Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in Galatians chapter 1:
1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead),
2 and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:
3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,
4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,
5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
An apostle is one who is sent to preach the Gospel and heal the sick. Isn’t that the ultimate mandate of a mature Son and Daughter? Then, aren’t we all called to be “apostles” of Christ? Man in his religious, soulish orientation has tried to establish a structure where an apostle is an office held by only a select few as though we must have men decide who is able to operate as an apostle. Being included in the five-fold ministry, we have not been encouraged to be “sent forth” and operate in this aspect of the ministry of Jesus Christ. Yet Paul clearly states his apostleship came through Jesus Christ and GOD The Father, not man. Notice in Luke chapter 9, Jesus sent forth the disciples:
1 Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.
2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
3 And He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither staffs nor bag nor bread nor money; and do not have two tunics apiece.
4 “Whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart.
5 And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them.”
6 So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.
Jesus sent out His twelve disciples to do two specific things: preach the Kingdom of GOD and heal the sick. This is the mandate of the mature Sons and Daughters as well. This is what our focus should be as we continue to prepare ourselves for the fullness of our ministry. We must not allow ourselves to be held back by our past or the old man’s thinking of being ill-equipped to spread the Gospel. Upon their return from being sent out by Jesus:
10 And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done.
Notice that the twelve disciples were now referred to as apostles for they had been “sent forth” by Jesus. As you and I are led by The Holy Spirit and sent forth to preach the Gospel and lay hands on the sick, we too are apostles. We must shed the old religious beliefs that apostles must be ordained by man’s religion and change our expectation of being “sent forth”. As we mature in the confidence of Christ, we will have no reservation to go forth and minister the Gospel and healing. Apostleship isn’t reserved for the few, it is meant to describe anyone who is sent by FATHER through His Most Holy Spirit. FATHER will empower those of us who are willing to be sent forth with the Gospel in our hearts and Love for all of mankind.