What are the Signs of an Apostle?

Fred Herzog answers the question many are asking today. Amid confusion and controversy, this veteran apostle responds with an answer that may surprise many.

Want to discover more about apostles?

Part 1 appeared last week and can be viewed here. The title was The Taxi Driver and the Bishop: the Monumental Importance of the Church. It’s an eye-opener and worth reading in a day some people don’t think church is relevant.

The Quest for the Holy Spirit —

My Second Major Impression

Just before we left Murang’a, we met an Anglican Bishop, the Venerable P. M. Kariuki. The bishop felt badly he was dressed in civilian clothes instead of his clerical collar and garments. He drove a 30 or 40-year-old Toyota pickup. Nothing memorable there, but his words I may never forget.

Kari asked him pointedly, “Do you speak in tongues?” His answer was clear and to the point. “No, that is what we are missing. What we need in Kenya is the Holy Spirit.”

His words beckon us back to Kenya.

God is moving in Kenya. What the established churches are seeking, the newer Pentecostal-type churches are supplying. The Spirit–filled churches are the revivalists and reformers.

The photo above is by Tim Easley on Unsplash

My Third Major Impression

The Need for Unity among Believers

At a pastor’s prayer meeting, Peter the leader said, “Our greatest need is not money. We have great resources in Kenya. What we need is unity.” They are believing God for a neutral place where believers from every Christian denomination can spend hours or days or weeks in prayer and fasting much like the Korean model of Prayer Mountain.

The photo above shows the hands of Pastor Isaac, some church leaders of the Full Gospel Church of Marang’a and my wife’s (Kari’s) hands. (I wasn’t praying–I was snapping the photo.)

The need for unity is great. We experienced the Psalm 133 blessing of unity with Pastor Isaac and other churches in Kenya. Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in
unity. It is like the dew of Hermon coming down upon the mountains of Zion.

Kari and I travelled to the border of (and slightly beyond) Murang’a County to meet with three Catholic priests. What a blessed time! After a tour of the grounds and buildings, we chatted over lunch. Father Kevin, Father Michael and Father Edwin shared their vision of developing parts of their10 acres of church property into agricultural use. They have begun by hiring unemployed workers to prepare the ground and plant garden seeds. Each day the priests pray with the workers, not only providing jobs but also offering spiritual direction.

As Kari and I lunched and prayed with the priests, the Holy Spirit manifestly attended, sealing our oneness in Christ.

Lazarus, come forth! shouted Jesus to the dead man. In the same way the church needs the apostolic ministry to come out of the tombs and come alive. A chief function of an apostle is to bring unity.

Apostles claim new ground for the kingdom by opening new concepts for the church. Jesus words Beloved, let us love one another are having a hard time travelling across denominational lines. Apostles can and must bridge gaps between genuine believers. Praise God for all who are fulfilling this ministry.

Let me issue a clarion call for those who have this ministry. Apostles, come forth! The need for unity is great and awaits your ministry.

Upon return, Pastor Morris marveled and explained. “What you did was historic! This may be the first time in Kenya that Protestants and Catholics have prayed together! I doubt that those priests had ever prayed with Protestants before. This is historic for Kenya!”

Whether historic or not, I don’t know. What I do know is this: Jesus prayed that they may all be one . . . that the world may believe that You sent Me (John17:21).

My Three Greatest Impressions of Kenya from our February Mission Trip (Part 1)

Monumental Importance of the Church

The Taxi Driver and the Bishop

The name “Kenya” Means “God’s Resting Place” It’s a beautiful land resting right on the equator. Her people are warm-hearted and love the United States. Many want to travel here.

In 2016 God spoke to Kari a single word—Muranga. Not knowing what it was, and thinking it might be some kind of ice cream(!), she googled the word and discovered Murang’a exists as a city and county in Kenya.

For 3 years Kari prayed over Murang’a. We travelled there in February 2019 for the purpose of encouraging pastors and strengthening churches, especially smaller churches in rural areas.

I came home with three major impressions.

First, the Monumental Importance of the Church.

Here’s a short background. Kenya has a long history of Christianity. Both Anglicans and Catholics missionized the area as early as the 1800’s. There are 300 pastors in Murang’a County alone. It seems churches are everywhere.

At the same time, the country has a reputation for corruption. We were told it’s first or second of the most corrupt nation on earth. (Worse than Venezuela?) The nation’s major newspaper headlines new scandals day after day. While we were there a billionaire beer dealer was busted. Another day, a well-known soccer goalie was exposed for throwing games.

I asked a taxi driver, “Why is it that Kenya has so many Christians, so many churches, and is still such a corrupt nation?”

“Because the pastors are corrupt,” he answered without a moment’s hesitation. “All the pastors are corrupt.” “What about your pastor? Is he corrupt,” I inquired. “Yes, they’re all corrupt. There is not a single honest pastor in Kenya,” he opined. “They’re all after money.”

Later, I asked a Bishop the same question. He returned a similar answer. “It’s because of the ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­_______________ church,” he claimed. They got here first. They’ve been here a long time and they don’t fear God. Because they don’t fear God, no one else does either.”

So there you have it. From the Bishop to the taxi man, they both pin the corruption in the country to the corruption in the church.

Modern day apostles are God’s chosen instruments to help churches impact culture. Jesus call us to be salt and light in society. Most pastors are gifted in caring for the flock, the individuals and families within the local church. Apostles and prophets are gifted to lead the church outward to reach the city. The monumental importance of the church is also a monumental call for the rise of God-fearing apostles and prophets.

Following a prayer meeting of Spirit-filled pastors, Kari and I encouraged the pastors to take seriously the injunction in 1 Timothy 2:1. The Bible says the number one priority in a gathering of believers is prayer for the government.

“At the Church of the Living Water in Muscatine, we began about 5-6 years ago to begin every worship service with prayer for our government and also for another local church,” we explained.

The leader, an intelligent and articulate man named Peter, got excited. He announced how God was using President Trump to promote Biblical values in the US and Kenya, especially in the pro-life area. “If the other party would have won,” he proclaimed, “it would have been bad for the world.”

We reported how Iowa has elected a God-fearing governor and how God is blessing our state. “Yes, Iowa! It’s one of the states that put Trump over the top!” remarked the leader in excitement.

Another pastor explained a common perception among Kenyans. “If America does it, it seems right to us. Whatever America does, it seems right. So we do it too.”

Upon reflection, I could see the monumental importance of the church. She is greater than we realize! Because of growing, massive intercession in the churches; because pastors are taking a stand and educating people of what the Bible says on social issues; because 81% of evangelical Christians and a majority of Catholics voted for a conservative candidate, a God-fearing culture is rising.

Because the Church became active, socialism was cut off at the knees. Opposition to childhood murder is increasing. Not only in America, but also around the world.

I came away from Kenya with a renewed sense of the monumental importance of the Church, the role of apostles, and how together we impact society.

Parts 2 and 3 of My 3 Major Impressions of Kenya will continue next week.

Communion—God’s Point of Contact

God chose the Eucharist as a point of contact with His people.

Question: Do spirits attach themselves to physical objects?

Did Paul send out handkerchiefs and aprons to the sick and the sick received healing? (Acts 19:11-12)

Did the disciples anoint with oil and heal the sick? (Mark 6:13)

Did the idol Dagon fall on the threshold and his hands were broken off in the presence of the Ark? (1 Sam 5:2-4)

The answer is “Yes” in each of these cases.

In fact, we see numbers of examples in both the New and Old Testaments where spirits indwell physical objects. The greatest example in modern times is when the Holy Spirit fills a believer (Acts 2, Acts 10:44ff and Acts 19:1-6).

Communion is a Point of Contact with the Almighty

During the Eucharist, God sends the Spirit of Christ upon the bun and the wine (or juice). As the believer ingests the elements, the Holy Spirit of Christ touches his life—body, soul and spirit.

Be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18) is the Scriptural mandate for all believers. If we believe the Bible (and we do), we believe spirits indwell physical objects, including humans.

Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ? (1 Cor 10:16)

At the point of contact with the bread and wine (or juice), God gives grace to forgive and receive forgiveness. He gives grace to empower service. His grace anoints. Grace gives healing and wisdom. God pours out heaven’s blessings at this communal point of contact.

Jesus noted at the time He initiated the Eucharist, This is My body, which is given for you. He gave the bread and said given for you. The Savior is not withholding. He is not stingy or like Scrooge; rather, He gives freely, mercifully and readily for the ones who come humbly.

What a wonderful point of contact! What a wonderful Giver! Expect healing!

Communion is a Point of Contact with the Broken Body of Christ

The body Christ refers to is His broken body. When He had given thanks, He broke it [the bread] and said, This is My body which is broken for you (1 Cor 11:26 KJV).

It is the broken, crushed, striped body that brings healing. By His stripes we are healed (1 Peter 2:2). As we linger at the point of contact and meditate in these truths we receive whatever Jesus gives.

Come expectantly. Come in faith. God has chosen to meet us here.