I think there are those who are truly apostles in this day and age but are such, not knowing that God had appointed them to be his apostles. You’ll find them in situations where they are whole hearted servants of Jesus, serving as he served, “washing the feet” of others as it were in a variety of ways. They think nothing of it or may not even know until much later when they had prayed and they discover God has answered their prayer. In their discussions, their church friends would discover that their words and wisdom are reliable and never seem “to fall on the ground”. Their solutions to issues and problems are genius, they might even discover the bug that was fouling up the church office computer. They would never promote themselves via glitzy websites or be all over media and the internet. They would even feel like dying at the thought that someone has plastered their names all over as being some great “apostle for Jesus. They might the odd sort of guy or gal in church that has something special about him or her...he or she has an isolation about them yet they are not unhappy but are known as friends to all. You watch such people at silent prayer or at worship as they sing and contemplate and you realize such people are in a class all by themselves which makes one long to have that same special niche with God...which everyone does but these people are living reminders of that fact.
In doctrinal discussions though about complex Bible issues such persons can just bury you with Biblical based verses(IN CONTEXT NO LESS!) to prove their wise points even though such people may not always remember the precise chapter and verse and will humbly and sheepishly admit it! You discover later when checking that they have cited whole passages of scripture as though the Holy Spirit was speaking directly thru them...which he was! Many such people are in churches all over but they would never think themselves as being a Peter or James or John. Yet I think there are such folks like I’ve described who are in truth apostles or at least operating with apostolic ministry. Apostles have the most influence sometimes by just being quietly present with the Holy Spirit outflowing from such persons to “moderate the room” in an unspeaking sort of way.(driving out demons and filling the air with a breath of God’s Shekinah glory)
I believe there are apostles amongst us but they are mostly unsung, doing by nature what the Holy Spirit has built into them to do in humble manner, often praying prayers deeply, being vexxed by the ills of our society and for the lost souls all around us. Many fast and pray quietly and serve humbly and the Lord who watches in secret shall reward such openly.
These are my own opinions based on observations over the years....
Yes. I think that’s really the case.
As if to confound those who get Pharisaical about the matter, God even used prophetic anointing to stymie King Saul when he sought to capture David.
Then Saul sent messengers to take David. And when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as leader over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied. And when Saul was told, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. Then Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also. Then he also went to Ramah, and came to the great well that is at Sechu. So he asked, and said, “Where are Samuel and David?”
And someone said, “Indeed they are at Naioth in Ramah.” So he went there to Naioth in Ramah. Then the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on and prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. And he also stripped off his clothes and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”
— 1 Samuel 19:20-24
Now, if the LORD God Himself will come upon three separate bands of unanointed men such that they begin to prophesy and are unable not to, and shall likewise fall upon a King of Israel to thwart his efforts, delay, and bring him to naked humiliation...
What do we believe this same God would NOT do for His faithful who call out to Him day and night?
It boggles my mind the legalism I’ve seen and heard; they speak and it’s like listening to a man blind from birth expound on the glory of a rainbow.
But I’m with you: there are true apostles at work among the sheep unbeknownst even to themselves.