THE APOSTLES AND PROPHETS

January 2004

By Rene Parault

There has been a stirring in my spirit concerning the condition of the church in this season of time.  Again I have stated that many voices are in the land proclaiming many things, but we have to look intently into the reality of things especially in this new year of 2004.

Who is the apostle and what is his function?  First of all, the word apostle means "sent."  In other words, he is one that is sent from God to the people of God or even to heathens to declare God's word. He has been commissioned.  You had better not say you are sent, if you have never had a direct word of the Lord for a function as apostle. 

There have been apostles in the centuries past, and as in the early church the apostles were there to lay the foundation of the church Jesus Christ being the chief corner stone. Eph. 2:19, 20, 21, 22, "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." 

This is what apostle Paul, and also Peter and the others did.  They established the foundations of the church forever.  One of the functions of the apostle is to establish, yes, to establish through the anointing given to him, and to deposit the truths in the Word of God unto a people so that they might grow up into the head, which is Jesus Christ. 

In this day, the function of the apostle is a little different than in the earlier days, because the foundations have already been laid.  The apostle in this day is to bring back the truth of the Word, which has been lost and muddled over the centuries, and in the recovery of the truth of the Word he will also be establishing that truth once more as it was in the early church. 

Remember his function is to establish the Word of God.  But in these days, some lack interest in the Word of God establishing them. In high-mindedness, many think they are established, but are found lacking and find themselves only established in man's traditions, not the true understanding of the Word of God. 

Many do not recognize nor understand that the anointing sets in an order.  The church has long been familiar with the pastor, teacher and evangelist and just now is getting familiar with the prophet.  In fact the prophet is gaining popularity. (Which will be discussed later.) But the church is not familiar with the apostle. 

Establishing the Word of God through the anointing takes a sensitivity and closeness to the Lord Himself.  You will find that the apostle has had an encounter with the Lord Jesus somewhere on his life's path.  The Lord has either appeared to him, called him, spoken to him or filled him, but either of the ways, the apostle has had an encounter with the Lord Jesus.

This is to equip him.  The Lord has imparted the anointing of leadership and understanding and wisdom to him for the sake of the body, and for the maturing of the church. 

The apostle is many times misunderstood because of the lack of understanding of his function, which is through ignorance.  But the word states to set first in the church apostle and then prophet.  "And God hath set in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues."  I Cor. 12:28.  

So we see here that first is the apostle in the church. In the government of the Lord the apostle can prophecy, teach, preach, and evangelize.  But. . .

Foremost, the apostle’s calling is to bring into the church today the order of the Lord through preaching, teaching and expounding of the word for the preparation of the coming of the Lord Jesus.  He is a father figure, a counselor, a spokesman, and man laying down the truths of the word with grace, for the church to understand the virgin truth once more. 

"For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel."  In Cor. 4:15 Jesus Christ was the chief Apostle, and so today, the apostle, as those in the past, must take his direction from "The Chief". 

The apostle in this day is in the battle against the religious minds that oppose the word that would bring back the truths for healing and deliverance. 

Religion has been so steeped into man's mind and soul, that changes to return to the ancient paths seem opposite of many of today's teachings. Yes, the ancient paths from the very beginning of time are the only paths to walk, and the apostle will point and direct the way of the paths and exhort to stay on the paths. 

The Lord Himself says, "I will lift my word up above my name."  So the word of God is to be meditated upon day and night, and through faith and grace to be appropriated into the very heart and soul. "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper."  Psalm 1:1-3.

Do we need apostles?  Yes.  They are coming onto the scene in this day and will take their place as the Lord positions them until we are complete in Christ—yes, mature in Christ.  Without them the church cannot come to maturity. 

One more thing, the apostle of God is very balanced in the Word of God.  In the revelation of the Word there is also balance. 

There are some in the church world today that spiritualize so much, and I would even say fanaticize everything in the word of God saying it is God, when in reality it is not.  Just check the scriptures written from the early church fathers - Peter, James, John, Mark, Matthew, Jude, Paul, Luke etc., and learn from them. 

The Word of God is like a two-edged sword to cut between bone and marrow.  It is to give direction, comfort, wisdom, hope and change.  Not "woo-woo in the clouds spiritualizing" with no direction to it.  Paul warned against things that would profit nothing. All the "woo-woo" teachings do not give you one ounce of growth in Jesus and maturity. 

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn way their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."  II Tim. 4: 3-4.

Paul warned again in the last days about gathering teachers with itching ears — in other words, telling them what they want to hear, but there is no change in their character because there has been no life of the anointing imparted to them through the Word of God — first listened to and then applied to daily living. 

Yes, the Word of God must be applied to our circumstances, trials and tribulations so that it is worked into us through the Holy Spirit by faith and grace.  "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly, in this present world;" Titus 2:12-13. 

Some of God's people today, want to hear revelation and spiritualize continually, and run from place to place to find whoever has the latest revelation — but it profits them nothing.  They are never established in the things of holiness and character formation from the life of Christ.  In other words, they have little character and the same problems.  They are like a boat without a sail on the ocean.  

So —remember— the apostle of today is to bring back the truth of the Word that was lost, so that the church can grow into maturity and the house can be built to completion. And then the Lord shall come!

Who is the prophet?  In today's arena of the church, the prophets have hit the scene.  This is the day of the prophets.  Old ones, young ones, little ones, big ones, they are a dime a dozen, and they are prophesying all over the place.  Whatever you read or see, someone is prophesying and calling themselves prophets. Sad to say, in reality, there are not a lot of true prophets — nor are there prophetic schools to go to learn how to be a prophet. 

A true prophet is called and trained by the Lord Himself.  They also will have had some encounter with the Lord in their path of life to be prepared for their prophetic function.  In other words, they have had a supernatural encounter, a great impact from the realm of the Holy Spirit, a great call placing them into their position of prophet.  They most likely have seen the Lord. Their eyes perceive things in the realm of the Holy Spirit, and it is the perception of the Lord Himself.  They operate in word of knowledge and understanding, and their prophecies will have the character of the Lord. 

If we know the character of the Lord, we know that there is always an element of "grace" in the prophecies.  Their office is a function, not a title. People can have the gift of prophecy, but that surely does not mean that they are prophets.  The true prophet of the Lord is not always a popular figure.  They are very forthright and their anointing will penetrate the inner man. Together, the apostle and prophet will stir things up in the church of today. 

Now let us look at the times we are in.  The church of today is in disarray — she is weak, asleep, lifeless, full of the world, no power, and we could go on.  She is doing business as the world, and full of merchandizing, marketing, but little holiness.  There is fornication, adultery, theft, criticism, backbiting, anger, unforgiveness, etc. Many of the people in the house of the Lord dress like the world, talk like the world, act like the world. 

The music in the house of God is a business in itself, buying and selling along with all the books being written for profit.  Then the Lord sends the prophets to wake up the church through their prophetic utterance to the church. 

The Lord gives the prophet a word to exhort and establish. The prophet will begin to reveal that which has crept into the church and taken her over.  The days of Jeremiah are here — go back and read the accounts.  We here in the United States and the church here are in the same position. 

What would the prophet say?  "Be blessed oh church in your adultery and sins?"  I don't think so.  God does not bless those who call themselves by His name and are in sin. 

The sins, as Bro David Wilkerson wrote in one of the last newsletters, are the sins in the deep regions of the heart.  Many want ministry so badly, and want to be used in ministry, that it becomes a priority in the child of Gods life, and becomes a sin of "covetousness".  There is the sin of "desiring someone else's ministry" for their own.  The sin of "greed", and "jealousy" — yes, for jealousy is the sin that permeates the house of God.  The sin of "unforgiveness." The sin of thinking "success" is holiness.  The sin of "shunning", not speaking to half of the Body of Christ for whatever reasons.  

So, because of the churches state and condition, the Lord sends His prophets.  This is why they are "sent."  The Lord sends them to exhort and warn and call to repentance, and if there is no sign of repenting, then judgment will come. 

To repent means to change your mind. The prophets will warn the nation of her backslidings.  The prophet will proclaim to presidents of countries what they must do for the Lord to change his mind in the midst of sin.  Jeremiah 18:7-10, "At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.  And at that instant I shall speak concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it; if it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.  Therefore now go…"

The Lord gives a directive and then He say, "Go!" 

The Lord sent me to the president of Honduras in 1982 with a word for the nation.  He ushered me into his personal home, and he plugged in the tape recorder, and along with my interpreter the Lord spoke and gave direction to the nation.  The president took the word of the Lord seriously and called the nation into fasting and praying for one day over television.  The Lord moved and touched the nation in that season of time.  

People today flock to the prophets (?) who may give them smooth words with oiled tongues, pat their backs and outstretch their hands for offerings.   So the sheep run to hear "a word".  The true prophet they will come to also, but they may not always like "the word"  And in today's circles of the church, if folks don't get a word, they pout.  But they mostly always will choose the prophet over the apostle of the Word because they don't understand—again I say— the function of the anointing. 

Poor apostles!  The church of today really puts them last, or does not even believe in them, but God will bring them forth in due season.

The prophet's function is to speak from God's heart the state and condition of the church and the nation and encourage repentance to bring forth change and holiness. For without holiness it is impossible to see God.   That is the bottom line.

So dear ones, the two offices of the apostle and prophet united together with the vision and calling of the Lord on their lives will help to bring the church to maturity for the coming of the Lord Jesus.  Amen! 

Let us go on…another short word from the LORD!

BLESSINGS AND CURSES

For in this year — this new season of time of 2004 — there shall be blessings and curses.  Blessings to my own, saith the LORD, who have paid a price for clean hands and a pure heart; who have paid the price of rejection and ridicule even as My own Son.  Surely they have been tried and tested in their actions and in their heart and in their deeds to see if they would be swayed by the world and the words of man. 

I have allowed the testing, for I will allow it saith the Lord, to see if they are sincere in their dealings with Me, saith the Lord, and they are sincere with My Word and handle and receive My Word with respect; and also my servants with respect. 

But the curses shall fall upon the religious, the fault-finders, the war-mongers, the merchants of goods, those I have freely given my spirit to, to bless the corporate body.  But they have made a business out of it and made the body to pay for that which was from ME.  And so I say — curses shall come and many shall cry out to Me asking Me what has happened to their prosperity and their blessing, but then they will have to go back to try and recover what they never received from My Word in the beginning.  Receiving my character through faith and grace. 

So again I say —blessings and curses — I have given much opportunity.  I have given much grace, much Word, many outpourings of My gifts.  But now, the plum-line has dropped and I will establish and show to a people and to the earth that My Own are holy, and desire My Word and My Character and intimacy with Me above all else. 

The proving has been for a long, long time.  None can say they have not heard.  And so be it, saith the Lord.