Intentionally Apostolic

Text

Ephesians 3:14–21 NKJV

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Ephesians 4:1–6 NKJV

1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Intentionality

I am deeply, deeply thankful for Apostolic heritage.

Can I ask you a question?

"How can the average person you meet tell that you are Apostolic?"

Can they?

What is it about how you carry yourself, how you talk, act, the things you do that causes them to see that there is something different about you?

Wins Above Replacement

WAR - Wins Above Replacement

Used to determine how many runs a player will contribute to a team in a year compared to the average player (replacement).

They didn’t used to have this type of “metric” in sports. But over time, and realizing that they are investing hundreds of millions of dollars in a player that could go completely south, they have used this statistic to measure the overall worth of a player. And in doing this, they are being very intensely intentional about their heavy investment.

“Let’s place a number on what all he can do, and then we’ll have an idea of the number he should be paid.”

Very attentive, very thoughtful, very intentional.

Intentionally Apostolic

Now I’m going to say this… if those executives will be so interested and intentional about where their investment is going and the value that is being gained… then maybe, perhaps… there is room to become more intentional in my walk!

They’ve got an investment of dollars that they are looking at to be intentional about… but I’m telling you that when God filled us up with His Spirit, there was an INVESTMENT that was made right then and there!

AND I WANT TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT THIS INVESTMENT.

I have always been intrigued by that phrase: “By the power vested in me...” It’s heard almost as a cliche, but what a deep phrase for it to be cliche to our ears! In the setting of a wedding, as has happened millions and millions of times, it is almost in one ear and out another.

But let me tell you… you let somebody, in prayer, under the anointing of the Holy Ghost, speak, “BY THE POWER VESTED IN ME… BE HEALED!” Oh my! You talk about anointing and authority!

Getting a Revelation of Who We Are

And the fact is, there has been an extraordinary amount of power vested in us!

Ephesians 4:1 NKJV

1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,

The Calling

We have received a high calling!

1 Peter 2:9 NKJV

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Sounds like a pretty high calling! There is none greater!

1 Thessalonians 5:23–24 NKJV

23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

So: He who calls you, will sanctify you, or set you apart and declare you holy!

If you seek it, God will help you to begin walking worthy of the calling that you were called to!

The Walk

When Paul says that we should “walk worthy” he is meaning that our life should match the excellency of God’s calling!

“When you were born, God did not put a rattle in your hand. He placed a sickle in your hand!”

- Pastor Phil LaRue

You were not created to merely work a 40+ hour work week!

You were not created to merely create more noise in this world!

There are millions of people who all they are doing is rattling! I don’t want to rattle! I want to harvest!!!

George

Ways I Can Be Intentional

The Blessing of Being Intentionally Apostolic

God provides!