Many know that the word "apostle" means "sent one." But just being sent does not mean one is apostle. Men who claim to be apostles based on power ministries are false apostles. Men like Terry Bennett and Kevin Nugent, who are previously real prophets and are graduating up into the office of apostle, are the real thing. Apostles are the most authoritative vessels in the church. Charged with leadership and church government. They are first on this list of the offices of the church:
Ephesians 4:11 New King James Version (NKJV)
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
The qualifications for those whom GOD calls apostles are:
1- receiving personal visitations from Jesus:
1 Corinthians 9:1
Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord?
2- living a life of great humility and suffering for the cross:
1 Corinthians 4:9-13 New King James Version (NKJV)
9 For I think that God has displayed us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, but we are dishonored! 11 To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. 12 And we labor, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; 13 being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.
Some ministers have some Holy Spirit power in their ministries but they do not at all measure up on these last two obvious biblical criteria for being legitimately called apostle. I repeat, according to the BIBLICAL criteria. They may think they are apostles because they lead multiple churches, but that is not a biblical criterion. Or based on:
2 Corinthians 12:12 New King James Version (NKJV)
12 Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.
But if the miracles in these men's ministries were true the signs of a true apostle then their lives would reflect these other criteria too and if they do not then they are not true apostles. There are many like them. Pretenders. These men may operate in the gift of healing or other gifts of the spirit, but that is all. It is just a gift. It does not require real maturity to operate in a gift. Gifts come for free with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
True apostles always emphasize prayer in the house of God. In their governmental leadership of the church they believe and obey what Jesus said:
Isaiah 56:7
Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
Matthew 21:13
And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”
Mark 11:17
Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”
Luke 19:46
saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house is a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”
Steve Pursell, 4/15/20