Apostles are Revivalists

I believe that what is commonly called the Lord’s Prayer should actually be called the Apostle’s Prayer, not the Lord’s Prayer. I’ve said this from the pulpit a number of times, and the reason is that Jesus never sinned. The prayer states, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Why would that be the Lord’s Prayer when He never sinned?

Let’s look at the context of the prayer. The apostles asked Jesus to teach them to pray like He prayed (see Luke 11:1). Jesus said, “Here is how I want you to pray.”

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Luke 11:2).

That’s important. When Jesus prays, “Your kingdom come,” He is saying that whatever is in Heaven, I want you to see it here on earth.

So, what’s in Heaven? This is the basic job description for the apostle.

So, what’s in Heaven? This is the basic job description for the apostle.

1. Evangelize the Lost: There is no one lost in Heaven. Thus, apostles must focus on saving souls. That is foundational and fundamental for fulfilling the Great Commission. We want to see people born again and baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
2. Develop Believers: We want people to be discipled and mature and Christlike. We’re going to be constantly learning even when we get to Heaven. Only God is all-knowing.
3. Cast out Demons: There’s no one demonized in Heaven. Jesus gave His disciples authority over unclean spirits to cast them out and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness (see Matt. 10:1). Thus, apostles are to cast out demons here on earth.
4. Heal the Sick: There’s no one sick in Heaven, so we’re to heal the sick.
5. Preach Good News: And we must preach good news. There’s no bad news in Heaven. That’s why it is called the good news of the Kingdom.

When Jesus sent His twelve disciples out, He gave them specific instructions: “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give” (Matt. 10:7-8).

He also commanded them: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt. 10:5-6).

Paul repeated this over and over again—the gospel is for the Jew first and then the Gentile. Jesus gave the same directive: “I want you to go to the Jew first, the lost sheep. Don’t go to the Gentiles. They’ll come later on. But I want you to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

There’s a lot I could say on that because I do believe the gospel of the Kingdom started in Jerusalem. We are taking it around the world, going through the West, but it’s going to end up in Jerusalem again.

Preaching the gospel of the Kingdom, healing the sick, casting out demons, and advancing the Kingdom. What we consider the job description of revivalists in my Charismatic tradition is really the job description of apostles. Apostles are first revivalists.