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The Apostolic and Prophetic Foundation
The church at Corinth was in trouble. They were exhibiting division in their midst instead of expressing the oneness of God. Some said they were of Paul, others were of Apollos, Peter, and so forth. They were clearly elevating men in an unhealthy way.
Whenever we exalt anyone, whether it be ourself or some gifted church leader, we pave the way for jealousy, strife and ambition. Divine order is not necessarily displayed in a group just because everything “runs smoothly.” If jealousy and ambition are in the hearts of those ministering, the assembly is out of order. James had something to say along this line.
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.
(Jas. 3:16 NASB)
At first glance, it might appear that James exaggerated. Jealousy and ambition are a couple of evil things, not every evil thing. However, it is a fact that all the problems in the universe began when Satan jealously rose up to seize God’s throne. From that act has come every evil thing in creation. This spirit must be rooted out of the Church.
Paul sought to build the Lord’s house with wisdom; he longed to see the headship of Christ implemented among God’s people. This was why he emphasized so forcefully to the Corinthians that apostolic planters and waterers of churches are not the ones who make the Church grow. God gives the increase (1 Cor. 3:4 - 7). He had laid an apostolic foundation in their midst and now others were building upon it. But, he said,
...let each one take heed how he builds on it.
Some were building wisely, with gold and precious stones. Others were building with wood and straw. A day of fire was coming and God would test the quality of every man’s work (1 Cor. 3:12 - 13).
Then the apostle described three kinds of people.
“If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward” (1 Cor. 3:14). These individuals built with gold for permanence and were destined for a prize.
Gold, silver and precious stones are rare. They must be sought and then dug from the depths. Today the Lord is calling us to plumb the depths of His person and purpose. The wealth of the Kingdom will not be found in “quickie” times of relationship with Him where we fit Him into our schedule. Instead, we must center our lives around Him. Such a lifestyle will endure the fire of His testings.
“If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire” (1 Cor. 3:15). These were superficial. They built with wood (whatever was laying on the surface).
Today there is so much available to the Christian in the form of books, tapes and teaching materials that it is possible to know a great deal and yet be very shallow in our relationship with the Lord. Then, when the inevitable fire of testing comes, though the believer retains his salvation, he finds that much of what he has invested himself in has been consumed. We must learn this lesson well. These present testings are only a prelude to a day of fire coming upon all who dwell on the earth. God is preparing us now for that day.
This third group sought to destroy God’s house (1 Cor. 3:16 - 17). They exalted men, followed after them, and encouraged others to do the same. This was to the detriment of the preeminence of the Lord among His people, and Paul minced no words concerning such activity.
If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.
(1 Cor. 3:17 NASB)
The word “destroy” could be translated “to corrupt” or “to wither.” Whenever a group (or individual) builds in a sectarian way, exalting themselves, their leader(s) or their doctrine, God will send the judgment of a corrupting influence into their midst, and they will begin to dry up. Mixture will grow in their theology, and dry doctrine will replace the water of life. Today, the spiritual landscape is littered with clear testimony to the accuracy of Paul’s warning. Ecumenism is an insufficient response to the problem of the divided Church. We must repent for exalting men, doctrines and methods of Church growth above Christ.
At the root of such error and division is the sin of pride. God has made very clear the way of escape for any who want out of the present predicament.
Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their own craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”
Very simply, we must repent for thinking we have been so wise in what we have built. This is especially so for those who hold to restoration theology.[14] The more one knows, the more susceptible he is to pride (1 Cor. 8:1). If we do not humble ourselves before the Lord, we will not even notice as He tearfully slips out the door, His precious presence displaced by “Ichabod...the glory is departed” (1 Sam. 4:21).
Then Paul reiterates his main point.
Therefore let no one glory in men.
He goes on to say that all these ministries belonged to the believers and they belonged to Christ and Christ belonged to God (1 Cor. 3:21 - 23). However, Paul did want them to understand the proper way to relate to the apostles.
Let a man so consider us, as servants (Gr. huperetes) of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.
The word above translated as servants (huperetes) could be translated as “under- rowers.” The picture that comes to mind is that of a Roman warship powered by many slaves manning the oars. At the end of the ship was someone in authority who kept them all rowing in unison by beating out a rhythm on a drum. Individual slaves did not just row where or when they felt like it. They had to move in harmony with the one setting the pace.
Apostles are “under-rowers” of Christ. He sets the pace and direction for His ship. They do not have their own agenda, program and plan for local church growth. They are concerned only with moving in unison with Him and the other foundational ministries serving the Church.
The second thing Paul says in 1 Corinthians 4:1 concerning the apostles is that they are stewards of the mysteries of God. Stewardship indicates the responsibility to care for another’s possessions. While God reveals Himself to everyone in the Church, some are called to a unique responsibility of oversight.
It is true that He will come and unveil His presence to all who love Him. This is the basis for body ministry. Jesus will reveal mysteries of His kingdom to all who are humble in heart (Mt. 11:25). However, the apostles (and certainly other overseers as well) bear responsibility to make certain that the purity of God’s truth is preserved as believers share what they perceive God is saying.
The Church today needs the apostolic impartation of Christ. The Lord must raise up in our day apostles who will be faithful to disclose the foundation of Jesus Christ and His purpose. Afterwards, what is shared in local assemblies must be in harmony with that foundation.
When Paul established the church at Corinth, he laid out clear apostolic directives concerning how the church was to function.
Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions as I delivered them to you.
Elders did not simply teach whatever seemed good to them. It had to line up with the apostolic substructure that had been laid at the beginning of their Christian experience.
For a bishop (overseer NASB) must be blameless, as a steward of God...holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
Today, what is taught and ministered in local churches must come into harmony with the heart and purpose of God as He again raises up apostolic ministries to serve His Church. Achieving this will be difficult because of the Church’s confusion concerning what real apostles look like. Lord, give us true apostles in our day - men who long for Your preeminence and who will give their lives to see it implemented.
It is true that fathering a church (laying the foundation for a new church) is an apostolic function. However, this does not mean that all who have fathered churches are apostles. Just as one may prophesy a great deal and yet not be a prophet, so one may start a church without being an apostle. Similarly, one may have pastoral input into the lives of people without being a pastor. Every church should have pastoral, prophetic, evangelistic, apostolic and teaching qualities imparted to her through the gift ministries listed in the fourth chapter of Ephesians. Many will prophesy in the church, but only a few will be prophets. The same holds true for apostles. A man is not necessarily an apostle because he has done some apostolic activity.
Just look across the spiritual landscape in our generation. It can be observed that evangelists, pastors and teachers have fathered churches. Some have concluded that such men must therefore be apostles. It is not necessarily so.
Apostles and prophets have unique ministries with unique characteristics. One main distinctive feature is their insight into the mystery of God’s Son. Notice Paul’s words to the church at Ephesus.
...when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit.
(Eph. 3:4 - 5 NASB)
God revealed the mystery of Christ to apostles and prophets. It is interesting to note that this scripture in Ephesians does not refer to pastors, teachers or evangelists. Of course, that does not depreciate the importance of these ministries or the fact that they have God-given insights, but we must appreciate the importance of apostolic and prophetic ministries if we are to grasp the mystery of Christ.
Much has already been written concerning the ministries of pastor, teacher and evangelist - which are of great significance in the Church. Clearly though, God must bring forth apostles and prophets if the Church is to be restored to the simplicity, purity and power recorded in the book of Acts. There are dimensions in the mystery of Christ that will not be understood without them!
Some have said that because the mystery was revealed to Paul and he wrote it out for us in the Scriptures, we have no need for apostles today. Notice, though, that Paul did not say he understood the whole mystery. He said he had an insight. The mystery was revealed to apostles (plural) and prophets (plural).
Notice also that Paul did not say that the mystery of Christ was only revealed to those apostles who wrote the inerrant Scripture. Paul needed Apollos, Agabus, Silas and Barnabas and their insights concerning the mystery of Christ. The early Church needed all these men and others as well for the revelation of Christ to be more fully made known in their midst.
Some would say that because the full revelation of Christ was given to those who wrote the Bible, no further revelation of the Son is available to the Church in our day. We can only gain illumination of the full revelation that they received. This thought is stated to undergird the truth that the canon of Scripture is now closed (i.e., no new books are to be added to the Bible).
While it is true that the canon is closed, the idea that God has nothing further to reveal concerning His Son than what is recorded in the Scripture is questionable. Simply stated, God is bigger than the book He wrote! The Bible itself states that it gives but a partial picture of Jesus’ earthly ministry.
And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.
If the Bible contains only limited content concerning Jesus’ earthly life, how much more is it true that the Scriptures give only a partial (though inerrant) picture of God in His eternal habitation?! God has much to reveal about Himself through dreams, visions, prophetic insights, etc. All these further revelations must line up with Scripture (God will never contradict Himself); and they will be imperfect, for we know and prophesy in part. Therefore, they are not on the same plane as the Bible. However, they are a necessary part of our arsenal to help us grow up spiritually and overcome the enemy’s attacks.
This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare.
Personal prophetic ministry is biblical, and it does bring further revelation concerning God and His purpose for our lives. Jesus did not say that His leaving was to our advantage so that He could then send us the Bible, but so that He could send us the Holy Spirit (Jn. 16:7)[15] God has sent His Spirit for the express purpose of revealing His Son in the earth.
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
We must have the spoken prophetic word as well as the inerrant written word if we would know the Son as God intends.
Some people, out of fear of deception, have found safety solely in the Scriptures, to the neglect of an intimate relationship with Christ. The Bible has become their fortress of defense against the many confusing winds of doctrine blowing across the land. Yet the Bible itself tells us that God Himself is to be our refuge and stronghold (Ps. 46:1; 62:6 - 8). While the Bible is indeed an essential tool for knowing Him, it must not become a substitute for a living experiential relationship with the One who wrote it!
Suppose God spoke a clear prophetic word concerning what His intentions are for America over the next twenty years. Such a word would have to be evaluated through prayer, diligent study of the Scripture and confirmation through other prophets in the Church. But we must not close our minds to such an interaction with the Lord simply because of a fear that we might be led astray.
Our safety is not found solely in the fact that we have the Bible with which to appraise our subjective spiritual experiences. We also have the indwelling Holy Spirit who was given to lead us into all truth. Our confidence is not only in the Scriptures, but in the One who wrote them and who now lives in our hearts!
Today, we must have restored to the Church foundational men who have anointed insight into the person of Christ. There are some today who insist that the foundation of apostles and prophets was laid through the writing of both the Old and New Testaments. Since the Old Testament was written primarily by prophets and the New Testament by apostles, we now have no more need for these ministries. Again, notice that Paul said that God has now revealed the mystery of Christ to His holy apostles and prophets. He is referring to New Testament prophets. Men like Agabus, Judas and Silas (Acts 15:32; 21:10) contributed in a foundational way as they unveiled insights into the person of Jesus in the midst of the congregations.
This type of activity must now occur as well in our day when believers gather together desiring to live in harmony with the biblical accounts of normal Christianity. If God is restoring prophets to the Church, what do they look like? How do they function in the church? And what exactly is a prophet? In the next chapters we will look at these questions.
Lord, bring forth a great company of apostles and prophets in these days. Unveil to us the mystery of Christ in dynamic brilliant glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
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