The final session of the Apostolic Summit was the Sunday morning church service. These are always joyful times as we join the Peace Church to celebrate what God has done for us n Christ.

I have been to over 20 Summits and I think that this was the most joyful and peaceful of them all. I think there is a maturity in the movement now, and it feels solid, but not heavy.

A special visitor to this year’s Summit was Pastor Suresh and his will Jonthi from Hyderabad in India. I visited them some years ago and have maintained a friendship since then.

Another special visitor was our very own Evelyn who brought her family along with her.

After this session, some of us moved on to the Sons’ Retreat, a day and a half of more informal sharing and encouragement.

John Alley encouraged us to get a higher vision of our calling as followers of Jesus.

Two important ideas

1. Christ has an inheritance.
2. Trinity indwelling one another. Perichoresis.

Shared life of Trinity dwells in us. This is an extraordinary salvation. We are not simply saved to a better life.

“No eye has seen no ear has heard what God has prepared for us.” 1 Cor 2:19

This oneness with God is our inheritance

What is Christ’s inheritance? People!
Revelation 7…a great multitude no one can number. An eternal relationship.

John 17. “Father make them one as you and I are one.”
V. 9. All mine are yours.

We are called to something special… Unity with the Lord and each other, the same unity that Father, Son and Holy Spirit have.

The Saturday evening session of The Summit was particularly joyful. It seemed that we reached a higher level of praise and worship.

John Alley taught about Bold Apostolic Prayer

Praying bold apostolic prayers

The Son of Man has authority on earth.

As Christians we also have authority.

The word of God has power, and our words have power too. We need to find a higher level of power.

We must pray things through. Every believer can get a miracle. You have to persevere to get the outcome.

We need to ask but we also move beyond.

Matk 11:14. When you pray believe you have already received, and it will be done for you.

In the beginning simple prayers work for us. As we mature we have to learn to command or declare. This is growth in faith.

God meets us more than half way. He will sometimes grant requests even if we feel that we have no faith.

The power ingredient is choosing to believe God.

Two stages:

1. Ask. More specific the better. Explain to the Lord why you need it. Make sure your heart is clean before the Lord
2. Set your heart to believe. Say “Lord I believe” even if you don’t feel like you have any faith. Declare you believe and thank Him for answering already.

You will be in a better place if you are rejoicing in the Lord as opposed to focusing on anguished requests.

Higher level is to thank God for the answer without even asking.

Don’t pray “if” prayers. Open the door through declaration prayers. “Lord you have a purpose and I declare that doors will open for me” etc.

We sense what ought to be and declare that it will be done. It is OK to make mistakes as long as you persevere and search for the grace for breakthroughs.

In all the gospels where there are miracles, Jesus never prayed a prayer. Half the time He didn’t even give a command.

Peter and Paul healed without prayer.

If you learn to grow in the authority of Christ you can say to a mountain and don’t doubt, it will be done. You can give a simple command and it will be done.

Today is John Alley’s birthday. As befits the occasion, he was required to extinguish a candle and insert a knife into a cake.

In Session 6, John talked about 1 Corinthians 9 and the references Paul makes to the requirement for the church to support its ministers.

1 Corinthians 9:27
[27] No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. (NIV)

Need to discipline our bodies to be faithful to Christ.

1 Corinthians 9 starts with Paul’s claim to be an apostle. Even if others don’t accept him, he is an apostle to the Corinthians.

Vs. 3-6. He and Barnabas have the right to eat and drink.

Vs. 7-9. Nobody serves in the army or tends a flock at his own expense. The law says you cannot muzzle the ox when it treads the grain. It’s not about animal welfare.

Vs. 10-12. Ox is symbol of ministers.. they carry a heavy burden. 5 -fold If we sow spiritual thinks, should we not reap material things? There is a right for support, but we do not claim anything that might put an obstacle in the way of the gospel.

Normally John expects an offering when he ministers in rich countries, but if there is no offering he does not make any demands. He knows that the Lord provides every need.

Vs. 13-14. The priests in the temple get food from the temple, and those who preach the gospel should get their living from the gospel.

When you do things God’s way, giving of yourself, he pays the bills.

Vs. 15-19. He does the work willingly for reward. He preaches free of charge so that there is a reward in the call. It is not necessity, but a free offering.

V. 25. Athletes run for a perishable crown, but we discipline ourselves for the sake of an eternal reward.

Marren is one of the special characters at Peace Church. She overflows with love and has a laugh that can be heard across the ocean.

In Session 5, David Alley talked about Unity in the Church

The unity of the Church.

Why do Christians have such little regard for each other?
Transformation videos… stories of revival all underlined the power of unity and love between pastors.

Jesus commands us to love one another. Disciples were together with Jesus for 3 years but didn’t get it. Being together physically does not bring real unity.

Unity is about loving one another not just about getting together.

As he fasted and prayed for people in Mt Morgan he found that God had changed him.

Ministers Fellowships need authentic love among the clergy.

For pastors, be friendly and don’t talk about what you are doing. Listen rather than talking.

Rockhampton churches did a survey. They asked what each church does socially. Costed at minimum wage, they contribute $13 million per year.

Acts 10. If Peter went to the house of a Gentile, surely we can overlook differences between churches.