Apostolic Mission

Today, we will dive into the biblical structure of the church God has called us to be and our mission.

What structure does ALife church operate from?

Ephesians 4:11–16 (NKJV)

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 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; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Apostolic then Prophetic led church.

Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers.

Apostles =

Prophets = God speaks through them and then it happens.

Evangelists = Sharing Good news to those who do not know and inviting into the family of God.

Pastors = Caring for the people and getting the people to become like Christ.

Teachers = Showing the exact secrets of how to become and demonstrate His Ways.

These five fold gifts are given to us to help us become God’s design for us.

We are called to be five fold as a group.

These five fold gifts are for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry and for the edifying of the body of Christ.

ALife Church is an Apostolic Prophetic led church not, pastor or teacher or evangelistic led church.

What are some questions you have about how we opperate as a church?

Or

What are some questions you have about the five fold?

What is Apostolic and what are Apostles?

Apostles (652)(apostolos from apo = from + stello = send forth)

Apostolos was used to describe a cargo ship (sometimes called "apostolic") sent out with a specific shipment to accomplish a mission.

In ancient Greece apostolos was used of an admiral of a fleet sent out by the king on special assignment.

In the ancient world a apostle was the personal representative of the king, functioning as an ambassador with the king’s authority and provided with credentials to prove he was the king's envoy.

Rome would send apostles to go bring the culture of Rome to newly concurred cities.

Rome would send an apostolos (ship) filled with people of trades and philosophers to bring the culture of Rome to that newly concurred city.

One day Caesar would come and say this city feels like home.

If in the Roman times an apostle is one sent to bring the culture of Rome to newly concurred cities then what is a Kingdom of God Apostle?

God’s Apostles bring the culture of the Kingdom of God to His church and cities.

Apostles also send what and who is needed to accomplish the mission.

Apostles = Bring the culture of heaven to earth and send what and who is needed to accomplish this.

What is the apostolic mission of Jesus’s bride (church)?

In other words what is the purpose of the church?

Fill, Be Fruitful, Multiply, Subdue and Have Dominion.

Bring Heaven to Earth.

We are an apostolic ship sent on a mission to reveal Christ, to become Christ’s Home.

“The son of man has no place to lay His head.”

We are an apostolic ship sent on a mission to bring heaven to earth.

If our mission was to just be a community of the culture of heaven then we could go live on beach somewhere with a small group of people becoming like Christ in character.

But our mission is to bring Christ and His culture to the cities He sends us to.

“The earth is groaning for sons and daughter of God.”

What are some questions you have about the Apostolic?

How do we accomplish this mission?

Acts 2 values

Repentance, Baptize, Baptize in Holy Spirit, Apostles Doctrine, Fellowship, Communion, and Prayer.

The seven attributes of an Ekklesia:

1.) Repentance, Commitment, Born to be loved, repentance or change of mind. Stay at the table, Spirit of the Lord, Fire of being loved

2.) Baptism, Actions, that speak of your love, because I’m loved I show my love, I do and be from being loved not to get love or rest. Spirit of Wisdom, Fire of loving

3.) Baptism in Holy Spirit, Response, Tithe, response of love, hunger I want all and I have tasted. Baptism in Holy Spirit and all that comes with that, Spirit of Understanding, Fire of Response to Him with external evidence.

4.) Apostles doctrine, Submission, I recognize that life comes from you and from the body, and I look for a place to give away and become the way. Apostles culture of heaven on earth, Spirit of Counsel, Fire to give life to others.

5.) Fellowship, Contribution, Who am I, as a contributor to the body, We are a body and we carry what heaven is for the world, Fellowship, Spirit of Might, Fire to Be clothed in Christ.

6.) Communion, Community, Free will, Choice, breaking of bread. I give because of who I am not what you have done, we can do all things. Communion, Spirit of Knowing, Fire to be community

7.) Prayer, Destiny, generations, sealing and floors, Spirit of Fear of the Lord, Fire of Purpose, Faith, Hope, and Love

What is the apostolic mission of ALife Church?

John 10:10 (NASB95)

10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Our purpose is to Experience, Become, and Give the abundant life Jesus came to give.

ALife’s Apostolic Mission:

Connect to God - Identity - Experience

Connect to people - Inheritance - Become

Connect to purpose - Influence - Give

We are a Placement Barge.

Will bring what is needed to this region and beyond and help people find their place of fit.

We will also help them remove garbage in their lives and turn that into fuel to launch them into their identity and purpose in Christ.

To be a resource to resources.

We are a firstfruits church.

Matthew 16:18–19 (NASB95)

18 “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19 “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”

Part of our mission is to bring heaven to the places that darkness currently occupies in our city.

God will give us keys to bring the kingdom of heaven to earth here in our homes and our cities.

God wants Bellingham to be a city set on a hill filled with the manifest presence of God.

What are some questions you have about our mission?

Closing:

ALife Church is an Apostolic Prophetic led church not, pastor or teacher or evangelistic led church.

We are called to be a fivefold church activated by all of the fivefold gifts.

Apostles = Bring the culture of heaven to earth and send what and who is needed to accomplish this.

We are an apostolic ship sent on a mission to people and our city.

In this ship is everything needed to accomplish the mission God has given us.

How do we accomplish this mission?

Through 7 key values

Repentance, Baptize, Baptize in Holy Spirit, Apostles Way, Fellowship, Communion, and Prayer.

Life’s Apostolic Mission:

Connect to God - Identity - Experience

Connect to people - Inheritance - Become

Connect to purpose - Influence - Give

We are bring this culture to our families and our city.

God wants Bellingham to be a city of God and we are a ship sent to this city with everything that is needed.

Other Resources:

1 Corinthians 12:27–28 NASB95

27 Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.

The 1828 edition of Webster's Dictionary defines apostle as follows:

APOS'TLE, noun [Latin apostalus; Gr. to send away, to sent.] A person deputed to execute some important business; but appropriately, a disciple of Christ commissioned to preach the gospel. Twelve persons were selected by Christ for this purpose; and Judas, one of the number, proving an apostate, his place was supplied by Matthias. Acts 1:2.

Apostles (652)(apostolos from apo = from + stello = send forth) means one sent forth from by another, often with a special commission to represent another and to accomplish his work. It can be a delegate, commissioner, ambassador sent out on a mission or orders or commission and with the authority of the one who sent him. The Biblical apostles had special authority and power given by God and when they died that was the end of the special office of an apostle. In other words, contrary to what some men teach there is no Biblical mandate for "apostolic succession."

Apostle is used in two ways in the Scripture - (1) to designate an official office as in this passage (2) Generically to refer to anyone who is one sent with a message.

Apostolos - 80x in 79v -

Apostolos referred to someone who was officially commissioned to a position or task, such as an envoy. Secular Greek writer Demosthenes gives a word picture of "apostolos" noting that it was used to describe a cargo ship (sometimes called "apostolic") sent out with a specific shipment to accomplish a mission. In secular Greek apostolos was used of an admiral of a fleet sent out by the king on special assignment.

In the ancient world a apostle was the personal representative of the king, functioning as an ambassador with the king’s authority and provided with credentials to prove he was the king's envoy. Apostolos was a technical word designating an individual sent from someone else with the sender's commission, the necessary credentials, the sender's authority and the implicit responsibility to accomplish a mission or assignment.

The English word "ambassador" is a good translation of apostolos because an ambassador is "an official envoy of high rank appointed by one of higher rank and authority in the government to represent and transact its business at the seat of government of some other power."

4. What is God's true identity in our life?

Redeeming, I am a God to you like I was to Gideon., Captains Wheel

5. What is our identity?

We are a ship, Plowing, Ground Breaking, Individual entrepreneurial., All the things you will need, All Resources, Tear Down Walls, Apostolic, Culture Bringers, Garbage Barge, Unexplored Territory, Hidden but not yet reveled, Placement

We Are Placement Barge.

6. What is our purpose as Placement Barge?

Taking garbage out so people have freedom.

To dispose of garbage, and to empower heavenly entrepreneurial resources.

Disposing the garbage has a purpose that becomes a resource.

Turning garbage in to fuel.

7. What is the next step to take in walking out our true identity?

Stay the course. Put things in the right placement and quickly. Compartmentalize, Get people into action. Shape sorter, Quit doing church and be the church.