Apostolic And The Harvest
"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. (Acts 2:42-47).
Apostolic times in reference to the New Testament era equated to souls and harvest. A foundation was built that could withstand the weight of glory that God was pouring out onto it. A foundation that could sustain and hold the masses that were about to stand on it; The Church. "And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. (Acts 4:33). Power evangelism was the ear marks of the early apostolic ministry. The power to overwhelm the popular opinion that Jesus was dead and reveal to them a resurrected Christ. Paul summed up the apostolic message in two sentences, "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." (1 Cor 15:3-4).
Many books have been written on the apostolic but I believe a key element is missing from most of them: HARVEST. God gave the world apostles to set them free and deliver to them the message of salvation and revelation of Christ. Again Paul defined the apostolic passion, "Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation. (Rom 15:19-20). Paul's passion was to go where Christ had not been preached and to build as God had built; from nothing. A breed of apostolic ministers are being anointed in this hour to 'go where no man has gone before...' That will blaze a trail of revival through untapped areas that have not fully heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. Many have heard about Jesus in some form and fashion, but they have not fully heard the gospel of Jesus Christ as Paul was so zealous for.
A classic example of this is the Native Americans. They have heard a message of Jesus, but are yet to be presented by and large the full gospel message of Jesus Christ. They have received a "white Anglo-Saxon" version of the gospel. Many have yet to see the Jesus that Paul had known. Not an English version of Jesus painted on the ceilings of cathedral walls, but a resurrected Jesus full of glory and might. Who does not look at the outward man but seeks for those that after His own heart. After two hundred years of evangelizing, Native America remains predominately untouched by His glory and grace. Almost purposely by the modern day church, Native America is ignored and seen as a missionary endeavor rather than a hidden army waiting to be awakened.
Indigenous people and tribes around the globe are waiting desperately for a true apostolic message full of power and truth. An army of apostolic people are coming on the scene right now that will defy modern versions and interpretations of how ministry is done, how it is dressed, how it acts, how to promote it. They are going to take the message of His resurrection to the uttermost parts of the earth with signs and wonders following. WebPages and magazines will not be able to keep up with their exploits and miracles. Only Heaven will be able to record their coming and goings.
"And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch. And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them." (Acts 5:12-15).
The apostolic can not be contained in upper rooms and confined places. Whenever they tried to put an apostle behind four walls God sent earthquakes and angels to escape them! True apostolic cannot be defined in books and conferences, it is defined by the city wide transformation and revival. The new converts and souls are the pages of their books written on the fleshly tablets of human hearts. The exploits of their children write their biographies and repertoires. Nations and unreached people groups are their glory and aspiration. Nothing else will satisfy them. They cannot rest so easy when there are yet foundations to be built to withstand more of His glory stored up for the earth. They are master builders ever striving for the upward call in Christ Jesus. They quickly forget the former glory and past victories, they are looking for new and fresh blood. Such is the life of the Apostle.
"And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison. But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life." (Acts 5:18-20).
The echo of Christ's command to the New Testament Apostles still stands today. "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15). This is unavoidable and without need of interpretation. The simplicity of Jesus rings true here, "GO..." A "going" is being injected into the heart of God's people. Like the apostles of old they will be driven to go "not where Christ was named" but where hearts still yearn to know the good news of Jesus Christ.
"And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavored to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them." (Acts 16:9-10). A Macedonian call is resounding through the church in this hour. We are seeing a vision from Heaven of people desperate for His grace and salvation. The Macedonian call now for the modern day church is our streets and cities. The hi ways and bi ways. The dark places that have been predominately void of a witness of Jesus. This is the direction the Apostolic will direct us. As it did then two thousand years ago, so it will be now.
"But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles." (Acts 14:4). I believe that the division in God's camp right now and in the future will be those that desire to sit back and not participate in harvest and those that posture themselves to receive it. Churches will be known simply for their reception to harvest in all of its diversity color, and those that are not. Their will be no neutral ground. Time is too short.
"And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. (Luke 17:5). The prayer of the Apostolic in this hour will be for more faith. Faith to reach the unreached people groups, faith to mobilize this army of soul winners, and faith to remove the mountains of tradition and religion that stand in the way of true revival. God will grant their request and give them the power again to move whole cities into the Kingdom of God with their end time message and gospel. "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? (Acts 2:37).
Chad Taylor To Subscribe to our Email Group email: harvestrevival-subscribe@myinjesus.com www.consumingfire.com