FIVE SMOOTH STONES - The Five Ascension Gifts in the Heavenly Shepherds Bag

FIVE SMOOTH STONES — The Five Ascension Gifts in the Heavenly Shepherd’s Bag

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 confirmed 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 little as only one generation, the building will be off 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 ” (Matthew 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), influenced by and directed by the Gift ministries which He gave to the Church, following His blueprint or pattern, 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 find 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- fluence, 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

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