Apostolic Centers

God is not just planting churches, He is planting apostolic centers! During the last few years of ministry, I've been in numerous cities and regions where the Holy Spirit said, "Todd, I want you to prophesy about the emerging apostolic centers and what they look like." In this strategic hour, a call is going out to many believers to take their place in this sphere. You, yes, you, may be led by the Holy Spirit to join with others, corporately, to focus on facilitating this whole new thing that the Holy Spirit is wanting to do in the Body of Christ today. A center may well be located in your city or region, or in your nation!

The Apostolic

I must ask this burning question, "Are you aware that we are in a move of God?" I think it's surprising, the number of believers today, who are still waiting for this move to begin. Listen! I am making an announcement: "We are in one. It's still coming, but we are in it." The moment we begin to accept this, even before we can really give "language" to what it all means, is the moment we are in a better position to take more responsibility for it. Therefore, what I am attempting here today, is to begin laying a prophetic grid or framework, to describe this move, so that we can take more responsibility for it.

I'm seeing it like the crest of this next wave -- tsunami wave. The healing and the prayer movements are in this wave, but it's bigger than this. What's happening today in evangelism and the great harvest doesn't complete the picture either! I believe these three major moves of God (healing, prayer movement, evangelism/harvest) will come together and constitute one, global move. This fusion gives life and substance to the tsunami wave or move of God, but we mustn't box God in; we have to give Him freedom to speak/release more into this wave.

I want to also add that this move of God probably comes under the umbrella of the apostolic. But what does that mean? There are so many variables that take place within this context. Also, we hear so much "buzz" about apostolic churches, apostolic networks, and the apostles; we have so many buzz words in the church today.

However, a strong sense of anticipation is stirring within us about this whole new model/face that is coming to the church. But, we need a true understanding of what this is going to look like because it's going to influence and change how we will do church. Plus, when the anointing comes to activate this new thing -- and it's not even here in maturity right now -- there are going to be some specific anointings released with it.

At this point, I would now like to continue with an overview of several characteristics of the apostle and highlight nine true signs of what qualified, genuine, apostolic anointing and authority looks like.

Definition of an Apostle

An apostle is the missionary who first plants the Christian faith in any part of the world and one who initiates any great moral reform, or who advocates any important belief. An apostle must be chosen and appointed by God. There are God-made apostles, but unfortunately, there are man-made apostles, too. We need God-made apostles who are prepared, anointed, authorized, and sent by Him. Therefore, an apostle must never be appointed by any man or college, institution or church, that might want to do so based solely on their own initiative, separate from the direction of the Holy Spirit; and an apostle must not be self-appointed.

God is restoring apostles in the church today, but I would like to pause and bring a word of caution. Those who say, "I am an apostle," are the ones that we need to be careful of. Usually the ones that really are apostles don't say anything about who they are. The anointing speaks for itself. And when the anointing is there -- that's it!

Also, there are those who may have the anointing on their life for the apostolic, but it may only be for a group of ten in their apostolic sphere. Therefore, they wouldn't carry themselves as an apostle into the world at that level. In addition, there is another principle I will attempt to explain when a prophet is not received (as a prophet). "He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward" (Matthew10:41). Whoever does not receive the true prophet will forfeit the reward that comes with the gift the prophet bears; but, having said that, everyone is not going to receive the prophet in that office, because the prophet is not meant to be everyone's prophet (just as the apostle is neither everyone's apostle, nor the evangelist everyone's evangelist).

In addition, it is my belief that to even qualify to use the name "apostle," every person who has an apostolic network should be moving in some kind of miracles, signs and wonders, and mighty deeds.


Apostolic Anointing and Authority

I want to share with you nine true signs of what qualified, genuine, apostolic anointing and authority looks like:

1) Separation

Believers are instructed by God to abandon themselves to a lifestyle of consecration; those who will be totally separated to His purpose and call. Consecration demands a high commitment to holiness, and true apostles will reflect this way of life. "Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God" (Romans 1:1).

2) Fathering

True apostolic anointing is like being a loving father and is reproductive, producing mature sons and daughters. "For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers..." (1 Corinthians 4:15). I have a strong desire to emulate this, and by the time I'm 32 years old, my goal is to release directly from our loins and influence, 100 preachers into ministry. (I'm not talking about just taking people oversees where they receive impartation -- we've done that already.) We want to be loving fathers who are ready to send laborers/preachers that carry a very high level of anointing in preaching, ministry, character, signs, and wonders. Already, we have 11 or 12 such people, and we just ordained three and have plans to bring three new ones in.

3) Team Counsel

An apostle has a team spirit and gathers with other apostles and elders for counsel at prophetic round tables in various cities, regions, and nations. Apostles maintain an attitude that welcomes the wisdom of other apostles from different spheres and locations. "Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter" (Acts 15:6).

4) Signs, Wonders, and Perseverance

Many who walk in a true apostolic anointing can even raise the dead! (This is the most spectacular sign and wonder.) Here's what Paul said, "Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds" (2 Corinthians 12:12). Notably, true apostles never give up easily; they persevere in signs, wonders, and mighty deeds, not getting disappointed and discouraged. They just keep going. If they pray for one thousand and nobody is healed, then they pray for another thousand. Perseverance!

5) Humility

An apostle walks in humility; Paul models humility: "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself" (Philippians 2:3).

He also said, "For I am the least of the apostles who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God" (1 Corinthians 15:9).

6) Servanthood

"Imitate me just as I also imitate Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1). That's a pretty big statement for Paul to make. I've been really challenged by that verse. I've also wondered how that one would look in my life. If I really said to all the people who follow me, "Imitate me," what would that look like? Everyone in fire shirts, blond hair, trucks with flames and Harley Davidson's?! It would be awesome! The first church of the Harley, yeah! Everyone would have a bike, a truck, and an earring. Once, I actually said to my staff, "All the guys have to get their ear pierced if they are going to work for me." Well, as much as I would like to interpret Paul's statement this way, he didn't really have Harleys and earrings in mind.

Paul was telling the Corinthians to follow Christ in everything they did; they were to imitate him in living solely for the glory of God. He urged the Corinthians to have servant's hearts: "Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many that they may be saved" (1 Corinthians 10:32,33). The passion of Paul's life was to serve Christ and to serve others -- that humble commitment of love is a mark of the apostolic anointing. An attitude of servanthood always seeks "the profit of many that they may be saved."

7) True Revelatory Gifting

This is such a significant gifting, and true apostles receive the anointing to preach the gospel through the revelation of Jesus Christ just like Paul did.

"But I make known to you, brethren that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ."
Galatians 1:11,12

Remember, for quite some time Paul was persecuting the church of God and he wasn't one of the 12 disciples. So in effect, Paul is saying something like this: I didn't get what I got the way you got it! I wasn't with Jesus like you, and hanging out with the apostles. I haven't even been with the apostles. I got it in the wilderness. I was hanging out for months in the Arabian desert, and for months, by revelation, by visions, and dreams, and angels �?who knows how it came? I got what I got! Also, Paul emphasized that he saw the Lord just like all the other apostles did. "Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time" (1 Corinthians 15:8).

True apostles, most of the time, possess a strong anointing that is revelatory and prophetic. They can actually change their "apostolic hat" to the "prophetic hat," but also step out into ministry with both hats, and like Paul, shake entire cities and plant churches with signs and wonders.

An accurate revelatory gifting will accompany a true apostle. There is a frequency of heightened supernatural experiences that come with the apostolic. Apostles have visions and dreams, receive the word of the Lord, and they experience open heavens.

8) Character

God wants to raise up apostles with impeccable character who can be completely trusted. His strategic assignments often involve life and death issues that can affect multitudes of people. So, God is always examining an apostle's character. But God doesn't just do character checks, He has a plan to build character. This plan is often an excruciating process. God repeatedly tests apostles, using trials and tribulations to reveal their real level of character. Apostles-in-the-making willingly go through this maturing process because they want to please the Lord and to fulfill His call on their lives.

Not only do tribulations help build character, they also produce perseverance and hope. The apostle Paul preached about this: "And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Romans 5:3-5). Apostles that patiently allow God to refine their character will be fully equipped and carry a strong authority to bring a message of hope to the world -- the message of salvation through Jesus Christ!

Exceptional character and a good reputation go hand in hand. True apostles who submit to the Father's dealings will receive grace, favor, and a good name from Him. "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold" (Proverbs 22:1) Favor comes from God and is something more precious than money.

9) Breaking Out

Like Paul, modern-day apostles pioneer into new territory; they don't want to build on anyone else's foundation. They boldly enter dangerous places and they live to break uncharted areas wide open with the gospel. Here is what Paul said, "And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man's foundation, but as it is written: 'To whom He was not announced, they shall see; And those who have not heard shall understand'" (Romans 15:20,21). Apostles actually enjoy the adventure of new frontiers; their hearts are set on a pilgrimage. Apostles, operating in their kingly authority, will always "break out" into new territory and discover new ways of extending the kingdom of God with power.

I'm praying that this teaching on the move of God and the apostolic is stirring up your desire for more of what God is beginning to manifest.