“Adequate preparation for new things mandates a putting away of the old or ultimately the old and the new are wasted. This new season of God cannot be built upon foundation of the past” – John M. Boney.
God is raising a new company of kingdom apostolic ministries that will bear a new and fresh word of revelation of the mysteries in regard to the purposes of God for the building of His house, and the establishing of His Kingdom. This is a new move as we are in a transitional season. This new move is not the same as the old charismatic movement, other than it is Kingdom in nature. It is not a move of the multitude – It is for those who pursue after God with their whole heart and are willing to pay the price of laying down the old for the new.
This new move is nothing less than a “Kingdom Apostolic Move”. It is Kingdom in nature, because the primary purpose is to establish God’s Kingdom in the earth, which is the desire of God from the beginning of time. It is apostolic, because it is a divine commission that is sent and ordained by God for this age, and it requires the restoration of the apostles, who must function with other ministry gifts. This brings us into a season of restoration, because the old ministry and the old message have to change and align to God’s pattern which cannot be mixed with the old tradition. We must understand the principles of the laws by which the Lord rules. We cannot come into covenant with the house of David and still keep our allegiance and union with the house of Saul, because the consequence is, that like Jonathan we will die with Saul and never live to experience the new kingdom. We must part from the old wineskin (that is the message and structure of the old system), and come into a new relationship with God and experience something new.
This “Kingdom Apostolic Move” will be characterized by a new ministry that is truly apostolic in nature, and a new message that is Kingdom in focus. It is important to note that “the ministry” and “the message” changes.
“No-one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” (Matthew 9:16-17 NIV).
A wind of change is blowing in this season, bringing fresh insight into the mysteries and purposes of God to help us make the shift and to align us to heavenly patterns in building the house of God. Too much of the old stuff has ruined the church and the work of the ministry, because many have been ignorant of the new season and the new word that is being released in the earth today. It has always been the same old sugar-coated sermon dressed up in new fangled robes, yet still with the cry for “new things”. The message and ministry of the old order cannot produce the purposes of God for this new season, but the fact remains that we must recognize that which has been gained and accomplished in the old order and past move of God and move on to the ultimate goal of finishing the works of God in this new season. Ignorance affects the destiny of the Church and causes people to cast off restraint. For this we need a clear revelation of the mysteries of God and His Kingdom purposes, as this is the only way we can build by heavenly pattern and establish the will of the Kingdom of God in the earth as it is in heaven. We must allow a constant flow of present truth to enable us to focus on God’s agenda, rather than being driven by human interest.
Revelation of divine truth brings illumination in the heart, and this comes through the Spirit of God. The primary channel through which the Holy Spirit releases this revelation of mysteries is the apostle and prophet that are given to the Church by the Lord Jesus Christ. When there is a restoration of these ministry gifts, subsequently there will be a restoration of revelation in the Body of Christ in regard to the purposes of God. Where there is no prophetic revelation of the redemptive purposes of God the people run rampant. They do their own thing (Proverbs 29:18). This is the problem with the church that has been taught by those who do not have a prophetic revelation of the mysteries of God. If the kingdom of God is not preached, then the purpose of God is not revealed and this affects the accurate function of the church, making us naked to every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.
There are certain truths that are taught by the wisdom of men, but it is only the Holy Spirit who reveals the revelation of the mysteries of the Kingdom that are ordained for this last day (1 Corinthians 2:11-13).
“It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter” (Proverbs 25:2).
It is interesting to note that God hides Himself. The depth of the riches of God’s wisdom and knowledge are unsearchable (Romans 11:33-36). God hides the truth, but there is a different order of people who are kings in nature; they demonstrate their kingship by revealing these truths, because it is the honour of kings to search truths out. Truth is only revealed by revelation to spiritual men for a purpose (Matthew 13:10-13).
“The Holy Spirit uses this to show that the way into the Most Holy Place was not open while the system of the old Holy Tent was still being used. This is an example for the present time. It shows that the gifts and sacrifices offered cannot make the conscience of the worshiper perfect. These gifts and sacrifices were only about food and drink and special washings. They were rules for the body, to be followed until the time of God’s new way (of reformation).” (Hebrews 9: 8-10 – Emphasis Added).
A deep study and clear insight into Hebrews 9 will reveal to you that the systems of the old ministry and the old message gave only partial treatment to the goal of God and stood as a shadow of the light until the times of God’s new way of reformation was revealed as signified by the Holy Spirit. This is an example or type or picture of the present age that requires a change. Reformation comes from the Greek word “diorthosis”. It is a channel through which the Holy Spirit brings change, rectification or to erect, setting things straight and bring uprightness. It speaks of restoration and improvement. This is why the present move of God is termed by some as an apostolic reformation.
The old system served the purpose of God for that season but was limited as it did not meet the ultimate purpose of God. It was only a shadow permitted by God to reveal and facilitate the new order. This is why the fact remains that we must recognize that which has been gained and accomplished in the old order and past move of God, because it was a platform to the present move. The fact that the Spirit moved and God visited does not mean that God approves of it. The fact that there is a blessing does not mean that He approves it. God blesses some things that He does not approve of because of His mercy. God blessed Ishmael, but He had not approved him. The old ministry may experience the move of God’s Spirit and His visitation, there may be blessings, but it does not mean that God has approved it. It is still subject to His judgment, except there is a transition. Thank God for the season of the old ministry and the old word, but it is over! We must be humble in heart and be ready to submit our old doctrines and beliefs on the altar of God in order to receive progressive revelation for this new season of reformation. We have to shift in our concept and belief so we can be competent. This is a hard saying, but the principle of God’s standard requires that things be done according to His pattern. This requires someone who is matured and seasoned in the things of God, whom the LORD has graced over our life and ministry as a spiritual father to give oversight and help critique the content of our message and the ministry in line with the Word. You can’t disciple yourself. You must submit to someone that will help you. This is a process in God. The Lord has put authority in our life, because there is no self-made man. Every personality in the scripture is prepared into the image of God by a different man. This is the pattern of God. We are made into the image of God by the hand of God. The hand represents the five-fold ministry. This is the way by which God fashions us. Paul the great apostle was discipled into the apostolic ministry by Barnabas who was one of the 70 disciples of Jesus. Who is your Barnabas? Aquila and Priscilla played this part in the life and ministry of Apollos (Acts 18:24-28). In Galatia, Paul withstood Peter for this purpose because he was to be blamed. It was a critical issue as other Jews and Barnabas were carried away with the dissimulation (Galatians 2:11-14).
Every paradigm shift takes us from our old model of thinking to a new model which we must embrace. A new paradigm is the new wineskin that is needed to embrace the new truth about what is being established. We must embrace the true ministry gifts that the Lord sends to us. In receiving the sent one, we are receiving Him. In embracing the gifts, we must receive the revelation of the mysteries that they carry. The new ministry that God is restoring today is apostolic in nature. It is a sent ministry and it speaks much of the apostles taking their place and function in line with the purposes of God and with the other five-fold ministry gifts.
An apostle is “a sent one”. It comes from the Greek word “apostolos” – It means a delegate or an ambassador of the Gospel. Apostle is a messenger that is sent by God. As a sent one, he comes with the message and authority of the Lord that sent him. Apostles are more like the “colonial masters” – They come to “impose” and establish the governmental rule of the kingdom they represent. Apostles are divinely called to be (Romans 1:1, 1 Corinthians 1:1). They are not voted in by a church board, but they are chosen by God for a specific function. God’s government is not a democracy, but it is a theocracy. For this purpose, strong and balanced kingdom apostolic ministries must be released today that are committed to the establishment and advancement of the Kingdom of God.
Apostles move with a definite purpose. They come to make input and help establish what is being done; that which is in line with the pattern and purpose of God in a geographical location. They don’t come to establish their own programs and cause division in the city. They don’t come without submission to the order of God in a place to work through and with. It is therefore important that apostles work with a local assembly in setting things in order and not be independent in the work. This is how the new apostolic ministry will operate with a Kingdom mindset. Exceptional cases are where the local church and ministries in the area do not embrace the new apostolic move of God’s reformation, and then it is mandatory to establish a new work that is a prototype of an Antioch church in that region.
Apostles should keep their communication channels open as wide as they can. Some are doing this well within their own spheres of ministry, but few have been able to do it with peers across the spectrum of the New Apostolic Reformation on a nationally and internationally basis. There must be cross pollination among apostles and the various apostolic networks if we are going to see the Kingdom of God built and established in the earth.
We need to receive the new Kingdom Apostolic Ministries the Lord is releasing in the Church in our day, by faith, so we can draw from a different level of grace. These Kingdom Apostolic Ministries will not be limited, nor will they be bound by a local Church, because their ministry calling and function is for the Body of Christ at-large. I have come across leaders in several nations who find it difficult to receive or relate with apostolic ministries that are not resident as a member of the clergy over a local assembly, because their concept from tradition is that apostles must be tied to and accountable to a local church. It is important to recognize that the church does not send out the apostle into the work, because this makes the apostle accountable to the church. True biblical order requires that there be an apostolic team in the work that releases the apostle into the work, which includes ministry to the local church (Acts 8:14, Acts 13:1-3). The apostle is subsequently accountable to the apostolic team in the work and not to the local church, because his divine mandate places him over the local church (1 Corinthians 12:28). This gives the apostolic team the authority to bring correction and adjustment to the apostle where necessary. This means the new Kingdom Apostolic Ministries that the Lord is raising must have an apostolic oversight that releases them to the work which they must fulfilled. This does not negate the fact that the apostle should have a specific local church he relates and fellowships with, but his primary place of accountability is to the apostolic team in the work, that releases the apostle into the work. Apostolic teams operate in “the work” and not out of the church. The sole purpose of “the work” is to establish and assist the local church.
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with out eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested among us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:1-3).
God speaks in different manners to us and this is determined by our relationship, by our function and the season we are in. In this Kingdom Apostolic Move, God is restoring an apostolic fathering ministry. We must understand the purpose of the apostolic fathering ministry and receive it, because it is to establish foundation for Kingdom building. Apostles lay foundation – starting churches does not make one an apostle, though this is part of an apostolic work. Anybody can start a church. Apostles are characterized by a unique relationship that they have with God. This makes them distinct. They have a unique relationship with God that brings an impartation of the life of Christ to the Church. Apostolic fathering is a unique ministry of relationship that is an important element for our relationship with what God the Father is doing, because our relationship with that ministry brings us into relationship with the Father. Apostolic fathering relationship brings an impartation of the revelation of the life of God in the church which establishes strong kingdom foundation.
Foundation is not about a set of teachings, because anyone can teach as disseminations of information are increasing. Knowledge comes from information, but revelation comes by impartation. Foundation is a deep level of relationship that the ministry brings us into with God. It is an impartation that is not taught but received through a unique relationship. The church is not built on personality, but on the revelation of the mysteries of Christ. The declaration of Jesus to Peter was “upon this rock, I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). The rock here Jesus referred to was not Peter the apostle who was called “petrous – a piece of rock”, but the rock here was the revelation of Jesus, “thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God”. The revelation is foundational. This is the most important element for building the house of God.
“The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chestnut trees were not like his branches; nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty. I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him…….To whom art thou thus like in glory and in greatness among the trees of Eden? Yet shalt thou be brought down with the trees of Eden unto the nether parts of the earth: thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude, saith the Lord GOD” (Ezekiel 31:8-9, 18 GOOD NEWS).
These trees in the garden of God represent different streams of ministry voices that are mixed up in the house of God, and which are all speaking at once. The tree of knowledge only feeds us with information of good and evil that hinders the purposes of God for our lives, and this tree speaks of a specific ministry voice in the garden of God. This voice is a hindrance to the life of God because knowledge corrupts, but also in the garden of God there is the tree of life that brings us into a unique relationship with God. This is a ministry of eternal life. We should become a ministry of life to the people and not just the mixed ministry of information. There is a lot of mixture in the house of God today and we must be very sensitive to discern the true voice of God that is speaking, and respond to Him alone.
This New Kingdom Apostolic Ministry that God is raising and restoring will build the Kingdom of God and finish the house of God. Building the Kingdom of God should be an apostle’s main purpose. The whole goal of raising our own ministry and the establishment of self-kingdoms has centred on a ministry of blessing people to bless the minister, rather than building the house of God. A new ministry must rise to train and equip the people who will in turn, focus on building the house of God to bring His glory and not to build the kingdoms of men. We should not be deceived towards fulfilling the vision and dream of a man, who has become a dictator in the house of God. We are not called to fulfill or build any kingdom for men, but to build the house of God. We must overcome that survival mentality if the house of God is to be built by the new ministry that is being raised and established by God in the Body. When we let go of our will, our programs and our purpose, then His will can be done in our lives and in the earth.
Seasoned apostles must begin to stand out because they are “pioneers of Kingdom truths” that are needed. There is an apostolic charge upon us from heaven to declare the gospel of the Kingdom. Let us not be isolated from present-truth to another gospel, or else we will be under an apostolic curse (Galatians 1:6-12). We can bring an entire people attending worship and a nation to eternal judgment if we do not preach the truth of the Kingdom. For this reason, there must be a rediscovering of the Kingdom message. There must be a quest for Kingdom truth. We have come into a new season of the trumpets of God and there is a declaration of messages that is being unpacked by the new ministry that God has ordained for now. Prophets are seers who declare mysteries that are seen, and they reveal the blueprint; while the apostles implement or work with the blueprint as master builders. This is why the apostles and prophets must work together as twin-ministry to build and establish a foundation for others to build upon according to the principles, pattern and paradigm of God.
Apostles bring order in the foundation. When this ministry is rejected from the city, things stay out of course. It is important that we emphasize that the new Kingdom apostolic ministries that God is raising up are not one of position and blessing. For the reason of the ministry of the word and the grace they carry, they may be rejected, falsely accused and misinterpreted, and even cast out of the city, but the fact remains that there are certain things that God cannot do in the city until there is an apostolic order. God is in the process of setting in the biblical government of the church in a most remarkable way.
Every ministry is characterized by a message. Apostles are stewards of the mysteries of Christ and His Kingdom. What we preach should be a fresh revelation of the mysteries. This demands that the ministry of the old word must change – If the ministry and the message that we preach does not change the earth, then it is not Kingdom, because the Kingdom message changes the order of things and aligns it to a heavenly pattern. A new ministry must be established within the local assembly that carries a present-truth to help change the face of the church that will impart the nations. We must begin to impart the nations and bring significant change in the administration of governmental authorities.
We are in a new season in God and the clarion call is to minister the true gospel message and establish the Kingdom of God in the earth. Much of what has been declared is the corruptible word of the past season, which is a product of man’s knowledge that stinks. This new season demands a new word. There are “now revelation of the mystery” that is now made manifest in the earth for the obedience of faith (Romans 16:25-26). Stop trying to fix and preach the old – Ask God to give you something new of the revelation of the mystery. A new ministry which carries a fresh word of present-truth must be released to establish Kingdom apostolic structures, which will help change the expression of the old church system and will begin to impact nations. This includes significant impartation in the government that rules in the heavenlies as God desires to create a new heaven and a new earth.
The reason we argue with present-truth and reject the revelation of the mystery of the message of the Kingdom, is because our mind has been indoctrinated and set to work contrary to the truth. Our spirit automatically rejects it from our mind and this affects the process of searching the word to confirm the truth. It does not go from our head to our heart. It only becomes head knowledge and not a heart revelation. There is a spiritual disconnection.
“These (Berean) were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed…” (Acts 17:11-12a – Emphasis Added).
The Berea saints were more noble than those of Thessalonica because they were marked with a distinct character of first receiving the word with openness of mind and then they searched the scriptures for confirmation. Therefore many of them believed in the word that was preached. Present-truth cannot be received as the revelation of the mystery, except there is first a readiness of mind and then the searching of scriptures to confirm the word.
I trust that the words in this series will be received in this same manner to allow the raising of new Kingdom apostolic ministries and the setting of a new standard for the Kingdom of God to be established.
Copyright © 2017 by Israel Onoriobe
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