Temple Of The Lord

House Of Prayer

Lesson 1: Sent to Build …

5. Signs of an apostle

Paul defended his apostleship not with titles, but with evidence:

  • Fruit: “Are you not my work in the Lord?… you are the seal of my apostleship” (1 Corinthians 9:1–2). Churches, leaders, and lives are built through them.
  • Signs and power: “The signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds” (2 Corinthians 12:12).
  • Perseverance and suffering: Paul listed beatings, shipwrecks, hunger, and danger as marks of his calling (2 Corinthians 11:23–28).
  • A father’s heart: “Though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers” (1 Corinthians 4:15).
  • Sent and confirmed: Paul and Barnabas were set apart by the Holy Spirit and sent out by the church (Acts 13:2–3).

In summary:

  • Apostleship is proven by fruit, not titles.
  • Perseverance and a father’s heart mark true apostles.
  • The call is confirmed by the Spirit and the church.

Practical steps this week

  1. Write down the blueprint God has shown you. What is He calling you to build?
  2. Pray over the territory God has placed on your heart: a city, region, or nation.
  3. Look at your fruit. What has God already built through you?
  4. Talk with a trusted leader about your sense of calling, and ask for their honest view.

Key takeaways

  • An apostle is a sent one with an assignment to build.
  • Jesus builds His Church through apostles as master builders.
  • Apostles have an expansion mindset and take new territory.
  • Their focus reaches cities, regions, and nations.
  • The call is proven by fruit, perseverance, and a father’s heart.

Reflect

  1. What has God shown me to build?
  2. What territory has He placed on my heart?
  3. Is my sense of calling confirmed by fruit and by others, or only by my own desire?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, You are the Apostle of our faith and the Builder of Your Church. Show me Your blueprint and give me the grace to build it. Enlarge my vision beyond myself, and give me a burden for cities and nations. Make me a wise master builder, faithful to lay a foundation that lasts. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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