"And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved. And no one, having drunk old wine, immediately desires new; for he says, `The old is better.' " Luke 5:37-39
There is a shift in progress and it is gaining momentum. Can you see it? Church government is now in flux; God is pouring His new wine into new wineskins and this is not without precedence. Throughout history we have seen paradigm shifts in the way God governs His people: In the wilderness He sought to lead them Himself; later He used Judges... and then finally consented to give them a King. In the New Testament we see the Church of Jesus established upon the rock of apostolic authority - it was then governed by Rome. After the Reformation, state run churches were birthed… and then denominational government, in its many forms, became the norm. In fact, the Omniscient One used denominations to govern His Church and advance His Kingdom for nearly 400 years.
Could God be restoring the apostle and prophet to lead the Church in our day? Consider this scripture: “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” Eph.4:11-13
It seems a bit strange that the contemporary Church has accepted the ministry of the pastor, teacher and the evangelist, but boldly declares the apostle and prophet to be obsolete; they are no longer needed. Oh really! Let’s look at this passage again. These ministry gifts were given to the body for equipping and edifying the saintstill we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” It is quite obvious that we as a body are not there yet, and these ministry gifts are still needed. Therefore it is completely illogical to acknowledge three of these five-fold ministry gifts and discount the other two.
In fact, the Lord has never removed these offices; they have been with us all along. We’ve merely renamed them. Those with titles like Bishop and Pastor,Administrator, Teacher and Evangelist have been operating as prophets and apostles… to a lesser or greater degree. Unfortunately they have seldom been recognized as such by the mainstream, and have often been persecuted for espousing their prophetic truths and demonstrating apostolic authority. Consider Luther, Wesley and Knox, to name a few.
Modern day apostles are emerging, beloved. Many are already in place. God has been preparing them in His fiery crucible. These are the bold ones with a “Kingdom” view. Their eyes are fixed on the Master; they refuse to acquiesce to the ways of man. They see the battle in the heavenlies and wage war, taking back what the enemy has stolen. They seek to advance the Kingdom and transform their society. They are servant leaders walking humbly, but with God-given authority… dying to self, willing to be considered as nothing in order to fulfill the purposes of God. Perhaps you are one of these. What has God been saying to you? Maybe its time to accept your calling! Peter Whitehouse
In light of the fact that the Lord is now restoring the gift and office of apostle to His Church world-wide, it has become evident that there is a growing need for like-minded servants to join together for mutual encouragement, instruction and accountability. International Apostolic Network has been birthed for this very purpose. Apostles Peter Whitehouse, Albany, NY USA and Robert Makona, Kitale, Kenya. received the mandate simultaneously, while on separate continents, to "call apostles together internationally" and this was confirmed by the prophets. There are now over 200 members from 10 nations!
There are other excellent apostolic networks already in place, but there are also many apostles emerging, especially in developing nations. IAN seeks to reach out to those apostles who would not have contact with the larger networks nor could they afford the membership fees.
Membership with IAN is limited to men and women who have been recognized by the church, and other apostles, to have the gift and office of apostle and have been effectively using this gift for a period of time. IAN should not be considered to be an elite group, nonetheless, it has been established by apostles, solely for confirmed apostles. Membership is attained by official invitation only.
For more information about IAN see the website: http://apostlesnetwork.org
My people have heeded the voice of the world over my voice. You have let the world and the culture dictate to you what is acceptable and what is approved. There is a difference between healing and loving and just pacifying. This move of political correctness has subdued your ability to hear my voice and obey it. Yet again, I will raise up a prophetic people, who would heed my voice and obey it. A people after my own heart, filled with my spirit.
Where is my Ekklesia? Those called out to speak on my behalf for this generation. To warn this generation. To get right with me. Stir yourselves to seek me, and break out of that apathy. Don’t say we have heard of words of revival and have not seen them come to pass. Get radical in your pursuit of me. You are too satisified church. Where’s the hunger for me and my prescense, for my kingdom to come in mighty power. Strengthen yourselves to seek me and keep seeking me. Strengthen your hearts. I am coming. Have your candles burning full of oil.
What are you doing with your children? ... Nancy Gorman
Isaiah 11:6 ...and a little child shall lead them.
Listen clearly My children. I am going to share something that is tender to My heart. What are you doing with your children? You are leaving them out of My presence when you gather. You are causing them to think they are not able to hear My voice. You are causing them to think they are unworthy of My gifts and callings.They are ripe with harvest. They are more ripe than the dry boned adults that are causing them to stumble.
If you allow them to sit with you in My presence you will find that they are an instrumental part of what I Am trying to bring forth in the gathering. You will find that they hear my voice clearer than most adults that think they hear Me. You will find that they will say what I say and not add or subtract to it. You will find that their faith is fuller to release healing and deliverance.
I ask you again, what are you doing with your children? This world is transient. Look at your children with eternity in mind. You are educating them in secular studies that they should never hear. They are not being taught how to hear My Word for themselves. They are not being taught how to worship Me, how to praise Me, how to hear My voice.
Your schools are an abomination to Me. They infiltrate dross that only gets burned up. The time that is wasted could be used for My kingdom. Fear not the voices that tell you this type of education is necessary. This is not how I teach My children. My children are taught by open hearts desiring to be filled with My gifts. I will teach them. I will guide them. Fear not.
Your sports and games have filled their time with idleness. They have not learned to work with their hands the giftings that I have put in them. The giftings that will satisfy their soul with worship to Me. Harvest is now for the children. Bring them into My presence, don't leave them out.
You think a new born baby is blind and cannot sense My presence. But I tell you, he knows Me better than you do. You think a babe in the womb is a blob, I tell you he knows Me better than you do. Train up your child the moment you know it is in your womb. Sing over him, proclaim over him, prophesy over him.
Be gentle with your words around My children. Expose them not to harsh media. I would desire that you not expose them to any media. Expose them to My Creation; the clouds, the trees, the birds, the mountains, the rocks, the waters, the animals. Expose them to others that love them in truth. Love my children. Love all of them. Hear your inner heart for any prejudice you might have against them. Do you look at each child as the child of God that they are? Do you see them with the potential that I see them with?
I say to you that this is the Year of the Child. Bring forth the fruits worthy of repentance. Repent for the waste and destruction of My children. I say to you that this is also the year for the healing of the wounded child within; that child that was not allowed to come forth. This is a year to be cleansed of those giftings that have been tainted with intellectualism, perfectionism and materialism. It is time to play again. It is time to laugh again. It is time to be free again in whom you were created to be.
It is time to worship Me in the dance, in the spontaneous song, it is time to take up that instrument that I spoke to you about when you were a child. It is time to paint, it is time to draw, it is time to write poetry. Be free to be the child that never had the opportunity to come forth.
Be free to laugh, be free to join in the great harvest of the Year of the Child. "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: and He shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." Malachi 4:5,6