1st Let’s look at scriptural in Building a Healthy Apostolic Church – Antioch Model
Part 1. Is 45:1 Cyrus was prophesied 150 years before Israel needed deliverance.
Israel was not even in bondage yet and God had a deliverer already planned
Dan. 5 Daniel realized the prophecy of 70 years was fulfilled and he had a legal right to pray and intercede to see deliverance accomplished.
Darius and Cyrus partnered together to defeat Babylon.
Ezra 1 Cyrus was king of Persia.
Ezra 1:2 Cyrus was to build a house for the Lord
Jesus is building a church for the Father.
Matthew 16:18
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Church = ekklesia { ek-klay-see’-ah}
a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly
an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting
Root word to
command or order
To the Greeks, it meant – – called to form a legislative body from the general population to govern the land
To the Romans, the word meant – – Military term meaning a military task force to make newly conquered territory look like the empire of Rome.
The Greek and Roman descriptions and actions with the word “ekklesia” is Apostolic language. It is what Jesus truly desired to see fulfilled and is what He is going to build.
Part 2. Antioch concept of Church Building
Antioch Background
It ranked third, after Rome and Alexandria, in point of importance, of the cities of the Roman Empire.
- Population of 3-500,000
- It was the great central point where missionaries to the Gentiles were sent forth.
- Nicolas, one of the seven ‘deacons’ of Acts 6:5, was of Antioch, and had been a Gentile convert to Judaism. During the persecution which followed the death of Stephen, some of the disciples went as far north as Antioch (Acts 11:19)
- The disciples were first called ‘Christians’ there. (Acts 11:26)
- Paul began and ended his second missionary journey at Antioch. This notable city also saw the start of his third missionary visitation.
Battling Anointing is always to release a Building anointing!
2 Timothy 3:11
11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
Acts 11:19
19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.
Antioch was formed from persecution to reach Gentile believers.
Antioch churches have breakthrough believers.
Break through: Culture
Limitations
Fear of men
Human limitations
Antioch had cross-cultural leaders with multiplicity of leadership as a team.
Acts 11:25-26
25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: 26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.
Teaching was by systematic truth
- Impartation into the lives of the people
- Embraced outside instruction
- Radical lifestyle reflected by the calling of the name “Christian”
Acts 11:27-30
27 And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. 28 And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar. 29 Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea: 30 Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.
Antioch allowed the Spirit of God to have first place.
- The gifts of the Spirit flowed and brought direction and set values.
- Antioch became a center for resource because the Spirit of God directed their actions.
- Antioch was a forerunner sending relief a year in advance.
Antioch was made up of a cross section of society. Even in Acts 6:5 someone from Antioch was in Jerusalem as one of the seven faithful to wait tables. Acts 13:1