The Apostolic is Coming

Recently, the Lord gave a very compelling prophetic experience or vision to depict the season in which we are living. In it, a prophet we know and have utmost respect for, entered a room of leaders being prepared for this next season of the Spirit. This mature and loyal prophet stood before the leaders and announced with great power and strength, “the Apostolic is coming.” As he did, a voice of ultimate authority echoed from Heaven, “The Apostolic IS Coming.”

With that affirmation, the prophet continued,

“we had better get a good understanding of apostolic ministry under us… for it will be on top of us before we know it. Samuel is a type of this apostolic leadership. The Lord did let none of his words fall to the ground nor did he beg his bread from the people.”

THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY

In this experience the Lord is indicating valuable attributes in the life and ministry of the prophet Samuel depicting qualities He desires to impart to the apostolic leadership soon to emerge. Careful study in the life of Samuel will provide key secrets to help us qualify for this leadership and touch the heart of the Father in our preparation.

Very often, in prophetic experiences of this nature, a person we know and recognize as a true prophet of the Lord can actually represent the Lord Himself or the Spirit of Prophecy bringing a timely message from the heart of the Father.

When the prophet announced on the earth that the apostolic is coming, it was verified with a heavenly voice to accentuate its certainty. In the scriptures, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Lord to take up His residence in Him, a voice descended from Heaven as an affirmation of this great reality. (Luke 3:22)

Likewise, when the disciples witnessed the Lord’s transfiguration, they also heard the affirming Voice declaring Him to be the Son of God Who’s words were eternal. The attesting Voice from Heaven seems to indicate a truth that is established with certainty to be readily accepted. The apostolic is coming and the better understanding we have of it under us, the more likely we will be to sustain this awesome ministry without being overcome by the intensity and power of it. Let us pray that we can faithfully administer this notable responsibility with character and integrity.

SAYING ONLY WHAT HE SAYS

The Lord did let none of Samuel’s words fall to ground. What a profound indication of intimacy and relationship between the Lord and His leadership.

And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. (1 Sam 3:19)

We must likewise be so intimate with the Lord that we say nothing in His name but what we have received by “a revelation of Jesus Christ”. (Gal. 1.12) Samuel did not speak in the name of the Lord presumptuously nor carelessly. Therefore, the Lord was able to perfectly support the words he spoke to the people in the Name of the Lord.

The scriptures describe the Lord, our ultimate example, as being so yielded to the Holy Spirit that he said nothing but what he heard from the Father and did nothing but what he saw the Father doing.

Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. (John 14.10)

We can likewise abide in such a place of surrender to the Holy Spirit that He would let none of our words “fall to the ground” because we would not speak in His name unless we first heard from Him. For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (Rom 8:14) The Holy Spirit abiding in us will do the same works through us that He did in the Lord, fulfilling the prophetic promise of John 14.12.

HE DID NOT BEG HIS BREAD FROM THE PEOPLE

One of the most notable attributes in the life of Samuel is his determination not to abuse his position and privileges before God and the people. There was not one person in all of Israel who could bear witness against Samuel for pleading for money, possessions or property. Neither did he allow the spirit of this world to affect his ability to judge the people in righteousness and equity. The apostolic leadership soon to emerge should likewise be characterized by humility and genuine love for the people.

I have walked before you from my youth even to this day. Here I am; bear witness against me before the LORD and His anointed. Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? I will restore it to you. They said, You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man’s hand. (1 Sam 12:2-4)

The apostle Paul admonished the Church of Corinth and the Church of this day to stand in righteousness to judge the affairs of men with wisdom and truth. To do so we must possess the character of Christ reflected in Samuel to be free from the tendency to abuse the anointing and authority of God for unrighteous gain.

Certainly, there is a place for giving and supporting the work of the ministry and sharing in the fruitful labors of the anointing. This is an issue of the heart and like Paul we must pray to be trustworthy stewards of the mysteries, power and provisions of God. The prosperity coming to the church will be for kingdom purposes not personal luxury and extravagance. The apostolic church in the book of Acts shared all things in common and delegated resources according to need, reflecting love and unity.

THE LORD’S SPOKESMEN

Like Samuel, the anointed leadership the Lord is desiring to bring to His church will stand before Him as His spokesmen extracting the precious from the profane. To them, the Lord will be as a fortified wall of bronze and though the enemy will contend with them, he will not prevail because the Lord will be present to save and deliver. This will further the restoration promised through the prophet Joel.

Moses and Aaron were among His priests, and Samuel was among those who called on His name; they called upon the LORD and He answered them. He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept His testimonies and the statute that He gave them. (Ps 99:6-7)

The ministry of Samuel was established by the Lord’s manifest Presence in the order of Moses and Aaron. As priests, they were charged with the role of intercession on behalf of God’s people and instruction in the ways of righteousness. Faithfulness in these areas will begin to lead the church out of Babylonian confusion and restore her to a place of loyalty and consecration to the Lord. If the Lord can find a people without mixture…He will send the Spirit without measure.

These faithful leaders were transitional men in covenant relationship with the Lord for transitional times and marked a point of demarcation for the people of God. This perfectly illustrates the nature of the Apostolic leadership the Lord will use in this day. These three represent the Priest/Prophet/Judge (Kingly) anointing that will be entrusted to this maturing leadership. To each of these three, God proved Himself in Mercy and in Judgement.

PRIEST- PROPHET- JUDGE ANOINTING

The coming apostolic ministers will be as pillar of cloud by day with prophetic anointing that will function as a pillar of fire by night giving illumination. Each will provide a canopy of protection through the Holy Spirit even as Israel was protected during the judgements of Egypt. The shelter of Goshen will become apparent in the coming season.

The Lord will allow nothing to come upon the earth unless He first reveals His secret counsel to His servants. (Amos 3:7). Moses, Aaron and Samuel each represent types of the coming government. The manner in which the Lord used these men will also portray the coming leadership and God’s dealings with them. He is going to give divinely granted understanding. The scriptures declare that the breadth of God gives understanding. He is going to breathe upon us to give comprehension of these times and the things we must do to walk intimately with Him as His habitation.

COMMISSIONING AND RELEASE

Even though Samuel was born through covenant relationship with incredible destiny, he did not experience the supernatural dealings of God until his prophetic commissioning.

Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. (1 Sam 3:7)

There may be many who feel as though they do not qualify for this type leadership because they have not had prophetic or supernatural experiences in their life. However, the scriptures make it plain, the Word of the Lord had not appeared to Samuel until a very specific commissioning experience released him into his purpose and calling. Many of today’s “Samuel” type leadership have been hidden and unfamiliar with the visions and revelations of the Lord. Nonetheless, great and profound expressions of the Spirit are imminently awaiting these leaders once the grooming is complete and the timing appropriate for their release.