The Opportunity of the 21st-Century Apostolic

Esther's heart was racing as she stood in front of the mirror. She was about to make her unbidden entrance into the inner court of the king's house. It was the third and final day of the fast observed y the Jews, and she was putting on her royal attire. As the Queen prepared herself, the words of Mordecai echoed in her mind. "Esther, don't think that because you are in the palace you will escape when all the other Jews are killed. If you don't do anything at this time, God will deliver his people in another way, but your relatives will die. Who knows, perhaps you were put into the kingdom for such a time as this."

With one last look, she whispered a prayer, "God, this is my time, you have called me for this hour, and I’m taking the opportunity. I believe you will be with me."

Esther had been chosen for service in that timeline. God saw her effectiveness in that timeline. Just as Esther, we have all been called to this time for a purpose. God has a work in this time that only we can accomplish. It is specific to the time we are living in. He did not place us in any other timeline, but He chose to allow all of us to work in the 21st-century.

Let me say this, I REFUSE to believe Satan's lie that the best days of the Apostolic Church are behind us. No! We can see things that we've always wanted to see. Holy Ghost infillings, healings, deliverances, and breakthroughs are still happening. There is an unprecedented revival in these end-time hours, and the 21st-century Apostolic has an opportunity to facilitate that revival!

“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen." ~ Mark 16:17-20

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:" ~ Acts 2:17-18

These opportunities can present themselves in a myriad of ways. We claim that we don't want to miss this "great opportunity." I wonder if too often we refuse to take the opportunity.

God chose us to do a work for Him. This work must be done effectively, and the Gospel must be communicated clearly and proficiently. Herein lies the significance of being placed in this timeline. God has given us the availability of tools to accomplish the work. Apostolics in the 21st-century have more tools at our disposal than we have ever had. We have things that can work to our advantage that we haven't had before. The question is, are we harnessing the power of these tools, or are we still trying to reach a digital world by only using analog tactics?

Let us, for a moment, view where Jesus and the Apostles went to reach their world. Jesus made it a priority to take the message of the Kingdom beyond the walls of the synagogue. He traveled from city to city and village to village, preaching wherever people were gathered. It was said of Him that He taught in the streets, among the common people, in the flow of everyday life. He taught on hillsides, in open spaces where the multitudes could hear Him. He was present in the marketplaces, where the sick were brought to be healed. This engaged those in need right where they lived and worked. Even when He taught in the temple, it was in the bustling public space of the outer court. It would be filled with conversation, culture, and crowds.

“And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God…” ~ Luke 8:1

“Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.” ~ Luke 13:26

“And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: and he opened his mouth, and taught them…” ~ Matthew 5:1–2

“…they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment…” ~ Mark 6:56

“Jesus cried in the temple as he taught…” ~ John 7:28

“Early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.” ~ John 8:2

The Apostles followed that same example. On the Day of Pentecost, Peter didn’t preach in a synagogue, he preached in the open streets of Jerusalem, to a crowd from every nation under heaven. He would preach again in Solomon’s Porch, a public area in the temple courts that served as a common gathering place. Every day they were in the temple and in "every house" teaching and preaching. Paul continued this pattern throughout his ministry, meeting people by the riverside in Philippi, where prayer was customarily made. He would teach daily in the marketplace (agora) of Athens. This was an open center of civic life and conversation. He also taught “publicly, and from house to house”.

“All the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.” ~ Acts 3:11

“And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” ~ Acts 5:42

“And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a riverside, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.” ~ Acts 16:13

“Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market dailywith them that met with him.” ~ Acts 17:17

“I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house.” ~ Acts 20:20

Jesus Christ and the 1st-century Apostolics understood they had to take this message to where the people were. The marketplace, the temple, Solomon's porch, into homes, their focus was to get the message in front of people. If this was their focus, we must make this our focus. This salvific message must be broadcast in the hub of culture and commerce. This requires involvement in the digital world.

Today's marketplace is digital. Only in the 21st-century can you instantaneously connect with someone across the globe. Our world is more connected now than it has ever been, and to leave this digital world untouched by the Gospel is to refuse to utilize tools that God has given us. We use technology to assist us in every part of our life. We use GPS, Amazon, online delivery services, music subscriptions, podcasts, on and on I could go. Why not use it in advancing the Kingdom of God? Using technology to our advantage but not for the Kingdom seems to be self-serving. We can partake but we can't participate. I would dare say if these tools were available to the Apostles they would have utilized them to spread the Gospel.

We would be foolish to not acknowledge the evil that is present in the digital world. However, I believe we are irresponsible to sit back and allow Satan to have it. We are allowing souls to be influenced by the negativity that is filling their digital lives. If that is our approach, we can't go to the grocery store because of the evil present on the shelves. We can't knock doors for fear of the prince of the power of the air. Our light must shine brightly! Not under a bushel but in a candlestick.

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." ~ Matthew 5:14-16

By no means am I suggesting we forgo our spiritual convictions on separation from the world. The elders had it right when they took a stance against television and Hollywood. I believe that is evident. We are not conforming to the world. We are reaching our world. Neither am I endeavoring to replace physical connection. Physical, face-to-face connections still matter. There is no substitute for teaching a home Bible study across the dinner table, witnessing to someone in the grocery store, or building trust through personal relationship. But we cannot ignore the fact that many people are looking for us online long before they ever meet us in person. Before they step into a service, they’re scrolling. Before they attend a Bible study, they’re searching. If we’re not present in that digital space, we may be missing the very moment they were open to the Gospel. They will hear a voice, and it must be ours.

We cannot ignore the fact that we have been called for this time to reach this present world. We are doing ourselves a disservice to not utilize the tools at our disposal. The message does not change, but the methods will. I’m thankful for the great stories of the brush arbor days, but we are not living there anymore. No longer are we having church without PA systems or air conditioning; the methods have changed. We must take the opportunity before us to reach our world. Unprecedented opportunities await, what will we do with them?

Take the opportunity presented to you today. Post the truth, share the Gospel, witness in the digital world. Shine your light!