…he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

Acts 10:10-13

Apostles are special servants that God raises up to minister to many people. An apostle will have a vision to care for other people whom no one can see. Notice the vision that Peter had. He saw many “uneatable” animals but was told to “kill and eat”. This was an outrageous instruction, as Peter could not imagine himself eating so-called unclean animals. God was placing on his heart a vision for the “uneatable”, unreachable, out-of-the-way people who need Jesus Christ. Such is the call of God on anyone who is called to be an apostle.
An apostle is someone who is given a burden for people he does not even know. I may never visit many of the churches I am building. I may never go to the places where we are fighting to build churches. Sometimes people ask me why I go to certain places. It is the most natural thing for an apostle to go from city to city to visit churches and to care for people who live far away.

“Apostle” is not a title that you confer on someone because he has been in the church for a long time. An apostle is someone who is sent to care for many people in many different locations. This is why apostle Paul kept travelling to different cities. An apostle is someone who has flocks in different locations and has to care for them.
If God has called you to be an apostle, you can expect to travel to many places.
Paul said that he would spend and be spent for “others”. A true apostle will give his life and exhaust himself of all strength in order to fulfil his great mission to the forgotten ones of our world.
One of my greatest struggles has been to get people to think about “others”. “Why do we need to go to all these places?”, they say. “Why do you have to build churches in all these towns ? Don’t we have enough problems in our own country?”

“Why Zwedru, Ganta, Gbarnga, Bafata, Buba, Gabu, Macenta, Mamou, Gueckedou, Nzerekore? Why do we have to think about Bo, Kenema, Makeni, Daloa, Gagnoa, Parakuo, Sokode and Kara? What on earth are you doing in Opington, Ziguinchor, Springbok, Thohoyando, Ede, Offa, Umtata and Maputsoe?”
Indeed, most ordinary Christians cannot bring themselves to think about “others”. It is the call of an apostle to remember “others” and drive the church to help them. God has called us to remember “others”! We must go to the ends of the earth.
An apostle is constantly trying to train people to remember “others”. You will notice how Paul loved and trusted Timothy because he cared for “others”. I have many bishops and pastors under me. But my favourite bishops and pastors are those whose minds and hearts are on “others”. Because my vision is “others”I naturally find myself gravitating towards those who naturally care for the lost and forgotten ones.”

“An apostle is very different from a local community pastor. Many ministers basically think about how to minister effectively among the already established churches. They find no difficulty in going to the same people over and over again. They are excited to go to the rich sections of the church whilst the poor and forgotten ones never come to their minds. Such people”

“may have fantastic titles like “Apostle”, “Prophet” and “Bishop” but are actually no higher in rank than a local community pastor. A local community pastor is burdened with his local community, city or region. An apostle is given a vision and a burden for the distant and forgotten ones whom Christ died for. When Peter saw a great sheet come down from heaven with all kinds of animals on it, he was being given the burden of a true apostle.

“I once visited Malta, an island in the Mediterranean Sea where apostle Paul was shipwrecked. The entire island remembers the visit of the apostle two thousand years ago. His short visit to the island has made Christianity the main religion in Malta today.
I have produced below, seven scriptures which demonstrate the calling of an apostle. These scriptures show the vision, the heart and the work of true apostles.
Seven Scriptures and Seven Characteristics of Real Apostles

1. Real apostles are given the vision for “OTHERS”.
And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, what God hath cleansed[…]”

“1. Real apostles are given the vision for “OTHERS”.
And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, what God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven . . .
While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

Acts 10:10-16,19-20

“2. Real apostles have a burden for many “OTHERS”.
Brethren, MY HEART’S DESIRE and prayer to God for Israel IS,THAT THEY MIGHT BE SAVED.

Romans 10:1
For I COULD WISH THAT MYSELF WERE ACCURSED FROM CHRIST FOR MY BRETHREN, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

Romans 9:3-5

3. Real apostles care about many “OTHERS”.

Beside those things that are without, THAT WHICH COMETH UPON ME DAILY, THE CARE OF ALL THE CHURCHES.

2 Corinthians 11:28

4. Real apostles must travel far to attend to “OTHERS”.
And he said unto me, Depart: for I WILL SEND THEE FAR hence unto the Gentiles.

Acts 22:21

5. Real apostles must visit many cities to attend to “OTHERS”.
And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, LET US GO AGAIN AND VISIT OUR BRETHREN IN EVERY CITY where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.

Acts 15:36

6. Real apostles spend and are spent for “OTHERS”.
And I WILL VERY GLADLY SPEND AND BE SPENT FOR YOU; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.

2 Corinthians 12:15

7. Real apostles train people to think about “OTHERS”.
But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will NATURALLY CARE FOR YOUR STATE. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.

Philippians 2:19-21