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

killed both a lion and bear. Now lion and bear killing is above and beyond the scope and ability of most young shepherd boys. Chasing away a threat when possible, and running for help when not possible, was considered well within the scope of what any young shepherd could be expected to do. But David was anointed to do more and he used that ability and “caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. ” (1 Samuel 17:35). So when the need was great for a champion to confront the Philistine, David rose to the opportunity and, through the anointing, confronted the new giant. David did not use the armaments and weapons which others had used, although they had worked well. David himself would also use similar weapons later in his career, but on the day he confronted the giant Goliath, he wisely relied upon the anointing to act, and the tools with which he was familiar. David went to the stream and chose five smooth stones.1 Samuel 17:40 “ Then he took his staff in his hand; and he chose for himself five smooth stones from the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag, in a pouch which he had, and his sling was in his hand. And he drew near to the Philistine. ” This is symbolic of the present day ministry of the ascended Christ. After spoiling principalities and powers, through His resurrection, the Lord Jesus ascended into the heavenly realm and sat down in the seat of power and authority. After doing so he began His reign over His Church, and expansion of His Kingdom by giving gifts unto men. Ephesians 4:8 “ Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led cap- tivity captive, And gave gifts to men." 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting. ” The Lord Jesus, our Good Shepherd, has in His shepherd’s bag an assortment of five smooth stones, which He has chosen to use as weapons against the giants of evil. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds and teachers all have a place in the Lord’s armory. Each with differing qualities and strengths used in His timing, and by His

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