Apostles understand how critical is the way
we perceive our cities in this hour. Apostles understand that
churches are not placed in a city by chance; An apostolic Church
plant is strategically
positioned by the wisdom of God. Apostles also understand that the
authority and grace to occupy a territory comes from God. As such,
one role of the apostle is to reveal to believers a deeper
perspective of the local church as a place of spiritual
jurisdiction.
When an apostle plants and builds a local church it becomes a place of
spiritual jurisdiction and influence with the power and authority of
God to rule and reign in the territory. Apostolic believers
understand the responsibility to reach that territory and possess a
different orientation of ministry because they fully discern the
overall scope of the local church.
Assigned places of spiritual jurisdiction are called “
metrons,” a
Greek word for measure. The understanding of
metrons is vital to
every believer because it is the believers who are “sent” out (from
the Greek words
apo and
stello) from the local church to occupy
these territories. The apostolic dimension of a local governing
church activates and empowers every believer as a sent-one to invade
and occupy God-given
metrons. Let’s examine an important Scripture
and some key Greek words to study this out:
“For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves
with some that commend themselves: but they measuring (judging)
themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves,
are not wise. But we will not boast of things without our measure,
but according to the measure (
metron) of the rule (
kanon) which God
hath distributed to us, a measure (
metron) to reach even unto you”
(2 Corinthians 10:12-13).
This is a revealing scripture. The Greek word “
metron” means a
portioned-off measure, determined extent, measure, or limit. The
Greek word “kanon” means a rule or line, a fixed space within limits
where one’s power of influence is confined, an assigned province,
one’s sphere of activity, or limit of authority or jurisdiction. A
metron is clearly defined as a measured-out boundary. It can be
likened to a fenced in area (
kanon) of authority or an assigned
territory. This same area (
metron) would also be known as a place of
spiritual jurisdiction and influence assigned to a local church,
person, ministry, apostolic team, etc., by the Holy Spirit.
So a
metron is a target area, a place where one has an assigned
scope of ministry and spiritual influence, a marked-off territory, a
place of focused spiritual and natural activity, a place with
marked-off boundaries, a territory with specific limits of
assignment and responsibilities known as
kanon, or place of
spiritual jurisdiction. Simply stated, your
metron is your place of
ministry assignment and responsibility. You will be the most
effective in ministry when you are planted in your assigned sphere,
or
metron.
Not only does the Holy Spirit assign a metron (ministry assignments)
within specific territories for churches and apostolic believers
(sent-ones) to occupy, He also gives ample grace to back up those
assignments. Grace is the power to advance beyond our own abilities.
Remember, “unto every one of us is given grace according to the
measure (metron) of the gift of Christ” (Ephesians 4:7). Again, this
is a very important verse because we see that God gives us grace
amply sufficient for our territory, or place of our assignment.
Grace, favor, and everything we need to be successful in ministry is
given to us to accomplish our task when we are within our metron. So
when things are hard in ministry, remember that when God assigns you
a ministry task or a ministry territory, He also provides everything
necessary to be successful in accomplishing your mission in your
assigned metron.
The harder the territory, the more grace given. It doesn’t make any
difference how hard the area or the task at hand is. You will find
grace sufficient when you draw near to God. Much difficulty, much
grace. Much hardship, much grace. Much sin, much grace. So how do we
obtain this grace? The answer is through faith and prayer. Scripture
declares, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace,
that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need”
(Hebrews 4:16).
With the apostolic reformation, there will be at least four specific
paradigm changes taking place within local churches. A paradigm is a
model or pattern in which we function. Perhaps one of the most
profound changes is a breaking free from the one-man-only paradigm.
This paradigm requires the church to use all its marketing efforts
and resources to draw people to a building where they are taught by
only one ascension gift. The apostolic model will bring a sending
dimension to the local church. The second change has a powerful
impact on the goal of evangelism, taking it from just getting a
decision for Christ to raising disciples of Christ. Third, there
will be a major shift in the Church from an inward-focus only to an
outward-focus of ministry. Not only will the local church be a place
where people gather together to worship and find refreshing, it will
also be the place where God reveals apostolic strategies and goals;
a place where believers are commissioned and released into ministry.
Finally, various apostolic teams will be built, activated and sent
out into the surrounding city and into the nations of the world.
A true apostolic paradigm is one that gathers, teaches, equips,
assigns, targets, builds, shapes, raises disciples, and deploys
teams. Today, thousands of churches have no apostolic structure in
place to move people beyond a teaching- or pastoring-only structure
into one that sends believers into the harvest fields. This is
changing now in the 21st century apostolic reformation. Emerging
apostolic leaders are embracing these mighty truths as they equip
the believers to fulfill the Great Commission.
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The apostolic dimension activates
and empowers every believer.
