Ephesians 2:20   And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone ;

 Ephesians 4:11-13   And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers ; ¹² For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ : ¹³ Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ :

 

 1 Corinthians 3:5-10 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man ? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase . 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase . 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour . 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry , ye are God’s building . 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon .

            The Holy Spirit tells us to be careful about how we build upon what others have built. God is not violating His word but is also building. He is building people who have no agendas of their own and whose motive is His will. They are the next generation of laborers. They are the reformers. They are apostolic people, Apostolic Teams and Apostolic Companies that are formed or emerging.

            God is dealing in this hour with the identity of The Church (His people) and how they are to truly function. Without a solid awareness inside of us, we will struggle finding our placement in the plan and Body of Christ. Without identity, resolved function is unclear and boldness and confidence in assignments are lacking. Apostolic Teams bring this greater identity to the Body of Christ. After all, they are to equip the saints for the work of the ministry. Part of that equipping is to bring identity. For the most part, The Church has taken on a pastoral identity or mindset with a focus upon us. Missing is an Apostolic and Prophetic identity concerning how our lives fit into the Kingdom of God. Without that perspective, we will remain introverted and self seeking instead of harvest focused and willing to sacrifice to see “His Kingdom come, His will be done”.  We will assume for that most people reading this are familiar with apostles and prophets so we will look at two dynamics unfolding- Apostolic teams and Apostolic Companies.

Acts 13:1-3 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul . 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them . 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away .

  

 Since God is building structures in this hour, the structure built by His hand is not brick and mortar, but an Apostolic Team of leaders to go forth and impact regions. It takes a team of leaders to recognize and release another team of leaders. That is the pattern we see in the above scripture. It is bringing affirmation and recognition to the emerging leaders so confidence can come and assignments be accomplished. What is needed and now beginning to form within the state is this team of leaders. Leaders who have nothing to gain but to see regions and the state changed. Leaders who have been through the fire and have not gotten bitter. Leaders who are managing portions of The Kingdom and approach things as true fathers. Leaders who are not looking for their gain but the gain of others.  If something is truly Kingdom, you will not benefit from it personally unless it comes through a corporate body. In other words, Kingdom is not selfish, hording, or greedy. It is giving, affirming, and willing to share the things freely given.

            In the Bible, we see apostolic teams of Apostles and Prophets function in two distinct areas. First they are trans-local. This means they went into areas and opened new regions to the gospel of the Kingdom. Trans- local ministry was assignment focused. It is advancing. Today we have true Apostles and Prophets but we need to change how we allow them to function. Biblically they did not come for speaking engagements and leave. No, they actually settled for a period of time until the assignment was in motion and Kingdom dynamics had taken hold. Then they would either return to a ministry base or to the next assignment. They have an anointing to break regions open if we would allow them to!

            The second area of function is in the area of discipleship. It is building. When remaining local, Apostles and Prophets would teach and instruct, equipping the saints for the work of the ministry. Sadly today many Apostles and Prophets are running schools of ministry or other stationary ministries as a means of support. Some may have a calling just for equipping but I belief this equipping is not for just a stationary location, but is for the Body at large.

            In Acts as Apostolic Teams traveled, they brought along other ministry gifts and traveling companions to form what is called an Apostolic company. These companies were formed, based on the need associated with the current Kingdom assignment they were to accomplish. In other words, it was a privilege to travel with the Apostolic Team more so than an earned right. It would mean you had specific abilities and giftings needed to accomplish the assignment. It also meant you would have to take on certain responsibilities as well, but also gave specific privilege. As a team and companies ministered in Acts, they also endured hardships together. These sufferings only cemented their commitments to each other and brought greater unity among the believers. They believed the same things, spoke the same things, endured the same things, and ministered along the same flow of the Spirit. The message being brought only confirmed God working among them. It showed them as a force who knew deep in their hearts the truth they were conveying which brought great confidence and boldness.

Apostolic companies were formed out of the disciples who understood and could discern doctrine, live a disciplined life and could hear the voice of God with clarity. Apostolic companies are those who come alongside Apostles and Prophets to work with them in accomplishing Kingdom assignments by breaking open regions.

 

Acts 13:13   Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem .

 

Acts 21:8  And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him .

 

Being part of an apostolic company is the place where emerging leaders were tested in real life situations. It is where they understood ministry and had a chance for their faith to be tested. Like Apostolic Teams, Apostolic Companies have two distinct functions as well, trans-local and local. The trans-local ministry of those in an apostolic company was to minister to the needs within a region and to partner with Apostles and Prophets to see regions break open to the Kingdom of God. In other words, it was the application of what they had been taught locally.

      On the local level, the company functions by maintaining the spiritual climate and also the physical structure. It was the place of discipleship, equipping, and receiving instruction. It was the proving ground of faithfulness, before they would travel out.

            Paul had several who traveled with him from time to time as his company. These were emerging leaders. These were some that would be left behind to establish elders in churches. Here are just a few names we never recognize, and of course, let’s not forget Timothy. 

Sopater,                      Paul’s companion on many journeys

Gaius,                         Paul’s companion on almost all journeys / Macedonia

Tychicus,                   Friend of Paul’s / Asian

Trophimus                Friend of Paul’s / Ephesus

 

The Lord showed me it is as if these apostolic companies (even though they do not see themselves that way) are orphaned from the current church structure not really “fitting into the family” but still not having any adopted parents. The parents they are looking for are the Apostles and Prophets to bring the Father heart of God and the Revelation of God. In all honesty, most if very successful, are being run more by good administrator giftings than true Apostolic or Prophetic offices. One of the mandates God has placed on us as a ministry is to bring together an Apostolic Team within our state to connect those emerging and already formed apostolic companies. This will not be a forced agenda but will be relationship built. We have already established many beginning relationships with these companies in the state and now we will endeavor to both deepen them and also establish new ones as well. 

The Lord showed me a revelation concerning apostolic companies. The Biblical pattern in Acts was churches were birthed out of the apostolic teams and companies as they traveled. The apostolic companies preceded the church being birthed and formed. They established elders and true government. Could the current and emerging apostolic companies need to be mobilized so the true Church can be birthed and formed from them? I am not discarding the existing church structure because every leader in scripture including Jesus emerged from an old wineskin. They had new wineskin hearts that formed a new wineskin around them. But could it be, as goes these formed and emerging apostolic companies so goes The Church? What would happen if all these companies had apostolic and prophetic oversight? A tremendous shift would occur because of the influence that would quickly spread.

In conclusion, we really need true Apostles and Prophets to rise within our state, coming together as an Apostolic council similar to the one in Jerusalem. This council needs to connect with the emerging and formed companies within our state. The goal is not to make a singular company or structure or organization but to align with apostles and prophets to be given specific Kingdom assignments and a corporate cause that not only touches The Church but the unbelievers as well. We have approached so many things from so many angles but have we truly approached things from a true Biblical pattern? I believe if we will then this will cause “A great Awakening” and humanity as a whole will be confronted with and touched with the gospel of the Kingdom!