Apostolic Christianity: Restoration of the New Testament Church
I. THE LORD’S INVITATION IN CAIRO, EGYPT IN SEPTEMBER 1982
I will change the understanding and expression of Christianity in the earth in one generation.
A. Changing the understanding: speaks of the way unbelievers will perceive the Church. Today, many see the Church as boring,
irrelevant, and non-threatening.
11 So great fear came upon…all who heard these things. 12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done
among the people...13 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. (Acts 5:11-13)
B. Changing the expression: speaks of the way the Church expresses its life together as a people of prayer, walking out Sermon on
the Mount lifestyles in the power of the Spirit.
13 My house shall be called a house of prayer… (Mt. 21:13)
C. God spoke to me about four heart standards necessary for my future life and ministry. They are not the only values necessary in a
New Testament church, but are the most neglected ones. In 1996, God corrected us as a local church, calling us back to these by using
the acronym “IHOP.”
1. Intercession: night and day prayer and worship affects our time
2. Holiness: the Sermon on the Mount lifestyle (Mt. 5-7) affects our thoughts and attitudes
3. Offerings: extravagant giving by living simply to give more to the harvest affects our money
4. Prophetic: confidence in God’s intervention (provision, protection, direction) and standing
boldly in faith for what the Spirit is saying affects our security and identity (most difficult)
II. WHAT IS APOSTOLIC CHRISTIANITY?
A. It is Church-centered: Jesus is building His Church which functions locally as a spiritual family that walks out love and honors all its
members, e.g., gender, age, ethnic, economic, etc. (Mt. 16:18).
B. It functions in God’s power: walks in the demonstration of the Spirit’s power.
C. It embraces wholeheartedness: discipleship as described in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5-7).
D. Its ministries flow from intimacy with God: intimacy with God as our Father and Bridegroom.
E. It possesses a missionary spirit: wins the lost and transforms the seven spheres of society.
F. It embraces persecution: endures the counterattack of the enemy (Col. 1:24; 2 Cor. 11-12).
G. It engages in God’s purpose for Israel: Jewish and Gentile believers as one new man (Eph. 2:15).
H. It prepares forerunner messengers: who will not draw back in fear from declaring the whole counsel of God, which includes
controversial end-time themes (Acts 20:20, 27; 5:20).
I. It is led by the fivefold ministry: God will restore fivefold ministry (Eph. 4:11-13; Rev. 18:20).
J. Overview of the victorious, apostolic Church – (Eph. 4:13; 5:27; Mt. 16:18; 22:37; Jn. 17:21-26; Rev. 19:7; 12:11; 15:2). Fullness of
revival (Rom. 11:25; Rev. 7:9). Victorious Church (Eph. 4:13; 5:27; Mt. 16:18; 22:37; Jn. 17:21-26; Rev. 19:7; 12:11; 15:2). Fullness of the
Gentiles and the salvation of Israel (Rom. 11:25-26). Bridal paradigm (Rev. 22:17; Hos. 2:16; Mt. 22:37; 25:8). Worship and prayer
movement (Lk. 18:7-8; Mt. 21:13; Rev. 5:8; 8:3-5; 22:17, 20; Isa. 62:6-7; Joel 2:12-17, 32; Zech. 12:10). Spirit of power and prophecy and
revelation (Acts 2:17; Jer. 31:9; 23:20; 30:24; 5:4-5; Dan. 11:33-35; 12:3, 10; Rev. 11:3-6; 18:20; Mt. 17:11; Mal. 4:6; Jn. 14:12). Great
Harvest (Mt. 24:14; 28:19; Rev. 7:9; 5:9; 14:6; 15:4; Dan. 7:14, 27).
III. SUMMARY OF THE APOSTOLIC CHURCH: SEVEN PRACTICAL EXPRESSIONS
A. Intimacy: ENERGIZED – through encountering God's beauty and affection for His people.
B. Prophetic: POWER – walks in the demonstration of the Spirit’s power.
C. Outreach: COMPASSION – ministering the love of Jesus to the fatherless, poor, oppressed.
D. Justice: TRANSFORMATION – impacting the seven spheres of society (family, education, government, economy, arts, media, and
religion),
E. End times: URGENCY – proclaiming the coming of Jesus and the unique events related to it.
F. Contending for fullness: VISION – day and night intercession with fasting for an historic breakthrough of the fullness of God’s power
that surpasses the book of Acts.
G. Fasted lifestyle: INTENSITY – Sermon on the Mount lifestyle that includes serving (acts of servanthood), forgiving (blessing
enemies), giving (simple lifestyle), fasting, and praying.