Moving in the Apostolic: How to Bring the Kingdom of Heaven to Earth

by John Eckhardt

hawk is a symbol of war, representing the militaristic aspect of the apostle’s mantle. Another contemporary definition for hawk is one who demonstrates an actively aggressive or combative attitude. It is a person who favors military force or action in order to carry out a foreign policy. What a symbol for the apostolic!

We must have an aggressive, warlike attitude against the forces of darkness that would attempt to stop us.

the ravenous bird to execute His counsel. These are military generals and commanders who will mobilize the people of God for the fulfillment of God’s purposes. They have an appetite and an authority to execute. For too long the Church has tried to carry out the plan of God while ignoring this vital ministry. We need people who do more than talk and sing; they must do and act. They have the ability to finish and complete the commissions given to them by the Lord.

The hawk moves swiftly; it does not take long to swoop down upon and devour its prey. The apostolic Church must likewise be quick in executing the plans of the Lord. The Church in the book of Acts experienced rapid movement, achieving tremendous breakthroughs in a short period of time.

Large numbers of believers were added to the Church quickly. This is the kind of anointing the Church will need to fulfill the Great Commission. There is much work to be done in a s...

The apostolic revolves around the concept of sending and being sent. God has always been a sending God. He sent Moses into Egypt when He heard the cries of His people in bondage. He continually sent prophets to Israel to warn them of the consequences of their rebellion. He sent John the Baptist to prepare the way of the Lord. He sent His only begotten Son to die for the sins of the world. He sent the Holy Spirit to help us and to be our Comforter.

This is why the Lord encourages us to pray. Every nation needs sent ones. The harvest is plenteous, but the laborers are few. The world needs apostolic laborers to bring in the harvest.

Notice Jesus prayed all night before choosing the Twelve. Again, prayer releases the apostolic. I encourage churches to pray for their cities and nations to release an apostolic spirit into that region. Our local church in Chicago has emphasized all-night prayer to release the apostolic spirit into our region. All-night prayer is a powerful way to release the apostolic spirit.

We need to identify the true apostles in a region. They may not be the ones we would identify; we need to know whom God identifies. A well-known preacher may not be the one. Sometimes those whom God chooses are hidden until prayer releases them.

The Church in the book of Acts was a praying church. They continued to break through in spite of resistance, persecution, even death. They prayed until “the place where they were assembled together was shaken” (Acts 4:31). The result of their praying was an apostolic release of great power and great grace (see verse 33). Signs and wonders were released, and “believers were increasingly added to the Lord” (Acts 5:14).

Apostolic churches are being raised up throughout the earth that will be houses of prayer for all nations (see Isaiah 56:7); then we can ask God for the nations (see Psalm 2:8).

Apostolic prayer is unceasing (see 1 Thessalonians 5:17). It does not rest until the plans and purposes of God are complete. The apostolic ministry is tenacious and relentless in its drive to finish. It does not cease because of resistance or temporary setbacks. It continues to pioneer and break through every barrier until the commission is fulfilled. This is another reason Satan hates and fears this anointing. It is an unstoppable force. It is persistent and patient in spite of trials and tribulations. It is a battering ram against the citadels of darkness.

“Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work’” (John 4:34). Notice those two words—Jesus was sent by the Father, and His desire was to finish His mission. Being sent is connected to finishing.

It will take an apostolic Church to finish the Great Commission.

There was a drive and a determination to finish. This must be the mindset of the Church today. We must have an apostolic mindset; we must be driven and determined to complete the Great Commission.

It is not a season for the fearful and fainthearted but for the boldness of the apostolic anointing to come forth. Apostles boldly challenge the status quo and force change for the better. They are not concerned with changing the Church for the sake of change; they are concerned with the condition of the Church. They are sent to correct things that are not in line with God’s purpose for His Church. The apostolic anointing helps to keep the Church current and relevant with each changing generation, without compromise. Outdated and outmoded ways of ministry must be changed in order to effectively touch each new generation. The spirit of reformation is the spirit of change; it contains the new thing that the Lord is doing in any given era. Reformation blesses and strengthens the Church and keeps the Church moving toward the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Whenever there is a need for reformation, the