5 Smooth Stones

Chapter Seventeen

APOSTLES AND PROPHETS TOGETHER

A postles and prophets are the foundational ministries of the church (Ephesians 2:20). While the foundation of the universal Church was laid by Jesus, and established by his twelve Apostles of the Lamb, each generation of the Church Age must have the foundation re-laid and con fi rmed in order to remain on the Rock that is Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11). Likewise, each new church that is birthed or planted must have the foundation laid upon the same foundation. If the foundations are not laid, missing as li tt le as only one generation, the building will be o ff base and will not be founded upon Christ. Jesus said, “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it” (Ma tt hew 16:18). If the gates of hell seem to be prevailing against a church, it could be because Jesus is not the builder. It is guaranteed that if the foundation and building is done by Jesus through his ministers (we are all called to be ministers of the gospel), in fl uenced by and directed by the Gift ministries which He gave to the church, following His blueprint or pa tt ern, then the church that is built will overcome any obstacle and crush the works of satan. When apostles and prophets work together as teams either in conjunction, in concert or in relay, the church is not only stronger, but other ministries fi nd their place to operate and further able to work at equipping the saints. Where apostles and prophets work together the prophets prophesy with apostolic strategy and function with apostolic patience. When they work together, apostles work with prophetic vision and heavenly insight. When prophets prophesy and there is not apostolic in fl uence, often the timing of the word is miscalculated or the application of the word is misapplied. When apostles build without prophetic insight they often can wear out the people doing the work of the kingdom, and can also make the work more about the building and forget to monitor the relationship of the workers with the Master Builder, the Lord. Apostles are called master builders (1 Corinthians 3:10) from the word architekton, from which we get our English word architect. Isaiah

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