In this season, revival communities are being birthed across the globe as believers are being fashioned into vessels that carry the wine of the Spirit. We are thankful for the levels of breakthrough we have experienced thus far, but are expectant for much more! Indeed, God is preparing His Church to receive an outpouring of the Spirit that is greater than we can imagine.
To prepare believers to receive a greater release of His Presence, God is anointing and empowering the leadership of apostles. Our goal in this post is to bring clarity to the subject of apostleship (the role of an apostle) and inspire you to receive apostolic voices in your school. We believe this will bring both you and your students to new levels of experiencing the kingdom!
What is Apostleship?
An apostle (meaning “sent one”) is a leadership position in the body of Christ that serves to empower believers to receive the fullness of the Spirit. Under an apostle’s anointing and instruction, men and women are aligned under the Lord’s covering so that the influence of His Spirit can flow abundantly through their lives, bringing prosperity, wisdom, and peace.
More specifically, an apostle is one who has received a specific mandate from heaven to equip and empower believers to see lives, cities, and nations transformed. This ministry develops and prospers as relationship and trust is built amongst the body of Christ. In this role, the apostle seeks to transform culture by activating believers in the supernatural and launching them into their destinies.
Additionally, an apostle is a father or mother in the body of Christ who, out of love for spiritual children, discerns what a community needs and releases breakthrough to see those needs met. Apostles are true gifts to those who are willing to receive!
Paul: A New Testament Example of an Apostle
Paul is a great example of an apostle in the New Testament. Originally a pharisee who murdered Christians for their beliefs, he had a life-changing encounter with Jesus that completely altered the course of his life. Jesus spoke to Paul, calling him His “chosen instrument to carry my Name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel” (Acts 9:15, NIV). After radically converting to Christianity, Paul went on to become a powerful leader in the early church. Instead of seeking the demise of those who confessed Jesus, His ministry began to build up and strengthen believers.
To bring the kingdom to earth as it is in heaven, Paul ministered powerfully with encouragement, wisdom, and correction to many different churches in Rome, Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, Colosse, and other cities. In his letters, Paul addressed these churches with a special introduction, describing himself as “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God” (Ephesians 1:1, NKJV). As a messenger specifically chosen and anointed by the Lord, Paul brought words of life and encouragement to these communities so they could be strengthened in their connection to God and each other.
Apostleship: Still Available Today
We believe the ministry of apostles that began in the New Testament is still available to us today. In this hour, God is raising up these men and women as anointed messengers who carry kingdom revelation to equip and empower the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:11-13 (NKJV) speaks of this God-designed leadership structure for the church:
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 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.”
As you can see, the goal of the apostle is to lead the body of Christ with the wisdom of heaven so that believers are edified and unified in every way.
Receiving Apostolic Voices in a Supernatural School
As a school leader, we believe there is great breakthrough for your leadership team and students as you receive apostolic voices in your school’s environment. At BSSM, we have seen profound transformation take place in our school community as we have invited apostolic voices to speak and minister to our staff and students. On a regular basis, these leaders share timely messages that strengthen us individually and corporately. We would surely not be where we are today as a community had it not been for the powerful voices of our apostolic friends speaking into our lives.
Regardless of the size of your school, we believe it is in God’s heart for your school to receive from heaven through apostolic voices. Here are a few practical ways you can do this:
- Tune Your Ears: Become aware as a leadership team of what God is speaking to the body of Christ through apostolic voices. Invite these leaders to come minister and speak to your school and watch what God does!
- Hit the Road: Ready for a school field trip? Get your school leaders and students together and attend a conference that features apostolic leaders. A little bit of travel can go a long way! Find conferences that are near you to receive what God is pouring out.
- Utilize Curriculum: The BSSM Video Curriculum includes messages from Bethel Church’s apostolic leaders, which provide sound teaching and impartation to students. This is a great source for your school to invite the anointing and gifting of the apostles into your school.
God is ready to take your school to the next level as you receive apostolic voices in your school community. We pray that your eyes would be opened to the connections God is placing in your path, apostolic leaders whom you can invite to come and minister to your school. And may heaven invade each of your schools as you continue to seek His face!
For more information regarding the BSSM Video Curriculum, click here.
God bless you.needed this.