TODAY’S DEVOTIONAL (Wednesday 16th December 2020)
“And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.” 1 Corinthians 12:28 NKJV
WELCOME TO THE 350TH DAY OF OUR YEAR OF REJOICING
This is the day that the LORD has made, we shall rejoice and be glad in it. Hallelujah!! No matter what you woke up with this morning, let this prophetic proclamation be your proclamation.
On our devotion today, we will be looking at two kingdom concepts that are key to our walk and talk with GOD. A concept is an idea or an intention. It is also a plan. Whenever we take a look at God’s kingdom concepts, we can understand His ideas, intentions and plans for us and for the things He does.
This morning I will be refreshing our minds on the kingdom concepts of the word APOSTOLIC and the word IMPACT. If we add them together we will have the phrase “Apostolic impact”.
Now, let define these words.
First, the word apostolic simple means anything that has to do with the early church or the 12 original apostles of the lamb. It also means “that which conforms to the teachings of the early Church, the early apostles or the New Testament.”
The word impact within context means the force of impression of one thing on another. It is simple a significant or major effect of something on another. “A true apostolic impact will therefore conform us to the teachings of the early Church or the New Testament without divorcing us from the spirit and letters of the Old.”
UNDERSTANDING APOSTOLIC IMPACT
Talking about apostolic impact, I want you to understand that there are three types of apostles in scriptures. We have the 12 Original apostles of the lamb found in Acts 12:12-23. Then we have ascension apostles like Paul, and then false apostles (exposed in 2 Corinthians 11). You will never get a true apostolic impact by the hand of a false apostle.
Present day apostles of Jesus Christ are part of the ascension apostles. They are the agency of true apostolic impact today. Sadly, we have so many false apostles today; folks who are “apostles by titles” but not “by content.” I call them apostates. False apostles are the catalyst of apostasy.
What is apostasy? It is a renunciation or departure from the faith. The Bible says in the later days many will depart from (not deny) the faith; giving heed to seducing spirits. They don’t deny they just depart.
The ministry of an apostate does not make people deny the faith. It makes them depart from the faith. That means, they will still be calling Jesus their LORD and savior but you will never see them living the life of Christ. They have not denied the faith. They have departed from the faith. And that is very dangerous.
THE DANGEROUS DEPARTURE FROM THE FAITH
There is a dangerous departure from the faith that was once delivered to the saints today, giving rise to a false Christianity – a Christianity that is not in conformity with the teachings of the early Church or the New Testament.
A Christianity that cannot stand righteous rebukes. We forget that a people who cannot stand righteous rebukes will soon find themselves on the broad way that leads to eternal damnation.
Today the dangerous departure (not denial) of the faith has created a Church generation that has become a house for all sort of unclean spirits like the sex goddess! We now believe sex before marriage is okay. Lying demons now prophesy using the lips of so many people we call prophets and prophetesses. To many, lies are no longer lies but wisdom.
The doctrines of false Christianity have been deeply entrenched in the hearts of many today. For instance, today when people are rebuked of their sins, they accuse those God may be using to do it of judging them. When they are convicted of sin under a strong apostolic message, they accuse the preacher of condemning them.
I have said it again and again that a generation that calls rebuke “judgment” and conviction “condemnation” will never be unplugged from the grip of hell. That is why we need true apostolic impact back in Church.
CHRISTIANITY WITHOUT TRUE APOSTOLIC IMPACT WILL GIVE BIRTH TO APOSTASY OR A DEPARTURE FROM THE FAITH.
We are seeing people in the Pentecostal and charismatic circles today departing from the teachings of the New Testament. Sound doctrines on Holiness, repentance, revival, a grace balanced with truth, the Holy Spirit, His holy word and etc. are now missing in the hearts of most present day Churches. Except for few Assemblies of God’s people, there is no true move of the Spirit again.
If there is a time we need a return of apostolic impact, it is today.
True apostolic impact will conform your life to the teachings of the New Testament and give you rest from the days of adversity. It will make you another Christ on the face of the earth!
True apostolic impact began by the hand of the 12 Original Apostles and continued by the hand of God’s ascension apostles. We need it back by the hands of present day apostles. But I wonder if we will ever get it back? The way the church is presently constituted, except there is a spiritual revolution, there will never be a return of true apostolic impact.
However, the good news is that revolution has begun!
I believe strongly that there is someone reading this that has had many impacts in life but has not had apostolic impact. That is why his or her life is far from being fulfilled. If apostolic impact is missing in your life, you will be unfruitful in your walk with God, leading to a disorderly Christian life, wrecked by persistent sin and powerlessness in the spirit.
WHAT OUR DEVOTIONAL TEXT SAID!
Our devotional text says God placed first apostles in the Church, then other gifts and moves of the Spirit. Why the apostles first?
The reason is to put apostolic content in those gifts so that apostolic impact can be released through those gifts and produce a Christianity that is in conformity with the teachings of the New Testament, without divorcing the spirits and letter of the Old Testament.
As you pass through this day, make up your mind to start seeking apostolic impact in your Christian life If you do not have a Church making an apostolic impact in your life, start joining us from today and on every other meeting days, in our “Church in the House Revival Services” on TV and on all our online platforms.
MAKE THIS SCRIPTURE AN ADDITIONAL MEDITATION FOR THE DAY!
“Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.” Matt 24:11-14 NKJV