5 Smooth Stones

The purpose of the ascension gifts is to equip or perfect the saints to do works of service, or ministry. The length of time these ministries will be with the church, whether they are recognized or not, is also mentioned by the apostle Paul in his le tt er to the Ephesian church when he stated that we would have, as well as need, these ministries in the church until we are a perfect man, or perfect body. So anyone who would argue that the time has passed for any or all of these ministries would likewise need to argue that the body of Christ has become perfect and a tt ained the full stature of Christ. Ephesians 4:12 “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;” So when it comes to the ascension gift of the prophet ministry it has its part in directing the building up of the body of Christ. Each of the fi ve has a necessary part that it plays in the perfecting of the body of Christ. The apostolic and prophetic are not only foundational, but also help to direct the building process. Each has its part in directing the work of the church, the apostolic generally is called to direct the “out-reach” and expansion of the building of the church and the prophetic is called to direct the “up-reach” and spiritual relationship and well-being of the church. We can see a representation of how the two work together and why they are both so needed in the directing of the church in Isaiah 28:17: “Also I will make justice the measuring line, And righteousness the plummet ...” The apostolic is like the standard, or ruler, measuring outward, and the prophetic is like the plum bob measuring how things measure up from earth to heaven. If one is used and not the other things will be built out of alignment. Just as a wall that is built with only a tape measure will probably not be level, likewise the builder who uses a plum but not a ruler will have straight walls that go up and up, but will not expand very far. We are called to “go out into all the world” but also to “make disciples, teaching them to obey.” If we teach people to hear the Lord, but never take the word out, we have not obeyed the Great Commission. Just the same, if we go out, but do not discipline the new followers to the teachings of Christ, including hearing His voice, we have also not obeyed. Both are required and the prophetic has its part in direction for the church. There also is the part required of the prophetic to clearly direct the body through the revelatory word of God. It must be understood that there 86