Here Jesus instructs us what we must do. The Church is built on the apostles. Today the apostolic ministry is virtually non-existent and where there are apostles they are mostly not really apostles but people seeking recognition, authority and power. We need to get back to the biblical concept of apostleship.

Jesus gave us five graces, including apostles, which are important to the success of His Church. If we can recognize what apostolic grace does, then we can position ourselves to benefit from it. Just as a pastor imparts pastoral grace and a prophet prophetic grace it stands to reason that an apostle would impart apostolic grace.

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. - Ephesians 4:11-13 NLT

The apostolic releases dominion, which is not preparing a people to leave the earth but to invade, occupy and influence it for Christ. Jesus said, "Occupy until I come. Mobilizing into purpose: Apostolic grace is a mobilizing grace. The apostolic focuses on equipping every believer to do what they are called to do. You can't mobilize what's not prepared. Equipping is only one measure of the five-fold gift function. Where a pastor might focus on identity and purpose, the apostolic takes it to the next level of "mobilizing into purpose." It's not enough to find purpose, one must seize purpose. It wasn't enough for the Israelites to see Canaan, they were required to cross over and "possess the land."

Equipping: Along with the other five-fold gifts the apostolic identifies both spiritual and natural gifts in people and puts them where they need to be. The Church has done a good job of blessing people but the Holy Spirit wants to do more than bless people. He wants to equip them for Spirit-led living. Currently there is a shift from blessing-only focused ministry toward blessing and training people to do what they are called to do. The "one hour of power" model of ministry on Sunday mornings is being challenged. To do more than bless people will require a strong commitment from church leaders, the willingness to place a demand on people to grow, and, in some cases, a complete restructuring of the local church and enter the apostolic dimension of equipping every believer for the work of the ministry, placing them on ministry teams, and sending them out of the local church with specific assignments. The apostolic is preparing people to get out of the sanctuary and into the world. The local church is not just a place of worship it is also a place of blessing, equipping, prophetic instruction, and governing. The apostolic grace, working in humble unity with the other five-fold ascension gifts, is preparing Christians to invade the world with salt and light rather than escape the world.

Apostles don't work alone. Jesus sent them out two by two. Leadership is one of the strongest apostolic dynamics being released into the Body of Christ. Because leadership models the way, the apostolic gift is creating a leadership development culture. We know that everything rises and falls on leadership. We also know that most organizations, including our churches, are weak in leadership and we are desperate to add more. Apostolic grace is spotlighting that weakness, and since the apostolic is relationship based it is requiring us to spend more time on leadership development.

Alignment and accountability go hand in hand. Alignment is the concept of coming alongside, but not over others and is used several times in the New Testament.

He gives us the Grace Gifts to be able to do what He has instructed us to do.

This word equipping is "katartizo" in the Greek and it means "alignment or to put a thing in its proper position". The purpose of the five-fold ministry is to align or position us for the work of the ministry. Alignment increases our authority to function in Christ's kingdom. When we are aligned properly, relationships grow through fellowship and Godly counsel comes from Godly relationships.

So, then each of us will give an account of himself to God. - Romans 14:12 ESV

One day we all have to give an account to God. Rather give an account here on earth and repent, than later when it’s too late.

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbour. For each will have to bear his own load. - Galatians 6:1-5 ESV 

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. - James 5:16 ESV

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. - 1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV 

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. - Proverbs 27:17 ESV

Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching - Hebrews 10:24–25

The Body of Christ is interconnected, and we have a duty to each other to build each other up.

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. - James 5:16

Accountability can be helpful in the battle to overcome sin. An accountability partner can be there to encourage you, rebuke you, teach you, rejoice with you, and weep with you. Every Christian should consider having an accountability partner with whom he or she can pray, talk, confide, and confess. Accountability is voluntarily.

Two are better than one, because there is a good reward for their labour together. For if they fall, then one will help up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has no one to help him up. Also, if two lie down together, then they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm by himself? And if someone might overpower another by himself, two together can withstand him. A threefold cord is not quickly broken. - Eccl. 4:9-12, MEV

Accountability sharpens our lives and keeps us out of error. Accountability is a Biblical concept and much needed in the church today. Accountability is voluntary. Acting with accountability, or the lack of, reveals the issues of our heart.

Godly counsel can keep us moving forward in the Lord. I cherish the counsel I receive from those I trust. They have brought into my life: prophetic words, direction, instruction, affirmation, godly counsel, friendship and correction.