All foundations start with two people. The Visionary and the Carpenter. One to see it and another to build it. The Bible tells us in Ephesians that everyone is a member of the fellowship, or in other words the household of Christ which is "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. Ephesians 2:20 NIV Look at you neighbor and say "you can't build by yourself !"
This biblical exert lets us know that, in order for God to establish his church He used the function or the office of the Prophet and Apostle. Hand in hand, the two position worked together to build that which we recognize as the church, the Body of Christ and a church. However, often times if you visit many churches in our generation, those two position have been replace by the office or function of the pastor. The function of the pastor is not less valuable or least amongst the five fold ministry. Nevertheless, it is my personal belief due to the impression of the Holy Spirit that the position of the priest has be exalted and abused. Positioned at the head of most modern churches is the senior pastor, he is the commander and chief. Not to say this is a bad thing but I disagree. As Moses was commanded to be the Prophet over the people, Aaron was placed as High Priest or in other words Senior Pastor over the people. When God began to establish his people with proper government, He says Moses will remain in the office of the Prophet, secluded and vision driven. While His brother Aaron would be the forerunner, actively performing the spoken commands and mission driven. Habakkuk 2:2 says “And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” If God is indeed the same yesterday, today and forever more than His government over his people starts with a prophet. It’s the job of the prophet to tell the story, or in other story write the vision spoken but God. The call to the apostle was to be the echo or the pastor over the message and ministry of Jesus. The word pastor is found once in the old testament, and is often referenced to as the priestly position. Priest have always been found in the temple since the days of Aaron and His son. However, it is the Prophet’s that has had frequent conflict with the government, whether their own nation or another. Prophets have often died due to murder, yet there words have live long to proclaim global phenomenons. Many times assassinated for their boldness of truth, prophetic voices are in every spiritual practice. Jesus being the greatest Prophet of all times brought a message of unyielding salvation for all. Our bible talks of how Jesus asked his disciples who do men think or say he is? Their reply was Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the Prophet from before. This informs us that although that may not process the same faith as we do, they recognize a Prophet from his life and abilities.
With Jesus being the ultimate prophet, he paved a way for many more such as Elijah Muhammad, Martin Luther King Jr., William Shakespeare, and many more. Yet the foundation of the church has been laid by the preceding more ancient prophets. Then the apostle are commissioned by Jesus. In order to have a successful foundation you must have a Prophet to see the vision and the Apostle to mature the vision. It was the prophets that wrote the scriptures that led Jesus and the Apostle. Therefore the apostle can only be commissioned by a prophet. Two head can’t rule one body but two eyes on one head can help the body walk better. The combination of the Prophet and Apostle lays the foundation for the body to ease walk on. While one plants, the other water and then God multiples.
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