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

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 fulfilled. 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 matter shall be established ” (Deuteronomy 19:15). One place where the judging or discerning of a prophetic word can be mishandled is by how it is judged and by whom. Paul wrote that a prophetic word should be judged by other prophets. 1 Corinthians 14:29 “ Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge .” We have already seen the word translated “other” in this verse is from the Greek word allos meaning of the same kind. When the prophetic word is judged by those with limited or no prophetic intuition often it is rejected out of fear, misunderstanding, and ignorance, even though it is a true word from God. When the apostle judges a word, it may go beyond simply the source of the word and the accuracy of the word and on to application of the word. This may simply call for a response from the people to the message given or it may mean actual mobilization in order to accomplish the word. (See Appendix C) When it came to new doctrines, or new applications of doctrines, it was the apostles that the Lord sent to break the new ground. Even then, the new actions were brought before the council, or gathering of the apostles and elders, to consider and judge the accuracy and application of such new doctrines or understanding of what the Lord had instituted through the apostle. One account where this is seen is the record for Peter and Cornelius the centurion in Acts chapter 10. Cornelius feared God (Jehovah) and prayed to him and gave gener- ously to the needy. In these days Gentiles who connected themselves to Jewish synagogues were called “God Fearers.”

Cornelius had a visitation with an angel who told him to send for Peter who was in Joppa and hiding from the authorities at the time.

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