I cannot stress enough the vital importance of the role of The Evangelist. It seems that The Body of Christ is lost in The Apostolic Ministry of our day and no doubt, The Apostolic awakening has been and is a definite move of God. However, have we honestly evaluated the accomplishments of The Apostolic Move? Just what has The Apostolic Move brought to The Body of Christ that has benefited The Church throughout the world and even Local Churches? Furthermore, just where Apostolic Move has fallen short in its important mandate.
POSITIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS: One of the great accomplishments is the definite move away from the principles of Democracy to principles of Theocracy in Church Government. Another accomplishment has been the move away from hierarchical Denominational Governance to Indigenous Principles of Local Church Governance highlighting SELF GOVERNANCE, SELF FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND SELF PROPAGATION.
This no doubt caused many Local Churches to be more dependent on Christ rather the leadership of the various Denominations. Another outstanding highlight has been the books written on Apostolic and Prophetical Ministries which no doubt educated The Body of Christ to accept the emphasis of The Holy Spirit reawakening The Body of Christ to The Apostolic and Prophetical Ministries.
THE NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF THE APOSTOLIC AWAKENING: No doubt there are several more milestones achieved which no doubt have elevated the role of The Apostle and Prophet to the extent that these ministries have grown out of proportion. Almost every second minister these days is an Apostle. This to me is a major concern and needs to be rectified and not by man, rather it has to be the work of The Holy Spirit. All that some of us can do is to try and awaken the gross imbalance of ministry that is prevalent in The Body of Christ and before I highlight this I need to briefly explain my opening remark.
WHERE ARE THE EVANGELISTS? Just where is the ministry of The Evangelist today. I must admit that I do not have the knowledge of what is happening throughout The Body of Christ for my assessment is solely based on South Africa and New Zealand. In my early years of salvation, there was a mighty move of God of Evangelism that swept my beloved country – South Africa. Thousands upon thousands turned to The Lord. In addition, may I add one of the renowned Evangelists of my day was birthed within an Apostolic Church, namely Derek Fynn. Four of the Evangelists that stood out were Derek Fynn, Michael Henry, Colin La Foye and Fred Roberts. The Church in South Africa owes much to these men. It was their ministry and no doubt of many others that brought phenomenal growth to The Church in South Africa, Other than that their evangelical efforts stirred The Church in South Africa toward Personal Evangelism. The pulpits of these mighty men of God were not just found in the various Churches that invited them, they preached on Buses, on Trains, Street Corners and in Hospitals. Remarkably they also had a core group that accompanied them on their evangelical drives, men that later were doing the exact same that their mentors had done. I sadly cannot recollect the name of one of the most effective Evangelist of New Zealand (he just passed a few months ago in the time of writing this article).
THE MOST IMPORTANT GIFT OF THE HOUR: Let me now drive home my concerns. I have also maintained that the most important Ascended Fivefold Gift is THE GIFT NEEDED FOR THE HOUR. Let me now try to persuade you just what is the Gift needed for this hour and therefore THE MOST IMPORTANT GIFT bearing in mind that every important Gift is but for a season. Moreover, this season only lasts as long as there is a dire need for the expression of the certain Gift.
To stress my concerns I ask the following pertinent questions: Has The Ascended Gift of The Apostle run its course? Is there still a need for this wonderful and powerful ministry? Is this Gift still the most important of our day? I trust I have the leaning of The Holy Spirit as I try to answer the relevant questions.
I am of the personal persuasion that The Apostolic Gift has not run its course, for the simple fact as long as there are new converts they need to be grounded in Apostolic Doctrine (see Acts 2:42). In addition, who better to do this is none other than those with The Git of Apostleship. However, on the other hand those with The Ascended Gift of Teaching. who themselves have been grounded in Apostolic Doctrine have the God Given anointing and ability to teach Apostolic Doctrine, thus freeing the Apostle from The Local Church or Denomination to concentrate on birthing New Local Churches and Denominations and further also thus giving him the liberty to concentrate on his Apostolic role of a spiritual mentor that constantly produces Fivefold ministries.
Considering whether THE APOSTOLIC MINISTRY ACHIEVED ITS MANDATE? We have to remind ourselves just what was and is THE APOSTOLIC MANDATE. It is none other than The Great Commission of Mathew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:15-18. I have purposely mentioned these two references for the simple fact though similar in content Mark expounds on what is recorded in Mathew.
Mathew expresses The GREAT COMMISSION IN A THREEFOLD CORD:
- Go
- Baptizing the converts in the name of Triune Godhead
- Teaching them to observe all what Jesus had taught The Foundational Apostles
Mark expresses THE GREAT COMMISSION:
1. Go therefore into all the world
2. Preach to every creature
3. Baptize all those who believe the message of the sent ones
In comparing the two, both are the same Great Commission. Mathew has one promise of encouragement and that Mark does not record and that being:
1. The promise of Jesus being with them and to the end of the world.
On the other hand, Mark has several promises of encouragement that Mathew does not have:
1. These signs shall follow them that believe:
1. 1 In my name they shall cast out devils
1.2 They shall speak with new tongues
1.3 They shall take up serpents
1.4 And if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them
1.5 They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover
The distinctions I have noted between Mathew and Mark’s rendition of The Great Commission is for an apparent reason and this being signs and wonders will always follow Apostolic Ministry. These signs are:
THE CASTING OUT OF DEVILS
THE SPEAKING IN TONGUES
THE TAKING UP OF SERPENTS
DRINKING DEADLY THINGS WHICH WILL NOT HARM THEM
Be it that we see THE ABOVE MENTIONED happening in our day, then surely THE APOSTOLIC MINISTRY IS STILL WITH US. BE IT THAT WE DO NOT SEE THE ABOVE MENTIONED IN OUR DAY THEN SURELY THE APOSTOLIC MINISTRY IS NO MORE WITH US. Praise God I have seen the ABOVE MENTIONED time and time again and my conclusion is based on the sign gift ministry of Apostleship. There are most definitely Apostles in our day. The sign gift ministry is THE PARTICULAR GRACE THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS ENDOWED APOSTLES WITH.
Further, considering the similarities of the two great men of God we note both mention, “GO” and though different words follow thereafter it is evident that they were sent into the world. We also note that both men of God spoke of BAPTISM with one distinction only Mathew speaks of Baptism into the name of The Father, The Son and The Spirit.
The command to Go is of vital importance although Mathew mentions all nations and Mark mentions the world, they mean the very same fact and that is THE WORLD. Pastor Ray Mc Cauley, a renowned Pastor of Johannesburg wrote in a booklet that two-thirds of the title God is GO and very aptly, he endorsed the fact that as members of The Body of Christ we all should obey The Great Commission. Whether we go into the world or whether we support those who have gone into the world. I wept bitterly. I will never ever forget the conviction that came upon me. I wept before The Lord and I sensed the stirring of The Holy Spirit with these words ringing within my inner man: “I HAVE CALLED YOU TO PREACH THE ENTIRE COUNSEL OF MY WORD.” At first, I could not comprehend but as I yielded to The Lord, clarity came and I soon realized what the Lord had said: I was not to forget the other third letter of the title God and that being D. The D stood for DIRECTION. We have to go where God sends us. A classic example of this is when Paul wanted to go to Asia and in a dream or vision God showed him a man who called him to help them in Macedonia (by the way there is no insinuation that Pastor Ray had not preached the whole counsel of God’s Word. He has done a great work in RSA).
Now let me drive my point home: MY FIRST POINT IS APOSTOLIC MINISTRY CANNOT EXIST WITHOUT THE MINISTRY OF THE EVANGELIST. IS THIS A REMARKABLE STATEMENT? MOST DEFINITELY NOT. IT IS BUT A STATEMENT OF TRUTH BASED ON THE WORD OF GOD. Evangelist Philip went to Samaria preached and many souls were saved and baptized. However The Apostles were sent up to complete the work that God The Holy Spirit had started through Philip (see Acts 8:12-17).
MY SECOND POINT IS THE CLARITY THAT MARK BRINGS (AND NO DOUBT BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD) BETWEEN MATHEW’S WORDS “TEACH and TEACHING.” On close examination, Mark uses a different WORD AND THAT BEING “PREACH.” No doubt I do sense even before I pen the next few sentences a resistance to what I believe The Spirit of God is about to pen through me and you do have the right to judge what I am about to write..
There is a divine order set in The Word of God that no man can deny and that being:
- SALVATION FIRST
- APOSTOLIC DOCTRINE
- TEACHING
I have always maintained that there is a chronological sequence in the spiritual development of a child of God just like the physical development of a baby who first crawls, walks and finally runs. I base this on how Paul, the most prolific Apostle to Jesus Christ, (our Chief Apostle) SHOWS FORTH THE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER OF MINISTRY and no doubt this sets forth a precedent that cannot be denied ( see 1 Timothy 2:7 and 2 Timothy 1:11 and please note that both Scriptures follow the same chronological order of PREACHER, APOSTLE and TEACHER).
What I am about to pen is from The Holy Spirit (and you have the liberty to Judge according to 1Co 14:29). Paul was first an Evangelist in his missionary endeavours. He was one of the wisest men of his day. Concerning his knowledge of The Old Testament, he was second to none. He had a unique relationship with God. He saw and heard what no man saw and heard (see 2 Corinthians 12: 1-4}. Out of all the Apostles, he was the most prolific and received the most revelation. He wrote 13 books of The New Testament He was astute and had the grasp of THE MIND OF GOD LIKE NO OTHER MAN. Most scholars believe he wrote thirteen of twenty-seven books of The New Testament. Paul understood the workings of The Holy Spirit like no other man. No Apostle revealed so much of The Holy Spirit and the work of The Holt Spirit like Paul in his threefold cord of Ministry ( see Ecclesiastics 4:8-12).
Paul, the Apostle penned the following verse: “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned (1Corinthians 2:14 KJV)” This verse is A Word of Wisdom from the very man whom The Holy Spirit gave The Revelation of The Gifts of The Spirit (1Corinthians Chapters 12, 13and 14). Allow me the privilege of paraphrasing what The Holy Spirit said through Apostle Paul: In order for the unsaved to understand The Word of God, they first have to be saved. The encounter that Nicodemus had with Jesus verifies what Paul penned in 1Co 2:14 (see Jn 3:1-16). Using our common sense and the help of The Holy Spirit does what Jesus and Paul had said give us the understanding that Evangelism whether Mass or Personal must always proceed APOSTOLIC DOCTRINE AND TEACHING FOR THE SIMPLE FACT TO UNDERSTAND APOSTOLIC DOCTRINE AND TEACHING THE SPIRIT OF MAN MUST FIRST BE QUICKENED AND THAT MEANING MADE SPIRITUALLY ALIVE? My Answer is A BIG FAT YES and I trust that yours is the same.
THE SHORTFALL OF PRESENT DAY APOSTOLIC MINISTRY: I have personally been involved in the awakening of The Apostolic Ministry in Durban South Africa and The Kwa Zulu Natal Province. I was commissioned to write several documents and policies, which helped, introduce The Apostolic Ministry to The Body of Christ in Durban Kwa Zulu Natal. Thereafter I wrote several constitutions to help various Local Churches to transition from Principles of Democracy to Principles of Theocracy. I humbly submit the fact that I did not do any research. I simply used the teachings of Apostle Edwin Gray that I was taught at OPEN DOOR ASSEMBLY GREENWOOD PARK, THE TEACHINGS I RECEIVED AT INTERNATIONAL BIBLE COLLEGE AND MOST OF ALL WAITING UPON THE LORD, and SEEKING HIS FACE AND ASKING THE HOLY SPIRIT TO TAKE THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS AND THE FOUNDATIONAL APOSTLES AND PROPHETS AND UNVEIL THEM TO ME. THIS THE LORD DONE AND WHAT I NOW KNOW OF THE APOSTOLIC AND FIVEFOLD MINISTRY WAS BIRTHED IN BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS. I LITERALLY AGONISED IN PRAYER TRUSTING GOD TO TAKE ME, A FOOLISH MAN AND MAKE ME WISE IN HIS UNADULTERATED WORD. IN ADDITION, MAY I ADD THIS IS NOT BOASTING? GOD HAS CHOSEN ME TO ENLIGHTEN THE BODY OF CHRIST.
I am simply saying that I do not qualify through any efforts of my own to speak on this vital subject. All I am saying is that The Holy Spirit gave me the necessary grounding and experience to spiritually qualify to pen what I believe to be the SHORTFALL OF APOSTOLIC MINISTRY OF OUR DAY. LET ME ASSURE YOU THIS IS NOT PRESENTED AS AN INDICTMENT, RATHER AS A LOVING CONCERN THAT I BELIEVE WILL HELP US TO RETRACT FROM THE ERROR OF OUR WAYS.
SHORTFALL 1. WE FAIL TO UNDERSTAND THAT EVANGELISM WHETHER MASS OR PERSONAL WILL ALWAYS PRECEED APOSTOLIC DOCTRINE AND TEACHING AND THOUGH GOOD AND SOUND TEACHING ON SOTIEROLOGY (SALVATION TRUTHS) WILL SAVE THE LOST I MUST CONCLUDE THE GIFT WITH THE SPECIAL GRACE TO MINISTER TO THE LOST IS NONE OTHER THAN THE EVANGELIST THOUGH THE COMMAND OF MATTHEW IN CHAPTER 28 DENOTES TEACH AND TEACHING.
SHORTFALL 2. WE FAIL TO COMPREHEND THE DIVINE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER THAT PAUL SETS FOR MODERN DAY APOSTLES AND THAT BEING FIRST BEING PREACHERS, THEN APOSTLES AND THEN TEACHERS. NOTE THAT MARK 16 MENTIONS THAT WE MUST PREACH TO THE WORLD. SOME SCHOLARS UNWISELY TAKE THE GREEK WORD FOR PREACH WHICH IS A HERALD AND EQUATE THE WORD HERALD WITH THE MINISTRY OF A PROPHET. THIS IS VERY WRONG. HERALD IN MATTHEW SPEAKS OF ANNOUNCEMENTS OF TRUTH, WHICH IS NONE OTHER THAN THE GOSPEL. A PROPHETICAL WORD GIVES DIRECTION AND DOES NOT BRING SALVATION. DIRECTION IS MEANT FOR THE SAVED AND NOT THE UNSAVED.
SHORTFALL 3. MODERN DAHY APOSTLES (BY THE WAY NOT ALL OF THEM, RATHER THE MAJORITY) HAVE REPLACED THE MINISTRY OF THE PASTOR. I PERSONALLY HEARD AND SEEN SOME CASES OF HUSBAND AND WIFE BEING THE APOSTLE AND PROPHET OF THE CHURCH. NOWHERE IN SCRIPTURE DO I SEE THIS.
SHORTFALL 4. MANY MODERN DAY APOSTLES ARE RESIDENT MINISTERS. THIS IS VERY WRONG. APOSTOLIC MINISTRY IS A MINISTRY IS A MOBILE MINISTRY.
SHORTFALL 5. MANY MODERN DAY APOSTLES DO NOT FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS AND PAUL WHO ALWAYS HAD A CORE GROUP OF PRODIGEES. THEY CONSTANTLY MENTORED THOSE WHO HAD THE CALL OF GOD UPON THEIR LIFE. MODERN DAY APOSTLES MUST WORK WITH MEN AND WOMEN FROM THEIR LOCAL CHURCHES AND NOT JUST WITH OTHER RENOWNED APOSTLES. WE MUST NEVER FORGET THAT ONE OF THE HALLMARKS OF APOSTOLIC MINISTRY IS TRAINING THE SAINTS FOR THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY.
SHORTFALL 6. VERY FEW MODERN APOSTLES EXERCISE THE GIFT OF EVANGELISM. MANY JUST CONCENTRATE YEAR AFTER ON APOSTOLIC AND PROPHETICAL CONFERENCES,
SHORTFALL 7. MANY MODERN DAY APOSTLES DO NOT TRUST GOD FOR THE DAILY KEEP JESUS, OUR CHIEF APOSTLE TRUSTED GOD OUR FATHER FOR SUPERNATURALS MEANS TO MEET HIS FINANCIAL NEEDS. REMEMBER THE FISH WITH THE COINS. PAUL DONE MANUAL LABOUR AND HIS FINANCIAL NEEDS WERE MET BY THE CHURCHES HE FOUNDED (SEE THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS). OUR MODERN APOSTLES ARE RAISING MONEY TO PURCHASE JETS.
SHORTFALL 8. MANY MODERN DAY APOSTLES TO NOT BIRTH FIVEFOLD MINISTRY FOR THE SIMPLE FACT MANY BELIEVE THEY POSSESS ALL FIVE. PAUL ONLY EXPRESSED THREE, WHO ARE WE TO EXPRESS ALL (AND I AM NOT SAYING THAT I AM AN APOSTLE, FOR I DO NOT GLORY IN TITLES).
Let me close this vital topic with what Ascended Gift I personally feel is the most important Gift and that for the hour. IT IS THE EVANGELIST. THERE IS A GLUT OF APOSTLES and sad to say many self appointed who fail to understand that THE MINISTRY OF THE EVANGELIST PRECEEDS THE MINISTRY OF THE APOSTLE. LET US PRAY TO THAT EFFECT. WHEN LAST HAVE YOU SEEN A TENT CRUSADE? WHEN LAST HAVE YOU FOOTBALL STADIUIMS ETC HOSTING EVANGELICAL CAMPAIGNS. THE ONLY GROWTH THAT I SEE IN RSA AND NEW ZEALAND IS TRANSFER GROWTH. YES THERE ARE SPRINKLINGS BUT DID NOT GOD NOT PROMISE THBZATTHE LATTER RAIN WILL BE GREATER THAT THE FORMER RAIN,
GOD BLESS YOU, YOUR MINISTRY AND THE FAMILY AND PLEASE DO NOT SEE THIS ARTICLE AS A REBUKE. TRUST GOD TO SEE IT AS A CHALLENGE TO DO WHAT GOD HAS CALLED US TO DO ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN SET FORTH IN HIS UNADULTERATED WORD.
YOUR SERVANTS IN THE LORD
Dr Joseph and Dolores D’Allende
