Greg Crawford

Category: Defining Apostles

  • Comparison of Congregation Verses Apostolic Center

    This was such   good teaching I decidedd to post my notes from listeing to it. May we all gain understanding.

    Comparisons of

    Congregation Church to Apostolic Center

    By Peter Wagner Sept 2012

    The Apostolic reformation is now growing faster than the world population. This movement actually started in Africa around 1900 as churches moved from denominational oversight to independent African Churches. Current Apostolic Kingdom Centers are moving to the forefront to become places of regional impact. Denominational structures are territorial. Apostolic Centers are regional. Apostolic Centers are hubs for other like faith churches and ministries. All things in the following charts are not black and white but are Peter Wagner’s observations of ideals and patterns that have emerged.

    Congregation (typical church)

    Apostolic Center (Ecclesia)

    Name

    Reflects inward dynamic

    Reflects outward dynamic

    Government

    Pastor    – cares for needs

    Apostle – mobilizes people

     

    Elders supervise the pastor

    Final authority a group

    Elders support the Apostle

    Final authority – Apostle

     

    Little authority designated to people

    Large amounts of authority designated   to people.

    Staff

    Pastors and teachers

    Apostle Prophet Pastors teachers evangelist

     

    Pastor Employee

    Apostle lifetime leader

     

    Leadership style is conformity

    Leadership style is creativity

     

    Rules/ followers

    Expression/ risk takers

     

    Tries to not make mistakes

    Plans for mistakes

     

    Mono Task

    Multitask

     

    One speaker

    Many speakers

    Focus

    On the congregation

    On the kingdom

     

    Self and the structure

    People connected with the kingdom

     

    Self centered = small vision

    Kingdom centered = large vision

     

    One mountain forming culture –   religious

    All 7 mountains forming culture

     

    Pastor supports the church

    Center supports the Apostle

    Operation  

    All social expectations must be meet,   worship, prayer, care, etc. This comes natural.

    All social expectations must be meet,   worship, prayer, care, etc. This must be worked at.

     

    Fellowship groups

    Ecclesia, legislative body

    Profile

    More passive and peaceful, weaker

    More aggressive and stronger

    Prayer

    Petition, self needs

    Decreeing and Kingdom needs

     

    Avoid demonic confrontation

    Creates demonic confrontation

    Worship

    Intimacy, bedroom type, loveaholics

    Throne room, productive, workaholics

     

    Planned out, love songs

    Free flowing Throne room songs

     

    Feminine

    Masculine

    Revelation

    Interpret the written word

    Written word and prophecy

    Money

    Maintenance decided by committee

    Advancement decided by apostle

    Training

    Saints trained to fit into program

    Saints trained to find destiny

     

    Jobs assigned by gift

    Gift creates opportunity

    Joining

    By people you meet

    By common vision

     

  • Heartaches of Spiritual Fathering

    This post is for those spiritual fathers who have invested time and life into spiritual sons and daughters. Many of us have had great disappointments and frustrations at times over the low or no return on all that is invested in persons live. There is an expectation, and rightfully so, of a return on the investment. But many times we either do not see it or the return is slow in coming.

    Coming from experience in this area there are several reasons a person does not seem to produce fruit with what we teach or invest. The lack of movement on a son or daughter is not due so much to a father teaching something wrong but what that son or daughter is willing to do with it. Many times we are looking for them, as the hope of a spiritual father, to excel in spiritual dynamics. We need to be realistic and ask if what is asked of them is within their potential? Is it out of their understanding or gifting? Or are they in rebellion or pride etc. Probably more than the lack of fulfillment of seeing sons or daughters excel is the heart ace of abandonment in relationship.

    This has happened to me many times and as a spiritual father it is one of the most gut wrenching things that can happen to you. It is easy to say with words one thing but far different when words have to be backed by actions. In the relationship of those who did walk away I wish I could say they have been restored or the people went on to great things for God. But the majority of the time it is the opposite. I have seen those who walk away go backward in their walk with God. A lose of anointing and even spiritual understand seems to cloud them at times. Some ended up self deceived, while others became a part of worldliness again. When these things occur spiritual fathers reexamine what happened, why it happened and does a self examination of the relationship.

    What we as spiritual fathers must realize is for every 1 that stops process or walks away there are 10 more desiring a chance of investment. Will we continue to mourn for the one when 10 more really want it? Jesus had multitudes following and it came down to 12. Paul had a great following but in the end only a handful stood with him. God always reduces things to what is most precious and valuable. Those that remain, though it seems unlikely, will be the ones to keep all things sustained.

    I will leave you with this encouragement. I have seen some heartfelt repentance from sons and daughters who were at one time connected. Though it took years for God to work things in hearts the relationship was restored. This has to be the greatest joy a Spiritual father can experience as those who are prodigal and self orphaned request to be adopted again in fellowship.

  • Apostles Have Seen the Lord

    All apostles have had an encounter with the Lord that forever changed their life. It actually was a requirement in filling the apostolic role left after Judas died. In Acts 1:21 we see they listed the qualifiers they were looking for and one of them was to be a witness of his Resurrection. They choose Mathias. The others were qualified and probably fulfilled apostolic ministry as well, even though there names are never mentioned again. This ministry and apostleship, as verse 25 stated, required specific qualifiers.This same pattern is seen as Paul on the road to Damascus has an encounter with the risen Lord and is started into apostolic ministry. Paul’s encounter was different and his call was different. He was called to “bear Christ name”. Today I ask two questions to those calling themselves apostles. First what are you apostolicing? Second tell me of the encounter you had with the resurrected Christ that started your apostolic ministry.