Restoration & the Apostolic Reformation
God has been strategically and intentionally moving the Church back to its original pattern. This present move in the Church is being called many different names; one of the most popular is the “Apostolic Reformation.” Reformation points to a deep inner overhaul of mentality, understanding, behaviors, positions, attitudes, and perceptions that provide the inner energy to the outer and visible shape of the church in the world.

The Apostolic Movement
Four key ingredients make up the Apostolic Movement:

1. The restoration of the New Testament office of the apostle. A company of apostles (sent ones) will function in like manner as the apostles of the early church. The dominant anointing we find in the book of Acts is the apostle. Yet the dominant anointing in the Church has for centuries been the pastor.
2. An imparting of Christ’s apostolic anointing to the saints. Hebrews 3:1 tells us Christ is “the” apostle. Jesus the apostle will call and release thousands of apostles to equip, mature, and activate the people of God. There will be a multiplication of apostolic people and apostolic churches, resulting in a worldwide spiritual harvest of the earth.
3. A revival of supernatural signs, wonders, and miracles. God performs miracles through the mature, functioning apostle.
4. A worldwide deployment of thousands of apostles, referred to as “apostolic positioning.” The Holy Spirit will strategically deploy thousands of apostles to the cities and nations of the world. Every church and every expression of the kingdom of God in the earth will be touched by at least one apostle. Each apostle will be unique but will walk in the patterns of the early church apostles.

Receive with Balance and Understanding
With every move of God come extremes. The two extremes of the apostolic movement are to exalt this ministry out of proportion and treat the apostle like a king or to despise and reject the apostolic ministry all together. The adversary consistently tries to abort a move of God. By stopping it in its infancy it will not be allowed the opportunity to inflict damage on his kingdom. The apostolic movement is birthed and maturing; it will not be aborted. The adversary’s next strategy is usually to raise up a counterfeit to discredit and thereby stop the momentum of God’s kingdom. The counterfeit has always been around.

Jesus, in Matthew 24, mentioned deception as the first sign of the last times and went on to talk about it three more times in the same chapter. The best antidote for deception is to be around the real thing. If we operate in fear and run from what God is doing we will be the most easily deceived.

A false movement of apostles takes two forms:

1. Apostles who function under a satanic anointing. They may be able to fool even the elect because of their personal charisma and false miracles. However, they will lack godly character.
2. Those who are true pastors, evangelists, prophets, or teachers, yet function as a false apostle by presuming to function in a place before they have been commissioned by the Lord.

The vast majority of false ministry is conducted by those who prematurely and presumptuously assume titles and positions before their time of commissioning. Due to the nature of influence and authority entrusted into their hands, those who are called to function as apostles or prophets normally take many years of preparation time. The call is always followed by a time of training before an apostle is commissioned. The majority will not submit to the Lord’s timetable, let alone the discipline and tests designed to build a leader.

The Apostolic Dimension
The Apostolic Dimension refers to the ability to measure a ministry and determine if it carries the marks of an apostle. Just as we can take a tape measure and measure the dimensions of a building, we can take the biblical characteristics of an apostle and measure those who say they are apostles.

Marks of an Apostle
A true apostle will leave an impartation in the people to whom they minister to that has measurable characteristics. The marks of an apostle are:

• Patience (2 Corinthians 12:12). True apostles are marked by extraordinary perseverance. They carry an anointing to endure and stand when the norm would be to quit and give up. They are steady, dependable, and reliable.
• Signs, wonders, and mighty deeds (2 Corinthians 12:12). Notable miracles are a sign because they authenticatethe apostle and his mission. They are a wonder because they are of a supernatural nature. They are mighty deeds because of the level of anointing and gifting required. Apostles and miracles are inseparable.
• Revelation of the calling by independent witnesses (Acts 13:1-3). God uses prophetic ministries to identify and confirm the apostolic calling.
• Ministers are given to apostles (Acts 20:4). Apostles do their best work in a team setting. God joins other five-fold ministers (the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher found in Ephesians 4:11) with apostles.
• They leave fully functioning churches (Acts 13-14). Paul and Barnabas started churches and left them to function on their own, later going back to check on them. Apostles start new churches and strengthen existing churches. Churches should always be better after an apostle has been with them. NOTE: As the old and the new are clashing sometimes churches will go through a pruning time before they get stronger.
• Serious opposition from evil principalities (2 Corinthians 12:7). Paul was given “an angel of Satan” to buffet him. Instead of our typical American measurements of success, (i.e.) finances, numbers, and building size, we should ask, “If this is a true apostle, what opposition is the devil stirring up against their ministry?” This is because they are a great threat to Satan’s kingdom.
• Christ-like character (Matthew 10:24-25). They are true and accurate followers of Jesus Christ. “True apostles have extraordinary character,” says C. Peter Wagner.
• Faithfulness and obedience to their mission (Acts 26:19). Paul stated, “I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.” Apostles are on a mission for God and they are faithful messengers of King Jesus.
• They walk in great humility (Matthew 20:25-28). The greatest in God’s kingdom are those who are the servant of all. The law of divine order goes something like this: The more one is promoted, the more they must lay down their life and serve. Apostles go through years of trials so they always know, “I am nothing. Jesus is everything.”
• They walk in high levels of spiritual authority (1 Corinthians 12:28). Paul states that apostles are first. “First” is the Greek word “proton,” which means first in rank and authority. Apostles are the generals with orders from the Supreme Commander. Angels of God and the demons of hell recognize the spiritual ranking assigned by God and respond accordingly.
• Intimate relationship with God (2 Corinthians 12:1-7). Apostles have more than average angelic visitations, visions, dreams, and revelations. The source of revelation, wisdom, power, and authority is from their relationship with the Lord. Prayer is extremely important for the apostle.
• Divine wisdom (1 Corinthians 3:10). They are wise master builders. Apostles are given the blueprints of what Jesus wants constructed and the wisdom on how to build it properly.
• Foundational teaching and divine order (Ephesians 2:19-22). They know the foundation is the most important
part of the spiritual building and will make every effort to make sure it is right.
• An apostolic seal (2 Corinthians 3:2-3). Their apostleship will leave a legacy of apostolic people and apostolic churches. Fruit from the apostle is evident.
• They are extremely sacrificial (2 Corinthians 11:23-28). Because of their extreme dedication it is common for apostles to overdo in their health, family, personal finances, etc. This is one reason they do well in a team; they need the balance of others. They are usually very willing to give their all, including their very life for their mission and for their Lord.
• Not lording over the flock (2 Corinthians 1:24;1 Peter 5:3). They have the John the Baptist mentality. (I must decrease, Jesus must increase.) Their motive is not to take advantage of the church, but to prepare the bride for the bridegroom. On the other hand, self-appointed apostles are dictatorial, and throw their authority around.
• Spiritual parenting (1 Thessalonians 2:7, 11). They are recognized by the ministers and churches they have raised up as being spiritual fathers.
• Being set in the Body by God (1 Corinthians 12:28). They don’t need to tell people what they are; it will be known. People will recognize the apostle because of God’s anointing, favor, anddivine placement on their lives.

The fully functioning apostle cannot be hidden. They stand out.

   Vic and Toni Reichenbach are the
   senior pastors at Casper Open Bible
   church in Casper, Wyoming.