Ebook
How did the early church grow so quickly?
How can we replicate that success today?
The early church gives us the perfect example of how a small group of committed Christians can affect their communities and change the world. The apostles brought a change to the way the people of God lived. Wherever they went, what they believed transformed the culture.
In Ordinary People, Extraordinary Power, John Eckhardt helps you understand the purpose and function of today’s spiritual apostles. Using examples from Jesus and the early church, Eckhardt shows you God’s strategy for the apostolic and the biblical foundation for its use and pattern. You will discover…
Apostles are pioneers. They preach and teach the culture of the kingdom of God--a kingdom of love, humility, power, authority, and service. Through training, teaching, discipleship, and relationship, God begins to empower individuals by the Holy Spirit in preparation for greater service.
Our world needs people willing to break free from religion and tradition and be activated to heal, deliver, prophesy, preach, and demonstrate God’s kingdom. It is time to put the apostolic back in the church.
Introduction: Developing an Apostolic Culture
1. Apostolic Government
The apostolic gift is the key to continuous advancement and momentum.
2. First, Apostles—Last, Apostles
The apostle’s ministry is the highest ranking ministry in the church.
3. The Strategy of Jesus and Emerging Apostles
An apostolic culture will require apostolic leadership. This will require the wisdom and strategy to identify and release emerging apostles and other ministry gifts.
4. The Departure Restoration of Apostolic Ministry
Many leaders are beginning to embrace their true callings and ministries. It is important that true apostles understand their function in order to release their gifts fully to the church.
5. The Apostolic Spirit—Driving Force of the Church
The direction and movement of the church is determined by the spirit of the church. The condition of the spirit will determine the mobility of the wheel. The spirit is the fuel that releases the power that moves the church.
6. The Proton Believer
PROTON is the Greek word for FIRST mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:28. It means firstly in time, place, order or importance. Apostolic people are proton people. This is the culture of the apostolic.
7. Transitioning a Church Into the Apostolic
Leaders cannot afford to be ignorant of this restoration move of the Holy Spirit. Leaders must come into the knowledge of this current shift in the Church. There is an apostolic mandate for many senior pastors. Unless these leaders come into the knowledge of this change, many will remain locked in a pastoral mode the rest of their lives.
8. Challenging Tradition
We need to see prototype churches built that will be models for the 21st century. These churches will have strong apostolic leadership. They will also have strong prophetic, teaching, pastoral, and evangelistic gifts. They will be fully functional churches.
9. Building Antioch Churches
The Antioch church is the model apostolic church in the Book of Acts. It is a sending church and gives us the pattern of strong presbyteries and apostolic teams.
10. Establishing the Prophetic Ministry
Local churches need to release and facilitate the prophetic ministry. The prophetic ministry should be a normal part of the ministry of the local church (1 Corinthians 14:29-32).
11. A New Order for a New Move
Old wineskins are rigid and inflexible. Organizations and churches often become legalistic and dogmatic. It is their way or no way. When this happens, God raises up apostolic and prophetic leadership, which brings a fresh word and help to create new wineskins. These anointings are more radical and progressive. They attract a new group of believers who are not held back and bound by a religious mind-set. The result is the formation of new wineskins.
12. Prayer and Deliverance
Prayer is also the power source of the apostolic. . Deliverance is a major part of the apostle’s equipment to break through and establish the Kingdom of God.
13. Developing Teams
If a leader is to make a successful transition from a pastoral into an apostolic role, he must develop a team of leaders that will help carry the burden of ministry.
14. Releasing Apostolic Teams
We define an Antioch Church as an apostolic, governmental church that impacts regions and territories. These churches are spiritual hubs. They are strategic churches raised up by God to initiate apostolic endeavors across the earth.
15. Helps and Governments
The helps ministry needs to be strong in an apostolic church to assist the leadership in carrying out the vision. Governments, on the other hand, is the gift of administrations. There are people anointed in the area of administrations who have the gift to help organize and facilitate such a large vision.
16. Releasing Evangelists and Worship
Evangelists will help bring in the harvest. Evangelists need to be connected to apostolic churches. Apostolic churches will be known for the presence of God. There will be a greater liberty and degree of glory in these churches that will affect the spirits of the people.
17. Apostolic Character
An Apostolic culture is a culture of holiness and righteousness.
18. Traits of True Apostles
19. Integrity—Badge of a True Apostle
Integrity is defined as the quality or state of being of sound moral principle; uprightness, honesty, and sincerity.
20. False Apostles
Apostleship is a high calling. There are many today claiming apostleship that do not measure up to the biblical standards of holiness and integrity.
21. Pitfalls of Apostles
Apostles can have strong wills and personalities. Apostles have strong purpose and determination. This gives them the strength to endure opposition and overcome the resistance of the enemy. Apostles, however, must be careful that the enemy does not take advantage of their will and influence them to go forward in areas that God has not sent them.
Apostle and Overseer of Crusaders Ministries, located in Chicago, Illinois, with close to 4,000 in attendance weekly in several locations, John Eckhardt is gifted with a strong apostolic call and has ministered throughout the United States and overseas to more than 40 nations. John founded the IMPACT Network (International Ministries of Prophetic and Apostolic Churches Together) in 1995. Since that time, it has grown to include over 400 churches and ministries in 25 nations. Along with his apostolic responsibilities, John Eckhardt is a sought after international conference speaker, has authored more than 20 books, produces a daily radio broadcast, and his television program Perfecting The Saints is seen weekly throughout the United States on the WORD Network. John Eckhardt resides in the Chicago area with his lovely wife, Wanda, and their five beautiful children.