A title that has ‘unlocking’ in it catches every spiritual eye. No doubt you’re expecting a profound prophetic declaration of what we are stepping into and for the hyper spiritual flakes this word is bound to be a disappointment, but for the sincere it is a clarion call to become small.
Before we go further, here’s my elevator talk on what the modern apostolic looks like. The modern day apostolic consists of churches and voices that pioneer new territory (Acts 13), establish Kingdom order and authority (just read the epistles), move constantly in the miraculous (2 Cor 12:12), used to facilitate encounters with the living God and equip others to do the same(just read Acts), have had a personal encounter with Jesus Christ (Acts 9), and are recognized as apostolic or apostles by others carrying the same office (Gal 2:1-10).
Last night I was in a meeting with Dutch Sheets, the boss himself, and in the middle of his teaching on the true apostolic church I began seeing a picture of leaders on their knees and felt by the Spirit that it was key. I assumed it was prayer and began seeking the Lord for greater revelation on prayers connectivity to the apostolic and Holy Spirit stopped me and said ‘it’s not prayer, it’s humility.’
The next dimension of apostolic authority is hidden in the next dimension of humility.
‘For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am’ (1 Cor 15:9-10b)
Humility that transformed the known world. Not false, but true abasement in view of the Christ, clothed in humility that he might attain a divine nature.
‘For Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.’ (1 Tim 1:15)
There is a progression to our humility. The first verse quoted was written around 55 A.D. The second is from the mid 60’s A.D. If you study Paul’s writings you will see a marked increase in the humility through how he refers to himself. He calls himself the least of the apostles, and ten years later refers to himself as the chief of all sinners. It’s no coincidence that as Paul’s humility increased, so did his qualifications to display apostolic authority. Yes, qualifications.
Many of us have not been released to operate in a higher level because of pride, which is entirely anti-thetical to humility, and it’s the grace of God that this is so. Had God released the fulness of the apostolic authority before we entered a place of humility with which to correctly steward it, pride would have destroyed us. So, what’s the point?
‘He must increase, but I must decrease.’ (John 3:30)
Yet Jesus says John the Baptist was the greatest man ever born of woman. The key to true greatness in the Kingdom is genuine humility before the Lord. Jesus, the greatest man to ever live, washed the feet of his own students, demonstrating the way in which we were supposed to humble ourselves through service, not false humility, and not humility with the ulterior motive to be apostolic. Some of us are going to read this and think ‘so all I have to do to have power is be humble?’ and in doing so we will develop an exaltation agenda in being humble rather than being humble out of striving to imitate the character of our Christ. Let that be far from your heart.
Scripture abounds with examples showing to the lock on the apostolic and moving in power is opened with the key of legitimate humility. To name a few:
-Elisha served humbly under Elijah for years and received the double portion.
-Samuel anointed David and he immediately went back to stewarding lambs, though one day to be exalted as King.
-Jesus humbling himself to the Father’s plan and submitting to the wood of a cross, qualifying Him to be exalted to Abba’s right hand.
In light of the sacrifice of our savior, humility should never be a struggle if we live in the shadow of the cross.Have we forgotten so quickly that this great rescue was undeserved and hell should have been our rich reward. Humility should need no incentive, but even in light of this truth it is my wish to greatly encourage you with just that.
Humility has always been God’s method for expansion in this upside down Kingdom, and right now God is speaking to us that humility is the gateway to operate in a greater level of apostolic authority both on a corporate and individual level. Humility is a ‘must-have’ in this hour if we are to see the shift for Awakening this nation and this bride so desperately needs.
Consider this a plea. I implore you…seek humility, not greatness. Let us set aside our petty, temporal agendas and through humility take up the apostolic mandate to pioneer and move of God not for personal gain but out of want for the Kingdom of God to be proclaimed and established in every realm of influence we possess. Pray for people and don’t tell them your name, heal people and don’t tell them your ministry, wash the world’s feet to bring the Kingdom.
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