Moving in the Apostolic

The Apostolic Seal

87

measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation? (2 Cor. 11:23-29). These are the things Paul went through to discharge the duties of the apostolate. Satan did everything to oppose him and keep him from executing the duties of his office. Satan hates and fears this office, because he knows its inherent power and authority. He has tried to blind the Church from a revelation of this office. He has tried, through tradition and unbelief, to blind those called into this office. He knows that once the apostolate is executed, it will mean great destruction to his plans and purposes. Restored for a Purpose The apostolic anointing is a laboring anointing. When Jesus sent out the Twelve, He called them workers (see Matt. 10:10). "Worker" is translated from the same word as "laborers" in Matthew 9:38. It is the Greek word ergates, meaning a toiler. Jesus admonished the Church to pray that He would send forth laborers into the harvest. Remember, send forth is an apostolic term. It takes this kind of laborer to bring in the harvest. Jesus connects apostolic ministry to reaping the harvest. So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you (Joel 2:25).