What does it look like for true unity of APEST?

We know the word apostle is a function not a title; so is the word prophet. A true apostle or prophet carry heaven’s governmental authority. The title does not make the person an apostle or prophet. The calling from God invites a person into that functional sphere. Do we want God’s kingdom to come and His plan enough that we can recognize and make room for the gifting we haven’t seen function very much amongst us?

We have finally become a little more comfortable, and made room, for the prophets—as long as they keep speaking positively about our labor in the Lord. The pastors and teachers we know because they have been the primary people leading the churches, and there has been nurture, knowledge and church migration, but not a reaching of the broader culture, and we welcome the evangelists as long as they are serving our thing and funneling the people into “our” church but what about the apostles ? Are they only seen as those who are to “plant our churches” in the same fashion as we’ve always seen ? I say, no. I say the apostolic function is to make headway into territories where the gospel hasn’t gone before with new methodologies that it will require to establish God’s rule and reign there. I’m sure all the graces can feel in similar ways. How will we see his kingdom come in the greater measure if we won’t make room for the true functions to labor together ?

This is the first step, in my opinion, to live into this unity of the Spirit: To understand those who labor amongst us, and to make room for each other by preferring one another above ourselves (including those of us who are newly functioning and moving into these graces), and then to function together as God has asked. This is our work before us. As we do this, others will grow up into the new thing.

The calling is not a calling card to be seen. It’s an invitation from God to apprehend something far greater than we in our own selves could do. It’s a call to death, death to my right to live life as I desire to live it. And it’s not a one time death to self, it’s ever evolving into a greater and greater takeover, complete yieldedness to God, His Word, voice, character etc. Ultimately it’s best said, be possessed by God/one with Him. Paul said In Phillipians 3 that he pressed on to apprehend that for which he was apprehended. True intimacy.

What will it take to De-Centralize the body while having them function in unity ? Can a replicable, organic expression of The Way be truly lived into as we De-Professionalize the church to go into all the world as sons and daughters ? Can a De-Institutionalized everything begin to thrive as believers decide to live in true community and have all things in common? Will believers be willing to come away from the corporate leadership model to grow up into taking personal responsibility for the world around them instead of relying on the systems ? To bring the gospel into ALL the world… this is my heart’s cry. I see a twinkling of it and it encourages me.

”Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things. I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me. That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church. Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?“
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬-‭21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

And

Ephesians 4: 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.