pause and try to present it sequentially, remembering
that each church plant has its own ingredients.
1 Corinthians 9:2 says: “Even though I may not be an apostle
to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of apostleship
in the Lord.” If one looks over the shoulder of an apostle, one

should clearly see the fruit of churches he has planted, or helped
to plant, who are in a healthy state and who have an ongoing
relationship with him.
How does an apostle plant and then help churches in an
ongoing and meaningful way? The answer is complex and we
have to simplify it at the risk of sounding simplistic.
Paul refers to himself, the apostle, as a “master builder/
expert builder” (1 Corinthians 3:10). His inference is that he
has the master blueprint and, like the engineer, ensures that all
contractors and subcontractors on site build according to the
architect’s (God’s – Hebrews 11:10) specifications. He keeps
the plumber, bricklayer, carpenter, tiler and roofer all focused
together to get the task done according to the ‘pattern’. The
apostle is particular when it comes to laying foundations.
There are too many unstable churches that are not used for the
purpose for which they were designed. Jesus Christ must be the
foundation and solid rock on which we build (1 Corinthians
3:11; Matthew 7:24-29). In practical terms, building on the
foundation may include the following three ingredients:
● Good Strong Godly Government
Philippians 1:1 introduces us to that picture in local

churches of ‘saints … overseers … deacons’. This creates a
problem for those who wish to complicate church government
with non-biblical structures, titles and hierarchies. Of
course, to ‘home churches’ these Biblical ‘musts’ seem to be
ignored or forgotten. When Paul asks Titus to “straighten
(things) out” (NIV) or “set in order” (NKJV) (Titus 1:5), he
seems to be referring to elementary matters including the
matter of church government. Added to this elementary
matter is a healthy ongoing ‘partnership’ (Philippians 1:5)
with apostolic and prophetic ministry. The apostle helps
to recognise, raise up and appoint elders. This demands

ongoing involvement, education and finally ordination.
● Establishing a Healthy Biblical Ethos/Heartbeat/

Commitment
Apostles, by example (1 Corinthians 11:1) and by message,

help fashion and form this ethos. Much can be said on this
matter, however, Acts 2:42-47 is a wonderful case study of
an apostolically fashioned ethos. Acts 2:1 introduces the
phrase: “they were all together in one place” and the chapter
ends with words like “everyone” and “all the believers were
together and had everything in common”. This ‘all-ness’ factor
of the early church is in part formed by the fact that: “they
devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching.” These apostolic
people were in heart:
● RADICAL – heard and obeyed immediately.

● REAL – did not leave room for the artificial or
pretence.
● RELATIONAL – they were committed to and operated
through friendships .
● RELEVANT – in a biblical way to the world that they
were called to reach.
The authentic apostle continues to massage the breadth of

the Biblical ethos into every local church. When reading the
epistles one is stunned by the continuous adjustment that the
apostle makes as churches drift from this heartbeat. In the
epistle to the Galatians Paul passionately challenges them about
their move away from the truth – “…who has bewitched you”
(Galatians 3:1). In the epistle to the Ephesians Paul speaks
of them: “having done all, to stand firm. Stand firm then…”
(Ephesians 6:13-14). Of course Paul’s greatest declaration was:
“and now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest
of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).
The apostle keeps the heartbeat of the local church and
broader churches passionate, zealous, enthused and motivated.
There were no guest speakers or yearly cheer leading; only
apostles (and the other Ephesians 4 offices) coming into the
churches to keep them encouraged, strengthened and focused.
● Keep the Churches Focused on the Purposes of God
While we are aware that each of these points can be drawn

out at length, the apostle keeps the church focused on the
plan and purpose of God as recorded in His Word.
We want to see the Lord return, therefore we “forcefully
and violently advance His Kingdom” (Matthew 11:12). This
is done practically:
● By preparing a bride (the church).

● By discipling all nations.
● By planting New Testament churches.
● By raising up and appointing leaders.
● By mobilising the priesthood.
● By seeking and saving the lost.
Not only do apostles come in to lay foundations with their

teams, but they also return regularly to these regions and
local churches. On the one hand, the large fancy conference
has replaced the apostolic teams’ ongoing involvement in
local churches. On the other hand, pastors have wanted to
go to the extreme whereby the team is in their churches so
regularly that the team almost begins to pastor the church.
Neither of these realities are Biblical.
► “Paul and Barnabas Appointed Elders...” (Acts 14:23)
Going against the modern trend of ordination by mail,

superintendents, fellow elders and the like, the Bible simply
models that elders are only ordained by apostles or their
delegated team. For some this statement may appear to be rather
pedantic. There is, however, simply no Biblical example that
contradicts this position. See Acts 14:23 and Titus 1:5.
“Well,” you may say, “I agree, but how is it possible in a
growing, expanding ministry that apostles can possibly know
who should be elders in our local churches?” The following ‘job
description’ study helps in this regard:
● Apostles pray for the churches that they relate to on an

ongoing basis (Ephesians 1:15–23; 1 Timothy 2:1–8; 2
Timothy 1:3; Galatians 4:19).
● They carry, daily, the burden of all the churches they have
planted or been involved with (2 Corinthians 11:28; 2
Corinthians 8:16). As an expression of this burden, Paul
coached the Corinthian church through the disciplining of
a brother who fell morally (1 Corinthians 5). He then aids
them in this repentant man’s desire for full restoration (2
Corinthians 2: 5 – 11).
● They are fathers to:
● Local churches (1 Corinthians 4:15; 2 Corinthians

11:2).
● Leaders (1 Timothy 1:2; Titus 1:4).
● They are always training and equipping the saints, looking

for leaders to facilitate, fuel and fire up – Timothy is a great
example in Acts 16.
● There was more than one apostle on Paul’s team (e.g. 1

Thessalonians 1:1 and 2:6) so a spread of effective involvement
in numerous churches in many nations is quite possible.
If it was so in Paul’s day with the limited communication
they had, how much more is it possible in today’s wonderful
world of technology.
Remember too that the apostles always worked, through

friendship, into the local churches (see 3 John). This makes the
recognition of leaders continuous and ongoing. This relational
partnership between the elders and the apostolic team is based on
a foundation of trust. The integrity of this trust is non-negotiable.
However, it needs to be said that the elders must weigh the
perceptions and judgements of the individual team members.
Inexperience, immaturity and, at times error, allow the elders to
differ without compromising this trust factor.
► “They Sailed Back to Antioch…”
“They gathered the church together and reported all that

God had done through them”
Acts 14:26-27
In a Gospel robed in relationship it comes as no surprise

that each member of an apostolic team was based, in a real and
ongoing way, in an active, vibrant model church. In order to
understand what this meant to them, it may be easier to say
what it was not.
It was not:
► Simply a nominal place of worship for periodic attendance.
► A board of different believers that acted as an accountability
forum in major matters – especially financial.
► The home of an ambitious pastor who wished to accumulate as
many ministries as possible, in order to appear successful and
large.
It was:
► A church whose leadership and people had grasped and owned
the apostolicity of the Gospel (Acts 13:1-2).
► A leadership that did not hold onto leadership for selfish benefit
and growth – rather they were stirred to release some of their
own leadership who were trained and ready to be sent out for
the discipling the nations (Acts 16:2)
► A forum of authentic accountability: the apostle is accountable
to the team on matters of trans-local importance whilst he
remains accountable to the local eldership on pastoral matters,
like the well-being of the family. While these lines are blurred a
little, it is true to say that the trans-local team members do not
see each other on a daily basis and therefore, the local elders can
better offer pastoral care and prayers. It is also true to say that
local elders are not necessarily gifted to be able to speak into
the trans-local challenges and issues on a regular and ongoing
basis. These two forums of accountability, when filtered through
friendship and trust, prove to be such helpful ingredients
without curtailing the leader from being able to lead in a way
that is true to his personality and gift mix (giftedness).
An Apostolic Blueprint / 117
Chapter 11
An Apostolic Blueprint
Discipling The Nations In Practice And Operation
God has a ‘blueprint’ for the church today. This ‘blueprint’ is

found in the New Testament, especially in the book of Acts. Here
we find His ‘modus operandi’ for trans-local ministry.
This chapter is mainly in point form and gives an overview of
what is meant by a ‘blueprint’ for an apostolic lifestyle and ministry.
The reader would benefit most from this chapter by seeing it as an
exercise. In other words, do not merely read through the chapter.
Look up the various scriptures that are mentioned and refer back to
previous chapters where some of this material has been discussed in
more detail. This will enable you to get an even firmer grasp of what
is meant by an ‘Apostolic Blueprint’.
Multitudes Turning to the Lord (Acts 14:1, 21).
The impact that it made meant that the world was never able
to simply ignore the early Church (Acts 17:6; 5:13). Nor could
the religionists. Wherever they went the Church made an impact.
This was sometimes accepted, at other times resisted, reviled and
rejected. It was never simply tolerated.
118 / An Apostolic Blueprint
► Consider the following accounts of how effective the early

Church was:
● 120 in the upper room (Acts 1:15).
● 3000 added on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41).
● Added daily (Acts 2:47).
● The number of men (excluding women and children) grew
to 5000 (Acts 4:4).
● Believers constantly added (Acts 2:47; 5:14).
● The number of disciples multiplied greatly (Acts 6:7).
● Multitudes (Acts 8:6, 8, 12).
● The Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:36-39).
● Paul’s conversion (Acts 7).
● Churches in all Judea, Galilee and Samaria were multiplied
(Acts 9:31).
● In Lydda and Sharon (Acts 9:35).
● Many believed in Joppa (Acts 9:42).
● Cornelius and his household (Acts 10:44-48).
● A great number in Antioch (Acts 11:21).
● The proconsul in Cyprus (Acts 13:12).
● Many Jews (Acts 13:43).
● Gentiles in Antioch (Acts 13:48b).
● A great multitude of Jews and Greeks (Acts 14:1).
● Many disciples in Derbe (Acts 14:20-21).
● Churches increased in number daily (Acts 16:5).
● Lydia and her household (Acts 16:14).
● The Philippian jailer and his household (Acts 16:30-33).
● A great multitude of devout Greeks and leading women in
Thessalonica (Acts 17:4).
● Many prominent men and women in Berea (Acts 17:12).
● Some philosophers in Athens (Acts 17:34).
● Crispus, the ruler of a synagogue, and his household (Acts

18:8).
● Many Corinthians (Acts 18:8).
● Many believers in Ephesus (Acts 14:18)
► All our evangelistic endeavours must result in church planting

● This was the New Testament pattern.
● This provides a wineskin (structure, administration) for new
wine to keep flowing (Matthew 9:14-17).
● Keeps people free, providing opportunity for being more
effective.
● Each and every local church must plan to be an equipping
centre.
Opposition to the Apostolic Mandate (Acts 14:2, 19;

18:12-13).
► The progress of the Gospel is mostly hindered by people with

closed minds who are insecure and unwilling to be stretched!
They either do not want to appear wrong or change. Both of
these things make them ‘look bad’.
► Then there are those who are simply ‘innocently ignorant’.
► Most opposition to the ‘new wine’ and ‘new wineskins’ comes
from religious people, either:
● The ‘last move’ of God’s people,
or
● Those who have grown cold and lost their zeal, first love,
or
● The New Age in its various forms and guises. There is a
difference between being unreligious and irreligious. An
‘unreligious’ person is one that has no ‘religious’ background,
whereas an ‘irreligious’ person is one who is hostile or

arrogant toward religion.
► Hardly any opposition came from the rank heathen or the

blatantly demonic. Most came from the religionists of the day.
The following passages show how persecution came:
● As a result of healings, miracles and people leaving one
group to join another. The Sanhedrin was part of the highest
echelons of the ‘last move’ group (Acts 4:1-4). People were
leaving them and joining the ‘truth’ as it was being revealed
or restored.
● As a result of deliverances, crowds gathering, healings, from
the high priest (the head honcho) of the ‘last move’ group
(Acts 5:17-18.)
● From narrow-minded sectarian groups as a result of
demonstrations of faith, power, wonders and signs (Acts
6:8). The attack on this occasion included: false accusations
(vs 11, 13) and stirring up the crowd against the Christians
(v 12).
● From religious persecutors – physical persecution (Acts 8:1-
3) – in this case it was Saul – even dragging believers to
prison in the name of ‘religion’ and God.
● In the form of religious murder! Saul, a member of the
Sanhedrin, threatening and even murdering believers! Acts
9:1-2.
● To Paul, once he was saved and on fire. He was in a way
reaping what he sowed (Acts 9:23-25).
● From secular rulers, to please the religious leaders (Acts 12:1-
5). Is it not incredible that ‘religious’ people can impart this
kind of spirit to the unsaved?
● From unbelieving Jews of the synagogue who, because

people were being saved (Acts 14:1-2,19):
● Poisoned people’s minds against them.
● Stoned people, thinking they were dead.
● Through occult encounter (Acts 16:16-24).

● As a result of bringing deliverance to a young lady.
● Through religious ‘occultists’ mocking (Acts 17:32).
● From religious people (Acts 18:12-13).
● From New Age groups (Acts 19:23,29).
● From the religious status quo (Acts 21:27-36).
● Through the stirring up of the crowd (v 27).
● To bind Paul up (v 33).
● To beat him up (v 32).
● By seeking to kill him (v 31) – the religious spirit is an ugly
spirit!
● When religious leaders bound themselves by oath to
assassinate Paul (Acts 23:11-14).
► Persecution is used:
By the devil:
● To discourage us from pressing in, on and upwards.
● To make us quit.
● To rob us of our inheritance.
● To steal honour and glory from God, discredit Him.
By God:
● To reveal His faithfulness.
● To make us dependent on Him.
● To increase our faith.
● To teach us perseverance.
● To make us a ‘team player’.
► How they overcame the opposition:

● Obeyed God, no matter who opposed or rose up against
them (Acts 5:29).
● Rejoiced and prayed, did not complain or retaliate (Acts
5:40, 41; 16:25).
● Kept at it (Acts 5:42) – this is part of our call (Philippians
1:27-29; 2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Peter 2:20, 21).
● If required, were willing to ‘die for the truth’ rather than
remain alive and ‘kill the truth’ (Acts 8:57-60).
● If on occasion they had to they ‘ran’ (like Paul), but kept
preaching; did not quit (Acts 9:23-25; 14:6).
● Shook the dust off their feet! (Acts 13:49-52; Matthew
10:14).
Apostolic Signs and Wonders (Acts 14:8-20)
Acts 5:12 – “The apostles performed many miraculous signs and

wonders among the people”.
► Cripples healed (Acts 3:1-10).

► Buildings shook (Acts 4:29-31).
► People died (Acts 5:1-11).
► Shadows healed people (Acts 5:15).
► Deliverance from demons (Acts 5:16; 8:7).
► Baptism in the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17).
► Paralysed healed (Acts 9:32-35).
► Raised the dead (Acts 9:36-42; 20:7-11).
► Visions, trances, etc. (Acts 10:9-20; 18:9-11).

► Prison doors were opened (Acts 12:6-11; 16:25-27).
► Sorcerers were struck blind (Acts 13:8-12).
► Handkerchiefs healed people (Acts 19:11-12).
► Sorcerers and people involved in witchcraft burned their
“scrolls” (Acts 19:19-20).
Apostolic Response to the Vocal “Hero-Worshippers”
► Would not respond to ‘carrots dangled’.

► Acts 14:11-18.
► Acts 18:20-21 (also 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 and 1:10-17)
Apostolic Heart for Already Established Churches
► Strengthening (Acts 14:21,22; 15:41; 16:5; 18:23).

● Build up.
● Make strong.
● Help to stand strong.
► Encouraging (Acts 14:21, 22).

► Bringing joy (Acts 15:3-4).
► Went back for visits, never deserted! (Acts 15:36).
● Team input into the churches must be done organically
● You invite them.
● They ‘invite’ themselves (in other words, they offer to
come).
● Never organisationally!
● Organic versus organisational model.

● Our relationships, care, love, concern, input and
involvement is not organised but flows out of the life
and covenant we enjoy together.
● That is why we need to:

● Be in touch with God – to receive ‘information’.
● Be available.
Apostolic Mandate of Releasing Elders – Acts 14:23;

Titus 1:5
Paul and Barnabas are the ‘they’ referred to in these Scriptures.
► Elders are released by apostolic team.

► Sometimes accompanied by fasting.
► Commend them to the Lord.
► Apostles’ representative can do it – Titus 1:8
► Once again, this flows out of the ‘organic’ life we share together,
not legalistic ritual.
Apostolic Accountability
► We need to give an account of what we are doing, where we are

going, how we are coping, etc.
► We as a team need to do this in our ‘togetherness’. For NCMI,
the Leadership Training Times (LTTs) are part of that.
► The individuals that make up the team must do it in the local
city that they were sent out from. Not necessarily the local
congregation they are working with.
Apostolic Response to Church Problems – Acts 15:1-35
► Never dealt with in a hierarchical structure as a dictatorial edict.

No ‘heavy-handedness’.
► No executive going in and ‘chopping off heads’.
► They go to where the problem started, the source and root of
the problem. In this case, Jerusalem.
► They include the church members.
● Apostles and elders do the initial spadework (Acts 15:2-6).
● Include the church (Acts 15:4, 22).
● Not just the apostles, or the elders.
► In Paul’s letters, when dealing with the church problems, he is

always strong but loving, gentle, caring.
► He often refers to himself as a father, nurse, midwife, etc.
► He did, however, call for radical repentance and action, but
he had already laid a loving foundation. Radicalism does not
mean harsh, hurtful or dictatorial. We see this when Paul gives
instruction for dealing with:
● Immorality (1 Corinthians 5).
● Lawsuits (1 Corinthians 6).
● Marriage (1 Corinthians 7).
► The team cannot take the place of, or do the ‘dirty work’ of,
the local elders – even if they are fearful and want to avoid
conflict!
► But they must stand by, offer assistance and advice to the
elders.
The Interaction Between the Church, Apostles and

Elders (Acts 15:2-23)
► Regarding heresy, church discipline, etc. (Acts 15:1-3).

● Apostles get involved (verses 1, 2).
● Go to the source of the problem, deal with it, do not ‘hope
it will go away’.
● Go back to the church, inform them of the action, and help
them to implement it.
► Family
● Paul refers to himself as a father.
● Paul and the Roman church (Romans 15:22-33, NB v 24).
► Material help
● To one another as believers (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-33).
● Through apostles (2 Corinthians 8:1-24; 1 Corinthians
16:1-4).
● To apostles (Acts 4:34-36).
The above safeguards the believers with regard to material

assistance.
► Having people come onto team with them.

● Paul seemed to have developed a relationship of trust that
enabled him to ‘steal’ key people from congregations.
● Timothy (Acts 16:1-4).

● List of people in Romans 10.
The Interaction Between Teams (Acts 15:6-7, 12, 13)
► They handled problems together (v 6).

► Barnabas and Paul, one team, bless the Jerusalem church and
team (v 12).
► James, the visionary of the Jerusalem team, ‘presides’ (v 13).
► He recognises and honours Peter, another apostle (v 14).
► The Jerusalem team send some in their ranks to travel with
Paul’s team! (v 22).
► Really love and honour each other (v 25) – ‘beloved Barnabas
and Paul’.
► Remember that Barnabas was once part of the Jerusalem team!
(Acts 9:26-27).
● Maybe Barnabas should never have ‘split’ from Jerusalem!
● But they did not hold it against him.
● They must have built well, away from themselves, to be able
to do this.
● They must have convinced the believers that they were all
on the same side!
● No divisions, sectarianism.
► Paul could even go in where Peter had apostleship! (2 Peter

3:15-16).
► How secure they must have been!
Apostolic Unity (Acts 15:6, 22, 25)
► Of vision.
► Of purpose.
Unity includes:
● Concerted efforts.
● Monetary partnership.
For example, NCMI sometimes helps related churches and

ministries out of a Ministry Fund (Acts 4:32-37; 5:1-2).
Unity is a combination of a number of ingredients:
► Similar vision.
► Similar values.
► Rooted in Christ Jesus.
► Accessibility.
● How reachable are you?
● How teachable are you?
● When unity has ‘broken down’, do we build up walls and
withdraw?
● Our hurts, disappointments, carnality, etc. cause us to
withdraw.
► Availability – are you willing to be used?

► Activity – we get behind what is happening with our:
● Lives.
● People.
● Resources.
● Prayer.
► Accountability.
► Embracing diversity (2 Corinthians 12 – 14).
► Apostolic methodology (Acts 20:17).
The Transfer of One Team Member to Another Team

(Acts 15:27, 34-35, 37-40)
Silas, one of the Jerusalem team, became one of Paul’s team (Acts
15:22, 27, 32 with Acts 15:40; 16:19; 16:22, 25, 29; 17:10, 14; 2
Corinthians 1:19; 1 Thessalonians 1:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:1; 1 Peter
5:12).
Apostolic Penetration
► They desire to go everywhere, unless the Holy Spirit forbids

(Acts 16:6-10).
● We long to see a few ‘teams’ of possibly young people (not
married, because of all that comes with the marriage packet
– 1 Corinthians 7:25, 29, 32-33) go out from a point and
work their way from village to village, leading people to
Christ and then planting a church!
● This was one of the ways they did it in the New Testament!
● They were “forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the Word in
Asia” (the Roman province – v 6).
● The “Holy Spirit did not permit them to go into Bithynia” (v
7).
► Follow a specific vision (Macedonian call) in Acts 16:9-10.

► Some churches started with a small group of women (Acts

16:13-15).
● Philippi became a powerful church
● Do not despise small things (Zechariah 4:10).
► They did not pander to their (the believers’) personal desires

(Acts 18:20-21).
● The call of God, passion for salvation, a heart to see churches
planted, the world won, the Kingdom come, drove them
on!
► What is our main call? It would include:

● Feeding the flock (John 21:15-17; Psalm 23).
● Making the flock secure (Ephesians 5:25) sacrificial
availability
● Releasing people into their call and ministry (Ephesians
4:11-13).
The ‘equipping of the saints’ is more than just preaching. It

includes:
● ‘Placing’ people in their call. We need revelation in order to

develop our ability to recognise people’s calls, often with the
help of the trans-local team.
● Praying for and with the flock (Acts 6:2-4).
● Studying the Word (Acts 6:2-4).
● Preparing good ‘food’ – fresh ‘bread’ and ‘green grass’ –
teaching (Matthew 4:4; Psalm 23).
● Ruling and governing (1 Timothy 5:17).
● Encouraging (Titus 1:9).

● Refuting dissidents (Titus 1:9).
● Praying for the sick (James 5:14).
● Planning and strategising – getting revelation from God.
● Training up leaders – and releasing them.
In order for these things to happen, leaders must find time

to wait upon God – receiving revelation, direction, strategy,
etc.
Two major problems that stop these things from happening

are when leaders are too busy or have a low self-image. Both
are often rooted in pride and are the result of a competitive
spirit.
The reason leaders are “lazy” or “too busy” is either:
● As a result of wrong models of ministry, or

● As a result of being threatened by capable people – bad self-
image.
Leaders must unlearn, relearn and then re-teach on how to

find time to wait upon God. Leaders must also come to a
genuine understanding of their own, personal self-worth.
Most are reacting instead of responding.
Interaction Between the Leader and Team Members
► Team members respond immediately and wholeheartedly to

Paul’s ‘command’ to join him (Acts 17:15).
► Team members respond immediately and wholeheartedly to

Paul’s message for them to go to Macedonia (Acts 19:11, 21;
Philippians 2:19, 25; Titus 3:12, 13).
► There were occasions when he wanted someone to respond
immediately (1 Corinthians 16:12).
Motivation
► To finish the race (Acts 20:22-24).

► A clear conscience (Acts 24:16).
► To preach in places Christ’s name has never been preached
(Romans 15:19, 20).
► Constrained by the love of Christ (1 Corinthians 9:16; Romans
9:3; 2 Corinthians 5:14).
► Feeling indebted, with no guilt, to all (Romans 1:14).
● Not personal satisfaction or gratification, or even self-
worth.
● Not for fame, fortune or future.
Apostolic Confidence (Acts 20:29-32)
► Philippians 1:6; Acts 20:32; 1 Corinthians 9:8; Ephesians 3:20;

2 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 2:18; 5:7; 7:25; Jude 24.
The Importance of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit
► Waiting for what Jesus promised (Acts 1:5-8; Luke 24:49; Acts
2:1-4). We are useless without it!
► Making sure all believers were baptised in the Spirit is

foundational (Acts 8:14-17; 19:6; 9; 17e; 10:45,46).
Apostolic Message – Its Content
► The Kingdom of God (Acts 2:30-36, especially verses 33, 35,

36; 3:15-21; 4:10-12; 5:29-32; 7:56; 8:35; 9:20; 10:40; 13:30-
39; 28:23,31).
► The promise of the Father (Acts 2:38, 39; 13:32).
► Doctrine (which is theology and practice) (Acts 2:42).
● This word ‘doctrine’ is mentioned 55 times in the Bible. We
find the following words: Doctrine, Sound doctrine, Good
doctrine, My doctrine, This doctrine, Doctrines.
● 49 of these occurrences are found in the New
Testament.
● Paul’s admonitions about doctrine:
● 1 Timothy 1:12
● 1 Timothy 4:16
● 2 Timothy 4:3
● Titus 1:9; 2:1
► The Word of God (Acts 10:36; 12:15; 13:20; 15:7; 17:11; 20:32;
4:31; 6:2; 7:12, 24; 8:14; 11:1; 13:7; 13:44, 46; 18:20).
► Repentance, faith, baptism and restoration (Acts 20:21; 3:17-
21).
► The whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27).
► Warnings against ‘self-promoters’ (Acts 20:29-31).
► The nations (Acts 3:25).
► Restoration (Acts 3:17-21).
134 / Prophetic Promises, Presence And Purposes
Chapter 12
Prophetic Promises,
Presence And Purpose
“...Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the

river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit
fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from
the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for
food and their leaves for healing.”
verse 12 from Ezekiel 47:1-12
When God gives prophetic promises, it takes His prophetic

presence in order to fulfil His prophetic purposes. Without
Him the promises accomplish nothing, or very little at best. God
has, however, designed it so that without us He cannot fulfil His
promises. (cf Joshua in Joshua 1 and Moses in Exodus 3:7-12).
Unless the Church understands God’s prophetic progression
(promises, presence and purpose), it will slip back into mediocrity
and possibly irrelevance.
Unless we are focused on the prophetic purposes of God, we
will not experience the fullness of God’s prophetic penetration
(momentum and direction), His prophetic protection or His
prophetic productivity (fruitfulness, fulfilment and abundance).
If we hear the prophecies and preaching but do not embrace
God’s prophetic purposes (the larger, wider heart of God) we will
remain frustrated and small.
The strategy of the devil then is to keep us absorbed with
ourselves: our health, our family, our finances, etc.
Prophetic Promises, Presence And Purposes / 135
Being Prophetic
Some have not seen what God is doing in the world. Some of
us have had glimpses of what God is doing. Some have seen it, but
it stops there for them. Others have seen, begun to prepare, then
quit. For them, that is where it ends. It is too big, too awesome,
too complicated and too frightening. Others, however, are pushing
right through.
Very few of us knew the cost when we began to sing songs like,
“Blessed are those whose strength is in You and are always moving on...”
(Psalm 84:5-7). This is a prophetic song – foreseeing a glorious
Church in the earth. The tune and beat excite some of us, but we
do not always understand the implication of the words. Many have
spoken about what God is doing but we do not always understand
its ramifications – the cost and pain.
A prophetic people have the ability to see, prepare for and
become the future.
Some of us “saw”, but failed to “prepare for.” Others “saw” and
began to “prepare for” but failed to “become” the future – the price
was too high.
The prophetic Church is to deal with things in the present
that will hinder us “being” in the future. We must deal with these
things from a Biblical perspective, integrated with the prophetic
prophecies, with the tradition, sacred cows, humanistic deception,
sin and compromise in the context of our personal lives, the Church
and the nation.
God’s Prophetic Promises
The chief prophetic promise that we all need to embrace is God’s

intent for every believer to be a blessing to the nations – not just
to their nation. Everything else He says will fit into this ‘bigger
picture’. It will not change.
Crisis in your nation or in your church will not nullify or

postpone God’s prophetic purposes for the Church. What He has
promised prophetically still holds good. Think back over the years
and remember all the prophecies God has given to you. They all
still hold good.
“God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man,

that He should repent (change); has He said, and will
He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it
good? Behold, I have received a command to bless; He has
blessed and I cannot reverse it”
Numbers 23:19, 20 – spoken by Balaam
“For all the promises of God in Him are ‘Yes’ and in Him
‘Amen’ to the glory of God through us”
2 Corinthians 1:20
God’s Prophetic Presence
Ezekiel 47:1 gives a picture of the temple – the place where

God dwelt. Today that place is His Church – we are His temple,
personally and corporately.
► “your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians

6:19).
► “we are the temple of the living God” (2 Corinthians 6:16).
► “..you are being built up into a spiritual house...” (1 Peter 2:5).
► “in whom you also are being built together for a habitation of God
in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:20).
In the Ezekiel 47 text there is water flowing. This is a picture of

the Holy Spirit (John 4:14; John 7:38), God’s presence with us.
In the midst of crisis and turmoil there is a special sense of the

presence of God for those who remember His promises and fulfil
His purposes (Isaiah 43:1-7). Israel was God’s servant to accomplish
His purpose. This is more than the “promised” presence, which we
often have to take by faith. It is more than the “general” presence
that we as believers experience. It is the “prophetic” presence like
that experienced by Daniel in the Lions’ den and that Meshach,
Shadrach and Abednigo experienced in the fire (Daniel 3:16-18;
3:23-25, 27; 6:22).
It is the supernatural enabling to see things through to the end,
no matter how difficult they may be. But it only comes when we
are focused on the prophetic purposes of God. Jesus found it in
Gethsemane when He prayed “not my will but yours be done.” See
Luke 22:39-43, especially verse 43. He also found it on the cross
– fulfilling God’s purposes. Daniel found it in the den. The three
Hebrews found it in the fire. Elisha found it (the double portion)
following Elijah. Paul found it when he was stoned and taken for
dead. Also see 2 Corinthians 6:4-10. Stephen found it when he was
being stoned – Acts 7:54-60. It is increased through prayer related
to the prophetic purposes of God. King Solomon does this in 2
Chronicles 7:1,2 and Moses in Exodus 33:12-23.
God’s Prophetic Purposes
These are three-fold: – penetration, protection and productivity.
Penetration (Ezekiel 47:1)
The river was going somewhere – it was flowing from under

the threshold. The threshold symbolises a foundation, either of the
entrance of the temple (Jesus is the Door), or of the Temple itself
(Jesus is the Rock).
Note that the river was not static; it was “flowing” in a particular
direction. It was going somewhere. This indicates a need not only
for Jesus to be our chief foundation, but a need to be focused on
Him – all that He has taught and is revealing to the Church. That
includes what Jesus has said (as ‘Logos’) and on what He is now
saying (as ‘Rhema’). Both of these are necessary if we are to move
forward in God’s purposes
The Word (Logos) is always the plumbline and personal prophecy
and prophetic words to the Church must always line up with this.
Some definitions:
Personal prophecy is God’s revelation of His intentions for a

person, persons, family or group of people.
Dennis Bennett says that prophecy is, “speaking the mind of

God, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and not from our own
thoughts...it is supernatural speech in a known language.”
Terry Virgo says that, “A prophetic person is one who is totally

alive to world issues and yet totally sold out to God’s perspective.”
In the context of what we are saying here, being prophetic is the

ability to see, prepare for and be (or become) the future.”
The river was increasing – “ankle deep” (verse 3); “knee deep”
(verse 4); “too deep to cross” (verse 5). God wants us to be available
to Him so that He can intensify and increase His flow. We are then
able to go deeper with respect to His purposes. In other words,
penetration is needed.
This requires:
► Perception – some understanding of what God means by the

promises He has given.
► Prayer.
► Praise.
► Prophesying.
► Persevering.
► Patience (Hebrews 6:12).
► Purity – the highway of the Lord is a holy one (Isaiah 35:8). The
pure see the Lord and His blessing (Matthew 5:8). We must
move back to a cross-centred Gospel.
► Pastoring – the “Saul-spirited” leader is a “donkey-farmer”
and not a “shepherd.” There is so little genuine regard for the
sheep in much of the Church today. Shepherds (and sheep) are
only concerned about their ministry. In this respect, ministry
has become an idol to many. Shepherds and sheep will betray
one another for the sake of their ‘ministry’, and insecurity and
competition are rife among both leaders and sheep. Authentic,
shepherd-hearted leaders will humble themselves and identify
with the pain and suffering of the sheep – and the goats.
Protection
There are a number of different Greek and Hebrew words that are
translated as “keep,” “kept,” etc. in our English Bible:
► Keep (Greek – Phulasso) – to keep guard, watch.
In John 17:12, Jesus says He has “kept” all those the Father gave
Him. In Luke 2:8, the shepherds “keep” the sheep. God does
this for us. We are the sheep of His pastures (Psalm 23). In Acts
12:4, four squads of soldiers “keep” (guard) Peter in prison (also

Acts 23:35; 28:16).
● “But the Lord is faithful who will establish you and guard
you from the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:3). He will keep
(guard) us.
● “He is able to keep us until that Day” (2 Timothy 1:12,14).
● “He is able to keep us from falling” (Jude 24).
This word “Phulasso” reveals that God will:

● Be like a shepherd who would lay down His life – He would
rather die than let the sheep perish.
● Keep all those that the Father has given Him.
● Keep us like a squadron of soldiers.
● Keep us from the evil one.
● Keep us through thick and thin until that day.
● Keep us from falling and present us faultless.
But we must:
● Keep ourselves from idols (Acts 21:25; 1 John 5:21).
● Keep all that has been committed to our trust (1 Timothy
6:20).
We do this “by His Spirit” – His power (2 Timothy 1:14).
► Keep (Greek – Diaphulasso) – to guard thoroughly
“He shall give His angels charge over you to keep you”
Luke 4:10
This ties up with Psalm 91.
► Keep (Hebrew – Raah) – to feed, keep sheep
● Rachel kept sheep (Genesis 29:9). She came to water them

at the end of the day.
● Moses kept the sheep of Jethro (Exodus 3:1).
● David, who killed a lion and bear, kept sheep (1 Samuel
16:11; 1 Samuel 17:34).
► Keep (Hebrew – Shamar) – to be preserved, to keep, take

heed
“When the army goes out against your enemies, then keep
yourself from every wicked thing”
Deuteronomy 23:9
We are to keep ourselves from every wicked thing.
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face
to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up
His countenance upon you, and give you peace”
Numbers 6:24
This carries the thought of strong power coupled with tender

care, like in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:15) and like the
promise made to Jacob in his dream (Genesis 28:15).
► Keep (Greek – Hupopiazo) – to keep down, press under
“I keep under my body and bring it into subjection”

1 Corinthians 9:27
► Keep (Greek – Tereo) – to watch, observe
● “Keep yourself in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our
Lord Jesus Christ...” (Jude 21).
● “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this
prophecy and keep these things which are written in it...”
(Revelation 1:3).
● “And he who overcomes and keeps My words until the end, to
him I will give power over the nations...” (Revelation 2:26).
Revelation 3:8,10; 12:17; 14:12; 16:15; 22:7,9.
► Keep (Greek – Phroureo) – to keep, to guard
● “The peace of God...will guard (keep) your hearts” (Philippians

4:7).
● “...who are kept by the power of God” (1 Peter 1:5).
In order to be protected (kept), we must be healed (Ezekiel

47:7; Revelation 22:1-2). The rivers (water) in Ezekiel 47:8 is
healing (verse 8b, 9, 12), refreshing (verse 8b), life-giving (verse
9a, c). The “trees” are for:
● Healing (vs 7).

● Food (vs 12b).
● Refreshing (vs 12c).
● Fruitfulness (vs 12d).
● Medicine (vs 12e).
What are the things that hurt and harm us?
● We feel insignificant. “I’m not important.” Even the greatest

Christian faces this. We never arrive at a place of feeling that
everything about ourselves is always important.
● The value we attach to our effectiveness in ministry. Even
the pastors of big churches wonder how real the blessing is,
and how long it will last. We all feel “unfruitful” at times.
But every seed sown, deed done, even a cup of cold water
given in the name of Jesus is effective and will be rewarded.
God sees it all.
● We face unceasing temptation. We all face the tyranny
of unrelenting temptation, coupled with the fear of failure
since we are aware of human weakness. We wonder if we
will remain faithful.
● We face the tension of strife and seeking to maintain
relationships. These tensions are the works of the devil and
can affect:
● Husband and wife relationships.
● Parents and children relationships
● Shepherd and sheep relationships.
● Employer and employee relationships.
● Friendships – sheep with sheep or friend with friend.
● We face the sustained pressure of personal needs. These

may be related to finances, sickness and pain.
Remember, Luke 6:38: “Give, and it will be given to you. A

good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over,
will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it
will be measured to you” (2 Corinthians 8:1-15).
In all these things God promised to keep us.

Productivity (Ezekiel 47:7-11)
This will always be present where the presence and the life of God
are present.
► “Fish... exceedingly many” (verse 10d).

► That which stays “safe on the banks” stagnates and dies. (verse
11).
Being Prophetic / 145
Chapter 13
Being Prophetic
What is God Doing Today?
► Restoring praise and worship

► Signs and wonders
► Evangelism
► Unity
► Reconciliation across races and language groups
► Recognition of Ephesians 4 ministries
► Bringing the Kingdom of God into education; the media and
arts, social issues, the economic and political arena and the
sporting field.
He is purifying and cleansing His Church in preparation for that

great Wedding Feast. Through whom is God doing these things? His
Church. “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do
good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians
2:9,10). This was no afterthought but was carefully planned in
advance. We are not creatures of chance (Ephesians 1:11, 3:8-12).
We need our eyes opened to see this in our spirit (Ephesians 1:17-
23; 3:16-20).
What is the devil doing? He is opposing what God is doing. If
God is working through the Church then the devil will be opposing
the Church (Ephesians 6:12-18 with Ephesians 2:10). How does he
do this? Does he do it by getting us to live a life of sin again? This is
very unlikely to happen, so he does it by discouraging us. When we
are discouraged, we do not praise and worship, we do not see a flow
146 / Being Prophetic
of signs and wonders, we do not witness and evangelise, we criticise

and attack, which results in division, etc.
We need to keep our spirits buoyant and be involved in what
God is doing, joyfully exercising faith – not becoming intolerant of
other models and moves. We have a mission to fulfil. We need to
see it clearly and do it joyfully. Someone has said: “A vision without
a task produces a visionary; a task without a vision produces drudgery;
but a vision with a task produces a missionary.”
God never does anything without first revealing His acts to the
prophets (Amos 3:7; Isaiah 42:9; Amos 3:4; Matthew 18:19). We
must “see” what He is doing, catch a vision of it, get involved and
keep in faith (Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision...”).
Vision is essential to success in the Christian life. A Christian
without vision will never be successful. A vision is essential for any
personal discipline, e.g. an athlete’s whole life is determined by his
vision – what he wants to achieve. What he eats, what he does, the
friendships he keeps, when he sleeps, etc. are all determined by his
vision. If you have a vision you will be willing to pay the price.
Without a vision, you will not.
Merely hearing about what God is doing is not enough. If that
is all we have we will make rules (religion). Rules (religion) in itself
does not restrain people. Vision, or rather, the lack thereof, does.
We need a revelation from God – that is where being prophetic
starts.
There is a four-fold restoration taking place now:
Purification, power, prayer (intercession) and participation.
Purification
The process of purification has begun in the Church and in the

world. In the Church, it started with high visibility leaders and it
will filter down to rank-and-file church members.
Quoting John Wimber: “The kingdom of the world will get darker
and darker with sin becoming more sinful. But at the same time,
the Church is going to become stronger and more victorious, because
through suffering, our faith is perfected.”
Power
We will see things we have never seen before. Miracles will

become common-place. It will not happen quickly but there is a
process taking place. Once it starts it will be rapid. It will be with
groups of people, not just individuals.
Prayer (Intercession)
The whole church learning to persevere in prayer until they know

they have broken through and that God has answered their prayer.
Participation
Out of these, the move of unity, apostolic Christianity, the

building of the Church and establishing the Kingdom will gain new
impetus, credibility and direction. The smaller leaders will begin to
emerge as the new leaders.
There have been some things we have done where we rose up,
“helped God” and birthed an Ishmael. God will break down man-
made, man-centred, man-exalting unity and authority and give us
Abrahamic, Christ-centred unity.
The Prophetic Church Is To Be A Sign Of The Season To Come
“...Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the

house of Israel so hear the word I speak and give them
warning from me...”
verse 7 from Ezekiel 33:1-11
Apostolic Christianity was prophetic from the beginning. The

Christians of the Book of Acts were a sign of things to come. Paul
was a prophetic statement of the Church age. He forsook “religion”
with all its prejudices and traditions. He began to build a Kingdom
Church that embraced both Jew and Gentile, bond and free, male
and female, rich and poor, educated and uneducated. The churches
he built were to be the same. The churches we build are also to be
the same – forging and fashioning the way through.
Just as we find ourselves looking to the New Testament Church
for guidance, so others should be looking to us for guidance today.
Then when the politicians, media, etc., come to us for guidance
we can speak with authority. Unfortunately we are not ready for
them. The standard is too low. Therefore, we are not seeing effective
change in the nations.
The prophets (and prophetic Church) are normally looking
into the future and therefore, trying to change the present. The
result is that they normally spoil our ‘fun’.
The Church is to deal with things in the present that will hinder
us ‘being’ in the future. In other words, it must deal with sin,
compromise, tradition and humanistic deception in the context of
our lives and the lives of the Church. “But if an unbeliever or someone
who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he
will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all,
and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So, he will fall down and
worship God, exclaiming, ‘God is really among you!’” (1 Corinthians
14:24-25).
Tragically, we all too often find expressions of the Church where
there are no absolutes. We are too scared to call sin, “sin.” We never
say, “that is wrong!” Or “you cannot do that!” Much of the error

in this regard is a result of our desire to be free of legalism, but it
has gone too far. Being prophetic demands an appreciation of the
absolutes of God.
We have been called by Jesus to deal with sin. Too many call sin
by other names – sickness, weakness, faults, hang-ups, disposition,
etc. We blame our past, our parents, etc. We have to see that the fact
that we understand the mechanisms of human behaviour does not
excuse people from that behaviour. In the same way that we need to
make a decision not to let most potentially hurtful situations hurt
us, we need to accept the blame for whatever is sin in our lives and
make a decision to be healed and delivered.
Being prophetic demands perception to know that there are
things that are only applicable for a season and that there are
some things that are eternal and do not change. For example, the
following are always true: God’s attitude towards His people – they
are holy; His attitude towards the lost – He loves them; His attitude
towards worldliness – He hates it and says that those who want to
be friends of the world are enemies of God. Sin is still sin.
He winked at some of these things in the past but now we are
in danger of losing the power once again. The outpouring of the
Holy Spirit embraces both power and purity (Acts 2:2-4 with Acts
18:8,9).
John Wimber said, “The Church today in many respects has lost its
savour. It’s not salt and light. But the source that could make it salt and
light is still pure as ever. And we can go to Him and receive from Him
and experience the cleansing.”
As a by-product of dealing with sin and compromise in our own
lives and that of the Church, we will deal with sin in the world.
We must first harmonise with God, get the vertical dynamic right,
before we can harmonise with each other and get the horizontal
dynamics right.
Being prophetic has to do with unity – harmony (Amos 3:3,
7). We must harmonise with God and have the same burden, same
involvement, same purpose and same standards. When we do so,

we will more naturally begin to harmonise with one another. God
does not speak with two voices. The Church will not come to unity
until it shares God’s vision. Therefore, we need “watchmen on the
walls” (Isaiah 52:7-9, especially verse 8) “together” – harmonising.
Conformity to His Purpose
The prophetic Church is more concerned with conformity to the

purpose of God than for the comfort of the people of God. This is
illustrated by the example of Elijah as outlined in James 5:17 – “no
rain”.
It frustrates prophets when they do not see the glory of God in the
Church. They know what He wants to happen in the Church. That
is why they often have to tear down things that are not foundational
(Jeremiah 1:9,10), not for the purpose of destroying, but for the
purpose of building up again so that God’s glory can once again be
seen (Ephesians 3:10). “His intent was that now, through the Church,
the manifold wisdom of God should be made known...” These things
are equally true for the prophetic Church.
What is a Prophetic Church Doing?
► Proclaiming – challenging the Church and nation; comforting

both.
► Praying – David Pawson: “Prophetic prayer is honest. It doesn’t
pray prayers but tells God the truth.”
► Praising – thankfully declaring what God has done; declaring
what He will do – in faith; celebrating who and what He is
(jubilation).
► Participating – priesthood of all believers is being expressed;

ministry in diversity; leadership in plurality; team, not
individuals; building what will last beyond the present
leadership.
► Preparing – for the future and for the Lord’s coming.
► Planning – “occupy until I come” – setting goals; knowing when
to implement the next phase; training up leadership; equipping
the saints; maturing the body.
► Progressing – constantly being changed (Romans 12:1,2; 2
Corinthians 3:17,18); constantly willing to change – even the
direction of our church and our traditions; responding to all
that God is restoring. “He (Jesus) must remain in heaven until the
time comes for God to restore everything, as He has promised long
ago through His holy prophets” (Acts 3:21).
It Takes Prophets To Make The Church Prophetic
For this reason, the prophetic Church cannot be restricted

(or limited) to the gift of prophecy. It embraces both gift and
ministry.
The prophets receive revelation of the future; they are the “seers”
of future events; then with the other gift ministries, we can prepare
for what they see.
Prophets do not carry their own burden, but the burden of the
word God has given them. People try to stop them, criticising or
pacifying them, but the burden just will not go away. They know
what is fundamentally wrong (Ezekiel 33:10,11). Only delivering
the burden and seeing change will do. Jeremiah 20:9: “...His word
is in my heart like a burning fire, shut up in my bones. I am weary of
holding it in; indeed I cannot.”
The prophet’s foundation is an appreciation of the authority

of God. A prophet stands upon this. He sees the Lord as pre-
eminent, far above all rule, authority and power. John Duke says,
“The prophet’s mandate was that he came from God. His ministry was
that he came for God – not for himself. He had no personal axe to
grind. The message was not his own. He had no agenda of his own.
He carried the burden of the Lord – or rather it carried him.”
He, therefore, realises his accountability is to God. That is why
he can address kings, governors and priests with the word of God.
By and large this sense of accountability no longer grabs the heart
of the Church. We abuse the sheep. We promise them the earth, not
realising we will “have to give an account of every idle word uttered”
(Matthew 12:36). Much of what we do is expedient, not edifying or
God-exalting. This is often true even of some things that we do in
the name of unity. Many link up with men and movements out of
expediency and not out of genuine God-called and God-honouring
relationships.
There was great diversity among the prophets we read of in the

Scriptures.
► They were different in their presentation: Jeremiah was the

weeping prophet. Isaiah was a factual prophet.
► They were different culturally: Amos was a shepherd. Isaiah was
used to a palace. Elijah was used to the desert.
► They were different in the way they dressed: Isaiah wore
fine clothes. John the Baptiser wore skins. Elijah wore a fine
mantle.
So, too, is there great diversity with the prophetic Church.

There is plenty of room for variety, but many are trying to force
us into one mould under one human leadership. This is not being
prophetic.
The prophets (as should the Church) had one thing in common
though – a passion for the glory of God.
The Church does need to be careful of those who are prophets

but have not moved on with God. These ‘last move’ prophets will
still claim to hear from God, but what they say will not be God’s
word to the Church today. Consider the story of the unnamed
prophet in 1 Kings 13:
He is courageous and prophesies against the altar at Bethel
saying it will crumble (verse 2) and he prophesies of restoration
under Josiah (verse 2). Jeroboam tries to silence him (verse 4) but
when he stretches out his hand it shrivels up (verse 4). The prophet
prays for Jeroboam and the king’s hand is restored (verse 6). There
is clearly a powerful prophetic ministry in operation here.
Later on an old prophet, who is a ‘last move’ prophet, distracts
him and causes him to turn aside from the word God gave him.
The old prophet claims to have a word from God that contradicts
the one the unnamed prophet had received (verses 8-9) and he fails
to discern that it is false, partly because he wants to respect the old
prophet. He compromises (verse 19) and disaster follows, he loses
his life (verses 20-24).
Some ‘old prophets’ are still trying to do this to the Church
today. Our challenge is to be careful, be fruitful, be obedient, but
make sure that we be prophetic.
154 / Being Prophetic Notes
Notes Being Prophetic / 155
156 / A Prophetic Word
A Prophetic Word / 157
Appendices
A Prophetic Word / 159
Appendix 1
A Prophetic Word
Dudley Daniel, the previous leader of the New Covenant

Ministries International team, wrote this almost twenty years ago:
I was woken up in the small hours of the morning feeling

compelled to record what God was speaking into my spirit. Here
are some extracts from what He said to me that are important for
all of us to bear in mind as we bear the burden of our country and
church.
“My son, I have called you to work among and disciple nations
(Genesis 12:2,3; Matthew 28:18-21). Never forget that – nations. I
called you to establish a base and network of relationships in South
Africa through which you, together with those I have linked you
with, may work into the continent of Africa. I am now moving you
into the next phase of ‘the nations’… establish a base and a network
of relationships through which you, together with those that I have
linked and will link you with, may work into Australia and Asia…
for from within those relationships I will send forth people through
whom and with whom you will also establish bases into Europe and
the Americas. I will send forth people from within these relationships
to these other continents, and an international link-up will develop
by which My Great Commission will be fulfilled and My glory seen
‘all over the earth as the waters cover the sea.’”
Be patient and obedient. Don’t fear or fret, for I am in this and
I am with you. Be courageous and full of faith for I the Lord, who
have called you, will perform it. I called you to be an apostle – a

sent one…”
From the beginning the gospel (good news) has been a ‘going’ –
sending – message. Abraham, the father of the faith, understood this
(Genesis 12:1-4). God “sent” His prophets in the Old Testament.
They understood that God wanted them to “go”. Look at Isaiah
6:8,9. God cries out, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for Us?”
Isaiah receives his call and responds, “Here am I, send me!”
Jesus was “sent”. Galatians 4:4 says, “But when the fullness of time
had come God sent forth His Son…” Like the prophets and disciples
of old, I believe God wants us to have a ‘going’ heart. I believe that
part of the ‘healing of South Africa’ (and the nations) is linked
into our willingness to “go into all the world” (Matthew 28:18-20).
There are many wonderful opportunities open for us to “go” to
Swaziland, Gazankulu, Lesotho, Zaire, etc. Also to nations ‘over the
seas’! Ask God to give you a vision for what you can do, both locally
and trans-locally. Remember, it is: “witness unto Me in Jerusalem,
and in all Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” This is both
local and international, and these are to be simultaneous!
God has always had a ‘world-vision’. He is seeking to impart this
to His people, the Church. He doesn’t want all the people, prayers,
finances, energy and effort, etc. kept in one place. This breaks His
heart. He wants all of us to ‘see the world’. He wants all of us to
walk in His prophetic promise to “Abraham’s seed”.
Pray this prayer: “Father, I want to cease being part of the

problem and become part of the solution. If this involves going
somewhere, either permanently or short-term from time to time,
here am I, send me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Characteristics Of A Healthy Church / 161
Appendix 2
Characteristics Of A Healthy Church
The following material was compiled from messages shared by

Dudley Daniel at several Leadership Training Times and includes
extracts from his reading of a number of well-known leaders of
what, in their eyes, constitutes a ‘healthy church’.
There are some signs, or characteristics, that are indications of a

healthy church to be gleaned from Scripture. As we look at these,
they should help to motivate us toward doing something for the
Kingdom in our own churches. They will help us to look at those
areas of the church that we are involved in and make the necessary
adjustments to bring about a healthy church.
We begin, however, with a brief summary of what a number of
different church leaders have indicated that they see as signs of a
healthy church. Inclusion of any statement here does not necessarily
mean that we (NCMI) are in agreement with that statement. In
some cases we have included some of our own comment.
Christian Schwarz – “Natural Church Development”
He says that every successful church has 8 characteristics:
► Empowering leadership
► Gift-orientated ministry
► Healthy spiritual life
► Functional structures
162 / Characteristics Of A Healthy Church
► Inspiring worship
► Holistic small groups
► Need-orientated evangelism
► Loving relationships
While we agree with most of these things, his interpretation of

certain words and our interpretation are quite different. We would,
for instance, understand evangelism a bit differently to what this
author does.
Steven Macchia – “What Makes a Church Healthy”
He lists the following as aspects that healthy churches have in

common:
► A sense of God’s presence

► God honouring worship
► Training programmes. A place where people can develop their
gifts.
► A safe, affirming community. How safe we feel in the church
we are in? What happens when we slip up? What happens when
we confide in someone about those things that are costly for us
to even recognise, never mind tell another human being? Is it a
place where new people can grow?
► Caring relationships. Building loving connections between
people.
► Servant leaders. Always looking for and identifying those who
have the gift of leadership.
► Outward ministry. Nigel Day-Lewis says, “We need to spend a
good 50% of our prayer time outward.”
► Efficient administration. This is important. Macchia may mean
something different to what we do, but when we talk about a
wineskin we are primarily talking about the new wineskin that

is suitable for the Kingdom of God, and that is administration.
If it is not effective, it is not a wineskin suitable for the Kingdom
of God.
► Accountability partners. Relationships that enable pastors to
vent, when times get tough, with someone or a group outside
the church. We are not altogether sure about this one. The best
place to ‘vent’ is on your knees in front of the throne.
► Sacrificial generosity
Doug Murren – An article
He writes that he believes that the health of a pastor is as important

as the health of a church, and a healthy pastor is someone who has
7 ingredients. He is:
► Someone who is intimate with God

► Who has a vision for the future
► Has a passion for the lost
► One who is willing to sacrifice. (We become partners because
we are willing to sacrifice. Then we get there and we want the
people to sacrifice.)
► Someone who can endure through difficulties
► Someone who has good people skills. Very few of us were born
with them, so most of us have to develop them with God’s help.
Do you remember the book by Tim LaHaye on transforming
the temperaments? Most people do not read the first word –
‘transform’. Paul and Moses were choleric and God did not put
up with them, so why should we? God transforms us. Likewise
God transforms the phlegmatic who is always chopping and
changing and is not quite sure about anything.
► Someone who maintains a positive attitude along the journey.
Paul Wilkes – “Common Traits Of Excellent Churches”
In this book he talks of what he considers to be, “traits that stand out
as practically indispensable.” These are:
► Attitude
● Excellent churches have a spirit of excitement; taking an
entrepreneurial attitude and using it creatively. They are
willing to reach out beyond their own comfort zones and
periodically to confess how well they are doing. Periodically,
not all the time, not continually occupied with morbid
introspection, but unafraid of making mistakes.
► Mission
● Successful churches have a pure sense of mission; they know
what they are about, and the leadership practice forgiveness
and acceptance.
► Ministry
● An excellent church sees itself as a unique community,
uniquely positioned to serve the Lord. They expect to
transform the culture and hold government and institutions
accountable for their actions.
● God has placed the Church in the unique position of being
responsible to hold governments accountable, and yet the
Church must gain its credibility back to be able to do this
because we have lost a lot of ground.
► Relationship with God

● Excellent churches are traditional without being
traditionalist, they do not intend to re-invent Christianity;
Scripture is at the heart of whatever they do.
Darrell Robinson – “Total Church Life”
He argues that strategy is the key component for an effective

church.
Bill Hull – “Seven Steps To Transform Your Church”
He stresses renewal and evangelism.
Rick Warren – “The Purpose Driven Church”
He urges us to define our purpose and to organise around these

purposes.
Greg Shaller and John Grys – “Growing A Healthy

Church”
They say that we need to keep the following things in mind:
► A passion for Christ

● A growing church is one that is led to a personal encounter
with Christ. This happens when a congregation is led deep
into the Word and prayer.
► Getting along
● When we are in tune with the Lord, we are in tune with
others. People who walk around saying, “I am in tune
with everyone,” when in reality everyone dislikes him or
her, are deceived. When we are in tune with God we will
be in tune with others. Relationships within a church can
be contentious and debilitating, that is why a pastor must

find ways of encouraging a spirit of love and respect. Small
groups are an excellent way of doing this.
► Meaningful evangelism
● Jesus was always interested in the whole person. He saw
their needs and responded to their neediness. Meaningful
evangelism identifies the need of a community among
church friends and fashions or defines a well thought out
methodology to meet those needs.
► Small groups
● Many churches have no systematic approach to involving
their members in small groups. The value of groups is
enormous. It helps us to do nurturing, fellowship, evangelism
and leadership development.
Gnanaraj Kore – “How Can The Church Grow”
He says that the secrets in growing a church locally and globally

are found in Acts 2:42 following. Church growth is not likely to
happen if believers do not devote themselves equally as the disciples
devoted themselves to:
► Teaching
● The study of the apostles’ teaching appears to be the early
Church’s first priority. They immersed themselves in the
Word of God. Today believers seem to know very little
about what they believe and why.
► Fellowship
● The early Church was well known for its fellowship. It was
a fellowship they enjoyed both with each other as with
the Lord. The church must provide a context in which the
believers can get to know each other.
► Prayer
● The early Church invested a lot of time in prayer. They had
a willingness to pray and to fast.
► The breaking of bread

● When the early Church ate together, they made sure that
they gathered around the table as people who were one in
the Lord. At the Lord’s Table, all walls and barriers were
broken down as the church came together as one.
Glen Martin and Dian Ginter – “Powerhouse: A Step by

Step Guide to Building a Church That Prays”
They write about the Belmont Church in Nashville that grew

from 60 members to 3500. They say that the secret is prayer; prayer
from the pulpit. Prayer is crucial for the worship experience of the
church. Members pray with the pastor before the service, during
the service and they are available after the service for prayer. Prayer
is always on the agenda; no meeting or gathering in the church
begins without it.
When prayer is taught and the church has a leader whose ministry
is prayer, a prayer culture develops in the church.
Jack Hayford – Article on “The Essentials of Church

Health”
Here is a man of integrity who has done the Church a lot of good
worldwide. The questions Jack Hayford puts to his pastors are:
► What teachings do I need to put before my people in order to

produce a spiritually mature congregation?
► Do we preach about spiritual empowering?
► What about healing?
► What about the baptism of the Holy Spirit and speaking in
other tongues?
The following is a tentative list, gleaned from what Jack Hayford

writes, that can be a useful tool and an evaluation of current teaching
and ministry:
► Divine revelation
● We must teach our people the scope of, the response to,
the exercise of and the resources available to the Spirit-filled
believer, which includes the inspiration and revelation of
Scripture and the existence and the nature of God.
► Redemption
● This includes what it means to be a child of God. Many of
the words we use are ‘scriptural’, but we do not know what
their Biblical background is. A part of redemption has to do
with slavery. A slave master would own you, but when you
were redeemed you were taken away from the master who
enslaved you to serve another master who had set you free.
We take bad models of redemptions and adoption. Parents
are so often portrayed as adopting a child to make them
a slave. Basic disciplines including stewardship, walking in

faith and the sacraments are all a part of redemption.
► Spiritual empowering
● This includes the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the gifts of the
Holy Spirit and the ministry of healing.
► Spiritual conflict
● We need to teach our people about spiritual conflict,
including the origin and nature of demons. Some people are
scared to even speak of demons these days. Why? Because a
certain sector of fanaticism says that if you speak of the devil
you are being negative. Weigh up how much Jesus preached
about hell, punishment, and demons, and then think how
often He preached about self-image. Jesus spoke about hell
and demons and it was not negative.
Our (NCMI’s) Contribution
Because New Covenant Ministries International has been so

radical on so many issues in the past, some of us have the attitude
that we are right and everyone else is a pack of charlatans and
compromisers; that only New Covenant Ministries International is
on ‘the cutting edge’. This will never be true.
Whatever ‘cutting edge’ means, we do not want to be a group
that is tying to ‘re-invent’ Christianity. Neither do we want to be a
group that thinks that everything that has been done in the past is
hogwash. There are people that have come and gone who, in their
exploits in the past, have done more for God than we have ever
done in our ‘togetherness’. All this must be kept in mind as we
present our own view on what the signs of a healthy church are.
To begin with, we certainly do need healthy churches. If we do
not have healthy churches, then we are not going to bring about a
healthy expression of the Kingdom of God here on the earth, but

when we have healthy churches we will also have healthy converts.
I am not talking about physical health but spiritual health. We
want to have converts that are spiritually healthy in God, who are
experiencing Jesus and the Kingdom in everything that they are
and do.
Years ago we used to speak about the tube-of-toothpaste law:
when you take the cap off the toothpaste tube and apply pressure,
only what is inside comes out. In the same way, our converts need
to really have Jesus on the inside. Our converts need to be firmly
grounded in the Word of God so that their responses, reactions,
and everything they do and say are Christ-like. When this is true,
they will not drift in and out of the Kingdom of God and the life
of Jesus.
So, what are the signs of a healthy church?
1. Fulfilling the Great Commission
Fulfilling the Great Commission includes the following:
► Planting New Testament churches with and for new

converts
A healthy church is a church that is fulfilling the Great

Commission by planting New Testament churches in every
village, town and city of every country, both in our ‘togetherness’
and also as local churches (Matthew 28:19: “Go into all the world
and make disciples of all nations”).
In Acts Chapter 8 we read: “On that day a great persecution
broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the
apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men
buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. But Saul began to
destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men
and women and put them in prison. Those who had been scattered”
- not the apostles but the everyday people – “preached the word
wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and
proclaimed the Christ there. When the crowds heard Philip and
saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to
what he said. With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and
many paralytics and cripples were healed. So there was great joy in
that city.”
Overnight Philip had the kind of church that every one of us
dreams of having: a church born out of miracles, and signs and
wonders, a church where the devil himself knew that he had no
stronghold.
Scripture tells us that “demons came out of people with shrieks.”
Now who does not want a church like that? Is that not the
longing of most leaders? If Philip had been living in our day and
had followed the modern models of church and ministry that so
many do, he would have immediately had the finances to travel
the world and tell people how to have the same thing happen in
their area. He would never have had another financial problem.
Of course he did not do anything like that.
The whole city was saved because of the supernatural
manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Yet there is an interesting thing
that we read here. God was at work to reveal His way of doing
things. We read that God took Philip away, but before He took
him the apostles came. They were all relaxing, ‘drinking coffee’
and talking about their exploits, reminiscing, having a good
time in general, because they had stayed behind in Jerusalem.
But “when they heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God
they sent Peter and John to them.” Peter and John were apostles.
In other words, the apostolic was injected straight into the new
church plant.
In Acts 11, picking up in the nineteenth verse we read: “Now
those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection
with Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch,
telling the message only to Jews. Some of them, however, men from
Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks

also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s
hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and
turned to the Lord. News of this reached the ears of the church
at Jerusalem.” What did they do? Again they sent apostles to
establish a new church with these new converts. They went to
make sure that there was a real church that was established,
built on Apostolic/Prophetic foundations. That is a sign of a
healthy ‘New Testament’ church.
► Planting churches that keep people free
The early believers knew nothing of looking for other

churches to send the new converts to. When people were saved
they planted a church that would keep the people free; that is
the New Testament pattern.
A healthy church will do the same today. While we must
always recognise the validity of other expressions of the body of
Christ, we cannot take a chance of simply sending new converts
away to somehow find a church for themselves. If we are
responsible for seeing them saved, because God sent us to them
for that purpose, then we should also take the responsibility to,
where necessary, plant a church and keep them saved. Not saved
in the sense of their eternal destiny, but saved in the sense of the
expression of their effectiveness as Christians and in keeping
them free from bondage and empty traditions.
The first time something that was going to bring bondage
came on the early Church (we read about it in Acts 15) it was
dealt with very radically. They made sure that they did not bring
any bondage to any of God’s people. We need to remember that
what we get saved into is more important than what we get
saved out of.
So, when I talk about a New Testament church, I am talking
about a church that keeps people free without saying, “Do
as you please.” It keeps living only within the parameters of
Scripture – nothing added to it, nothing taken away from it

– only the Scriptures.
A New Testament church will stay away from licence and
legalism. If a man wants to wear pink shirts you do not say one
word about it. If they want to wear pink shorts (like I did when
I first arrived in Australia) you do nothing. You let them wear
those things because Scripture does not command us about the
length, size, or colour of shorts, or of women’s dresses for that
matter. What it does talk about is modesty. You have to keep
people free.
On the issue of long hair: I would like to know what long is,
and what short is? Who knows? It would seem to me that in the
Old and New Testament times most men had what we today
would call long hair. There would not have been any short back
and sides. The Bible does not say anything about what colour
their hair was dyed either; these are all personal preferences.
As soon as the church was planted in Samaria, apostles were
sent to ensure it kept a New Testament foundation, keeping the
people free. Do you get the picture? This is how we have tried
to work as New Covenant Ministries International. If you are
instrumental in someone being saved, and you get some people
that are interested in planting a church, we will try and do our
best to help you get a church planted. That is the way God
patterned it. When the apostles heard of the people being saved
they sent someone to see that a church was planted that would
keep them free.
So, it is has never been just about soul-winning or crusades,
but about ensuring that new converts are planted in a church
that believes the Bible plus nothing and the Bible minus
nothing; a church that does not hold to legalistic rules - like not
being allowed to purchase anything on Sunday because it is the
Sabbath. It is not the Sabbath anyway. The Sabbath will never
change – it is on a Saturday. Sunday is the Lord’s Day. We all
need a Sabbath day: that is the way God made us. “Six days
shalt thou labour...” (Exodus 20:8 – KJV). But Sunday is not the
Sabbath for the body of Christ; it is workday, a real work.
► Everyone has a heart to reach everyone – both locally and

into the nations
Being free does not mean we can do what we like, but it

does mean that neither legalism nor licence prevents us from
reaching those who need Jesus. Legalism would say that we
could not mix with anyone unless we can endorse everything
that they are doing. By implication, that means we have to quit
hanging around with all those that we can influence for Jesus
and only mix with those who have already been influenced by
Jesus. If we only mix in our holy huddle and let the world ‘go
to hell’ we become as irrelevant as they are. Jesus would never
have made it on the basis of that view. He was constantly picked
on for being seen with people who were sinners. But let us be
clear, He did not do what they did, He was there to influence
them.
We have been commanded to plant New Testament
churches. Sometimes that means we sit with people while they
are drinking, or smoking, and we sit with them while they are
doing other things that we do not endorse. There may come a
time when we have to say, “I cannot cope with this, I have to
leave now,” but we do not leave simply because they are doing
things we are a little uncomfortable with.
Many conferences are centred on these kinds of things and
emphasise the following: “Come out from among them and be
ye separate, touch not the unclean thing.” This is indeed truth,
but I do not think it was referring to distancing ourselves from
unsaved people altogether. We read in Scripture that whoever
wants to be a friend of the world is the enemy of Christ, but
we err if we interpret that to mean that we should not go to
the movies and wear make-up and many other things that are
in fact not Kingdom issues. From time to time it could include
these things, but I do not think that is what God means. We

cannot reach a community unless we are in their midst.
A part of fulfilling the Great Commission necessitates that
every member be equipped for lifestyle evangelism. Not only
those few who generally make the commitment and give their
time. Every member, every single person in the church should
be involved. We have to do this graciously and wisely in order
to help them understand that none can be excluded from God’s
requirement in this. God does not exclude anyone and He does
not want to hear our excuses (not now or before the judgement
seat of Christ) as to why you were not involved in every day,
every believer, lifestyle evangelism.
Some of us are not evangelists, but we can cook meals.
Healthy churches cook meals for people who cannot cook meals
for themselves; they do not leave it to Meals-on-Wheels. They
do not leave it to the social welfare system. It has been amazing
to me to see the poverty in America. One can drive down the
streets of almost any city in what is possibly the most affluent
country on the planet, where most of the world’s millionaires,
billionaires, etc. are found, and see extreme poverty – people
sleeping under cardboard boxes, begging for food and pulling
dirty, stinking bug-eaten food out of rubbish bins. And the
churches still ask what they should be doing? Many are growing
but you will probably find that very little of this is due to real
salvations. Most of it is transfer growth.
► Any healthy church will have a constant flow of conversions

and grow both numerically, and in maturity
“And the Lord added to the church daily as many as

were being saved.”
Acts 2:47
This means that people are going to have to be taught,

equipped, and encouraged to witness daily. “Neighbour, I see
you have just moved in, my name is... While you are moving
in and are getting all those boxes unpacked and all the rest of
it, we know it is all absolute chaos in your home. So, here is a
meal my wife has prepared. We are going to be praying for you
that you settle in quickly, and we really are going to pray. We
are going to cry to God for you that it is not too stressful. We
appreciate that you have moved into the area and you can count
on us to be praying for you.”
► A heart for the nations and a church planting mentality
It is also necessary that in our training, equipping and

mobilising we help the people to understand that God expects
them to play a vital, effective and real role in fulfilling His Great
Commission, both where they live and into the nations, because
you cannot have one without the other.
It is also necessary to train, equip and release home cell
leaders to go to other countries, to get jobs where they can start
home cells and be involved in discipling the nations.
God has given the Church some incredible entrepreneurial
men and women, and we need to try and help them to see that
God wants some of them to go and plant a home cell in another
nation. They can go and hold down a job and make money to
underwrite a budget for when others come in and a church is
established. In that way there can be a wonderful and complete
transition from home cell to local church.
Recently, Bill Bright of Campus Crusade, said to the pastors
in the United States: “We want to come into your church to help
equip your entrepreneurial men and women to go out and plant
churches or plant home cells everywhere across the globe.” He is a
great man of God, great man of faith. Who knows how many
men and women he has led to Jesus? And now at the end of
his life he is saying, “I see the importance of equipping men and
women with entrepreneurial gifting to go into these places to plant
home cells.”
We believe that if you have more than 50 people in your

church you should be looking to God for direction about where
you can plant, or a least help with a plant. After all, we have to
work as a team. God has provided each and every church that
relates to New Covenant Ministries (tens of thousands across
the earth) with a wineskin that includes a mindset that says,
“There is no more excuse for us, no matter how small the plant
is, people will come in to help with that plant.”
We have to have a church-planting mentality if we are going
to fulfil the Great Commission the Biblical way. How small our
church is and how little money we have, or how few resources
we have is not an excuse for anyone.
► Dignity for all
Jesus is interested in the whole person. He is interested

in them having food and housing; He is interested in their
families; He is interested in their finances; He is interested in
their dignity. And so we could go on and on and on.
It is wonderful to walk downtown or to walk into a village
and simply give people respect. To walk up to an old black man
in Africa, or an old Indian in India, or an old Chinese man, and
acknowledge him, “How are you, sir?” In Texas you constantly
hear, “Yes, Ma’am,” “No, Ma’am,” “Yes, Sir,” “No, Sir.” This
brings respect. We may mock the Texans – all around the world
they mock them – but there is much we can learn from an
unsaved Texan.
God is interested in the whole person and showing respect
is simply agreeing with Him with regard to the dignity of each
individual. It is still a wonderful thing anywhere in the world to
stand up when a woman comes in, even a prostitute, and show
her some respect. Never ever put Mary in the place that Roman
Catholicism does, but you know God did not say, “I am going
to do this thing so wonderfully that I will by-pass a woman.”
He would not let a man be involved in the birth of Jesus, but

He did involve a woman.
Yet in many churches women are treated badly, and one
can see why women are fighting for their rights in the body
of Christ. It is because of the way they are being treated in the
Church. That is not a sign of a healthy church. We can argue as
much as we like, but in our heart of hearts we know that this is
the truth. Men can be as macho, but when a woman walks in
they should stand up and say, “Hi, Ma’am.” Let her know that
she is respected. Then we are exhibiting the redeemed lifestyle
that is a sign of a healthy church.
It is not about how many verses of Scripture we can quote,
it is not about how well we can sing and jump and scream and
prophesy. A healthy church is a church where they show respect
and bring dignity back to older people, women, children, and
to men.
Men are the brunt of so many jokes today; their dignity has
been absolutely undermined. And we cannot focus on stopping
this in the world; we must start in the Church.
This is a sign of a healthy church. That is what we are talking
about when we talk about planting New Testament churches
– every person being involved in the wholeness of the whole
person.
► A Biblical understanding of leadership
A healthy church necessitates training, equipping and

mobilising all its members, bringing them to maturity and into
a fuller understanding of what leadership is and how to use
their gifts and talents. It is no use preaching about those things
– people want to know how they can be effective and where to
use their gifts.
That in turn means that every person in every church must
understand Biblical leadership, both in the church and in the
home. We can never have a healthy church without Biblical
leadership. We all need to understand something of the authority

that God has put on our leaders.
It is a real problem that we have women deacons in the
churches around the world who do not even know how to
respect their husbands. They do not even know the chain of
authority that God has established.
For some this has been perverted because they have been
so suppressed and oppressed that they have not been able to
let God work out the security that comes from knowing the
unshakable Jesus. Every husband who is guilty of this and takes
advantage of his authority will one day have to stand before
almighty God. We all need to live in the light of eternity.
2. Truly Knowing God
One of the vital signs of a healthy church is that the people

know God; they truly know God – who He is and how He operates,
what He has done, is doing and what He wants to do through
His name, His attributes and His deeds. Most of these will come
from the Word of God, especially the first two. His deeds reveal
Him: how He parted the Red Sea, fed the multitudes, raised the
dead, changed water into wine, protected His people, was quick to
forgive them, etc.
3. Going for Gold
In the parable of the sower the crop returned 30, 60 to a 100-

fold. Going for gold means that we aim for the ‘100-fold’ in the
following areas:
► Going for Gold in Conversion – know what it truly means to

be born again.
In Acts 2:1-4 there is the little word ‘all’ that is used when
speaking of the first disciples. Some people say that this Scripture
shows the birth of the Church, and some people say that John
17 is the birth of the Church.
If Acts 2 is the birth of the Church then all of them were
empowered from day one. Right at the outset all of them spoke
with other tongues, all had cloven tongues of fire settle upon
them and all of them heard the sound as if of a mighty wind,
which was the power of God being made evident in their midst.
This is the “all” factor.
Read on to verse 36 and we see this: “God has made this Jesus
both Lord and the Messiah, that is the Saviour, the Christ.” You
cannot have one without the other. God, the Father, never ever
said that you could have Jesus as Saviour without having Him
as Lord as well. The Church has made us unhealthy because
it preaches a Gospel that allows us to receive Jesus as Saviour
without Him being Lord.
In verse 38 we read: “Peter replied, ‘Repent…’” Most people
in the body of Christ today need to repent. A large percentage
of tongues-speaking people have never actually been born again
the Bible way. Being born again requires an absolute conviction
that Jesus is the only way. The modern mindset, as typified by
the New Age, can influence the way we see the new birth and
then we may accept Jesus because we see Him as simply the best
way for now, and so we should give Him a chance, give Him a
shot. That is why we backslide so quickly, because we only give
Jesus a chance, we do not make Him Lord.
There are signs that accompany being born again that are
written down for us in 1 John, signs that we believe preachers
need to preach once every three months. These include:
● A New Life
We have the promise of a new and different life, chapter

1:1-4; 2:6, 17; 3:24 and 5:11.
● A New Liberty
Chapter 3:6-10; 5:1-5,18 and 2:1: “These things have I

written unto you that you sin not.” This is liberty, so that I do
not have to go on sinning forever.
● A New Light
Chapter 1:5-10 says that if we have fellowship with Him we

walk in the light. Also 2:7-11.
● A Hatred for the World
What we mean by this is a hatred for the world’s system, not

for the people in the world. If we are born again we do not
put up with the world system, we do not go to taste it every
now and then, and we absolutely hate it.
The New Age way, which is actually an age-old idea, will
put up with anything. It is tolerant. The Church has been
influenced by this and has become tolerant as well and tries
not to offend anybody. So we do not say anything when
people dress immodestly. We do not want to upset the apple
cart in case someone leaves the church. You cannot be born
again and put up with this approach. This applies to all of
our conduct in the Church and in the world. We are to be
different to the world. For example, there is no fear of God
when a woman stands up to minister and her navel shows
every time she moves. That is not modesty. Likewise, there
is no fear of God when a man stands up to minister with
pants so tight that it leaves little to the imagination. That is

not modesty.
● A New Longing and Love for Obedience
Chapter 2:15-17 and 3:16. When we are saved the things

we desire change and we have a new longing, a longing to
be pure, clean and righteous, clean for God, and a longing
not to sin, not even once. There is a new yearning inside
that cries out, “Oh my God, forgive me” – it is broken-
heartedness.
There is a phenomenon that is taking place in the United
States at the moment (not only there but everywhere in
the world) where clinics are being set up for pastors that
are hooked on pornography. This should not ever have
happened. I know that I am perhaps being ungracious
towards pastors that have fallen, but when we fall on the
Internet it involves a deliberate choice. Even for a computer
genius, it still takes time to get access to that website. In that
time the Holy Spirit is telling you, “Do not do this thing.”
If you still do you are deliberately resisting God. It does not
simply happen.
When we are really born again we are quick to call out to
God even when we do see something like this. Sometimes
we may not even have lusted yet, but we say in our heart,
“Oh God, I am sorry that I even saw that.” We do not
really have to confess that, but that is the kind of heart that
accompanies the new birth. Our attitude is, “I do not want
to break Your heart God, I do not want to grieve You.” That
is a Biblical evidence of the fact that we are born again and
not the stuff we are tolerating and putting up with in the
churches.
Is this really ungracious? If you know in your heart of
hearts that this is the Bible way then you have to fight God
to keep doing it. “If any man be in Christ he is a new creation.
Old things have passed away, behold, all things have become
new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). With the new birth we have new
longings.
● A New Loyalty
We are loyal to Jesus in truth, chapter 2:29. We have a

new lawyer, a new advocate, and we do not try to justify
ourselves any more. No more patting ourselves on the back
and trying to make people think we are innocent of things
when we are not. When they accuse us we can say, “I have
got a good lawyer.” When you are not born again you are
forever justifying yourself, saying, “I did not really mean
that,” or, “The woman made me do it.” The ‘woman made
me do it’ syndrome is a direct result of the fall.
There may be occasions when somebody takes something
we do or say in the wrong way, but the truth remains the
same: we have a new lawyer when we are born again. We can
say, “If I take care of my relationship with God, He will take
care of my reputation with other people.”
We could try to fight back, fighting fire with fire, but we
should never fight with the same spirit we are attacked with.
After all we know it was ultimately Satan, something we did
not know when we were unsaved. Then our lord was our
self. We looked to ourselves sitting on the throne ruling our
lives, with us as the centre of attraction. We were each at the
centre of the universe. Now, if I am truly born again, Jesus is
at the centre, and I live to please Him and do His will.
Can we slip up? Of course we can, but Scripture says
this: “We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous, and he is the propitiation for our sins and not for
ours only but for the sins of the whole world.” And then it goes
on to say, “And if any man does sin…” Not “when” but “if
any man does sin.” We are human and we are going to sin,
but we do have an advocate.
► Going for Gold in Repentance and Baptism
Peter, speaking after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, says in

Acts 2:38: “Repent, and be baptised every one of you in the name
of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” We believe that this is a sign
of a healthy church
In a healthy church we teach those who are being saved to
repent and to immediately be baptised. Baptism is a public
declaration that we are ‘dead’. We mean by this adult baptism
by immersion, as that is the only valid interpretation of the
word used in Scripture. Sprinkling or pouring water on people
only conveys an idea of cleansing. When you go under the water
you are saying, “I am dead to my old life, and the old person
is dead.” Sprinkling or pouring water over someone will never
convey that.
When we are baptised the picture that is portrayed as we
come out of the water is that there is a new ‘me’. Outwardly we
might look the same, but we are not. “It is no longer I who live,
but Christ that lives in me, and the life that I now live, I live by
faith in the Son of God...”
Baptism is one of those things that we should simply do when
we are going for gold. It requires no consulting, no praying with
your friends, no asking anyone.
Conclusion
It should be clear from all of the above that church health has
nothing to do with numbers, and yet we often think that it does.
There are few people who have a hundred people in their church
who think that they have anything to contribute toward teaching
us how to build a healthy church. That is because they think that
you have to have a few thousand people in the church before you
have anything to contribute.
The truth often is that most people in large congregations never

do a single thing to build the Kingdom. They simply sit there, nod
their heads, and smile when the pastor wants them to. How can we
call that a ‘healthy’ church?
Membership numbers have never impressed God. There are
churches in small towns that have more than 50% of the entire
population attending their church. Now that is success. On the
other hand, there are churches that have up to 10 000 members,
but these do not even have 0,001% of the population attending
their church; and they think they have a healthy church. All the
while, the community around them dislikes them, the neighbours
want nothing to do with Christ, and all we can says is, “Look at the
numbers; that is a healthy church.”
Neighbours are won over by a healthy church because God gives
it favour with all people; that is what we read happened in Acts 2.
This is not to deny that there will be enemies from time to time or
that there will be conflict, but this does not happen all the time.
We need to know how to build healthy churches because it is in
God’s plan and pattern to reach each individual, and all the nations
of the world, through the Church. He longs to empower us to do
that, but is often prevented from doing so because we have our own
agenda and ideas. We need to deal with these in order that healthy
churches can be built that will impact their communities, and the
nations, with the whole Gospel, and reach out to every one with a
genuine desire to see them whole in Christ.
186 / The Church Universal
Appendix 3
The Church Universal
“The church is generally referred to as the ekklesia – the gathering

together of God’s people. “Ekklesia” is first used of the Christian
community that had been gathered at Jerusalem by the preaching
of the apostles. “Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard
about these events,” Acts 5:11. This community consisted of those
who, together with the apostles, had accepted the belief that Jesus
was the Messiah, had been baptised and had received the forgiveness
of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:37-41). The prime fact
about it is not that it is a local assembly, but that it is the people of
God who are heirs of the promises. This ekklesia is continuous with
the people of the Old Testament, who are also, as in the Pentateuch,
called ekklesia.
As Christianity spreads from Jerusalem outwards, ekklesia
acquires two distinguishable but closely connected meanings. It is
used in the singular in the sense of a local Christian community,
as it had in the earlier chapters been applied to the original church
at Jerusalem. (Acts 11:26; 13:1, 14:27, 15:3.) It can also be used
in the plural of a number of such local Christian communities, as
in Acts 15:41 and 16:5, but the word can also be used in a wider
sense in the singular of the ‘whole church’ as far as it then existed
in Judea, Galilee and Samaria. Note especially Acts 20:28, where,
though reference is primarily to the church in Ephesus which the
(shepherds) are to tend, the qualifying clause ‘which he bought
The Church Universal / 187
with his own blood’ clearly points beyond the church at Ephesus,
so that the whole passage might be paraphrased ‘feed that local
embodiment of the universal church which Christ purchased.”
RH Fuller, Theological Word Book of the Bible Page 47f
“We should note that the individual congregation, or group

of believers in a specific place, is never regarded as only a part
or component of the whole church. The church is not a sum or
composite of the individual local groups. Instead, the whole is
found in each place.
Karl Schmidt says, “We have pointed out that the sum of the
individual congregations does not produce the total community of
the church. Each community, however small, represents the total
community, the church.”
Millard Erickson, Christian Theology, Page 1033

188 / The Church Universal Notes
Notes The Church Universal / 189
Notes The Church Universal / 191

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A Context For Change / 1

A Biblical Pattern For

Compiled and edited by: Gordon Hunkin

Copyright © 2006 New Covenant Ministries International

All rights reserved. The reproduction of any portion of this

Published by Every Tribe Resources (www.everytribe.net) for New

P. O. Box 67209, Bryanston, 2021, South Africa.

Other Books in This Series

Thanks to all who have given of their time

A special thanks to Malcolm Black and Jenny

This book is based on the module offered through the

Besides the material that was written specifically for the

The shorter articles and booklets used will be offered as

Equipping For Apostolic Christianity

At the heart of Apostolic Christianity is a passion to

Apostolic Christianity finds its expression through a

Apostolic Christianity has a God-inspired zeal to

Chapter 1 A Context For Change Page 13

Chapter 5 Mandate And Mission Page 47

Chapter 9 The Apostolic Ministry – Part 1 Page 89

Appendix 1 A Prophetic Word – Dudley

These are incredible days to be alive and we are privileged

However, the Church today is facing many challenges –

“Apostolic Strategy” has been compiled with the future

There is nothing haphazard about God’s plan to reach

Be blessed in your journey!

A Context For Change

The authority of the Bible is a non-negotiable element of

built, without compromise, according to the Word of God and

In the Scripture, particularly in Acts, we see that local churches

Components Of The Church

Let us begin our examination of God’s pattern for the Church

The imagery of the wine and wineskin is taken from Jesus’

The wine speaks of His life, power, creativity and activity in

it is Jesus, by His Spirit, coming to the Church. We would like to

It is Jesus that we want to see come to those who are thirsty. He

What I am trying to say is that the work and manifestation of

We come now to the wineskin. We believe that the wineskin

► Vision – is rooted in God’s vision for the Church universal and

Most of us have already experienced some wonderful things, but

constant challenge for the Church is to be adjusting everything that

The wineskin is the corporate expression of the Church, which

The Cry Of A Sending God

Having discussed a Biblical context for change and outlined

“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your

“...the Scripture foresaw that God would justify the

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would

There was also a prophetic element to Abraham’s going. Not

“For he was looking forward to the city with foundations,

“These I will bring to my holy mountain and give them

sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will

In this sense they were undeniably ‘sent’ and they were, as a

“I must do the will of Him who sent me …”

“He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the

“…but he who rejects Me rejects Him Who sent Me…”

“I stand with the Father, Who sent Me”

“…we must do the work of Him Who sent Me”

“Now I am going to Him Who sent Me…”

Jesus, in equipping the disciples, would often ‘send’ them out.

“When the apostles returned…”

Jesus, in turn, has commissioned His Church to go into all the

the local believers. Still others go in to “strengthen the hands” of

4:31 “Then He went down to Capernaum …”

4:43 “… I must preach the good news … to other towns