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

ordained apostles and through them the other ministries were ordained that functioned in the early Church.

The first twelve were called the Apostles of the Lamb and they had special requirements which no other apostle will ever be able to fulfill. (Revelation 21:14). The requirements for the Apostles of the Lamb were discussed when the eleven were seeking to replace Judas, who had taken his own life. Acts 1:21-22 says that one of the twelve had to have been one of Jesus’ disciples and with the others “ all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection .” Many have suggested that Saul of Tarsus, who later was known as Paul the apostle should have been chosen rather than Matthias. However, these requirements disqualified him, as well as any of the other post-Pentecost apostles. Jesus chose to ordain only apostles and allow them to ordain the other ministries after He ascended. Now among the twelve were other ministries also. John the Revelator was most certainly a prophet, and Peter was most certainly an evangelist. The fact is that no one can be only an apostle, but must walk in at least one of the other five in order to manifest his or her ministry. Prophets may prophecy, and evangelists will evangelize, teachers will teach and shepherds will shepherd. But an apostle cannot “apostle,” he must be an apostle and to do this the apostle must manifest his commissioning through one or more of the other ministries. It has already been mentioned that apostles must be able to function in each of the five ministries as the need may arise, to function as mentor and father, to instruct others who are called into the various five ministries. Apostles are “sent ones.” The word its self indicates an ambassador or messenger who is sent. But this is not enough of a definition to delineate the apostolic ministry from the others for proper characterization. Prophets, for instance, also are sent, Luke 11:49 " Therefore the wisdom of God also said, 'I will send them prophets and apostles .. .” Point of fact, any of the five ministries might be sent. The difference between the apostle and prophet is that the apostle is sent to complete a task, while the prophet is sent to deliver a message.

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