Sadly, many church goers are failing to recognize that we are in a spiritual war. The enemy forces of darkness have set out an onslaught against the church of the lord Jesus Christ that many quite apathetically have failed to recognize. The common war tactics of divide and conquer have left us on individual islands, when we could instead join together as an army in the power of the spirit of God, walk in victory and have an impact on our society. Instead we see all of the dark religions, the homosexuals, the abortionists and many others with their anti-God agendas being able to effect governmental policy, while the church as a whole stands in line at the concession stand...

 ...we see all of the dark religions, the homosexuals, the abortionists and many others with their anti-God agendas being able to effect governmental policy, while the church as a whole stands in line at the concession stand.

Constantine, as emperor of the Roman empire put the Bishops on the Roman government payroll, and as a result they became political positions. This caused many to desire these positions of clergy, and many not called of God infiltrated the leadership positions of the church. These have steered believers away from the precepts of faith, obedience and holiness, and have via education, made Christianity far too cerebral. There became a mixing of the eastern orthodox religions, Greek thought and Christianity. As is the case today because of these infiltrators lack of personal relationship with the savior, men needed to become educated by…well… other men, and taught how to “Do God”. The greatest teacher however is the Holy Spirit, and any effective minister true to his call must attend the school of the Holy Spirit. Intimate fellowship with the creator can not be replaced, because true ministry is simply an extension of the minister’s own relationship. During this church history dating back to the second century, man’s methods and ideologies won out and suddenly took center stage. Too often clergy positions have become focused employees in many denominations where the pastor is forced to perform each Sunday. They’ve also established a scientific-esque approach. Science in Christianity can cause severe problems. Man by way of science tells you that the solution to your problem is not as simple as the cross, but a systematic process that limits the amount of care and involvement of many due to the financial resources needed to receive the care. Who’s prospering?

Today everywhere you turn there is some eloquent Joe speaking of what he thinks he knows of God, but we don’t necessarily need a bunch more “get ready- get ready- get ready’s!” What we need is life changing, demon chasing power! Guess what? satan knows this, and this is why he’s attacked and tried for too long to eliminate the office of apostle and prophet.  We must fully embrace Ephesians 2:19,20 which says:

“Houshold of God(Church) founded upon the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone.” 

In the offices of Apostle and Prophet we must recognize that God has given the highest level of Spiritual authority to wage war in the heavens. As evidenced by scriptural accounts the apostles demonstrated the power of God.  Paul in 1Corinthians 2:4,5 he says:

“And my speech and my preaching was not with the enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in the demonstration of the spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of man, but in the power of God.” 

You see, because these offices carry the greatest responsibility, they also carry the heaviest anointing to defeat these enemies forces, and the adversary has sought to eliminate them from their positions. As a result the church has been left with pastor only church’s which do not carry an apostolic anointing for warfare. Because the pastoral anointing is one that is concerned primarily about the well being of the flock, the prosperity message wins out every time. The Apostolic anointing is a governmental anointing to set order in the body, and to oversee.

Ephesians 4:11 which says:

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  Till we all come in  the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man…  

 This anointing is crucial to the effectiveness of the body of Christ. The five fold office gifts are set in place by God to equip the saints for the work of the ministry. You see, the old model of church attendees, coming to church sitting down, observing, maybe shouting, and then going home until the next service; is broken. But that’s how satan wants it. The enemy desired a church that was not operating according unto God’s battle plan, and lacking in authority and power of the Holy Ghost. Lethargic. Apathetic. As long as he could keep everyone occupied with the prosperity message there was to be no true threat to his kingdom. Herein lays a dimension of the apostolic authority to govern within the kingdom of God. The throne of God has divine strategies which he speaks to the Apostles and the Prophets to carry out for the success and victory of the kingdom of God. But, as long as satan could keep the apostles and prophets out of their positions, the body would be firing on less than a third of it’s cylinders, and that my fiend is a misfire!

 As we move in the Apostolic, we’ll see the effectiveness of the church increase, and believers will begin to walk as required to do the work of the ministry. Believers will come to church to get equipped, empowered, trained, gifts activated and imparted etc. and then sent out to work. Remember our lord tells us that the world is our enemy, and we need to get ourselves from under it’s arm, and start ruling in it. A fist is only powerful collected together as one unit, and as we clean up our doctrines to get back to the bible we’ll see the church begin to walk in more unity. As we walk in unity we will be able to effect change, and see to it that our foundation, the bible, is not successfully attacked anymore by the world.

Jesus says in Mathew 12:25: “…every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand”

This is why the body of Christ has been what seems as dormant. We’ve been so preoccupied with building funds and exchanging church members from one church to another, that we’ve lost focus of what this is really about, but thanks be to God that he is raising up Apostles to Build, Restore, and to Govern the church. Every great army needs strong leadership to lead them to war. The Apostles as God’s generals work with the lord to carry out the strategies provided by the throne. The enemies forces must take a back seat as the Kingdom of God takes it’s rightful place in authority. As we follow the lord’s battle plan, we win the war! Glory to God.