Apostolic Order

Mary Banks Ministries New Members Orientation Manual LESSON TWO: APOSTOLIC ORDER

LESSON TWO: APOSTOLIC ORDER

Apostolic Order is God’s foundation and method for establishing order in the earth.

At the end of this lesson the student will be able to:

1. Define Apostolic Order is God’s Government in the church and consists of the five-fold ministry.

2. Explain Apostolic Order as the method chosen by God to perfect the church.

3. List and explain differences of churches operating in Apostolic Order and those without Apostolic Order.

WHAT IS APOSTOLIC ORDER?

Apostolic Order is the government of God in the Church. It is the order set by God to fulfill His purpose in the earth. Through this out pouring of His Grace, the Church will receive continual revelation from Him

(Ephesians 4:11-12).

The apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher are gifts of ministry given by the Father. Each one has a different function within the Body of Christ and operates at different levels of responsibility. These gifts, known as the FIVE-FOLD MINISTRY, (the five operations of Christ when He was on the earth) have been given to the leaders in the Church to bring the Body of Christ to maturity.

(1 Corinthians 12: 28).

Apostolic Order is not man’s opinion or a popular belief. It is written in the scripture and is the only method by which we will be effective in cultivating the mind of Christ in the people of God. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF APOSTOLIC ORDER? Apostolic Order is the method chosen by God to systematically develop His people. He has placed perfectors in the Body of Christ to bring His people from the new birth to maturity through the Word (Ephesians 4:11-13).

The church tends to see perfection as an unachievable goal, thereby diminishing the reality of who we are in Christ Jesus---- new creatures, fashioned after His nature.

Perfect – Lacking nothing essential to the whole. Completely reproducing; corresponding to the original.

Apostolic Order is designed to bring us to the place where we can be presented to our Father. It is:

• For the perfecting of the saints.
• For the work of the Ministry.
• For the edifying of the Body of Christ
• To bring us to the unity of the Faith.
• To bring us into the knowledge of God.
• To make us a perfect man.
• To bring us to the fullness of Christ.

APOSTOLIC ORDER IN THE CHURCH

1. Speaks one message that will unite the Church.

2. Causes all members to speak and teach the same thing.

3. Destroys the spirit of competition.

4. Is a safeguard that keeps the members from being tossed to and fro.

5. Is guaranteed to cause our minds to be renewed in the knowledge of God.

6. Promotes corporate or team ministry.

7. Teaches us obedience through the things we suffer.

8. Teaches the saints how to focus on achieving God’s purpose and to keep pressing toward the

mark of perfection.

9. Guarantees the unity of the Faith. 10. Teaches servitude as one of the greatest acts of the

sons.

10.Teaches servitude as one of the greatest acts of the sons.

I Corinthians 1:10

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

Taking scripture out of context and the teaching of man’s philosophies are two of the main reasons why the church is divided by denominations. The true apostle’s ministry must be restored before the Church will return to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of God. Only then will we all be speaking the same thing working only to achieve the purpose of God.

GOD’S PURPOSE FOR APOSTOLIC ORDER

God wants all of His children to be perfected and matured. Apostolic Order is the method He will use to be developed into this perfection - character of Christ. Only those who submit to God’s route will walk in the fullness of Christ. The extent to which we love and are willing to bear offenses demonstrates the proof of our spiritual development. Babes in Christ display a ‘thin-skin’ or ‘touchy’ character, while mature saints are able to walk in love and are not easily offended (Ephesians 4:11-16).

Included in our salvation is the call to be a functioning member of the Body of Christ. We each have a ‘measure’ to supply to the Body and to be effective in that measure we must be joined and supplied by the other ‘joints’ in the Body. We need to be perfected and built up so that we can work in the ministry to which we have been called.

Apostolic Order sets a skeletal frame for the Body of Christ to be built upon and the human body pictures that frame. The body has a head that houses a brain or fleshy mind, which controls the operations of the physical body. Spiritually this head is Christ. The apostle is the set backbone to which all the limbs (prophets, pastors and teachers, evangelists, helps, intercessors, etc.) are connected.

The backbone (apostle) is attached to the Head (Christ), and all the limbs, arms and legs, (prophets, evangelists, pastor and teachers) are attached to it. If the backbone (apostle) is removed, the Body is disjointed and the limbs have nothing to which they can be attached.

The institution of Apostolic Order is extremely important! It gives one message that will into unity. We have been fragmented by denominations and every denomination has its own belief system, though we all use the same Bible. When the scriptures are allowed to interpret themselves, we will have one message. It is that one message, when spoken by all saints that will bring us into the unity of the Faith.

Bible Teachers International maintains Apostolic Order and is one of those ministries chosen to prepare the Body of Christ for His return. We will not deviate from the method He has chosen. We are persuaded that the Church will be perfected before He returns.

We are also excited about what God is doing because He is bringing the Body together. As the true sheep hear the Master’s voice, they will enter into the ‘sheepfold’. Not only are we receiving the knowledge of the truth but we are also witnessing lives being changed by the power of the truth; the undiluted Word of God.

God has not called us to be faithful and committed “church goers,” each of us has a function within the Body of Christ. Apostolic Order is that which will take us into the reality of that specific function which is purpose.

We have a decision to make. Will we lay down our agendas and follow Christ, or will we forfeit everything the Lord has ordained for us? The manifested sons of God will not draw back, but will press toward the mark of the high calling in Jesus Christ, no matter the cost to the flesh.

The reward is great; to be a part of the Body of Christ for all eternity and to rule and reign with Him forever. God wants to give us a vision of our eternal hope, to help persuade us to make the only wise choice, which is to let go of the things of this world and embrace the plan and purpose of God.

Dear Father,

I thank you for the knowledge of the Truth. I know You are the one who

is building Your Church. Help me to embrace your method. Give me the

riches of Your glory and grant me the grace to delight in the security of

Apostolic Order. Help me to submit to Your way and thereby fit into that

place You have prepared for me in the Body, in order that I may be effective

in the function that You have ordained for me. Most of all Lord strengthen me

that I might please You in all things. Please Father, show me my heart, show

me those things which oppose You, that I might surrender them to You to

consume by Your Truth. Amen