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

based on the letter and not the spirit could be avoided if the prophetic gift was allowed to complement the teaching gift.

In Antioch the fivefold ministries that were present came together under the covering of the Lord and through this action birthed the next generation of apostles. It is possible that the gift was already identified in these men. Barnabas was sent down to Antioch by the apostles to accomplish apostolic work under their oversight, and Paul was recognized for his training under the Law and certainly the Church was relieved that he no longer was persecuting them (Acts 9:31). He had met with some of the apostles in Jerusalem after his conversion (Acts 9:37, Galatians 1:18, 19) and was working with Barnabas to strengthen the Church in Antioch. These apostles were sent out from Antioch to take the gospel of the Kingdom to the Synagogues, rulers, God-fearers (proselytes) and Gentiles living in cities wherever they went. ENDNOTES: 42 The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®). ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. 43 When Jesus came on the scene in public ministry he was preaching the Kingdom of God. He said, “ The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached.. .” (Luke 16:16). History and the Bible record the amazing effect that His preaching had wherever He went. “ The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them .” (Matthew 11:5). The Jewish historian Flavius Josephus wrote, “ About this time lived Jesus, a wise man, if indeed one ought to call him a man. For he was the achiever of extraordinary deeds and was a teacher of those who accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks. He was the Messiah .” (Antiquities 18:63) The Arabic translation of this section says “ And those who had become his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported that he had appeared to them after his crucifixion and that he was alive; accordingly, he was perhaps the Messiah concerning whom the prophets have recounted wonders. ” Acts 12:17 mentions James but not specifically as an apostle

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