5 Smooth Stones

28:17 may be used an example of how apostles and prophets work together. Isaiah 28:17a “ Also I will make justice the measuring line, And righteousness the plummet;” The apostolic ministry is interested in building and reaching out. Paul said he desired “to preach the gospel in the regions beyond ...” (2 Corinthians 10:16). As the master builder under the Lord the apostle can get too involved in the work and over extend the people. Like the line that is drawn out for the walls of the building, the apostle wants to reach out and build out. The prophet is interested in connecting with the Lord and keeping the people connected to the word of the Lord. An apostle will have a personal relationship with the Lord which deeply encourages him and instructs him on the plans of the Lord for His people and church. However, the prophet will check and correct the relationship with the Lord that the people have, and even the relationship held by the apostle. Peter the apostle had a special relationship with the Lord, however, he sometimes got o ff track in that relationship. More often than not, though, the apostle John, who was also a prophet as well as an apostle, was there to help Peter refocus on the relationship with the Lord. This functions like the plumb line, which hangs down and has the weight on the base, and can be used to check to see that the building is aligning up with heaven. The apostolic checks the horizontal building and the prophetic ministry checks the vertical building. If the apostle is allowed to work separate from the prophet, he is likely to build out and overextend the reach and not the height. If the prophet is allowed to build without the apostolic in fl uence, he is likely to build up to reach heaven, but not go out. Both need to work together in order to build out and up, checking both the outreach and the up reach of what is being built. Prophets are sent to bring a word and apostles are sent to complete a task. Apostles can mobilize the people to the work on what the prophets declare needs completion. When a prophet brings a word his job (as a prophet) may be ful fi lled. It is up to the apostle to consider the word and, if needed, to respond or mobilize a response to a message of the prophet. When a prophet brings the word, (or when any prophecy is given through the gift of prophecy) the word must be judged. “By the mouth of two or three witnesses a ma tt er shall be established” (Deuteronomy 19:15). One place 94