The Apostolic Summit was again a huge sucess with great teaching, good sharing and fantastic people.
Here are the notes I took in each session. They are in a very rough form with little editing.
Session 1
Isaiah 9:6-7
Jesus is the King. He has a kingdom.
It will continually increase.
Trends over the last decades
- Bible translation snowballing
- Ecumenical movement - learning to love one another
- Huge revivals in Africa and Asia
- Pentecostal and Charismatic movement
- Prophets and apostles restored
Thousands of people claiming to be apostles but don't have a clue about what apostles are.
Four observations about apostolic life.
1. God is working in the lives of Christians changing their ideas about the nature of the church. The other congregations are a part of "my church".
2. God is showing us that unity is about genuine love.
3. Apostles are not just big ministers with a fancy title. Apostles are relational not just governmental
4. Apostles are compelled to do God's work. They take responsibility for the family.
Session 2
The church is in a cosmic struggle with the powers, but has a mandate to overcome.
Psalm 72:8.He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.
In church age this is the river of God, river flowing from throne and from every believer. No limit to extent of the Kingdom.
The Bible does not put a limit on the age of the earth to come. Could be 40,000 years or more.
Ephesians 1:10.... to bring all things in heaven and earth together under one head, even Christ.
This is a process that leads to the end times fulfilment. Not an end times thing only.
Matthew 28:18. All authority has already been given to Christ.
The authority was given immediately after the resurrection.
Colossians I :15-20. He owns all things.
The "Big Passage"
Ephesians 1:17-23
"incomparably great power for us who believe" is like the power that raised him from the dead
God placed all things under his feet.
He rules over
- Heaven
- Heavenly places. Spirit realm in the created order
- Nations
- Earth, world, creation
- Church
Authority over created order given to man. Only the cross and resurrection could give Him this authority.
Ephesians 2:22
The earth has been given to man
We shall reign on the earth. (Rev 5:10)
Romans 5:17- we reign in life
We are meant to learn how to reign in the authority of Christ in this present life. It works best in community, not as lone rangers.
Apostles are to establish a new post-denominational relational church government. They think relationally not denominationally.
No such thing as denominational apostles.
Someone who claims to be an apostle but only builds their own ministry is a false apostle. A real apostle is about building people not just buildings.
Session 3
Heaven Luke 22:69. From now on the Son of Man is seated in heaven.
The heavenly places. Colossians 2:9-10.
Ephesians 3:10-12. The church makes known God's wisdom to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms
Psalm 72:11. All kings will bow down
Creation. Hebrews 1:3. Christ sustains all things.
Psalm 110:1 The Lord said to my Lor sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footdtool. Most commonly quoted OT verse in the NT.
Christ is ruling over all things until the end.
The church. He is the head of the church. 1 Corinthians 11:3. Not about control or abuse. Governmental order.
Hierarchy of order, not equality. SJW, cultural Marxism.
Headship is the way the world works. Good authority is given for the good of everyone.
Has to be in love. If take out the role of love it falls apart.
1 Corinthians 12:28-31. A hierarchy of headship. Leads into love in ch. 13.
V. 31 Eagerly desire the greater gifts... don't give up seeking.
Session 4
Heavenly Jerusalem
Hebrews 11:9-10
City built by God. Not a physical city.
Apostles and prophets are foundation.
We are the living stones.
Ephesians 2:19-21
The city is the temple.
Together we are the heavenly Jerusalem
From time we are born again we are heavenly people.
Galatians 4:22-26. The Jerusalem that is above is here, and she is our mother.
Hebrews 12:18-23. We have not come to a physical mountain. We have come to the heavenly Jerusalem, the church, Jesus. Not a picture of heaven but the church in this age.
Revelation 21. New Jerusalem comes from heaven to earth. The ministry of the church is now.
The destruction of Jerusalem was the result of covenant wrath. It was necessary for the emancipation of the church and the gospel.
Hebrews 12:26-27. Shaking of heavens and earth relates to the changing of the covenant and destruction of Jerusalem.
New Jerusalem has come down onto the earth.
God's government is through the church.
- Church is heavenly people
- Zion is the church
- Government of Christ is at work through the church
- Church deals with the powers and authorities
- Government by the church is by prayer, worship, unity in leadership, preaching the gospel.
Session 5
1 Corinthians 15:24-26. The end will come. Christ must reign until he destroyed the powers. He reigns while the church overcomes the powers through him.
Isaiah 65:17-18 New heavens and new earth is about new covenant.
Heavenly Realms
Ephesians 1:3.
Ephesians 1:19-21. Christ is seated in the heavenly realms, above all powers
Ephesians 2:6 we are seated with Christ in the heavenly realms
Ephesians 3 :10. The church makes known the wisdom of God to the powers
Ephesians 6:12-13. We struggle against the powers in the heavenly realms
We live in both the heavenly and physical worlds at the same time.
We are more spiritual than we are physical.
Direct connections exist between the two realms.
Psalm 18:6-10. David prayed and there was a response in the spirit realm.
Sickness often has spiritual root. Root might be in us or judgement by others. Criticism, slander, jealousy.
Since the cross demons have no power except what is authorised by people.
Living the way Jesus taught is the key to victory. At the heart of it all is forgiveness.
Humility. You are no better than the person bringing judgement etc. Confess you have sinned.
Gratitude is opposite spirit to resentment, jealousy etc that fuels curses and witchcraft.
Daniel prayed for 21 days before an angel turns up. Prince of Persia resisted. Finally gets the breakthrough.
Session 6
We are all in the spiritual realm whether we like it or not.
Exercise of authority
Have to deal with both spirit realm and with people.
Cut off words and cut off power of spirits sent against you.
Authority is only exercised if we are representing Christ. Must not be representing ourselves.
2 Kings 3:26-27. Human sacrifice releases great occultic power.
We have Chrst- a better blood, a better sacrifice.
Folly of dispensationalism - it denies the power of the gospel and the church. No faith because sees the church as declining righteous rump.
Session 7
True And False Apostles
Deuteronomy 33:8-11. Urim and Thummim were the care of the High Priest.
Description of apostles - tested in the waters and conflict.
Two kinds of testing for apostles
1. Tested by God.
Failure and suffering. Tests heart.
Called to be apostle it means you will be tested repeatedly and with increasing intensity
1 Corinthians 4:9-13. Not a glorious job.
1 Thessalonians 2:3-12 Apostles approved and tested by God. Gentle like a mother
True apostles bring word of God not of men.
2. Tested by church - false apostles
Revelation 2:2. Any person who claim to be apostle but are not are "wicked."
Look at the fruit they produce.
Implications of verae
- Very important to discern who is true apostle
- In that day when there were genuine apostles there were also plenty of false ones.
- Need to cut down the false apostles 2 Corinthians 11:12-15."Servants of satan."
- False apostles are not unbelievers, but often gifted preachers etc but in wrong order
Many people have apostolic gifts but are not apostles because they have not been appointed by the Lord.
Jesus was the model for all apostles. Hebrews 3:1-2.
What made Him suitable? Emptied Himself of all glory, authority etc. Became a slave. True apostles lay aside every right, and become representation of Jesus
Total faithfulness to one who sent him.
Apostolic people walk in faithfulness to one over them
False apostles boast as the world does. True apostles glory in their own weakness.
Some Pentecostal churches aggressive church planting that sucks life out of the real church.
Three levels of apostolic development
- Call
- Testing and overcoming
- Maturity of ministry. Not many come to this place.
Session 8
What is the primary characteristic of an apostolic people?
Two things go hand in hand -
Spirit of submission to Christ centred authority
Love for the brethren, especially the leader.
Test of heart is how we relate to the one in authority - orphan heart.
For apostolic grace and power to flow in the church there must be apostolic covering - genuine relationship and submission to apostolic leadership.
Love for the brethren must mean we are in love with one another. Love from the heart - must give our hearts to one another.
When relationships are in order and apostolic authority is in place we have greater access to God's grace every day,including power over principalities and all evil spirits.
We must all be submitted to someone in the Lord. Authority.
There is extensive authority available to every believer in an apostolic church. It is the corporate church that can put on the full armour of God and pull down the powers and principalities.