The Apostolic office is truly the first being the last. It was the first office in the new order when Christ came and it is the last to be restored in our times. This is the office that governs and operates in godly wisdom to see God's plans, purposes and processes done on earth. It can be likened to the architect in the building industry. The industry has civil engineers, quantity surveyors, estate planners etc. Whenever anything is to be done according to specifications, all need to put their heads together. The architect is mainly in charge of the design and oversight of construction of the building project. The Apostle is pretty much like that in the building of God’s house. The wisdom to build, the understanding of process and the grace to break into new grounds and territories are seen in the office of the apostle. Wisdom is the signature of the apostolic office. This office carries a great level of impartation. The apostles Paul and Barnabas were used of God to break new ground for the gospel of the Kingdom and they raised leadership in churches by ordaining Elders. See Acts 13-14.

Apostles have grace to nurture others into their destinies. Paul fathered Timothy and Titus and helped others to be all God had ordained for them. The apostolic grace takes a portion of all the others. Apostles are prophetic, as seen in Acts 8 when Apostle Peter discerned the heart of Simon as being full of bitterness. Governmental grace is seen in the apostolic office. This office also calls for maturity to stand in.

The first twelve who saw Jesus' ministry on earth and were eyewitnesses of His compassion stand in a unique apostolic grace and office. The book of acts is a showcase for the apostolic office. Healings, raising the dead, breaking new grounds were common things seen in the book of the Acts of the Apostles. For instance, Peter took the Gospel to the gentiles-the centurion in Acts 10 and the breakthrough believers breaking new grounds in Antioch after they have been imparted by the apostles in Jerusalem in Acts 11. Unusual miracles were done through the lives of the apostles. The bible says that the apostles and prophets were the foundation of the church and Jesus Christ is the Chief Cornerstone, Ephesians 2:20. This means their lives, revelations and teachings should be the foundation upon which the church is built and the Lord Jesus stands as that which is showed off as the Chief Cornerstone.

When the offices are functional, the gifts of the Spirit will no longer be strange phenomena and we can all take our places in the body as we yield to the Spirit of God within His understood boundaries for our operations and functions. God will be glorified as souls are saved, healed and established in the truth. The body will be built as we all supply our parts in the building. The five fold offices are trans-local. That means a teacher in the five-fold office can function as a teacher any where in the Body at large. An elder or deacon does not do that - their work is related to a particular group in a local assembly.

Rev.Kola Ewuosho